The Council chamber was designed to intimidate.
Vaulted ceilings that stretched up into darkness. Pillars carved from black marble, each one depicting a different dragon in various states of conquest. And at the far end, a semicircular table elevated on a stone platform, where seven figures sat like judges at an execution.
This was the Royal Council.
Lerwin's footsteps echoed too loudly on the polished floor. His wives' footsteps were silent, which somehow made their presence more threatening.
[Scanning Council Members...]
[WARNING: Multiple hostile entities detected]
[RECOMMENDATION: Identify allies vs enemies quickly]
The center seat was occupied by an older man with a silver beard and eyes that had probably seen too many political purges. Lord Chancellor Viktor, his memory flared. The king's right hand. He was technically neutral but practically ruthless to those he deemed his enemies.
To Viktor's left sat a woman in deep purple robes with her face hidden behind a veil. Councilor Ashara, head of the Mage's Assembly. She was dangerous and the fact she was unknowable made her even more dangerous
To his right, a broad-shouldered man in military dress, scars visible even from this distance. General Rhydian, commander of the Royal Army. He was straightforward, honorable, but loyal to the Crown above all else.
The others were less clear. A merchant lord. A religious figure. A scholar. And one empty seat.
Seven seats with only six occupied.
Someone was missing.
"Lerwin Cromwell ," Viktor's voice rolled across the chamber like distant thunder. "Dragon King Candidate of the Fifth Bloodline. You stand before this Council to answer serious allegations."
"I wasn't aware standing was optional," Lerwin replied, then immediately regretted it when Celeste's hand tightened fractionally on his arm.
[Diplomacy Check: FAILED]
[Note: Sarcasm is not recommended in formal hearings]
Viktor's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. Amusement? Maybe Irritation? Hard to tell.
"Three nights ago," the Chancellor continued, "a merchant caravan was attacked en route to the northern territories. Twenty souls were lost with goods worth half a million gold pieces destroyed. The attackers used Dragon-fire—specifically, the Crimson Flame technique unique to House Cromwell ."
Murmurs rippled through the gallery. Lerwin hadn't noticed the crowd until now—nobles and officials packed into raised seating along the walls, watching like spectators at a gladiator match.
"Furthermore," Viktor produced a sealed letter, "we have testimony from witnesses placing you at the Silver Horn tavern, less than a mile from the attack site, on the evening in question."
"Testimony from whom?" Seraphine's voice cut through the murmurs like a blade. "An anonymous witnesses? How convenient."
"The witnesses' identities are being protected," Councilor Ashara said, her voice oddly melodic behind the veil. "For their own safety."
"Of course they are," Liora murmured, just loud enough to be heard.
General Rhydian leaned forward with his scarred hands folded on the table. "Lord Cromwell , do you deny being at the Silver Horn tavern three nights ago?"
Here it was. The moment where he either lied or admitted he had no idea where he had been because he was dying in another world at the time.
"I was at the Cromwell estate," Lerwin said carefully. "With my wives all evening."
"Can anyone else corroborate this?" Rhydian asked. "Besides your wives, who have obvious bias."
"The entire household staff," Celeste said coolly. "Shall we summon them? Or is staff testimony beneath this Council's notice?"
"Staff can be bribed or intimidated," the merchant lord interjected. He was round-faced and sweating despite the cool chamber. "We need more substantial proof."
"You need proof of his innocence?" Valeria's wings rustled, a sound like drawn steel. "I wasn't aware that the burden of proof had shifted. Last I checked, accusers needed evidence, not the accused."
"We have evidence," Viktor said, and produced a second item from beneath the table.
A dagger.
Even from this distance, Lerwin could see the Cromwell crest etched into the pommel.
"This was recovered from the attack site," the Chancellor said. " It was buried in the chest of one of the merchants. I believe you recognize it?"
Lerwin's blood went cold.
He did recognize it. Not from memory, but from instinct. That dagger belonged to House Cromwell . More specifically, it belonged to him—engraved with his personal seal, a gift for his sixteenth birthday.
[ALERT: Evidence is legitimate but circumstantial]
[Someone stole your dagger and used it in the attack]
[This is a professional frame job]
"That dagger was in my personal collection," Lerwin said slowly. "In my chambers. Which means someone stole it."
"Or you're lying," the merchant lord said, gaining confidence now. "Perhaps you orchestrated the attack yourself. Everyone knows House Cromwell has been struggling financially. With twenty merchants dead and half a million in goods stolen this is quite the windfall for someone desperate."
"Desperate?" Seraphine's laugh was cold. "House Cromwell owns three major trade routes, two mining operations, and land worth more than your entire bloodline, Councilor Garrett. We're not desperate. We are inconvenienced by accusations."
Garrett's face flushed. "You dare—"
"She dares," Liora interrupted smoothly, "because she's correct. The math doesn't work. If my husband wanted gold, he would simply sell one of his estates. Why risk treason for less than his monthly income?"
"Unless it wasn't about gold," Councilor Ashara mused. "Perhaps it was about the caravan's destination. The northern territories have been... restless lately."
That hung in the air like poison.
