The whole chamber fell into a tense, almost suffocating silence as I sat firmly on my throne, the carved arms cool beneath my fingers while my robes seemed suddenly too tight across my shoulders.
I tightened my grip on the scepter, trying to look steadier than I felt, and let my gaze sweep across the meeting hall. The nobles sat in rigid rows on either side, their jeweled rings flashing under the chandeliers, their expressions ranging from polite skepticism to open annoyance.
Beyond them stood the knights in polished armor, motionless as statues, though even they seemed to sense the strain in the air.
"You remember my ideas, right?" I asked at last, and my voice came out firmer than I expected. I gestured toward the stack of documents the knights had just handed out. "Dams, canals, irrigation routes, flood control, all of it. I'm going to push these reforms through."
A wave of muttering spread through the hall almost immediately.
"What the hell are you saying?"
