CHAPTER 6: ISOLATION
In the grand chamber of the Royal Estate, beneath ever-burning torches and crystal chandeliers, the seven heads of the Major Noble Houses of the Grelon Empire convened.
The heavy oak doors sealed shut, and silence descended as the Grand Chancellor, Carmilla Ardour, stepped forward.
Draped in crimson robes, her voice echoed:
"The first matter: Hailey Bates, daughter of Vex Bates, is to become the 2,823rd wife of our Acme, Santis Grelon."
Gasps and groans rippled through the room. Eyes darted between nobles. A jeweled goblet trembled in Esme Ardour's fingers.
"Another?" Esme Ardour, Matriarch of House Ardour, muttered, her tone dripping with disdain. "How long will we keep taking wives for the Acme, hoping for an heir when he hasn't touched a woman since the Empress died?"
Carmilla's jaw tightened. A flicker of heat licked up one of the torches behind her.
A hushed murmur spread through the chamber. Esme voiced the collective unease.
"Vex Bates will not take kindly to his daughter becoming another neglected consort," she added.
Kael Chagrin, patriarch of House Chagrin, chuckled, swirling his wine lazily.
"He offered her, knowing the result. His objections are moot."
Carmilla gave him a cold glance. Her fingers briefly clenched around her scroll.
"We must address the situation in the Western Hemisphere," she continued, her tone sharpening. "The Shurur Empire is growing bolder. We must send reinforcements to the Antilla Islands to prevent their invasion."
"Those islands are rich in Hue—if Shurur claims them, our economy will be at a disadvantage."
"Their Ract Stone mines are flourishing, and our Grellie (Ğ) is falling behind the Shur(Š) currency."
Gaston Gullet, wide-shouldered and grim-faced, slammed his hand on the armrest, causing a ripple in his wine.
"The Western Hemisphere again?" he grumbled. "Why is that still our focus?"
His chair groaned beneath him as he leaned forward.
"You sent our elite, the Blood Covenants, to help Vex Bates—without our counsel!"
"We should be in the Southern Hemisphere. The Shurur Empire has invaded the Barren Lands and Kirk with the Mers Kingdom as their ally."
"The RDU are pleading for our help. You're ignoring them."
Carmilla remained composed, but her fingernails dug into the velvet of her sleeve.
"I made my decision considering the presence of two Fallen Acmes in the Southern Hemisphere," she said quietly.
As the lights flickered.
"The Second Fallen Acme, Lohim Mers of the Mers Kingdom, and the Eighth Fallen Acme, Flow Clique of Westerclique."
She scanned their faces. Most averted their eyes. Except Liam Hubris, who stared at her as if daring her to falter.
"Fallen Acme Lohim Mers has been secluded—his threat is minimal. But Fallen Acme Flow Clique has warned us. Sternly."
"We were told to stay out of Southern affairs."
The chamber grew tense. Kael tapped his boot impatiently. A draft curled through the room, though no windows were open.
Liam Hubris, head of House Hubris, stood. His boots scraped harshly against the marble floor. A match hissed in his fingers as he lit a cigar.
"You backed down over a threat? What do you take the Grelon Empire for?"
"This is why we're no longer feared—because a woman makes the decisions."
He exhaled smoke like a chimney, staring directly at Carmilla.
"Flow Clique never threatened the Shurur Empire. He lets them ally with Mers Kingdom, create slave colonies, and plunder resources."
"He sits idly as they defile the Southern Hemisphere."
Carmilla's eyes narrowed. She held herself still, refusing to rise to his bait.
"The Mers Kingdom is led by a boy king, Zeyne Mers, and his mother, Thessa."
"The Shurur Empire is effectively controlled by the Ninth Fallen Acme Numen Acasta's wives since his disappearance over a decade ago."
"Flow Clique's tolerance of their actions suggests a deeper alliance."
"A direct confrontation could be catastrophic."
A goblet cracked in someone's hand—its shards clinking softly on the floor.
Noa Inertia, serene and pale-eyed, finally spoke.
"She has a point. We have no allies in the Southern Hemisphere."
His voice was calm, but a gentle tremor betrayed the weight of his thoughts.
"Our power stands because we assist Crew County to uphold peace and security on Dyson and the Icosa Galaxy."
"The Hallow Domain is our only true ally and their Dyson Ten."
"They support our Grellie, and their Equi bank backs us because of our policies."
"Break peace and security like Shurur Empire and Mers Kingdom, and we lose the friendship of the wealthiest and most influential families on Dyson."
Kael Chagrin scoffed, tossing his goblet into the fireplace, where it shattered in flame.
"House Inertia's cowardice is legendary. We must reclaim our glory through conquest, not diplomacy and boot licking."
A ripple of agreement passed through the room. Carmilla stepped back. The shadows behind her swelled, but she stood motionless.
With arms crossed and boots on the table, Liam Hubris grinned.
"Let's put it to a vote."
Hands rose. Five in favor of war. Two against.
Esme Ardour and Noa Inertia remained seated. Esme folded her arms and stared hard at the marble floor. Noa closed his eyes.
Carmilla's voice cut through the air, brittle and cold.
"We cannot afford a Southern war. Not with unresolved issues on our borders."
"Our knights are stretched thin—stationed along the Shurur Empire to the north."
"And the Tarturus Empire to the east grows more hostile."
"Their Demon Emperor, the third Fallen Acme Hermon Tarturus, desires our lands."
"He sends his Grand Dukes to stir unrest."
Liam Hubris stood again, puffing on his cigar. Blowing the smoke directly in Grand Chancellor Carmilla Ardour's face.
"You fear too much. Do you have so little faith in our Acme?"
He turned, flinging his cigar to the ground. It rolled near Carmilla's feet.
"The blood of Luca flows through him. Discard your fear, woman."
"We are Imprinters. Do not enslave us with your conservative ideals."
He shoved his chair aside. The others rose, emboldened by his swagger.
Zara Avarice, matriarch of House Avarice, paused at the threshold. Her expression was venomously elegant.
"Your leadership casts doubt on women's capability to rule," she said coldly.
Carmilla didn't reply, though her hand trembled slightly beneath her robes.
Miron Mau, matriarch of House Mau, added with a smirk:
"This is the fate of houses that discard their men—weak and pitiful."
Her laughter echoed through the halls as she disappeared.