The Axon Empire was entirely ruled by the Emperor. Beneath him were two Dukes, each controlling roughly half of the empire, though both were directly responsible to the Emperor. Below the Dukes were seven Marcians, and beneath them were twenty Barons. In short, twenty Barons were governed by seven Marcians, the seven Marcians were governed by two Dukes, and the two Dukes were controlled by the Emperor.
One positive aspect of this system stood out to Ramesh: the army was entirely under the Emperor's control. Unlike in many feudal systems, the military was not commanded by the nobles. The army remained loyal only to the Emperor and was frequently rotated and reassigned. This structure made large-scale rebellion by the nobility extremely difficult. In Ramesh's view, this was one of the few strengths of the empire.
Another powerful group within the empire was the Brahmins. They were the sole custodians of education. They controlled all learning institutions and restricted education exclusively to the wealthy and the nobility. Commoners had no right to study. Ramesh found this system deeply flawed and absurd, and it explained clearly why Axon remained so technologically and socially backward.
To him, the empire was standing on the brink of destruction.
There was no navy. Internal conflicts were constant. Supernatural entities and creatures preyed upon humans daily, resulting in thousands of deaths. Yet in the capital of Axon, life continued in comfort and indulgence, as if the suffering beyond its walls did not exist.
Having made up his mind, Ramesh sent his butler to deliver a message to the Emperor and request an audience. Even princes were required to formally seek permission to meet the Emperor while they were still considered children. After some time, he received a response: the Emperor would meet him in five days, at the same hour.
Ramesh accepted this without hesitation.
He began preparing carefully for the speech he intended to present. Without the Emperor's approval, he could not lay the foundation for his future plans and he knew this meeting would determine everything that followed.
Five days passed as Ramesh prepared for his meeting with the Emperor. When he arrived outside the gates of the imperial throne room, he instructed the guards to inform the Emperor of his arrival. The guards entered the hall, conveyed the message, and soon returned with permission for him to enter.
With formal courtesy, one of the guards said, "Prince, you are invited inside."
As Ramesh stepped into the throne room, he saw the Emperor seated upon the throne a tall man, nearly six feet two inches in height, wearing a lazy and indifferent expression. His eyes reflected absolute authority, as if nothing in this world was worthy of serious consideration.
Ramesh approached and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, my father."
The Emperor glanced at him and replied casually, "Yes. Say what you came to say. You requested a meeting."
It was rare for a prince especially one so young to request a personal audience. Such requests were almost never granted without reason.
Ramesh began by praising the Emperor.
"My Emperor, your rule is just and powerful. Under your leadership, the empire stands strong…"
The Emperor listened with faint satisfaction and interrupted, "Enough. Say what you want."
Ramesh then stated his request clearly. He wished to relinquish his right to the throne and asked for a separate territory, along with funds and security, so that he could establish his own foundation and pursue his goals independently.
The Emperor felt a slight trace of sadness, but not much. He already knew that this prince had no real chance of ascending the throne. Only the first and second princes were considered true contenders. The rest would remain members of the royal family without political power. Still, it was rare for a prince to voluntarily give up his claim and leave the center of power.
Ramesh offered a carefully chosen explanation one that the Emperor found acceptable.
After some thought, the Emperor made his decision. Ramesh would be granted one hundred thousand gold coins, one hundred and twenty guards, and a fertile land far to the east currently ruled by a Baron. That Baron would be reassigned as his advisor , as he held no significant standing. Ramesh himself would be appointed the new Baron of that territory.
"This decision will be conveyed to the Prime Minister," the Emperor said. "Preparations will be made. Within the next three to four months, you will depart from the capital."
Ramesh bowed deeply once more.
"Thank you, my Emperor."
With all formalities completed, he returned to his chambers.
The Emperor watched his son walk away and murmured softly to himself,
"I hope you can live a peaceful life and remain safe in this cursed world."
He began preparing for the path ahead.
The first task he set for himself was to analyze all the books in the royal library. With the help of his AI, this process would be completed as quickly as possible. His goal was to acquire a foundational understanding of the world before leaving the capital, so he could determine the future direction of his actions.
Ramesh asked, "Meera, what is the current percentage of analysis completed for the royal library?"
"Host, 23% of the royal library has been analyzed," Meera replied. "Approximately 80 books have been completed. Most of them are story records, some contain maps of this world, and others document information related to supernatural activities."
"Continue the analysis," Ramesh said. "Inform me as soon as it reaches 100%. After that, we will compile a basic overview of the world."
"Yes, host."
After finishing his conversation with Meera, Ramesh decided to focus on practical matters. He began gathering basic information about the territory from his butlers and attendants, preparing himself for the responsibilities and challenges that awaited him outside the capital.