A month has passed, and the whispers of the Emperor's sudden illness have spread like wildfire throughout the empire. In every town and in every noble's hall, voices rise and murmur—in hushed tones, in excited speculation—about who might eventually seize the throne while His Majesty languishes in delicate health.
No official word has yet been given as to whether Laura—the crown princess who once flirted with power—will indeed assume rule, though rumors persist as if fate itself hangs on this fragile moment.
Meanwhile, the ambitious nobles intensify their demands; letters smother my desk by the dozen, each one demanding an audience with me. I know all too well what these sycophants desire: the promise of favor, the chance to manipulate power behind my back.
