Chapter 177: the minister of war

Chapter 177: Chapter 177: the minister of war

The Emperor’s death was announced the following morning.

The proclamation was read first within the Imperial Palace before being carried throughout the capital.

His Imperial Majesty had passed away after a sudden illness.

The Empire was to enter a formal period of mourning.

And by the laws of succession, the Crown Prince had ascended the throne.

Adrian was now Emperor.

The words appeared on proclamations throughout the capital.

They were read aloud in government offices.

Carried by messengers to the gates.

Sent to the provinces.

And, before long, carried beyond the borders of the Empire to foreign courts.

There was no uncertainty.

No dispute.

No question of succession.

The Crown Prince had become Emperor immediately upon his father’s death.

The coronation would come later.

For now, there was mourning.

The capital changed almost overnight.

The Imperial banners were lowered.

Public celebrations were suspended.

Theaters and places of entertainment closed.

The streets around the palace became quieter as people gathered in small groups, speaking in subdued voices.

The Emperor had ruled for over two decades.

His death was not merely the loss of a man.

It was the end of an era.

Inside the palace, preparations began almost immediately.

The funeral arrangements were extensive.

The Emperor’s body was prepared according to Imperial tradition.

The great hall was transformed for the lying-in-state.

The Imperial Guard was assigned to the funeral procession.

Invitations were sent to the highest-ranking nobles and foreign representatives.

Every detail had to be arranged with precision.

There could be no mistakes.

Not now.

Not when the entire Empire was watching its new Emperor.

Adrian attended the preparations personally.

He reviewed the procession route.

Approved the placement of the Imperial Guard.

Read the list of foreign delegations.

Confirmed the order in which the senior members of the Imperial family would appear.

He did everything expected of him.

And yet, every so often, his eyes would settle on some small detail and remind him of the man who was no longer there to see it.

His father’s funeral.

He would oversee it himself.

There was no question of that.

He would stand beside the coffin.

He would receive the condolences.

He would lead the Empire through its mourning.

He would do everything a son was expected to do.

And everything an Emperor was required to do.

There would be time for everything else afterward.

--

The days following the Emperor’s death passed beneath a heavy silence.

The capital remained in mourning.

The Emperor’s body lay in state, and the people were permitted to pay their final respects.

The Imperial banners remained lowered.

The streets were quieter than usual.

Even the court seemed to have lost some of its usual movement.

Behind the palace walls, however, there was little rest.

Adrian had been Emperor for only a matter of days, yet every hour brought another decision.

The funeral preparations continued.

The provinces had been notified.

Foreign courts had sent their condolences.

The military had received the necessary instructions.

And the investigation into the Emperor’s illness continued.

Adrian sat behind his desk, reading the latest report, when his secretary entered.

"Your Majesty. Lord Merrow is here."

Adrian looked up.

"Send him in."

The secretary bowed and withdrew.

A moment later, Lord Merrow entered.

The Minister of War closed the door behind him before approaching the desk.

"Your Majesty."

"Merrow."

Adrian gestured toward the chair.

"Sit."

Merrow did so.

Adrian set the report aside.

"How are the funeral preparations?"

"Proceeding as planned. The military arrangements are already in place. The procession route has been secured, and the guard assignments have been finalized."

"And the foreign delegations?"

"Most have confirmed their attendance."

"Good."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Adrian looked toward the documents on his desk.

"The Duke of Ashford."

Merrow’s expression remained neutral.

"He remains outside the capital."

"I know."

"He has made no attempt to force entry."

"I would expect nothing less."

Adrian leaned back.

"He will want to attend the funeral."

"Yes."

"He should be allowed to."

Merrow looked at him.

"Your Majesty?"

"He is the Emperor’s nephew."

Adrian’s voice remained even.

"Refusing him outright would create unnecessary questions."

Merrow nodded.

"Of course."

Adrian rose and walked toward the window.

The capital stretched beneath him.

"The mourning period will pass," he said. "Eventually, the restrictions will be lifted."

"And the Duke will return."

"Yes."

Adrian turned.

"I don’t want him to."

Merrow was silent.

There was no explanation.

No mention of anything personal.

Only the order.

"The Duke is second in the line of succession," Merrow said carefully.

"I know."

"And keeping him away indefinitely would be difficult."

"I don’t intend to keep him away indefinitely."

Adrian returned to his desk.

"Only long enough."

Merrow studied him.

Adrian gave him nothing more.

Merrow had served him long enough to recognize when there was a question he was not expected to ask.

Whatever had happened between the Emperor and the Duke of Ashford, it was not Merrow’s concern.

Perhaps the Duke had offended him.

Perhaps the broken wedding had left some grievance between them.

Perhaps Adrian simply regarded his cousin as an obstacle now that he occupied the throne.

Merrow did not know.

And he did not need to know.

The Emperor had given him a task.

That was enough.

"He will request permission to attend the funeral," Adrian said.

"Yes."

"Grant it."

Merrow waited.

"But he does not enter the capital."

A pause.

"Then where will he be taken?"

"That is your concern."

Merrow’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Adrian continued.

"Tell him that, given the circumstances surrounding His Majesty’s death, additional security measures are required."

"That would be reasonable."

"Necessary."

Merrow nodded.

"And he will be escorted?"

"By Imperial security."

"His own guards?"

Adrian considered it.

"Let him decide."

Merrow understood.

If Cassian chose to leave his own men behind, there would be fewer complications.

And Cassian was unlikely to object.

He was coming to pay his final respects to his uncle, not to challenge the new Emperor.

Adrian looked at Merrow.

"He must have no reason to suspect anything."

"I understand."

The words were simple.

But Merrow’s mind was already working.

The Duke would arrive.

He would be separated from his security.

He would be placed under Imperial escort.

And then something could happen.

An accident.

An escape attempt.

A struggle.

There were many possibilities.

Adrian did not ask him to explain.

He merely said:

"I don’t want the Duke returning to the capital."

Merrow held his gaze.

"Understood."

Adrian’s voice remained calm.

"See that he doesn’t."

Merrow bowed.

"As you command, Your Majesty."

He turned toward the door.

"Merrow."

The minister stopped.

Adrian looked at him.

"Nothing connects this to the Crown."

Merrow’s expression did not change.

"Nothing will."

He left.

The door closed behind him.

Adrian remained alone.

He looked down at the reports on his desk.

His father’s funeral was approaching.

For the next few days, the Empire would be watching him.

He would stand beside his father’s coffin.

He would mourn him.

He would perform every duty expected of a son and an Emperor.

Everything else could wait.

Merrow would handle the matter.

Adrian did not need to know precisely how.

He had simply made his intention clear.

And Merrow was an ambitious man.

He had served Adrian when he had only been the heir.

Now Adrian was Emperor.

Whatever Merrow believed the Duke had done, whatever slight he imagined lay behind the Emperor’s order, it made no difference.

He would carry it out.

Adrian picked up the next report.

--

Tbc

AN: and this is where everything changes and Adrian becomes our central character. Anyway, all is fair in love and war. Dont hate! Hehehe also, if you read my old novel, don’t be too surprised.

If you’re still with me, the next volume is coming after the next few Chapters.

Thank you for reading! Please say Hi in the comment section if you’re still with me!