Adarin howled with laughter in the privacy of his mental combat space.

  This. This was so Rüdiger.

  The craftsmanship of the move. It was utterly brilliant. Cut down an arrogant ally and lay the foundation for re-educating those who had merely followed the cold fist of necessity and prudence.

  After all, blaming the sheep for running from the wolves was a futile exercise. No, the sheep were what any government needed—and Rüdiger had just neutered a wolf while buying the breeding stock for a new herd.

  The Duchess seemed to be in shock, which was entirely understandable.

  So it will weaken her prestige. Good.

  Rüdiger made a wide gesture.

  “Ja, ja. You have a minute to consider it. Give me your answer then.”

  He turned around.

  “Archmage Matilda Tannenwald.”

  The grey-haired, stern woman walked over, her face somewhere between grim acceptance, grim amusement, and just plain grim as she approached the leader of her order.

  “Do you accept your appointment as the Second Consul of Economics, leading this glorious nation and republic to success while being loyal and blah blah blah…”

  Adarin noticed a flicker of amusement in Archmage Matilda’s eyes. She bowed deeply.

  “I accept the honor you bestow onto me, Archmagister von Erlenwald.”

  Rüdiger clapped his hands.

  “Very well. Duchess Viola, what is your decision?”

  He spoke that almost hurriedly, as if he had not just asked a prisoner to take on one of the highest offices of government, but was merely taking care of a formality.

  Adarin studied her again. She wasn’t broken. She was strong.

  Liora tightened next to him.

  'What is he doing?'

  'I…' Adarin explained, and frowned as he saw Liora’s eyes grow wide.

  I need to coach her in self-control. With her power, with her position as a favored disciple... she’ll be eaten alive otherwise. Fuck. Should’ve taken care of this before the politics started. Well. Another thing on my long to-do list.

  That was when Count Marquardt exploded.

  “Margrave! What in the names of the Demiurges are you—”

  Rüdiger spun, his extended fingers shooting forward like a dagger, pointed straight and precisely—unflinchingly—at the throat of the man glowing with dangerous purple light.

  “Count,” he spat the word again, this time laced with true disgust.

  “You interrupt my ceremony for your aggrandizement, and now you dare insult me in front of everyone here?”

  Rüdiger began floating up in the air, the purple glow intensifying.

  “Whatever shall I do with you for this?”

  The Count’s eyes widened, and Adarin noticed how both the Count’s and Rüdiger’s soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons.

  Rüdiger tsked his tongue.

  “Ah yes, I know. I shall make you one of my consuls of War.”

  Another wave of silence.

  The Margrave gaped at Rüdiger in utter confusion.

  “What?”

  Rüdiger looked at the man, and Adarin could practically see him dismissing several sarcastic responses to that gem of a setup. Then Rüdiger repeated, his voice utterly formal, straight, and perfectly serious:

  “I have decided that your experience of local combat and your dedication to the defense of the humans of these lands—who are my citizens now—or…” Rüdiger tilted his head. “Well, will be. But who is splitting hairs here? Well, I am, anyway. Where was I...”

  He snapped his fingers three times and then pointed at the confused Count again.

  “Yes! You will serve me as a Consul at the head of the Ministry of War. Should be a position quite befitting your station and deeds, should it not?”

  Adarin saw the Count rally.

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  “Will there be... will there be a co-counselor for me as well?”

  “Yes, obviously. It’s a consular system, after all, so you must always act with the mutual veto and the Arbitration Council in mind to lead this glorious nation through consensus and compromise.”

  He made another gesture, and the young, elegantly dressed mage Adarin had noticed earlier stepped forward.

  “My dear disciple, may I introduce to you Count Marquardt of Hohenfels. Count, this is Francesco Martinez—not only a disciple of my magic, but also of my education. He is like a son to me, so I expect you to pay him the same courtesy he will pay to you. Though do not hesitate to disagree with him, for he is sometimes...”

  He looked with a fatherly smile at him.

  “...zealously lost in his own brilliance.”

  A brief flicker of irritation ran through Francesco’s eyes, but apparently he was used to the backhanded compliments Rüdiger was so fond of handing out.

  “Master, it would be an honor to act in this role for you.”

