Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 655 - 381: The Chaotic Dragon Throne Council (Part 1)
The morning mist slowly dissipated from the stone paths of the Imperial Capital.
Eleanor Calvin sat upright in the carriage, her fingertips resting on the wooden frame of the window, tapping gently with the light jostle of the wheels.
She had been residing in the Imperial Capital for over a decade, and was well acquainted with the undercurrents here.
Yet, today’s Dragon Throne meeting brought her an unusual sense of calm.
It felt as though, no matter how fierce the storm, it wouldn’t affect her.
Last night, a secret letter arrived at the Kite Tower residence from the southeast coast.
It was a handwritten order from her brother; the content was brief, essentially stating: "Do not take a stand, do not express opinions, watch how others act."
There was no mention of supporting anyone, no attempt to seek anything.
Not even a note of caution, as if the entire power struggle in the Imperial Capital was irrelevant to the Calvin Clan.
Eleanor closed the letter. As the long-time representative of her family, she understood her brother’s true intentions after reading it.
The Southeast Province, distant from the Imperial Capital and connected to the Church Authority Country and overseas trade routes, no longer prioritized central disputes.
No matter who ascends to the throne, they would ultimately need to rely on the ports and trading fleets of the Southeast to maintain the Empire’s lifeline.
Therefore, they need not take sides, compete for power, or stand out.
The Southeast Calvin Family has always been like this, never vying for temporary brilliance, engaging with multiple sides, only backing the winner at the last moment.
They might not win much, but they never fail.
With this posture of always being in the midst of the wind yet never being swept away, they are called fence-sitters and old foxes among the Eight Great Clans.
But to the Calvin Clan, anything that ensures the family’s longevity for millennia is irrelevant, even considered a compliment.
Of course, the stability of the Southeast was never passively formed; it was always preemptively planned.
For example, even if they openly stand opposed to the Church Authority Country, they have quietly discussed feasible escape routes through the Fifth Prince.
That is not an alliance, but a plan to provide the family with one more direction and option.
Hence, with the Emperor missing, the Imperial Capital in disarray, the Military Council and Civil Service Academy at loggerheads, and the nobility across the regions restless,
the Southeast Calvin Clan remained as stable as a harbor far from the tsunami, untouched by even the waves.
The carriage continued toward the Imperial Hall, as Eleanor leaned against the carriage wall, exhaled gently, her mood becoming increasingly relaxed.
The. topics for today’s meeting were whether the Regent King could still handle state affairs, whether the Military Council could expand its military authority, and whether to revisit the succession order.
Any one of these three issues could shake the Imperial Capital enough to topple castles.
Eleanor knew for certain that today, the Fourth Prince Rhine would make his move; his actions were too obvious, almost the entire Imperial Capital knew what he was brewing.
The fact that all the princes would be present slightly heightened her vigilance.
It implied that the issue of succession was tacitly acknowledged as open; the Regent King needed the princes to stabilize the situation; the Military Council wanted to capitalize on their influence; the Civil Servant faction wanted to provoke sparks through them.
This would be a meeting forcibly torn apart.
When the carriage stopped, Eleanor looked up. The shadows of twelve ancient emblem plaques extended long on either side of the steps in the morning light, as if these old symbols were secretly witnessing the division of today.
The attendant opened the carriage door, Eleanor adjusted her cloak, disembarked, and walked into the Imperial Hall.
The eternal flame still burned quietly deep in the dome, but it lacked the usual commanding presence.
Eleanor’s gaze swept quickly over the various representatives.
The Western Territory nobles huddled too close, seemingly confirming their stakes for the last time, the Southern Territory representative’s fingers rubbed incessantly at their cuff, displaying uncontrollable nerves, while the emerging alliance formed a tight circle.
Unlike three years ago when the Emperor was present, although the nobility still sat upright, of course, due to noble etiquette.
They no longer pretended to be submissive, their voices clearer than before, as if the array used to control echoes had been deliberately weakened.
Low murmurs scattered in the hall, voices fragmented like gravel rolling over stone.
Then the Imperial Hall suddenly fell silent for a moment as a certain military figure’s unique and steady aura entered the hall.
Kaelin Auguste took his seat.
His entire presence was like a Battle Blade newly drawn, not overly sharp, yet compelling others to recoil in the cold light.
And his left arm moved naturally, showing no trace of old scars.
Externally, he appeared intact, calm, strong, even more fitting of an imperial successor than before.
Eleanor keenly observed the reactions of surrounding nobles; the Military Council and legion representatives noticeably relaxed their shoulders, while the expressions of the Civil Servant faction darkened slightly, several local nobles quickly restrained their expressions, and the new nobles even inadvertently showed reverence.
The usual judgment of the Imperial Capital reemerged; as long as the Second Prince stood firm, he remained the banner of the Military Council.
But Eleanor saw deeper; the Second Prince’s entire demeanor was excessively rigid, it wasn’t composure, it was as if he was overexerting himself.
And shortly after the Second Prince took his seat, Rhine Auguste, the Fourth Prince, also entered the prince’s area.
His entrance was silent, without any oppressive atmosphere, yet the Civil Servants instinctively adjusted their seating, gathering around him as a focal point.
Upon sitting down, he began reviewing dossiers, his actions poised and deliberate, as if he would control the entire pace of the meeting.
He didn’t glance at Second Prince Kaelin, but it made Kaelin’s suppressed anger even more palpable.
The two were like a cold blade and a hard hammer, destined to clash today, Eleanor thought silently.
At the edge of the prince’s area sat a third person, Lampard Westrione.
