A few people let out noises of disapproval, but those stopped as soon as the doors opened to admit what appeared to be the entire Caronese royal guard.

For a moment, Darling expected them to attack or arrest him. He’d never seen that many guards at once, except at state functions or during arms’ displays. And anytime more than two approached him, he’d been seized and thrown to the ground, then hauled to wherever his uncle was waiting for him.

But they didn’t attack.

Instead, they came forward to sink to one knee before his throne, and respectfully bow their heads. Darling had an urge to turn around to see if Nykyrian or someone else was standing behind him. But his throne was pushed against the wall. There was no one there.

They really are kneeling to me.

What a mind freak that was…

High Commander Brenton rose to his feet and snapped to a military formal stance. “We are here, Your Majesty, to support whatever military action you wish to take.” He swept his arm out to indicate the men and women with him. “All of us have taken a new blood oath to lay down our lives in service for you. Long reign Emperor Darling Cruel!”

The soldiers with him let out a cry of support.

Yeah, the god Kere was definitely wearing snow gear today.

For them to call him emperor was the ultimate show of respect and support. It was a title reserved for only a small percentage of his family. And no Cruel in the last thousand years had been deemed worthy of it. Unlike governor which was an inherited title, emperor could only be conferred by a unanimous vote between the guard and the five leaders of the CDS.

Stunned to the core of his being, Darling looked over to Captain Harren. He was sure the captain was behind this. He had to be.

Ever since the captain, under Darling’s orders, had found that both Preskitt and Xheris had been viciously wounded by the assassins who’d attacked Darling, his attitude had changed. But for his following Darling’s orders, both men would have died. And since Xheris was his younger brother…

Harren had become a major advocate for Darling.

After the soldiers stood and took up positions inside the hall in support of him, Darling rose to his feet. It wasn’t until that moment that he realized he wasn’t in the robes of a governor. He was actually wearing his red-tinged black Sentella battlesuit. And he’d forgotten to put his tinted glasses on. If his eyes started jerking, they’d all know.

This wasn’t the smartest thing he’d ever done.

Saddest part? It wasn’t the dumbest thing he’d ever done either…

He could only imagine what he must look like dressed to kick the League’s ass with his governor’s harone still in his hair. His ancestors had to be rolling in their graves.

Oh well…

This was his reign… short though it might prove to be.