"What will happen now, athair?"

Seonghwa caressed his hand through Aodhán's golden locks. After making his rounds through the corners of each faction to respond to their questions and make sure no one started a fight, he had returned to their tent to have a quick meal with his family. Morana was with the demons and Hongjoong had an eye on her. San was also with his people, but the rest could slip away to sit together. They conveyed their praise to Seonghwa, lauding his grace and strength during the tiring talks, but it was not over yet.

"The factions are discussing amongst their people what they deem best for the empire. Many more factors are in play than what we discussed. To each country, something else matters. They have to decide for the greater good of their folk, which can be a hard choice," Seonghwa explained to him, and Jongho mumbled to himself how there was only one right choice.

However, Seonghwa understood Richard's suspicions. Before Seonghwa, no elven ruler was struck with as much hardship at once, especially so early in their rule. It was easy to blame it on him. And even if it could be attributed to his beauty and his grace in comparison to his brother which made their enemies desire him, it happened because of him.

"When we gather in a while, they will get to put in two votes. For or against an empire and then for a ruler of their choice. Any of our leaders could rule. Even the nymphs or the dwarves now. But it depends on whether we trust one another. The process goes by majority vote. The person with the most votes wins. Then those who haven't voted for them will either have to submit to the conditions or withdraw from the empire. If I were to rule, King Richard might not want to be with us anymore. Similarly, if King Richard rules, Hongjoong won't submit to him and neither might the dwarves and seraphim."

Aodhán nodded along wisely to their system. He understood why it was difficult to predict the future, since any new emperor might rule over a different empire. And those refusing an alliance with them might cause troubles anew, so it was safest to make friends, even with the demons.

By his side, Yunho was feeding Buddy with a grim pinch to his lips.

"Richard sucks. He's been ogling you whenever you aren't looking. He clearly thinks of you as some trophy wife who should stay at home to entertain the real ruler. Bastard. As if he ever had to rule so many or drag his people out of the ground."

Mingi also frowned in his spot now, feeling over the grass for Seonghwa, and the elf grabbed his hand to squeeze it reassuringly.

"Did he make you uncomfortable?" The demon whispered, upset that so much passed him in a place where every twitch and every gesture mattered.

Seonghwa shook his head.

"I'm fine, I promise. So long as he keeps his manners, we cannot fault him staring. We stare at each other since we find beauty in appearances as well," Seonghwa promised them and Yunho huffed. They were special now, but in the far past, it hadn't been so different. Back then, his husbands were just as enraptured by Seonghwa's spell.

"It's always those specific kings that make trouble," Yeosang sighed. It would have been too easy if everyone agreed with each other's ideals. But naturally, they were different folk from different cultures. Someone would always disagree.

The usual troublemakers, the demons, were thankfully quieter than ever. Aware of how important this discussion was for them. Morana promised them a pardon, but only Seonghwa had the ability to forgive what they did. Many others would see them put in chains or executed.

"Will your people follow any ruler? Or just Seonghwa?" Aodhán asked Jongho next. The golem silently accepted the twins using him as their climbing practise, crawling all over his shoulders and thighs. He constantly had a pair of wings in his face, but this was how he enjoyed spending time with them, so Seonghwa didn't pluck them off.

"Good question. I believe any is fine with us as much as none is fine with us. We just don't want to be used as weapons in war. A ruler who lets us slumber and learn is the best ruler," the golem explained to them. Seonghwa didn't fault the lack of loyalty. The golems had little obligation towards anyone, and they weren't easily pushed around either.

"Now then, shall we gather and see what they decided? You must be curious," Seonghwa called for them before Aodhán could explore their entire political landscape with his never-ending greed for knowledge.

Gladly, they picked each other up from the floor and followed Seonghwa out of the tent. The tension bore heavy on their shoulders, but they tried not to let it show as they gathered at the big table once more. One by one, the other rulers drew closer to take their seats.

"How are you feeling, Seonghwa?" Lillwen asked him when she sunk into her pillow and he offered her the fresh fruit on the table. She took a piece of sweet melon for herself and one for Morana when she settled by her side.

"Confident in our people. No one attacked each other. I think we can reach something great today," he replied truthfully. Though she might prefer a more personal answer, he wouldn't bare his feelings while everyone was listening in.

Soon, everyone was seated once more and their discussion picked back up in the last warm hours of the day.

"So, how will we cast this vote? Is it anonymous?" Nozurri guessed when they poised around the table with even more focus than prior. Richard's brow looked like a thundercloud as he braced his chin on his hands, trying to think of the best move here. If he wanted others to take his side, he had to show a spine. Had to look like the better option. But voting against Seonghwa would put him in a bad light for not agreeing with the rest on what was best for their people if Seonghwa were to win.

Anyone else who doubted Seonghwa either had to go with Richard as the strongest contender, or risk not getting their vote through and looking bad before everyone.

It was a tense moment. Historical, even, as the scribes of the mages documented their every word to add to their archives.

