Chapter 13: NO MATTER WHAT!..
While the princess is undergoing her test with her master she does not notice that her mother, her mother's Counsel(Lea) as well as another noble man were spectators to the scene.
"The princess truly is one of a kind.", The unknown man standing alongside Consort Tamara says with genuine admiration in his tone.
This noble man standing a steps behind Consort Tamara has his two hands behind his back and he is an ambassador for one of the seven great hands of the Imperial Court – The Edonis Family.
As far as Eclipse of the Ocean is concerned, the Edonis family is one of the Continent's greatest political powerhouses but in the Imperial Court, the family is nothing but the weakest hand that's desperately struggling to get back on their feet.
During the process of the Last crowning of the current Emperor, the Edonis family's core members supported the other heir's side. Not only did the Edonis family place their bets wrongly but they also made drastic decisions to stop the present Emperor from taking the throne. There are even rogue rumours that they tried to kill him!.
Due to this, the current Emperor had made more than a couple of moves to make sure that the Edonis Family's situation is shaky both within and outside the Imperial court.
The backlash the family had received for placing their bets wrongly is something that would probably take a couple of centuries to heal from and that's if they do not get dethroned of even kicked out of the Imperial court by the countless Predators eying their current weak position.
Grand Ambassadors such as the man currently standing behind Imperial Consort Tamara live within the Imperial Grounds.
Unlike what most may think, the various leaders of the seven greats were all too busy protecting and keeping stability in their territories than to come running to the Emperor whenever a decision is to be made about the kingdom.
Each of the Greats had monsters to battle in their own territories. Their various leaders have heirs to raise, soldiers to groom, subordinates to keep in line and unfortunately, they also have each other to watch out for. Afterall, the seven greats were once jnowns as the ten greats yet three of them have been devoured brutally for the rise of others.
Aside from political reasons, the massive scale of the Continent makes the physical presence of the Great leaders illogical. The closest terroritory to the Imperial Grounds amongst the Seven Greats arms of the court would take atleast two months of travel time (If the fastest means of transportation is used: excluding teleportation). The furthest territory of the Greats to the Imperial Grounds would take atleast nine months or more.
Putting together all of these factors, it would be completely illogical to expect any of the Leaders of the various arms of the Court to be physically ever-present in the Court.
Aware of the extent of inconveniences, the Imperial Court has come up with a suitable solution. For every generation, each of the Great Arms of the Imperial court have three Grand Ambassadors that permanently reside within the Imperial Grounds.
These Grand Ambassadors relay messages as well as humbly represent the stance of their leaders or various parts of their fractions. The Grand Ambassadors present their fraction's will to the Emperor in court and they also lightly debate when necessary thus serving as a perfect middle-man between the Imperial Court's Greats Arms and the Emperor.
With this tactic in place, the real leaders of the arms of the Court do not have to show up unless directly summoned by the Emperor or during great event/decisions that involves the entire court.
...
Right now, the Grand Ambassador standing behind Imperial Consort Tamara is representing a fraction of the Edonis Family's leaders. This fraction of the Edonis Family are oriented towards placing their bets on the genius princess Seflim as the next heir to the throne.
The fact that a Grand Ambassador of one of the Great arms of the Imperial Court is standing behind Imperial Consort Tamara can be easily be misunderstood as a big deal but Consort Tamara have learnt enough about politics than to be confused as to where she stands in this situation.
Amongst the three Grand ambassadors of the Edonis Family's, only one ambassador has stretched an open hand. This simply means that the Edonis Family is currently torn in a ratio of 2-1 regarding placing their bets on Princess Seflim.
Considering the Edonis Family's shaky power situation, placing their bets on the princess is nothing but a rash and irresponsible decision. Although no one would dare say it out loud, it is a well known fact that even through the princess has been given the rights to compete, she still has the slimmest chance of becomingthe next heir to the Imperial Throne. Infact, calling the princess chances 'slim' instead of 'null' is a show of respect.
The ones who have the greatest chance of being the next in line to sit on the Imperial throne are the Empress's Children. Looking into these plain facts then it's easy to decide that the best course of action is for the Edonis family to place their bets on one of the Empress's children as the next heir but there is a problem with this so called - 'Best Course of action' -.
The Imperial Empress and her Children already have the solid and unshaken support of three of the biggest arms of the court as well as the tactic understanding of two others. This means that if the Edonis family places their bets on one of the Empress's Children, they would be still be getting little-to-no solid benefits even if this child becomes the next heir. The reason behind this result is very simple - their Family's contributions would be considered underground compared to the other Arms of the Court.
