Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 656: Chapter 381: Chaotic Dragon Throne Council (Part 1)

On the surface, he seemed ordinary, unlike the insignia of the Military Department, nor the center of the Civil Servant faction.

He was just quiet, natural, and stable, so much so that none of the ministers spared him a glance.

Others didn’t realize it, but Elinor saw clearly that he was the most dangerous one among the three princes.

Lampard didn’t need to speak up in the meeting because his plans weren’t even in this hall.

More crucial was the invisible thread between the Calvin Clan and him, known only to Elinor.

Elinor tidied her cuffs, deliberately avoiding looking at him.

After all, in this place, even a single glance might expose the Calvin Clan’s true plans.

Elinor let her gaze sweep over but made a calm judgment in her mind: This was a simultaneous, tri-fold fracture.

And today, the Calvin Clan would remain silent. We only need to watch who moves first, who falls first."

The everlasting flame swayed on the dome, the blue light falling on her cheek, giving away none of her thoughts to others.

When everyone was seated, a floating sound of footsteps emerged from the depths of the Imperial Hall.

The everlasting flame on the chandelier swayed slightly, the faint blue light traced the steps, guiding all eyes in the hall to one direction.

Regent King Arnolds entered the hall.

The air tightened slightly, as though the Imperial Hall suddenly remembered the order it ought to maintain.

Elinor first noticed his gait.

Straight, steady, neither tremulous nor floating.

His shoulders were level, breathing even, demeanor calm as if his frailty had never wavered him.

If she hadn’t known beforehand, she might almost have believed the Regent King’s condition had improved recently.

It seemed the effect of the ochre leaf essence was nearly perfect on him.

And the uninformed nobility reacted: "The Regent King looks well today."

"It appears he can endure the whole meeting."

These whispers quickly spread among the seats, soothing several previously restless expressions.

Half a step behind the Regent King, Steward Linz quietly accompanied him.

His stride matched the Regent King’s precisely, posture upright, expression unchanged, as if supporting the Empire’s etiquette and face upon his own shoulders.

These two were like beams painstakingly propping up the Empire’s dilapidated house, but at the slightest touch, cracks would reveal.

The Regent King slowly seated himself upon the Black Obsidian Throne.

At this moment, the hall finally fell completely silent, everyone waiting for him to speak.

However, Arnolds did not immediately speak, merely settled in serenely, hand resting at the seat’s side, breathing steady to the point of restraint.

This brief silence, more unsettling than any command.

At this point, Linz stepped forward, standing before the Black Obsidian Throne.

The echo array of the Imperial Hall remained operational, but its suppressive force was far lesser than when the Emperor was present.

The blue light of the everlasting flame spilled from the dome, casting every face colder and clearer, leaving no one able to fully hide their expressions.

Linz unfurled the scroll, his movements steady, as though maintaining an order on the verge of dispersal.

His voice wasn’t loud, yet bore the unique authority of a long-serving Royal Attendant, as if any command spoken by him would automatically hold power:

"Gentlemen, the Dragon Throne Conference begins, this time being particularly special, proposed by His Highness the Regent King, for all princes to attend and discuss imperial matters together."

Once his words fell, an unnatural stillness filled the hall, not solemn, but tense.

Because everyone understood the implication behind those words:

All princes present meant the issue of succession had now been laid bare.

Elinor could almost feel the air quiver slightly at this moment, as if some old imperial rule was breaking now.

Linz continued to read the agenda, his tone calm as always: "Item one, border military affairs report. Item two, the current state of Imperial finances. Item three, provincial autonomy applications. Item four, discussion on the execution method of royal power."

With each item read, the nobles’ gazes sharpened as if touching upon each of their fatal weaknesses.

Border military affairs fell within the Second Prince’s sphere of influence, Imperial finances involved the interests of various families, provincial autonomy was the last line of defense for the nobility, and the execution method of royal power touched upon the core of succession...

Elinor noticed an increasingly stark contrast; the steadier Linz’s voice was, the more agitated the hall’s atmosphere became.

As if his effort to encapsulate order only highlighted the tension in that order, ready to crack at any moment.

Just as Linz was about to announce "begin discussions in sequence," a chair leg slid softly against the stone surface, breaking the silence abruptly.

The Second Prince, Kaelin, stood up.

His actions were crisp, neat, and without hesitation, and not a soul saw any vulnerability in his stance.

The clamor of the Imperial Hall seemed clenched by a hand, tightening in an instant.

Kaelin’s voice overrode the protocol, calling out as on the battlefield: "The Military Department must immediately gain emergency control power."

A single sentence ignited a spark of unrest like wildfire across the hall.

Kaelin gave no room for anyone to react, continuing to dominate the floor, advancing step by step: "Several border defenses have fallen in the past month. Continuing to debate minutiae now is digging a grave for the Empire."

His tone wasn’t fervent, yet pressed relentlessly from the front of the hall to the back.

Representatives from the Military Department and legion nodded immediately, as if someone finally spoke on their behalf, with some new border nobles even displaying expressions that seemed to say, "Finally, someone speaks the truth"...

Kaelin raised his voice, ensuring all could hear: "The Regent King’s condition is still not healed, military power requires temporary custodianship. I suggest the Military Department temporarily assume command until the situation reverses."