  Adarin’s mind ran a million miles per hour.

  Was I another candidate? Well, we don’t know each other that long, and he seems to know enough about my political background. Or maybe... hmm. Does he need me for something else? Or does he plan to sideline me? And what could I do in either case?

  He looked around the hall.

  Mages, soldiers, bureaucrats—all loyal to the Order of the Invisible Hand. Loyal to the myth that was Rüdiger.

  This would be interesting.

  Adarin smirked as he noticed how Liora’s lips spread into a smile while she studied the elegant southern features of Francesco Martinez.

  So I guess Johan is out. Well, he had a good run, given how the two of them met.

  Rüdiger made another wide gesture.

  “As for the last Ministry—Princess, step forward and explain the system of ministries and councilship for all those present, so our honored dignitaries understand the future.”

  A woman several people down the inner circle from Adarin straightened up. With her chin raised and not a beat of hesitation, she walked into the center, between the two obelisks.

  “I am Princess Jacqueline, fifth in line to the Throne of the Western Isles.”

  Silence fell over the crowd.

  Adarin noticed how both Duchess and Count gasped.

  “But here, that title bears no importance,” she continued, “as I keep reminding the honored Margrave. Here, I am representing the interests of the Guild of Limited Liability and all those who have invested their money and faith into the Order, into our great project.”

  She stepped confidently into the circle.

  “I shall be one of the counselors of the land, responsible for settlement, distribution, and the welfare of its people.”

  She made a precise gesture, pointing at both Francesco and Count Marquardt.

  “The Ministry of War should be self-explanatory.”

  She began pacing, eyes meeting those of the gathered assembly one by one.

  Adarin noticed how Liora was admiring the elegance with which the woman, not much older than her, moved.

  I know her type, Adarin thought. Dangerous but useful.

  He smiled.

  And also attractive.

  “We are at war. We are surrounded by enemies. What we do spits in the face of the Crusade and the Church. The Conclave has only accepted the Order for its combat power. We are practitioners of dark magic.”

  She pointed to the black obelisk.

  “Any noble here who has not yet understood that we spit in the face of land rights with our constitution should come talk to me after this meeting. There are things that must be understood.”

  She paused briefly.

  “Finally, the Ministry of Economics.”

  Adarin chuckled.

  So this is the slow breakdown for the dumb kids. Still interesting. She’s the only thing Rüdiger choreographed. But how much did he know about what Count Marquardt had planned?

  This man would have thrived in the Old Empire.

  “Many of you may be confused about the appointment of the Duchess of Wehrfurt. Do not be. She has a well-known track record as a humanitarian, and her actions are aligned with the welfare and condition of the people we strive to create in this land.”

  She turned slightly.

  “And I hope no one in this room requires any introduction to Archmagister Matilda.”

  She smiled coldly.

  Rüdiger returned the smile.

  “After all, there would not be an Order of the Invisible Hand without her, for administration is not one of the many strong suits of our glorious leader.”

  Rüdiger cleared his throat.

  “I do insist on being called vainglorious, if you please.”

  A few polite chuckles broke the awkward silence. Rüdiger seemed perfectly satisfied with that.

  “As for the final consul, which must be a question many of you are asking—”

  She looked out across the hall.

  “The Margrave has refused to speak on this matter, so there must be an elaborate and complicated plan that will no doubt surprise all of us.”

  Adarin chortled in the privacy of his mind and saw Liora nearly choke, as did many others.

  “As for now—” she pointed to the buffet, laid out on half-circular tables at the far end of the hall “—let us enjoy the finest dishes that could be imported the long way from civilization. Let us enjoy the foundation of the Republic. Let us enjoy a taste of the future.”

  Adarin let the last words wash over him.

  He felt the attention of Francesco Martinez still drilling into him.

  Intense. Confrontational. Ready for a fight.

  Adarin cracked his knuckles.

  Come on, boy. Throw the first punch.

  Thanks for reading — let me know in the comments what you thought about the chapter!

  Upload Schedule: Mon–Fri at 4:47 PM EST / 10:47 PM CET

  Want more? Want to support my journey towards being a full-time writer? Join my Patreon for 30 extra chapters (6 weeks ahead):