Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

The Imperial Council Chamber had been filled quickly after the first match had ended. The 15 noble houses took their seats, one seat vacant for the fallen house.

Empress Alexia sat at the head. To her right sat Princess Liona, her eyes still slightly red-rimmed despite her best efforts to appear calm. Chancellor Levenhart and Archmage Marcus stood behind the Empress, as was tradition for imperial advisors.

"This emergency council is now in session," Levenhart announced, his voice cutting through the tense murmurs. "The topic before us is the unexpected return of Grim Van Ambrose, heir to House Ambrose, previously believed deceased."

Lord Julius Luminaris was the first to speak, his aristocratic features set in a scowl. "Previously believed? The boy faked his death and hid for twelve years. That’s not ’previously believed.’ That’s deliberate deception of the Crown."

"A deception we apparently facilitated," Lord Terras countered, his face flushed with anger. "My son is humiliated, and I demand to know why imperial resources were used to protect a boy who should have faced justice twelve years ago for maiming my heir." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Empress Alexia raised a hand, silencing them both. "Let us be clear.... We had no knowledge that Grim Van Ambrose survived the incident twelve years ago. The body presented was examined and confirmed deceased by imperial physicians."

"Then those physicians were incompetent or complicit," Lady Mei of House Zhou said calmly, her fingers steepled before her. "Either way, we face a situation where a supposedly dead heir has returned with considerable power and unknown intent."

"His intent seems clear enough," Lady Seraphina of House Thorne observed dryly. "He registered for a tournament where the prize is a request the Empress cannot refuse. One doesn’t need to be a tactical genius to see the strategy."

Archmage Marcus stepped forward. "What concerns me more than his intent is his capability. The level of mastery he demonstrated over the Celestial Mist Sword Dao is that of the White Death."

"He didn’t even draw a weapon," Lord Harmon of House Vess added, a note of reluctant admiration in his voice. "Completely dominated the match without landing a single blow until the very end."

Lord Terras scoffed. "My son was caught off guard by a ghost story. The element of surprise—nothing more."

"With respect, Lord Terras," Marcus replied carefully, "your son is not unskilled. Three mana hearts and mastery of the Serene Wind Sword Dao make him a formidable opponent by any measure."

"He’s decent," Lady Mei acknowledged with a shrug. "Middle tier at best."

"He was using wind techniques against a water practitioner," Lord Julius interjected, clearly enjoying Lord Terras’s discomfort. "He should have had every advantage."

The Empress tapped her fingers against the table, drawing all eyes back to her. "Regardless of the technical aspects, we face a political and security question. Grim Van Ambrose has returned from exile with skills of someone who has cultivated for decades, claiming a name and title we all believed extinct."

"And what of Rowan Van Ambrose?" Lord Celestin asked, speaking for the first time. "If the son lives, what of the father?"

A heavy silence fell over the room. The disappearance of Rowan Van Ambrose the same night his son supposedly died had been a mystery none had solved satisfactorily.

"We have no evidence that Lord Rowan survived," Levenhart stated carefully.

"We had ’evidence’ his son was dead too," Lady Thorne pointed out.

Princess Liona, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke. "Grim’s return could be beneficial to the Empire." All eyes turned to her in surprise. "House Ambrose was one of the oldest bloodlines, with techniques and knowledge dating back to the founding. That legacy appeared lost. Now, it may not be."

"A fair point, Princess," Julius Luminaris conceded, his tone softening slightly. "Though it raises the question of legitimacy. If he wishes to reclaim his house’s position, there are protocols."

"Protocols that never anticipated a heir returning from the dead," Chancellor Levenhart noted dryly.

"The tournament continues tomorrow," Empress Alexia said, bringing the discussion back to immediate concerns. "Until it concludes, Grim Van Ambrose will be treated as any other competitor. However," she added, her voice hardening, "I want increased security and surveillance. Archmage Marcus, assign your best mages to monitor his activities."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"What if he wins?" Lady Mei asked the question everyone had been considering. "What if he asks for something that threatens imperial stability?"

"The terms of the tournament prize are specific," Levenhart reminded them. "Her Majesty may refuse any request that endangers the Empire."

"And who determines that danger?" Lord Terras demanded. "I say his very presence is a threat!"

"Your objectivity is compromised, Terras," Julius said dismissively. "Your son lost fair and square—again."

Before Lord Terras could respond, Princess Liona raised her hand slightly. "Perhaps we should consider approaching him directly. Twelve years is a long time. His intentions may be simpler than we fear."

Empress Alexia considered her daughter carefully. "Do you volunteer for this task, Liona?"

A moment of silence hung between them, laden with unspoken meaning.

"I do," Liona answered finally.

"Absolutely not," Lord Luminaris interjected forcefully. "With respect, Your Majesty, Princess Liona’s engagement to my son is to be announced after the tournament. Sending her to meet with a man who clearly harbors unknown motives would be inappropriate at best, dangerous at worst."

The Empress’s gaze remained locked with her daughter’s. Something passed between them, a silent communication none in the room could understand.

"We will consider all options," Alexia said at last. "For now, we observe. The tournament continues, and with it, our opportunity to learn more about what Grim Van Ambrose has become.... and what he wants."

"And what of House Ambrose’s holdings?" Lady Thorne inquired pragmatically. "The estates were divided among other houses years ago."

"Another matter for another time," Levenhart stated firmly. "First, we must—"

His words cut off abruptly as the temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Near the ornate double doors through which they had all entered, a thin tendril of mist began seeping through the crack beneath. It spread along the floor, pale and ethereal, seeming to pulse with its own rhythm.

"What in the—" Lord Terras began.

Archmage Marcus moved swiftly to the Empress’s side, his hands already forming protective sigils. "No one move," he commanded, authority overriding protocol.

The mist continued to spread, curling around the legs of chairs, reaching toward the center of the room with ghostly fingers.

Every eye in the chamber fixed on the inexorable advance of the mist, and on the door from which it emerged..... the only exit from the Imperial Council Chamber.