A week later, the imperial capital was talking about nothing else.
Rumors had spread faster than any official report.
In taverns, markets, noble salons, and even inside churches, everyone was asking the same question.
Was he human... or a demon?
Some claimed that Lusian had destroyed an entire city by himself.
Others spoke of shadows devouring soldiers, black beasts tearing through the streets, and a sword that had turned the City of Peace into a graveyard.
Most people did not even know the truth.
They only knew the result.
The City of Peace was gone.
And to the people, that was impossible to comprehend.
—Those people were peaceful...
—It was a sacred city...
—I heard he even killed priests.
—That monster destroyed everything...
The stories changed every day.
The fear did not.
And the Heralds knew how to take advantage of it.
They knew the truth about the cult and the rituals hidden beneath the city.
But the truth was not what mattered.
What mattered was what people believed.
As the Empire slowly began turning Lusian into a monster, the churches began publicly questioning his authority, his conduct, and, above all, his right to act above imperial law.
They did not need to prove that Lusian was guilty.
They only needed people to start asking themselves whether he was.
And while the duke's name became a political problem...
Lusian remained confined alongside Elizabeth.
The princess was still unconscious.
The demonic miasma had not disappeared.
It had only stopped spreading thanks to the combination of Emily's light and Lusian's darkness.
Every day could be her last.
And that was the only thing he truly cared about.
The great throne room was shrouded in an uncomfortable silence.
Naira sat upon her throne, her back straight and her hands resting on the golden armrests.
On either side of her, the Heralds watched Lusian.
Not as an ally.
Not even as a commander.
They watched him as a problem.
One that, given the opportunity, they would rather eliminate before it became too large to control.
Lusian stood alone before the throne.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes were not.
—Duke Lusian —Naira finally said.
Her voice was serene, almost neutral.
—The destruction of the City of Peace has provoked a reaction that the Empire can no longer ignore.
Lusian did not respond.
—It is also undeniable that your intervention was decisive —she continued—. Without you, the princess probably would not have survived.
She paused briefly.
—But effectiveness and obedience are not the same thing.
One of the Heralds seized the opportunity.
—Thousands died.
Lusian slowly turned his gaze toward him.
—Members of the cult.
—That is an accusation.
—No.
The answer came immediately.
—It is a fact.
The Herald frowned.
—And who determined that?
Lusian watched him for several seconds.
—I was there.
His voice remained completely cold.
—I saw the chambers beneath the temples. I saw the ritual circles. I saw the corpses. I saw the marks of corruption on their bodies.
He paused.
—And I saw those same priests attempt to complete a ritual with the princess as the sacrifice.
The Herald did not respond.
Lusian continued:
—If you need more evidence, you should ask yourselves why no one found it before.
Silence fell over the room.
Several nobles exchanged glances.
That question was far more dangerous than a direct accusation.
Because no one there could easily answer it.
Another Herald stepped forward.
—Even if we accept that a cult existed, that does not justify what happened.
Lusian turned his gaze toward him.
—Which part?
—The number of dead.
—The cultists died fighting.
—Soldiers died as well.
—Soldiers who tried to stop me.
—And the civilians?
For the first time, Lusian remained silent for several seconds.
The Herald took advantage of it.
—Can you guarantee that none of them died because of your actions?
The room remained motionless.
Lusian finally answered.
—I cannot guarantee that no innocent person died during the chaos.
Several nobles began to murmur.
But Lusian did not back down.
—What I can guarantee is that I did not kill anyone for being a citizen of that city.
His eyes hardened.
—I killed those who tried to prevent me from reaching the princess.
The Herald clenched his jaw.
—That is still your interpretation.
—Then investigate.
Lusian took a step forward.
—Go down into the underground chambers. Interrogate the survivors. Examine the bodies. Analyze the mana of the dead.
His voice became colder.
—And when you are finished, tell me how many of them were innocent.
No one answered.
Then another Herald spoke.
—And what if next time you decide that an entire city is guilty?
Lusian's gaze locked onto him.
—Then make sure the next city isn't hiding a demonic cult beneath its streets.
Some nobles lowered their eyes.
The Herald stepped forward.
—That is exactly what concerns us! A man who decides for himself who deserves to live cannot act without supervision.
Lusian's mana pressure spread slightly through the room.
It was not a threat.
But everyone felt it.
—Then supervise better.
The Herald froze.
