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  Duke Albert’s gaze swept across the court. “In light of these extraordinary circumstances, and in recognition of her role in defending the empire’s nobility and restoring public faith, this joint petition requests that Her Highness be granted three formal rewards for her service.”

  He stepped back and bowed slightly toward the throne. “We leave the decision, as always, to His Majesty’s wisdom.”

  A thick silence settled over the hall, every pair of eyes now turning toward Emperor Andrew.

  Emperor Andrew, regal and composed in his golden robes, rested his elbow on the armrest of his throne, his fingers steepled before his chin. For a brief moment, he did not speak, letting the silence build like the tension before a storm.

  Then, with a slight wave of his hand, he broke the stillness.“Ah, of course,” he said smoothly, his voice resonating with practiced authority.

  He gestured for the proceedings to continue.

  From her seat, Ravenna rose with effortless grace, her ceremonial cloak trailing behind her as she stepped into the center of the hall. She knelt before the throne, head bowed, golden sunlight catching in her dark hair like a halo of fire.

  Emperor Andrew stood, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the polished marble floor. His voice rang out like a bell, clear and commanding.

  “Ravenna Sorius.” he paused looking at her “For your extraordinary valor during the beast attack — for your defense of the high nobility, for preserving the dignity of the Solius Church, and for the bravery you dispyed in protecting the Imperial family during a time of chaos — I, Andrew Sorius, Emperor of Ancorna, hereby decree that you are to be granted three formal rewards.”

  A murmur ran through the assembly. He continued,

  “One reward shall be bestowed by the Imperial Court, in honor of your service to the nobility and the citizens of our great capital.”

  Pointing towards the imperial court ministers he finished then he turned towards the priests. “A second reward shall be granted by the Solius Church, for your preservation of divine order and faith in the eyes of the people.”

  Finally, he gave a look to Serena and Non and sat down again. “And the third shall come from the Imperial Family itself — for the unwavering courage you demonstrated in defending your own blood, even at great personal risk.”

  His words echoed through the grand hall, etched into the memory of every witness present. Ravenna remained silent, her expression serene as she processed the unexpected turn.

  But inwardly, her thoughts churned.

  “I’d pnned this well. I crashed the session without giving him time to prepare, banking on him being cornered into letting me name my rewards publicly.”

  She kept her posture composed as her eyes flicked subtly toward her father on the throne.

  “But instead of resisting, he’s spun it masterfully — splitting the responsibility across the three factions. Now, the nobility, the church, and the imperial family each owe me a reward… but they get to choose what the reward is not me.” Ravenna’s lips remained in a respectful line as she thought, but a glint of frustration flickered in her eyes as she looked up slightly from her kneeling posture, meeting her father’s gaze.

  He was smiling. Not warmly. Not mockingly. Just enough to say: “You're not the only one who knows how to py this game.”

  Before the tension could fully settle, Duke Albert stepped forward once again. His voice cut through the quiet like the sharp point of a quill poised to rewrite history.

  “Then, we the nobles of the Imperial Court,” he decred, raising his chin with prideful precision, “formally petition His Majesty to reinstate Her Highness Ravenna Sorius into the line of imperial succession.”

  A wave of whispers and gasps rippled through the chamber.

  The motion wasn’t made out of honor, nor gratitude — it was strategy. Calcuted and deliberate.

  The high noble families, though spared by Ravenna’s intervention during the beast attack, bore no personal goodwill toward her. In fact, many harbored old grudges, scars from the days when Ravenna had toyed with them as if they were mere things for her entertainment.

  Now that she had saved their families from annihition, they were cornered — forced to offer reward. But if they could avoid owing her anything personally, they would take that path without hesitation.

  Reinstating her into the succession race served a dual purpose: it offered the appearance of a grand reward without requiring them to give up political capital they already pleaded to one her siblings. It ensured Ravenna’s return to the fold would be limited since most don’t want her back anyway and most importantly, it kept her from calling in personal debts from the noble houses. A neat solution, wrapped in ceremonial robes.

  Emperor Andrew leaned back slightly, brows raised in a thoughtful expression. “Hmm,” he murmured, the gears in his mind visibly turning.

  “As per imperial w,” he said at st, “the Imperial Court can vote to instate a family member into the line of succession, if the majority supports it. However—” he paused, voice darkening slightly,“exile, once decreed upon a member of the Imperial Family, is not a sentence easily overturned.”

  The court hushed once more, all ears on the emperor’s next words.

  Ravenna rose slightly from her kneeling posture, her voice calm and confident.“I have made a home in Jo, Father,” she said with measured grace. “I will be fine continuing my life there. The capital was never where I felt welcome, anyway.”

  There was no bitterness in her tone — only a quiet steel that echoed through the hall more loudly than any outburst could.

  Emperor Andrew gave a short nod, his decree ringing out moments ter.

  “Very well. Let it be known. As of this day, Ravenna Sorius is reinstated as the fifth in line to the Imperial Throne.” he paused and continued “However, her sentence of exile remains in full effect. She is not to set foot in the capital without direct imperial invitation. Just as before.”

  Gasps and murmurs returned, some from the surprised nobles, others from younger members of the court too new to have witnessed Ravenna’s exile firsthand.

  Ravenna bowed her head slightly. “Thank you, Father,” she said, though her gaze, sharp and piercing, spoke louder than her words.

  This was a victory, she had her foot back on the board.

  And now… it was the Holy Church’s turn to give their reward.

  As the court murmured with tension, the robed figure of High Priest Caldus stepped forward, golden tassels of his ceremonial robes catching the sun as he prepared to speak.

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