In truth, no empire can be an empire from the beginning.
There must have been several separate states, and multiple great kings who unified them. Through bloody wars and cunning alliances, through marriage pacts and religious conversions, through trade agreements and shared enemies—the tapestry of imperial unification is always complex. Some kings united through force, others through wisdom, and many through a combination that history would later simplify into legend.
The Emperor has existed for a long time, but systems and cultures have changed frequently. What began perhaps as a military dictatorship evolved into divine kingship, then constitutional monarchy, then something altogether more bureaucratic and impersonal. Religious reforms swept through some eras, while technological revolutions defined others. Laws once sacred became obsolete; traditions once universal were forgotten or transformed beyond recognition.
That’s why the Empire’s culture seems messy compared to Solion. Where Solion presents a facade of cultural and political coherence, a single unbroken tradition of governance and belief, the Empire wears its history like layers of sedimentary rock—each era visible upon close inspection. The contradictions and overlapping systems tell stories of compromise, of pragmatic adaptation to changing circumstances, of conquered peoples whose ways became integrated rather than erased.
There are cities governed by administrators, but there are also noble domains ruled by titled aristocrats. The former represent the Emperor’s direct authority, places where imperial bureaucracy maintains order through appointed officials with standardized training and methods. The latter are remnants of older arrangements, concessions to powerful families whose cooperation was once bought with hereditary privileges that proved difficult to revoke. These parallel systems create inefficiencies but also resilience—when one falters, the other often compensates.
The Avand domain was one such place, nestled between rolling foothills and a river valley that flooded predictably each spring, bringing fertile silt to the farmlands. Its position at the crossroads of two ancient trading routes gave it strategic significance beyond its modest size.
Baron Avand, a domain ruled by a viscount.
Avand is an old city, neither wealthy nor vast. But the people of Avand live with pride in their domain.
The current viscount, Nevan Avand, was not a bad lord.
Though aged, his mind still worked well, and he wasn’t arrogant.
He was respected for generally bestowing good governance on his domain residents.
Such Viscount Nevan didn’t have many children.
Whether it was his constitution, he had only managed to have three.
His firstborn son, who was over thirty.
His second child, a daughter not yet twenty.
And his youngest son, now ten years old.
The age gaps were large.
Though a small family, the relationships between the children weren’t good.
Especially between the siblings.
The eldest, Ivan, was an extremely gloomy person.
He wanted to inherit the domain quickly, and seemed to resent his father for not dying.
Sometimes he acted as if he were already the lord, though he knew nothing about domain affairs.
He also commented on his sister Isla’s marriage prospects.
Apparently, it was the duty of a noble’s daughter to quickly marry into a powerful family.
But Isla knew Ivan’s true intentions.
Ivan yearned for the Imperial Capital.
If he became lord, he might immediately sell Avand and move to the capital.
“My goodness.”
The maid helping with her morning grooming exclaimed.
She was in the middle of combing Isla’s hair.
“Your hair is getting more beautiful by the day.”
“Is it?”
“Yes, it’s like red silk.”
Though Isla’s hair had a slight curl, there was no tangling when combed.
Her abundant deep red hair just rippled like waves.
“How can you be so beautiful?”
Isla raised her chin to look at the mirror in front of her.
A girl was sitting there.
She saw herself wearing a simple white dress.
No, perhaps she was no longer a girl.
The abundant hair, the smooth bridge of her nose and jawline. Even her reddish lips. She was sufficiently mature.
“Now you really could be married… Oh!”
The maid covered her mouth.
Then, looking flustered, she concentrated on combing again.
“…”
Isla didn’t scold the maid.
What could she do about it? As her beauty shone brighter each year, Isla had somewhat guessed her fate.
Especially when she came out after grooming, her brother Ivan would say things like “You’ll fetch a high price…” and other unpleasant remarks.
“Shall we go, miss? Everyone must be waiting.”
“Yes.”
Isla stood up.
It wasn’t as if she had done any extraordinary grooming. It was just the weekly family breakfast.
But today, she couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable.
The maids looked at Isla’s somewhat sad eyes with pity.
“You’ve come.”
The family was already waiting at the dining table.
Ivan clicked his tongue when he saw his sister.
Isla ignored him and sat down.
After the lord said a short blessing, the meal began.
Before Isla could finish spreading honey on her white bread, a scolding flew at her.
“Isla, I heard you went to see the lake without guards.”
“…Yes.”
“Why did you do that?”
It wasn’t an immediate shouting only because her father was kind.
“It’s too noisy if I bring guards. I just wanted to be alone and quiet.”
“How pathetic.”
The one scolding was none other than Ivan.
Her brother seemed to have already heard the story.
“Not knowing your situation, wandering around alone at this crucial moment when you might become Lady of Viscount Zetel’s house?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“What an ill-mannered girl, with nothing but a pretty face and no talents.”
“Ivan!”
The one who stopped her brother was the viscountess.
But Ivan felt wronged instead.
“What? Did I say anything wrong? Viscount Zetel wants her as a daughter-in-law, and refusing that makes no sense. I think we should reverse our decision even now.”
“It’s already settled. Isla said she doesn’t want it.”
“That’s what’s funny. Why would she refuse such an opportunity? If you’re born as a noble’s daughter, you should fulfill a noble’s duties.”
Isla felt something hot rising within her.
A noble’s duties? It was absurd coming from Ivan’s mouth.
It wasn’t something he should say, living in luxury and indulgence while draining the domain’s resources.
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