Morning light was slow to arrive in the Northern Frontier, as ever.
Snow piled up silently outside the window, and light seeped through the heavy curtains in a faint, pale glow.
Louis woke and turned to look. On his left, Emily lay curled beneath the covers, her blue hair spread across the pillow and a faint smile on her lips.
On his right, Sif slept with her arms around his arm. Her silver-white hair had been cut short again and fanned out beside her neck. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as though she were dreaming.
As Louis watched them, his expression softened despite himself.
Only their breathing and the faint crackle of the fireplace could be heard. The room was so warm and peaceful that he hated to disturb it.
Louis rose gently, draped on his outer robe, and took care not to jostle them.
A candle burned beside the fireplace, and a faint scent of pine resin lingered in the air.
He raised his hand and summoned that familiar blue light. Faint ripples of energy spread through the air.
[Daily Intelligence System update complete] [1: Fourth Imperial Prince Rhein bribed Mace, head of the Inspectorate. Mace agreed to propose restoring the Elector System at next year's Dragon Throne Conference.] [2: Duke Calvin has decided to separate Louis from the Calvin Trading Company and draft a new contract under a partnership framework.] [3: Sif is pregnant. In ten months, she will give birth to a daughter for Louis Calvin.]
Louis stared at the first entry, his brows lifting slightly.
The Elector System was an old institution dating back to the Founding Emperor's reign.
The Eight Great Families had been known as the Electors. They were the earliest vassals to follow the Founding Emperor, and at the Empire's founding,