The Edonis Family's current situation desperately needs the political and cultivational boost. They would literally be on their last straw if the have to weakly seat through another Imperial reign that may last up to half a millennium in time frame.
Unless the Family is willilng to scramble their future, placing their bets on one of the Empress's children is completely out of the question without a promised miracle.
With all of these facts in mind, it seems that turning in thei bets on the genius princess is their only option and even though it comes severely flawed, there is a possible bright side. If by some bizzare miracle, they place their bets on her and Princess Seflim becomes the seventh ever Exalted Empress of 'Eclipse of the Ocean' then not only would the Familube able to get back on their feet but they would also be moving to greater heights. Cultivation Politics is just like a gamble and most know that the lower the odds, the greater the benefits/destruction that comes with it.
Completely aware of the destruction that could come with supporting the princess, the Edonis family is a little hesitant.The Family's situation right now is anything but good and although they are still powerful, they don't know how long they would be able to hold on to their seat if they once again place their bets wrongly.
"Isn't it time she found her 'shadow'?..", The Edonis FamilyGrand ambassador calmly suggests to Imperial Consort Tamara with his gaze still on the figure of the seven-year-old princess.
"..'shadows' also need training to reach their full potential.", The Ambassador says while looking towards Princess Seflim's shadow that's cast by the peeking sunlight.
The monk teaching princess Seflim currently has his shadow cast backwards due to the direction of the sunlight. Facing him, the princess's shadow direction is supposed to be positioned forward but instead hers is positioned Sideways at a distinct angle.
It is common in Imperial Records that unless controlled, the Shadow of the master always points to the direction of his/her 'shadow' no matter the direction of the light. Just like a tracking compass.
If the master's 'shadow' is close by, his or her master's shadow would take a deeper shade but if the 'shadow' is further away, the master's shadow takes on a lighter shade.
"I should be asking you, shouldn't your people play their role and find someone that reacts to her essence?..", Consort Tamara asks casually without taking her eyes off her daughter brilliant figure as the Ambassador responds to her question.
"We can only do so much, the Princess shadow points to the South-West. That area is not our territory and we only have so much influence there. Even if we do have ablot of influencein that territory, scanning through tens of billion people in that sector will still be very difficult. The fastest way is for the princess to go out herself and use her innate compass to locate her shadow.", The Ambassador explains with a small shrug in his tone. He's obviously not giving his own opinion but that of the identity he represents.
Consort Tamara keeps mute on the Ambassador'scomment. She knows fully well that what the Ambassador says is nothing but facts but she's anything but willing to take her daughter on a journey especially in direction that's completely dominated by the opposition.
No matter how much security or guards she can take with her on the journey, it wouldn't change the fact that they were still strolling into a possible death trap. If something unfortunate happens, it would not be the first time that a contender to the throne has been mysteriously murdered or assassinated 'without' any links, motives or clues.
Still in thought about how much of a disadvantage in terms of even simple things like finding her daughter's shadow, Consort Tamara gets gets bit distracted while Princess Seflim finally notices her mother's presence. Witg her face beaming up for a smile, the princess calmly waves her small hand towards her mother.
Consort Tamara gives back a loving smile and gently waves back at her child who she by far considers the most precious thing in her world. Still waving her hand, Consort Tamara finally responds to the Ambassador.
"She can find her shadow later, what she would need the most on the way to the throne is power and support. We'll have to get that for her no matter what.", Consort Tamara says with a smile still on her face as she watches her daughter but those next to her could feel the chilling determination in her tone.
Over the past seven years, Tamara has dug her hands into every sort of political and cultivation power she could get but yet every time, she keeps getting reminded that the powers she hadd clawed desperately for wasn't even a bucket in the ocean of the one her child is going to compete against.
Sometimes, Tamara doesn't even feel like she truly knows about what her child is going against. All she knows about the Empress's side of the competition is that the Empress has eight children. Five boys and three girls with the oldest boy being Thirty-one years old.
While rumour spin up and down about her daughter, Tamara have never heard about how talented the Empress's children are or even how they look like. It's crazy how much power one must have for the Empress to perfectly seal off every information to her kids.
This feat may sound tame but in a cultivation setting as grand as that of the Imperials it is definitely not something that can be done by giving a order or two yet sometimes, a very disturbing nagging feeling tells Consort Tamara that the Empress probably wields enough power to accomplish this impossible by giving an order or two.
The Empress has never once made a move against Tamara or done anything to make people even think that she consider Seflim a competitor and while this is to her benefit, she can't help but subconsciously get a little annoyed about it.
Looking at the back profile of her stunning daughter, Tamara's palm gently clenched into a fist as she whispers internally once more,..
"No matter what..".
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