"The emperor of the Empire and the four grand dukes were all commanding the war in the South, yet the ever-lengthening front lines and the brutal fighting had brought a series of problems with them."
"Compensation for the nobles, the transport of logistics and supplies, the dispatch of armies and the maintenance of roads, greater support from the nobles for the war, and within all that...
"This required decision-makers, and there was no one in the Imperial Capital who could settle matters with a single word."
Floyd's words echoed among the nobles. The news from the Imperial Capital was no secret by now, and the nobles all understood what Floyd wanted to do. But at this moment, before an army of hundreds of thousands, Floyd's prestige stood supreme. He carried the radiance of the victory he had just won, so much so that none of the nobles had recovered enough to think of what they should do to stop him.
"The Council of Elders' proposal is correct. We need an assembly that can provide the Empire with all manner of administrative assistance when the emperor is not in the Imperial Capital." Floyd's ringing voice fell. The nobles hesitated and gritted their teeth, yet none dared step forward. Their gazes all landed on the grand dukes. Grand Duke Mayers' face was dark. He had to find a way to stop this.
"Your Majesty, the Empire today has no need for the Council of Elders to exist. Moreover, a hundred years ago, the Council of Elders once made the Empire run with blood. Countless nobles died because of the folly of those fallen elders."
"Columbus's Empire should not have such a Council of Elders. Allowing them to live out their old age is already His Majesty the Emperor's mercy."
"We should not