Lusian continued:
—Because while you were arguing over whether you had enough authority to investigate the City of Peace, they were preparing to sacrifice the princess.
Silence.
—If I had waited for your authorization —he added—, Elizabeth would be dead.
The words struck the room harder than any shout.
Naira watched Lusian in silence.
She had allowed the Heralds to speak.
She had allowed them to accuse him.
Because now everyone could see where the real problem lay.
It was not Lusian.
It was the fact that the Heralds had done nothing.
Finally, Naira raised a hand.
—That is enough.
The authority in her voice was enough to end the argument.
The Herald stepped back.
Naira looked around the room.
—The investigation into the City of Peace will continue.
Her gaze lingered on the Heralds for a moment.
—And if evidence is found that Duke Lusian acted against innocent citizens, it will be presented before this court.
Then she turned her eyes toward Lusian.
—But until the princess awakens and we can fully understand the consequences of the ritual, there will be no judgment.
A murmur passed through the room.
Naira allowed it to die down before continuing.
—In the meantime, the Empire cannot afford to remain paralyzed.
She paused briefly.
—The crisis has left several military commands vacant.
Lusian waited.
—Therefore, from this moment onward, you will assume provisional command of the Imperial Army.
The nobles immediately reacted.
—Your Majesty...!
—The army?
—That is too much power!
Naira raised her hand.
The hall fell silent again.
—It is not a reward.
Her eyes fixed on Lusian.
—It is a responsibility.
Lusian inclined his head slightly.
—I understand.
—And you will remain under constant surveillance.
—I understand that as well.
Naira held his gaze.
For a moment, neither of them looked away.
Then she turned toward the Heralds.
—Any objections?
No one answered.
Not because they agreed.
But because arguing now would mean directly confronting the Empress.
Naira nodded.
—Good.
She made a small gesture with her hand.
—Dismissed.
The Heralds remained motionless for several seconds.
Finally, they obeyed.
One after another, they left the room.
The enormous doors closed behind them.
The silence changed.
It was no longer the silence of a trial.
It was the silence of a negotiation.
Naira remained seated for a few more seconds.
Then she stood.
She slowly descended the steps of the throne.
When she passed Lusian, she stopped.
—Come with me.
Lusian followed without asking.
The private doors of the hall opened.
And the two disappeared behind them.
They walked through the palace corridors until they reached the elevated gardens.
The afternoon sun was beginning to disappear behind the towers.
But even from that height, the scars of the capital were visible.
Naira stopped at the edge of the terrace.
From there, much of the capital could be seen.
The rooftops covered in vegetation.
The ancient towers.
The gardens suspended above the walls.
The Empire was still alive.
But its wounds were visible even from that height.
Naira remained silent for several seconds.
Then she pointed toward a partially destroyed tower, now covered in white lilies.
—My father died there.
Lusian followed her gaze.
—He defended the capital until the end.
Naira's voice had lost some of its imperial tone.
—A magical beast breached the walls. It was too powerful for the soldiers of that era. My father could have escaped.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the railing.
—But he didn't.
The wind gently stirred her hair.
—He stayed behind to hold it back while the population was evacuated.
Naira paused.
—He died alone.
Lusian said nothing.
—There were no Heralds who came to his aid. No heroes. The gods did not answer his prayers.
Her gaze remained fixed on the tower.
—There was only an emperor who decided that his life was worth less than the lives of thousands.
For the first time, Lusian understood that this was not a story Naira told with pride.
It was a wound.
—After that, I inherited the throne.
Naira slowly released the railing.
—I was too young.
She looked out over the city.
—And ever since then, I have had to hold together an Empire that loses a little more of its strength every year.
Lusian remained silent.
—The provinces question the crown. The nobles are divided. The Churches are increasing their influence.
Her expression hardened.
—And the Heralds are gaining more and more power.
Finally, she looked at him.
—If my suspicions are correct, there will come a day when I can no longer stop them.
Lusian narrowed his eyes.
—What do you suspect?
Naira took several seconds to answer.
—That when I die... there will be no other emperor.
The wind swept across the terrace again.
—And when that happens, the Churches will fill the void.
Lusian understood.
She was not talking about a succession crisis.
She was talking about the disappearance of the monarchy.
—That is why I brought you here.
Naira took a step toward him.
—I need you to understand something before I make my proposal.
Her expression became completely serious.
—Heroes are powerful. Some reach levels that no ordinary human could ever attain.
She paused.
—But that power does not truly belong to them.
Lusian did not respond.
