“The desert isle of Jo, while loyal and rich in tradition, is hardly a suitable domain for someone of your vision and particurities, my daughter. Therefore, with this order, you are granted authority to expand the reach of your duchy by annexing any territory that does not fall under the imperial crown of Ancorna.”

  His words were deliberate. Ravenna’s eyes narrowed. Behind her composed smile, her mind raced.

  “An Order of Expansion?” she mused. “What is he pying at?”

  She studied her father’s face. That smirk. That glint in his eye.

  She stepped forward with regal grace, kneeling once more as protocol demanded.

  “Thank you, Father,” Ravenna said with a calm, even tone, her voice clear and sharp as gss. “The reward is… most generous. I shall make good use of it.”

  Their eyes locked for a brief moment.

  Few moments ter, Audience Hall, Ravenna’s chamber, Imperial Pace

  “That old bastard!” Ravenna’s voice echoed off the polished stone walls as her hills crashed into the side of the ornate table, sending a bowl of fruit wobbling. The moment the audience chamber doors of her room closed behind them, she let her fury loose.

  “He got me this time…” she muttered under her breath, pacing like a caged predator.

  Marie, trailing behind with a concerned expression, tilted her head in confusion.“Um… Master?”

  “What?” Ravenna snapped, though not angrily more preoccupied than anything.

  Marie’s voice was soft but curious. “Isn’t the Order of Expansion… a good thing? Very few lords ever receive one, right? Doesn’t it mean we can annex territories rich in resources? Even though Jo does not border any non-imperial nd… we could sail south and slowly occupy the Southern Isnds over the next few years?”

  Ravenna let out a long sigh and flopped onto the plush velvet couch, grabbing an apple from a fruit bowl on the table. With a satisfying crunch, she took a bite and waved for Marie to sit down across from her.

  “Sit. This is going to be a valuable lesson in imperial politics.”

  Marie nodded and gracefully took her seat, folding her hands neatly in her p like a diligent student.

  Ravenna leaned back, leg crossed over knee, and raised an eyebrow.“Now, since I’ve been reinstated into the line of succession… what do you think my father ‘thinks’ I’m going to do next?”

  Marie’s brow furrowed as she thought carefully. “Well… considering you revealed your status as a Herptian Apostle publicly, I’d imagine the Emperor believes you’ve already made contact with the main Herptian Church on the western continent. He probably assumes you’re gathering support, possibly even troops from their clergy.”

  She paused, then tilted her head slightly. “But that doesn’t expin why he would give you an Order of Expansion. Wouldn’t that just give you even more power and influence?”

  Ravenna took another slow bite of the apple and gestured with it. “That’s where it gets interesting. He doesn’t have any current information about Jo. Since we’ve kept the port sealed and restricted all outbound ships, there’s no way for him to know how well we’re actually doing.”

  Marie’s eyes lit up. “So… he assumes Jo is still an impoverished backwater, barely scraping by?”

  “Exactly.” Ravenna gave a sharp nod. “He likely believes that I, being me, wouldn’t tolerate living in poverty. So if I suddenly found myself back in the succession race, what’s the most obvious thing I’d try to do?”

  Marie bit her lip, thinking it through.“Hmm… A territorial war with the coastal towns, right? Most of the surrounding ports and cities on the mainnd are controlled by nobles loyal to Prince Landon or Prince William. Since they’ve blocked trade with Jo, you are cut off from imperial commerce. The logical step, in his mind, would be that you use your status as a Herptian Apostle to request aid from the Western Continent and build an army. Then you’d unch a territorial war to recim trade routes and wealth.”

  Ravenna grinned, clearly proud. “That’s precisely the scenario my father must’ve pyed out in his head the moment the nobles demanded my reinstatement. But he couldn’t openly oppose them without appearing petty or threatened. So what could he do?”

  Marie leaned forward, her eyes wide with realization. “He gave you the Order of Expansion… to trap you.”

  “Correct again,” Ravenna said, tossing the apple core aside with a flick. “He boxed me in with a smile. On paper, it’s a generous gift, he’s giving me the legal right to expand Jo’s borders into non-imperial nds. But in practice? It renders any aggression toward Ancorna territories completely unjustifiable since he already gave me a pying field to py with.”

  Marie’s voice dropped in tone. “If you attacked an Ancorna lord now, it wouldn’t be seen as a necessary justifiable war since you were already given permission to expand, it would be interpreted as rebellion. As if you are trying to start a Civil war.”

  Ravenna nodded. “Exactly. And with that justification, the imperial army would be within their rights to march on Jo and remove me by force… all while the nobles cheer them on for upholding order.”

  Marie sighed, shaking her head. “So even though the Order of Expansion seems like an opportunity, it’s really a leash. He’s given you a field of battle far from the heart of the empire, where you’re isoted and easy to manage.”

  “A golden cage,” Ravenna agreed, resting her head back against the couch cushion. She gnced at Marie with a soft smile. “But now you understand. This was no reward—it was a calcuted political move meant to keep us in check while making it look like a favor.”

  Marie looked at her with admiration, clearly impressed.“You saw through all of that instantly… I still have so much to learn.”

  Ravenna reached over and patted her head fondly. “You’re learning fast, Marie. That’s what matters.”

  The mood shifted slightly as the fire crackled in the hearth and a wind rustled the curtains, the storm of politics momentarily paused—though not yet passed.

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