«Do you resent me, boy?» the Emperor asked me.

For sure, I couldn't show him my true heart. My resentment accumulated through two lives. He killed my parents twice.

Yet, I kept control over my face muscles. I wouldn't have allowed anyone to notice my thoughts.

It was a matter of survival.

Only after a minute of that astounded royal face, I remembered that I was barely sixteen. A teenage boy isn't supposed to control his reactions like this.

«I am sure your majesty made the best choice,» I said, cold and composed. As if I didn't care about what had happened.

He was going to die in six years at most. His illness would have consumed the last bits of rationality way sooner.

For the time being, he was only paranoid. Hiding from him would have been enough to escape his rage.

But I wasn't too cautious, even if my two lives should have made me wiser.

«Treason is a horrible deed. I can't defend the Archduke after all the proofs showed his involvement. Have the rest of the instigators already been caught?»

There wasn't any rest of them, and there wasn't any proof. But the sentence had arrived so suddenly that no one had the time to even understand what had happened.

The whole court kept their breath while waiting for the consequences of my words.

«I'm glad you're reasonable, boy,» the Emperor said.

In his mind, all that happened made perfect sense.

He accepted my explanation without a single doubt. In the end, I was a teenager that believed that his father betrayed the crown. An asset to be exploited, right? A young man eager to prove his innocence and loyalty.

Not someone to prosecute.

«My Empire has been within the current borders for almost a century. What do you think about this, boy?»

«There is no limit to greatness, your majesty. Borders are made to be moved and crossed.»

«Is that so? Where should I move first?»

«First, your majesty should tame the threats coming from the west,» I started.

I wasn't sure what that meant, but those were the words I heard in my first life. The crown's advisors used them to convince the Emperor to strike a few months from now. With some luck, no one had said that yet.

From my memories, I knew what was going to happen and how wars were going to end.

«Also, there is a small city in the south that has a relevant harbour, isn't there?»

«Polis,» the Emperor whispered.

Indeed, he was already eying my Queen's territories.

I wasn't worried about her. She was going to win. I've seen her abilities during the second war...

Second war?

Was there a second war? Against whom?

There were so many dark spots in my memories. If I didn't wake up with my parent's execution, I would have thought that my dreams weren't real.

Maybe, I was just crazy. Not too different from the Emperor.

«What do you know about Polis?»

«I just read a book, your majesty.»

«What do you think about it?»

«It won't be easy, but the prize is worth it. That harbour is central.»

«Their ruler is related to Asteria's high-class officers. It's too early to clash against another empire.»

«Your majesty is right. We can't afford it yet. However, Asteria won't intervene.»

«How do you know?»

«I don't know, your majesty,» I said with my head bowed down. «But it would be easy to check. Surrounding the city and waiting for reinforcements should be enough to hearten your majesty.»

«Hmm... How much would that cost?»

The Emperor listened to one of the aides and nodded.

«Not that much. Approved!» he stated, then.

One of the people in the corner of the hall left in silence, unhappy that my words were faster.

Here you are, Count Grahm.

I had heard voices about it, but I didn't have proof.

The one to propose to conquer Polis was indeed Duke Grahm, through his first son, the Count.

In the beginning, it was all a plan to increase the Count's reputation. It backfired when my Queen forced the Empire to a truce. The campaign lasted longer than planned and the costs became unreasonable when Polis's soldiers started burning or stealing Ethiro's food supplies.

«If your majesty sees it as fit, I'd like to help my country,» I declared, without even thinking enough about it.

Regardless, my first target was to keep Martia safe in Kyre.

«Your desire will be fulfilled.»

«Where will I be sent?»

Was it real? Would I see my Queen again?

«To the west.»

«Yes, your majesty. Thank you, your majesty,» I muttered before walking out.

It was too early to meet her. Also, I didn't want to be her enemy.

The western front was a better option, and I had been lucky.

I already knew how it was going to end. Ethiro would win.

If I smartly played my cards, I would have profited from the situation. I just had to avoid the battles where Ethiro suffered many losses.

The real problems were going to start only a couple of years after the next Emperor's crowning.

One of the functionaries approached me out of the throne room, in the hallway.

«Archduke Kyre, your highness,» he called me. «The Emperor ordered you to depart immediately for the west.»

«Immediately?»

«Yes, that's correct. There's no time to go back to Kyre, unfortunately.»

«I haven't finished my tasks. I ran here when I was summoned,» I pointed out, feigning surprise and confusion. «How can I?»

«His majesty's orders are final.»

I looked at my fingers for a few seconds, enough to make it look like I was thinking.

«Not even for a week? If I ride on horseback, I'll be in the West in six days or so. I just need to leave the accounts in order...»

After all, I just executed the accountants. I needed at least to appoint new ones.

«No exceptions shall be accepted.»

«I understand,» I sighed. I dropped my shoulders and followed the officer with a frown.

Not that I was that worried. After all, I left Countess de Ruis in charge of everything.

If there was someone in the Empire that could keep things under control, it was her.

The sigils were in her hands. I've also signed many kinds of permissions and proxies to prevent any odd situation to destabilise Kyre.

It was necessary in case I was imprisoned in the capital.

«As his majesty orders,» I said to the officer.

He just nodded, not even suspecting that a teenager could have a plan worth years of patience.