Before George could leave his seat, the herald stepped forward and reached out for him. They had to announce the third issue at the hearing. The heir of the Claymore family.

"Your Excellency, there is a third item on the hearing agenda." There was nothing more to add to his words. George smiled briefly before addressing the court in a calm and steady voice.

"As everyone present is aware, the Claymore family has yet to name an official heir. We, the elders, took our time deciding who would carry the legacy." People stiffened. Elliot Marina Claymore, his biological son, was on the call about the Blue Ether Project, but he was cut off. There was something wrong.

Damian gestured with his right hand for George to continue. The ring with the imperial seal sparkled slightly in the dim light of the afternoon.

Time passed faster than he expected, and the hearing would last another one or two hours before he could leave for his other duties. There had to be court members named for the coming-of-age ball, along with their responsibilities; he could see the headaches he would cause himself.

Damian sighed softly and began to play with his golden fountain pen. He would have a very long day, perhaps a year ahead of him.

Edward observed the tension in his master body. They had been working together for years, and he knew Damian since he was a child. Something bothered him, and he was certain that a disaster would soon strike the court. The Emperor kept his temper under control, but the old bloods had been testing him lately.

George took a short breath before continuing, "After months of discussions and careful deliberations, we came to a decision. The heir to the Claymore family will be Maximilian Thornwell, soon to be Maximilian Claymore. I hope you can understand that the Claymore family chooses it's heir not by direct blood but by merit. Maximilian has demonstrated to all of us in recent years his ability to lead the family." George let the announcement fall on the crowd.

His words reverberated throughout the noble party, while the commoners' representatives were eager to embrace a shift in the upper social class. Maximilian demonstrated more and more that he was capable of ruling alongside the new Emperor and his aids.

Damian had no reaction to the announcement as Max and George; he was silently watching the reaction of the nobles. His golden gaze reached his father. The Marquis of Lyon's calm demeanor could fool anyone except himself. The man was livid.

Damian smiled and spoke with his gaze fixated on the marquis. "I must congratulate the Claymore family. I only hope you will invite us to a party worthy of your heir after the start of the social season."

"We will be honored, Your Majesty." Said George, following his words with a bow, before returning to his place in the room.

"Let's proceed to the administrative parts of the first points on the agenda." Said Damian while shuffling the stack of papers in front of him.

—

It was evening when Damian finally reached his office. Edward stepped out for a few moments to make sure that the dinner would be ready to serve. He let out a long sigh and undid the golden clasp of his imperial robe; he trew it on an armchair with a fling of his strong arm. He was exhausted and there was more paperwork to handle before he would be in line with the schedule.

One of the double doors opened, letting Maximilian and Astana, his secretary, enter the office. A guard closed the door and took his post.

"You really didn't joke about putting my ass to work on that damned ball." Max trew himself onto the armchair facing the one with the robe. He looked at it for a second, thinking it looked heavy.

"No, I didn't. We need to make sure that we control anything that is going to happen in those days. I don't trust Hadeon. He will not stay still now that you got to be officially named the heir of a ducal house." Damian took his seat at the desk and started looking at the papers that Astana was handing him.

"I'm sure he will do something; as you mentioned to the members of the court, I will receive the title officially after the ball. Let's say at most in three months. This is plenty of time for him to take action."

"Agreed, keep an eye out in Ashmont. Oh, I remembered, don't you have to be somewhere this afternoon?" The Emperor smirked before shifting his gaze away from the papers and toward his brother's silhouette, lounged in the chair.

"I do; Uncle George asked me to wait for him. We will use one of the portals. Gabriel fainted after the call. I guess you scared the young man." Maximilian's tone was cheerful, but Damian detected a hint of concern from his younger brother.

"I do not think so; he was ready to rip apart anyone who was to blame for his data not being received properly. That reminds me..." Damian separated the papers into two stacks after sorting them and leaned back in his chair before speaking with Astana. "Call the head of the Magical Ministry's Department of Research to my office tomorrow morning. I want to know what happened to the pilot documents."

Astana flinched slightly before regaining his composure. "I will make sure that they will be present before 10 AM." Damian nodded and shifted his gaze to his brother.

"Shouldn't you be with your sick future partner? Take George and go see him. I want him and all his generation out of the palace. They really want me to die young with all this paperwork."

Max rose from his seat and said, "I will leave you alone, Astana, so that he does not die of exhaustion. That type of work can wait."

"Oh, you do love your brother after all." Damian responded while handing over signed documents to Astana.

"I do." Max said he was leaving the office.