Yuki spoke for the first time since entering the chamber, her voice soft but carrying. "The northern territories are always restless. That's hardly unique to the past three days."
"True," Ashara agreed. "But Lord Cromwell has been quite vocal about his opposition to the Council's northern expansion plans. Haven't you?"
Lerwin had no idea. Absolutely none. But the way everyone was looking at him suggested he should.
"I have concerns about overextending our resources," he said carefully, gambling on what seemed politically safe. "That's hardly the same as treason."
"Concerns that would be quite convenient if the expansion were... disrupted," General Rhydian said. "No caravan, no supplies. No supplies, no garrison reinforcement. No reinforcement, no expansion."
Oh. They were connecting dots that made him look guilty as hell.
[WARNING: The Council is building a narrative]
[They may not believe you're guilty, but they're using this to discredit you]
[Political motive detected]
"This is absurd," Celeste said, and ice crystallized in the air around her. Actual ice, visible to everyone. "You're accusing my husband of treason based on a stolen dagger and anonymous testimony. That's not justice. That's a witch hunt."
"Careful, Lady Celeste," Viktor warned. "Losing your temper in Council chambers is unwise."
"Losing my temper would involve significantly more ice," she replied evenly. "This is me being restrained."
A tense silence stretched.
Then General Rhydian sighed. "Regardless of guilt or innocence, the optics are problematic. Lord Cromwell, until this matter is resolved, the Council recommends postponing your Awakening Ceremony."
There it was, this was their real goal.
Not to convict him rather just to delay him. Keep him from officially becoming a Dragon King Candidate. Buy time for... whoever was behind this.
[Quest Updated: Identify the Real Culprit]
[New Objective: Don't let them postpone your ceremony]
[Time Sensitive: 3 days remaining]
"No," Lerwin said.
Everyone stared at him.
"No?" Viktor raised an eyebrow.
"With respect, Chancellor, postponing my ceremony is exactly what whoever framed me wants. It removes me from candidacy, damages House Cromwell 's reputation, and gives my political rivals time to consolidate power." He was guessing. Wildly. But it felt right. "I won't give them that satisfaction."
"You're refusing a Council recommendation?" Garrett sputtered.
"I'm insisting on my legal rights," Lerwin corrected. "The Awakening Ceremony is scheduled. Unless this Council formally charges me with a crime—which requires actual evidence, not circumstantial nonsense—I'm entitled to proceed."
Valeria's wings rustled approvingly behind him.
Seraphine smiled softly.
Even Celeste looked impressed.
Viktor studied him for a long moment. "You're quite confident for someone standing accused of mass murder."
"I'm innocent," Lerwin said simply. "And I intend to prove it. In three days, I'll complete my Awakening Ceremony. And then I'll find whoever actually attacked that caravan and bring them before this Council. Personally."
[CHARISMA CHECK: SUCCESS]
[DRAGON KING'S AUTHORITY: +5%]
[Achievement Unlocked: "Political Backbone" - Stand up to the Council without backing down]
General Rhydian actually smiled. "Bold words. I almost want to believe them."
"Believe what you want," Lerwin replied. "Just don't postpone my ceremony based on a frame job so obvious a child could see through it."
More silence followed.
Then Viktor nodded slowly. "Very well. Your ceremony will proceed as scheduled. But—" his voice hardened, "—you will be under guard supervision until then. And if we find even a shred of additional evidence against you, Dragon King Candidate or not, you'll face trial. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," Lerwin said.
"Then this hearing is adjourned. The guards will escort you back to your estate. You are to be confined there until the ceremony."
The gavel came down with a sound like a death knell.
As they filed out, surrounded by guards, Liora leaned in close. "That was either very brave or very stupid."
"Probably both," Lerwin admitted.
"I liked it," Yuki said quietly. "You didn't back down like I thought you would."
"Like I had a choice," he muttered.
Seraphine squeezed his arm. "You did well, husband. But now we have three days to find the real culprit before your ceremony. Otherwise, they'll use it as an excuse to disqualify you anyway."
"Any ideas where to start?"
"There are several actually," Celeste said. "But first, we need to talk. Privately. About who would benefit most from your failure."
They walked through the palace halls, guards flanking them, nobles whispering.
Lerwin's mind raced.
Someone had stolen his dagger. Attacked a caravan. Framed him perfectly. All to stop his Awakening Ceremony.
Who hated him that much?
And more importantly—could he figure it out before they struck again?
[New Quest Chain Activated: The Frame Job]
[Step 1: Investigate who had access to your chambers]
[Step 2: Find the real attackers]
[Step 3: Survive your ceremony without getting assassinated]
[Reward: Clear your name, maintain candidacy, unlock new powers]
[Failure: Execution, exile, or worse]
Three days.
He had three days to solve a crime he didn't commit, prepare for a ceremony he didn't understand, and survive whatever came next.
With five wives who were either his greatest assets or his most dangerous complications.
Possibly both.
"So," he said as they finally exited the Council building into daylight, "anyone want to tell me what exactly happens at an Awakening Ceremony?"
His wives exchanged glances.
"That," Seraphine said slowly, "is complicated."
"Of course it is," Lerwin muttered.
Of course it was.