War had arrived.
It was not only the golden knight who brought the news. Within the Imperial Palace, the court nobles had also learned of the Church of Dawn's armies through supernatural means and delivered the information to the Council of Elders.
They could wait no longer. Besides, most of them understood that Floyd was the most suitable choice.
The Empire's Electors, especially its former Electors, were not merely estranged from the former emperor. Those marquises had also established new interest groups and political factions in their respective provinces.
Put simply, if the Marquis of Hot Springs became emperor, the nobles of Hot Spring Province and all those whose interests had become entwined with his over the years would undoubtedly benefit the most. He would certainly entrust them with important positions.
Floyd was different. Too little time had passed, leaving him with only one natural ally: Count Teton.
His father-in-law.
Floyd had no other staunch allies. Even Count Clayton had only gained an early advantage through proximity; they had formed no close ties beforehand.
The nobles of the Empire's other provinces could tolerate the presence of a single noble like Count Teton. After all, leaving the emperor without even one ally would be bullying him too far.
But any more would be taking liberties.
Any more, and they would begin swallowing up the interests the others held.
For now, Floyd could be considered an almost pristine blank slate.
Floyd became Columbus V of the Florian Empire.
The Imperial Capital bloomed with flowers once again, and Floyd received his Flower of Heaven wreath.
But it was fleeting, and devoid of joy.
The emergence of a new emperor could not erase the death of his predecessor. Just as with the nobles' loyalty, they could not stand by time and again, watching their