"We will write our desires on parchment, so nobody's answer influences another. It is not anonymous, as the rulers must make choices for their lands separately from the empire as well." Seonghwa beckoned a helper to distribute paper and writing quills. The young elf had asked him to get a task, and when Seonghwa offered her to act as a servant, she had been overjoyed. Having a real purpose and helping people after everything that happened to their folk was a great relief to her. Now, too, she happily dashed between the gathered rulers to hand them their items. Seonghwa smiled at her and thanked her when he was handed his paper to speak for the elves after they happily invited him to. After, the girl lingered next to the golems to function as their writing hand.

"Take your time and discuss with your people again, if you like. Once everyone cast their vote, we will gather the points one by one," Seonghwa suggested and before he had finished talking, Hlin already hissed with Eldrid far too loudly about what to write. They were done a moment later, enjoying their little break with a drink as if celebrating their inevitable win.

Seonghwa had to chuckle about them.

He left them to their devices as he turned to the elves gathered as his audience. Smiled at their nervous faces.

"You don't owe me anything. Aiding you was my task from the beginning, and I would have done it no matter my profit. So please, tell me what you wish for your future and let me do my best for it, even if it may not come true," he told them, spotting a few misty eyes as they looked at their young emperor who fought so hard for them.

"We trust you above any other. You will be with us either way, but we prefer if you are the emperor we can look up to. So please, accept your position anew. We know you can help anyone else here just as much as us," the leader of their rebel group spoke. So many were worn; plunged into war and displaced during his rule. But they gazed upon him with pride as he noted their wish.

"You honour me," Seonghwa whispered back. Suffered with all of their pain. "You will have a home again, no matter who rules. I will fight to make it possible." The elves needed support and protection. Needed others to be their allies or else they would be easy prey. But thanks to his web of friends, their future was bright with hope.

Once he returned to his seat to wait, the twins ran up to him, impatient to get all this formality over with and have some fun today. They even asked why San stopped training with them, sniffling because they thought they failed his teachings.

Seonghwa kissed their little cheeks and praised their patience. Soon, they would have fun together because even if there was no empire, even if they all split apart despite any current expectations... They would see no war in their lands for a while.

One by one, the other rulers returned and half an hour later, everyone was settled. Seonghwa received the basket with their papers and a magister popped up by his side to confirm his count with a spell of honesty. It was usually the task of the Magus Maximus, but their relationship made the count unfair otherwise.

Seonghwa raised his voice to announce the results. Picking up one piece of paper after the other and reading their words.

"The elves vote pro empire and for me to be reinstalled on the throne."

"The mages vote pro empire and for me."

"The seraphim vote pro empire and for me."

"The gryphon-borns vote anti empire and for me... Chieftain Hlin, there is only an emperor if there is an empire." He gazed at her with mirth and she just muttered an 'oops' under her breath.

"I meant to say we will be friends empire or not and I think you make a good chieftain for your knife ears," she loudly announced and Seonghwa took it as that.

"The golems and dryads both vote neutral on an empire. As do the nymphs and the titans. All offer an alliance in either outcome, however."

He picked up the next paper.

"The dwarves vote pro empire and pro a new merchant cabinet as opposed to a royal rule. We will gladly keep it in mind for future diplomacy."

Nozurri nodded, pleased with the answer.

The count was close. Four votes on his side, and five for abolishing rulership in some way. It might just be they saw a new dawn.

Two more papers rested in his basket, and Seonghwa nervously reached for them.

"The demons vote pro empire and for my family. What does this mean?"

"We understand Morana is the future empress, but not yet the empress until she is ready. We support you until she may take over, but we are loyal to her," a demon with the horns of a bull grunted back at him. Seonghwa accepted it as a vote for him.

Now, the scariest of papers. Richard could dismantle the empire as they knew it with this statement, crumble them into separate countries, or demand another to be installed in Seonghwa's stead. Seonghwa read the words out lout with trembling fingertips.

"And this deciding vote by the Kingdom of Man... King Richard votes pro empire and for me. That comes as a surprise."

Richard dismissed it, but he looked the tiniest bit smug that he got the final say and made Seonghwa nervous.

"I know when I lost a fight. Everyone here is taken with you, so we shall follow. But we will keep a close eye on you."

"Gladly," Seonghwa took the threat with a graceful smile before he let the papers sink.

"With that and no upsets voiced, we shall return to our roots until we have the strength to increase what we have. The empire shall be whole and bigger than ever before. And I will humbly serve as your emperor yet again."

Seonghwa sunk into a deep bow, thanking them wordlessly for their trust. Cheers rained down on him, hailing harmony and his return to his seat.

The gryphon-borns had their mead ready for a celebration into the night, and they slammed it down on the table immediately to be distributed. Seonghwa's husbands came over to rain kisses and praise on him, making him giggle and glow in their midst as everyone at the table finally relaxed and joined hands once more.