Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-12599067-20140306020948/@comment-12599067-20140326012745

Makoru stepped over and took the scroll, then removed the seal and unraveled the parchment before casting one last glance back to Claudius. The man's face was a sheet of stone, but it was clear that the Imperial was dead serious. He really was being given a chance to take the throne of the Emperor. Makoru finally brought his eyes back to the scroll and scanned the parchment, a dreadful silence settling over the room as he read.

Finally, he rolled up the scroll and resealed it, then looked back to Claudius, his face as just as unreadable as the Councilor's.

"Why me?" he asked, as he was still not sure why the Council had chosen him.

"You seem very reluctant to take the throne, Makoru. Most people would have no problem with ruling an Empire," Isabelle observed.

"That's not answering the question."

"You were chosen, Mak, because there is no one else to keep the peace. The Counts are not fit to rule, and we cannot take the throne without risking the possibility of the Counts rejecting our claim to the title of Emperor," Claudius explained. "While they may object to the rule a banished prince, the bastard son of an Emperor is still an heir, and a ruler who defended his city against the King of Worms certainly displays great leadership."

"And you think this forged letter will prove anything?"

"As far as the Counts know, you were never Sarkin's son. They think that Titus Mede gave you to Sarkin as a child, to make himself look more respectable. Your father can't argue, the records cannot argue, and we will not deny it. The question is, what will you do?"

"What about--"

"That's not answering the question," Isabelle said cooly. "What will you do, Makoru? It is time for you to make your choice."

At this point Makoru was silent and would not say another word, as he was silently questioning whether or not he should take the Throne.