Unable to obtain any more useful information, Hudson, like many provincial governors, could only hurry to the imperial capital first.
Under normal circumstances, the emperor's death would mean the crown prince succeeded directly. But the situation was different now—the prince was too young.
In theory, Caesar IV's son was first in line to inherit the throne. But there was another saying on the Aslant Continent: the state depended on an elder ruler; when an elder brother died, the younger brother succeeded him.
There had even been precedents for this in the history of the Alpha Kingdom!
Without question, this kind of transfer of power that broke the succession order was not something a monarch accepted willingly. More often than not, it was forced upon him.
At the previous court meeting, Caesar IV had clearly stated that the young prince would inherit the throne and had nominated five chief ministers.
Unfortunately, the Conservative Faction opposed it, and the appointments were never approved. That created uncertainty.
If someone within the royal family had ambitions and gained the support of the majority of court officials, then using "the state depended on an elder ruler; when an elder brother died, the younger brother succeeded him" as justification, ascending the throne out of succession order would still be legitimate.
Under such circumstances, if Caesar IV wanted his son to take the throne smoothly, he could not die in a muddle. He had to announce his final edict before the assembled ministers to win more supporters.
Fortunately, these were peaceful times. Had they been living in an age of chaos, even an emperor might not have been able to install his own son on the throne according to his wishes.
"How is His Majesty's health?"
Hudson asked with concern.
Compared to the provincial governors, he,