—Divine Blessings are granted by the gods. A hero can reach Omega because of them, but that does not mean their blood is Omega.
Naira slowly raised a hand.
—When a hero has children, their descendants do not automatically inherit that level.
—Then...
—Then their children can be born completely ordinary.
Naira lowered her hand.
—Because a hero's power is not in their bloodline.
Her gaze locked onto Lusian.
—It is in the blessing.
Lusian finally understood where the conversation was heading.
Naira continued:
—Magical inheritance works differently.
Her voice took on an almost academic tone.
—The mother determines the affinity ceiling the child can reach. The father primarily determines the element and type of resonance the child will inherit.
—So the mother determines the level.
—Exactly.
Naira nodded.
—An Omega mother can give birth to a child capable of reaching Omega. A Delta mother cannot, even if the father possesses a higher affinity.
Lusian remained motionless.
—And you...
Naira looked at him.
—You are Epsilon.
Lusian's eyes hardened slightly.
—Even though your mother was Omega.
Naira let the silence speak for itself.
—That means your affinity does not depend on a Divine Blessing.
Lusian understood.
It was a small difference on the surface.
But an enormous one for a dynasty.
—It is hereditary.
Naira nodded.
—Your blood can pass on a true affinity.
Lusian lowered his gaze.
—But I am not Omega.
—No.
Naira moved slightly closer.
—And that is precisely why you are more valuable than you realize.
Lusian raised his eyes.
—A hero can reach Omega and die without leaving anything comparable to their children.
Naira gestured toward the city.
—But a bloodline can endure for generations.
Then her expression changed.
She was no longer speaking as an empress.
She was speaking as someone trying to build one final line of defense.
—If my suspicions are correct, I will be the last Empress of this Empire.
Silence.
—I cannot allow that.
Naira breathed slowly.
—I need to create a line of succession capable of surviving even after I am gone.
Lusian finally understood the purpose of the conversation.
—You want an heir.
—I want a bloodline.
The answer came immediately.
Naira did not look away.
—One that does not depend on the gods.
The silence between them grew heavier.
—And for that, I need a mother with a sufficiently high affinity.
Naira placed a hand over her chest.
—I am Omega.
Lusian stared at her.
—And you are one of the few men in the Empire whose blood can produce exceptional offspring without relying on a Divine Blessing.
She paused.
—If our elements are compatible, our child could inherit an Omega level and develop an affinity derived from both of us.
Lusian remained motionless.
Now he understood why Naira had chosen him specifically.
It was not because of his position.
It was not because of his strength.
Not even because of the trust she might have in him.
It was because of his bloodline.
—And what do you want from me?
Naira held his gaze.
—I want you to give me an heir.
The words fell without adornment.
Without seduction.
Without shame.
Like an order she had forced herself to turn into a request.
—I am not asking you for love.
Naira paused.
—Or marriage.
Another pause.
—Not even personal loyalty.
Lusian remained silent.
—I am asking you to help me ensure that, when the time comes for me to die, the crown does not fall into the hands of the Churches.
Her voice grew quieter.
—That my father did not die defending an Empire destined to disappear.
Lusian closed his eyes.
Umber.
Elizabeth.
The City of Peace.
The Heralds.
Everything seemed to be piling onto his shoulders at once.
Naira continued:
—In return, you will have my protection.
—Troops.
—You will have them.
—Resources.
—Everything I can provide you.
—And Elizabeth?
Naira did not hesitate.
—Her as well.
Lusian's eyes slowly opened.
—As long as Elizabeth remains under the protection of the crown, no one will be able to touch her without facing me.
Naira took one final step.
—But I need to know whether you are willing to do the same for this Empire.
Lusian watched her for several seconds.
There was no desire in Naira's eyes.
Only determination.
And fear.
The fear of a woman watching the end of her dynasty approach.
Lusian finally looked away toward the city.
—I need time.
Naira nodded.
—You will have it.
She turned toward him.
—But not too much.
Lusian remained silent.
Naira slowly returned toward the palace.
Before entering, she stopped.
—And Lusian...
He raised his eyes.
—Don't misunderstand me.
The Empress looked at him with absolute seriousness.
—I am not asking you to save my life.
A brief pause.
—I am asking you to help save what will remain after I am gone.
And she left.
Lusian remained alone on the terrace.
For the first time since the City of Peace, he understood that the battle ahead would not be against demons.
It would be against an Empire that was beginning to die from within.