PART I: The Three-to-Two Deadlock
Raven Duke Mont Mentiel was the first to break the veil of silence, woven from grief and caution, that hung outside the mourning hall. He explicitly stated his position in favor of Han Aureus Duke Dipper Aureus's immediate ascension to the throne.
In the face of the Elector Kings' authority, age was never the measure of influence—whether the youngest, the Raven, or the most senior, the Dragon Fang, the votes they held carried equal weight legally.
The atmosphere in the council chamber was one of heavy, near-stagnant tension. Six high-backed chairs, carved with their respective national emblems, were arranged in a semi-circle, symbolizing the equality of the electoral power, yet subtle variations in their height hinted at an invisible hierarchy. Above the hall's dome, portraits of past emperors loomed dimly in the low light. Their stern or wise gazes seemed to penetrate the dust of time, scrutinizing the group below, who were about to decide the Empire's future.
The six Elector Dukes determining the fate of the Empire were:
Dragon Fang Lord Ao Qingcang, 61, Imperial Grandson Faction
Tiger Wing Lord Wu Lie, 33, Absent
Silver Wolf Lord Li Shouye, 58, Imperial Grandson Faction
Bronze Sparrow Lord Hua Dan, 48, Imperial Grandson Faction
Black Sheep Lord Cheng Mubai, 29, Han Aureus Duke Faction
Raven Lord Mont Mentiel, 26, Han Aureus Duke Faction
It was clear: the three elder, more conservative Elector Kings belonged to the Imperial Grandson Faction. They believed that having a child emperor was beneficial to them, whereas the light emanating from Han Aureus Duke Dipper Aureus was too blinding, potentially threatening their family lines and certainly beyond their ability to control.
Conversely, the calculation of the younger faction was simple: if a child emperor ascended, their seniority as Dukes was immediately suppressed by the three elders. Even if they had a hand in governance, the elders would block them and not give the younger generation a chance.
Five of the six Dukes had gathered at Prime Lake City, with only Tiger Wing Duke Wu Lie absent from the first Elector Kings' Council.
At the beginning of the meeting, attendants served warm mead to each Duke, but almost no one touched their cup. The air, beyond the clear scent of burning pine, was heavy with an invisible, taut tension, like a bowstring drawn to its maximum, waiting only for a trigger to snap. The recorder knelt behind a low table in the corner, his pen scratching against the paper, recording every word of this possibly fate-defining conversation, his forehead already beaded with fine sweat.
Just as the Imperial House was about to dispatch a fast courier to his fiefdom to hasten his arrival, an envoy from the Tiger Wing Kingdom arrived with devastating news: Duke Wu Lie had died suddenly in his territory.
This was only four days after Emperor Dipper Huang's demise.
The news, like a polar blast from the far north, instantly froze all pre-existing calculations and undercurrents. The Elector Kings' Council was now solidified into an explicit three-to-two standoff, and according to the iron rule of "He who does not obtain four votes shall not ascend the Imperial Throne," the situation had reached a deadlock.
PART II: The Clash of Ideologies
Inside the council chamber, the dry pine wood in the massive stone fireplace crackled and burned, but the vigorous firelight failed to dissipate the chilling air. The debate between the two factions swirled like a vortex around cold, hard political calculations.
Dragon Fang Duke Ao Qingcang, the white-haired elder, spoke with a voice as steady and hard as his title:
"The Imperial succession must prioritize legitimacy! Imperial Grandson Dipper Qian is the Late Emperor's eldest legitimate grandson; his bloodline is pure, and his status is clear. We must cast aside private interests and unite to support the child ruler. Only then can we maintain the stability of the Empire's millennium-old heritage. This is the bedrock of the nation!"
The moment his words ended, Black Sheep Duke Cheng Mubai let out a slight, almost inaudible chuckle before speaking loudly:
"If Imperial succession were only about seniority, why would the six of us need to be here today? The Emperor's seat carries not just glory, but the authority and responsibility to command the entire Empire. How can such a heavy burden be borne by an eight-year-old child? Han Aureus Duke Dipper Aureus is the son of the Late Emperor, in his prime, and in the battle of Cold Well Gorge, he saved the Empire from ruin. His military achievements and prestige are visible to all in the Empire. Only a lord of such caliber is worthy of the supreme throne."
