I waited in the dining stall alone... Soon enough, I knew she had arrived. It was a slight feeling, though one that was never wrong.

  Soon enough I heard quiet footsteps from beyond the red curtains of the reserved dining stall, as that feeling grew ever so slightly. The curtains were pushed aside as she came through wearing her school uniform. "Waltsia, I apologize for making you come out here so suddenly." I took a sip of my tea, "I would have brought Yddris with me, but she's busy as of now."

  She sat down opposite me. "No, it's fine Asterisia." I handed her a menu to the establishment to look through.

  "Order whatever you like; I'll cover everything here." It was my family business establishment for informal meetings, so payment was of no concern. "Also we can drop formalities; we both know each other enough to speak normally."

  Goldia let out her signature giggle; "Hehe, then is Silver Prince fine, Desnyoon?"

  "Actually, I think we might have to go back to formalities." I gave a lighthearted joke to express my displeasure of that name given to me by Yesen, now being used by Goldia... "Anyways, let's order first before we speak about business."

  "Unn." She gave a small nod as she took the menu I gave her.

  We both didn't order much. It was Goldia's first time here, but my whatever-th time for me. As the servers whom I knew started coming in and serving everything, I began the true discussion with Goldia.

  "I'm sure you know - being a Waltsia - but to make sure; you do know the role and history of your family and position, correct, Goldia?" I started off with basics; I was fairly certain it was taught to her by the second major house of Waltsia, the Verstuki Waltsia. I was merely testing her knowledge she should have been taught.

  "Yes." She answered, slightly wavering... "The Waltsia, stemming from ancient times, were the people who inherited the position of..." A long pause came. I wasn't expecting her to know much; only the Asterisia family, the Empresses, and that nosy Yesen knew the truth. "... No; the Three Families are inheritors of authority given by the Empress... was what Yesen told me." She spoke off on a tangent, straying away from my original question, but she tried to sound confident... I see, Yesen taught her as much as he could without revealing anything secretive.

  "I would like to correct some of what you spoke regarding that; but you were mostly correct." I was impressed by Goldia. "Though what is the role of the Waltsia family in current times?" Though this should give me the answer I wanted.

  "We, the Waltsia, and the families of the Imperial Counsel Advisor's are responsible for social stability in the country, as a neutral power. As the Waltsia family, and Imperial Counsel Advisor of Military and Justice, we overlook the armed forces and serve as the Justice Judge of the Imperial Astera Republic... right?" Good, I deemed her good enough to tell her.

  "I am proud of you, Goldia." She was, without a doubt, someone fit to repce Yesen, and someone who held all the qualities that would make a wonderful Imperial Counsel Advisor - with some help. "... now—are you aware what it means to take the role as an Imperial Counsel Advisor?" This was something I was not expecting her to know; though I wasn't quizzing her to see if she did. I was pnning on letting her in as an accomplice.

  "Ano—eh..." Goldia sat trying to think of something, "... No..." She didn't lie; which I liked.

  "No worries; it's not something someone would know unless they inherit the role." I told her. "Anyways, I'll tell you more on inheriting when we're done eating." My revetion wouldn't be long, as I really only would be saying one sudden thing.

  We ate together, with small fun conversations. We were acquainted enough to speak to each other like friends, or really more like a senior and junior. As our dinner neared the end, I decided it was time to tell her why I brought her here.

  "You know that I, the Imperial Counsel Advisor of Tradition and Ceremony, am charged with all preparations for the official Succession Ceremony, correct?" Goldia nodded... I prepared myself for an initial outbreak. "Goldia, you cannot succeed the position of Imperial Counsel Advisor of Military and Justice."

  "What—!" She instantly stood up in shock. "Is... there a reason why? Desnyoon?" Sitting back down, she stayed calm after her initial shock.

  "Yeah." I uttered, taking another sip of my tea. "You are obligated to know since you are the one who would succeed his role..." I took a deep breath; unbelievable things would be spoken today. "The position of Imperial Counsel Advisor is more than just a title - it is a power." I expined.

  "A power..." Goldia uttered, "I... assume it is something about me not being able to inherit that power?" Ever so sharp, I smiled seeing her being quick to understand - although not entirely right... I was sure she could inherit the power, but that wasn't the reason why she couldn't become the next Imperial Counsel Advisor after Yesen.

  "Yesen—his power as the Imperial Counsel Advisor of Military and Justice, did not return to us." I smiled - and as expected, Goldia's eyes and attention lit up.

  "Wait—doesn't... What?" Surprise, shock, and... Well, a smile snuck out of her face. She probably had a crazy idea - one I too shared.

  "Yeah..." I answered, to show the seriousness of this situation...

  Even I was confused when the time came for me to prepare the Succession Ceremony after his death. As the person in charge of all the ceremony and traditions, as the Imperial Counsel Advisor of Tradition and Ceremony, I was astonished. His autopsy showed clear and true that he was dead, so his power should have returned for inheritance, yet it didn't. I specuted many ideas, but nothing simir occurred in our historical records.

  "Somewhere; he is still here, somehow... I can't say how, where, or what, but he still exists." I stated my thoughts. "Nothing in our records at Astoria Castle's library noted anything like this before - there are many theories, but this is what I came to after consideration of many possibilities."

  I couldn't think of what or how this happened. If his power didn't come back, then it was clear he should be alive... Yet he was also clearly dead. Despite me being who I was, I couldn't come up with an expnation on how and why. Nothing about Yesen was terribly unique - at least not that I knew -, so I doubted there would be any reason why he would have a special exception. So, in the end, the most I could think of was that he somehow lived - as unbelievable as that seems.

  "I see..." Goldia uttered before going into thought... "But—then... What am I to do, as someone who can't succeed my own role?"

  "You will inherit the position of Imperial Counsel Advisor of Military and Justice in name and job until we situate the current succession situation." I said, "Whilst there are a few candidates, you are really the only real one to succeed the role. Currently the only people who know this situation are me, Yddris, and you now."

  "Unn..." Goldia nodded - understanding what I was getting at. "I'll be in your care then, Desynoon."

  "Of course, Goldia, I'll be here - as your peer, and senior." I smile - our business talk about the country was over and we returned to our casual selves, at ease. Done, I got up from my seat, "Otherwise, I'm done rambling. If I have any updates, I'll come find you Goldia."

  "Unn—salutations, Silver Prince." Tsk—I hate him for giving me that name...

  I let out a sigh, "Salutations to you, Goldia."

  Desnyoon’s Research Journal,

  Section - Imperial Counsel Advisors (Revision 4)

  We were special. It was clear we were normal people, but we held within us a special will; almost as if we were chosen by something. A ceremony, the Succession Ceremony, was required to inherit the position of Imperial Counsel Advisors , and inherit the succession of the role and power that came with.

  It was unbelievable to think mere coincidence makes it that all Imperial Counsel Advisors were successful at their assigned duty. There was clearly a link between success and being a Imperial Counsel Advisors - not to say not being a Imperial Counsel Advisors in our families meant no success, as the record books said. It was also clear that Imperial Counsel Advisors shared common traits within the family. Each Imperial Counsel Advisors held different traits that were small, but noticeable compared to those never selected.

  It was clear that each of the Imperial Counsel Advisors - Military and Justice, Tradition and Ceremony, and Sovereign and Civil Affairs - had powers that were more than just a name or position. And that power was for the duties and responsibilities pced upon us, as Imperial Counsel Advisors.