Marquis Su Wang of State Stability, sitting to the side, could no longer maintain his silence. He absolutely could not tolerate "merit" becoming the focus of discussion, as it would completely undermine his grandson's greatest advantage.
"What Duke Cheng says is perhaps too focused on the past," Su Wang said, his voice bearing a deliberately cultivated tone of calmness. "The paramount concern following His Majesty's passing is the Empire's future stability. The Han Aureus Duke is indeed a fine general, but martial talent does not necessarily equal governing ability. Ruling a vast empire requires benevolence and prudence, not merely... martial conquest."
The statement was weak and forced, its underlying self-interest almost transparent. Silver Wolf Duke Li Shouye, an old general who maintained the lean physique of a warrior even near sixty, swept his sharp, wolf-like gaze over Su Wang and cut him off with a frigid voice.
"Marquis Su Wang, mind your place," Li Shouye's words were like a drawn sword. "You are not an Elector King. Interfering with the council unbidden will only bring trouble upon yourself. Withdraw."
As Su Wang, looking slightly embarrassed, retreated, Li Shouye turned his gaze to Mont Mentiel and continued:
"Currently, Dragon Fang, Bronze Sparrow, and my Silver Wolf Kingdoms all support Imperial Grandson Dipper Qian. The general trend is clear. I believe that before long, the remaining two Dukes will also see the political reality and make the same choice. Marquis Su Wang need not worry excessively."
Su Wang bowed, seemingly compliant. However, Mont Mentiel, who had been quietly observing like a bystander, let out a low, clear laugh.
"Duke Li, I am afraid I must disappoint you."
Mont Mentiel's voice carried a perfectly measured trace of apology, but his eyes held no retreat. "I have no intention of falling into what you call 'confusion.' Marquis Su, to assume the general trend is already set, is perhaps premature."
"Oh?" Li Shouye's brow furrowed, the pressure in his tone intensifying. "Dare I ask, Raven Duke, what is your reason for stubbornly refusing consensus?"
PART III: The Ultimate Weapon
Facing this aggressive interrogation, Mont Mentiel flashed a seemingly cheerful, guileless smile, as if discussing a trivial matter.
"The reason is simple. The crown of a monarch is too heavy for an eight-year-old child. I merely worry that the dazzling pearls and gold will completely obscure the young Highness's view of the future."
This almost irreverent directness caused several small gasps in the hall, yet no one spoke out in reprimand. For what Mont Mentiel pointed out was the cold, harsh reality that no one could avoid.
Cheng Mubai immediately interjected, supporting his temporary ally:
"Dipper Aureus has just achieved a great victory over the Snow Wolf Kingdom. His martial accomplishments are immense. Is not such capability precisely what the Empire needs most right now? Do the Dukes believe that a commander capable of warding off powerful foreign enemies is somehow less suited to protecting the Empire's glory than a child who needs to be held?"
This was not a novel argument, but its basis in fact made it difficult to refute. A shadow crossed Li Shouye's sharp-featured face. He stopped engaging with Cheng Mubai and locked his piercing gaze firmly on Mont Mentiel.
"Duke Mont Mentiel," he began slowly, each word seemingly tempered in ice water. "Can you assert, in the presence of all the Dukes, that your unwavering support for the Han Aureus Duke is entirely free of any personal motive?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You and the Han Aureus Duke were classmates at the Royal Academy. This is known to all." Li Shouye pressed on. "Can you guarantee that your current proposition is out of duty to the Empire's public good, and not... prioritizing the private affection of an old friend?"
Faced with this pointed accusation, clearly intended to crucify him for "favoritism," Mont Mentiel neither flinched nor grew angry.
He merely rubbed his cold fingers together lightly and responded with a frankness bordering on elegant impudence:
"Of course I can assert that."
He smiled. "It is precisely because we were classmates that I better understand Dipper Aureus's capabilities and character. This is selecting a virtuous man for the nation. How can there be suspicion of private affection?"
"Furthermore, my heart is open and can be witnessed by the sun and moon. I consider only what is most beneficial to the Empire, not what is most beneficial to my own family."
His words did not immediately provoke a rebuttal. Instead, they plunged the council hall into a deeper silence. Several officials standing by the wall involuntarily held their breath, and even the crackling of wood in the fireplace seemed unnaturally loud.
Mont Mentiel's speech was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. The resulting reverberation was not immediate crashing waves, but the sudden acceleration of an undercurrent. He not only cleverly deflected the accusation of "favoritism" but also threw the suspicion of "self-interest" back at the opposition. The sharpness of his rhetoric and the meticulousness of his thought process secretly alarmed everyone present, including his temporary ally, Cheng Mubai.
His intellect was bold and intricate, his nerves far tougher than his delicate appearance suggested. Facing the Silver Wolf Duke, who surpassed him in both age and seniority, he instead displayed a subtle disdain.
And Mont Mentiel's final sentence was a devastating psychological attack, openly positioning the Imperial Grandson faction as being "guilty of prioritizing familial interests over Imperial interests"—an unforgivable accusation.
Ao Qingcang's brows furrowed deeply, his fingers tightening slightly on the armrest. The cold light in Li Shouye's eyes flared, almost becoming tangible. Even Hua Dan, who had seemed aloof, finally lifted his eyes, scrutinizing the youngest Raven Duke for the first time. The air filled with the scent of gunpowder. The last shred of polite formality vanished.
Thus, Mont Mentiel's statement marked the end of the last "rational" negotiation in the First Elector Kings' Council. Both sides began to descend into mutual accusations and chaos. However, the dignity of both camps was maintained; though the insults were harsh, no physical action was taken. Yet, how long could this fragile balance last?
In truth, Mont Mentiel's greatest reason for supporting Dipper Aureus was precisely to maintain the divided state of the Elector Kings' Council. If he had defected to Dipper Qian, the suspense would have instantly vanished, and the value of his crucial vote would have plummeted.
"Support the weaker side to secure the highest price."
This was the strategic cornerstone of all Mont Mentiel's actions. If this "investment" succeeded, he might break precedent and secure the position of Imperial Chancellor from the new Emperor. According to old Imperial law, Elector Dukes were forbidden from simultaneously serving as the Imperial Chancellor—the ultimate defense established by the founding Conqueror Emperor Dipper Kui to prevent officials from accumulating excessive power.
Therefore, once the Elector Kings' Council concluded, the public authority of the six Dukes ceased until the next session. For Mont Mentiel, how fortunate it was to be born in this era! The Emperor died suddenly, a new Emperor could not be smoothly established, and an Elector King had coincidentally died mysteriously, his successor's legitimacy requiring Imperial confirmation...
A perfect, self-perpetuating deadlock of power.
As long as four votes could not be gathered, this standoff—this state of confusion and mutual restraint—was bound to persist. And this was the best breeding ground and hunting field for an ambitious schemer.
As the meeting temporarily adjourned in an atmosphere of mutual dissatisfaction, and the Dukes began to depart, Mont Mentiel was among the last to rise. He walked slowly toward the window, ignoring the angry or probing gazes behind him. Outside, Prime Lake City was beginning to light up for the evening. The vast surface of Lake Dipper gleamed with an obscure light in the dusk. The central hub of the Empire was now tightly wound by invisible threads of power. He ran his finger lightly across the cold glass pane, as if tracing the outline of the unseen chessboard.
Was the death of the Tiger Wing Duke an accident, or... the beginning of a larger conspiracy? A faint, almost imperceptible curve traced his lips. Chaos was a ladder, and he now stood at its base.
Deep in his heart, he held no contempt for Dipper Aureus's act of regicide; instead, he felt deep empathy and understanding—that nightmare named 'Father' should have been purged long ago. They had been classmates and friends; that bond was genuine.
But beneath that elegant exterior, another cold calculation was running in parallel. He had already designated the secret of "Dipper Aureus's Regicide" as the most lethal weapon for the future day when the two of them inevitably had to confront each other.
He was certain that day was not far off.
And that weapon would be his greatest trump card for controlling Dipper Aureus.
As for the other four Elector Dukes? In his eyes, they were merely chess pieces in various positions on the board, destined to be put in their places, sooner or later.
The fire in the hearth danced in the depths of his eyes, reflecting the harmless, refined profile of a young nobleman. He gently turned up the collar of his fur coat, as if merely warding off the pervasive chill at the heart of the Empire.
END OF 1-6