Two months have passed since the emperor has visited Bronzehill. The count has been busy throughout most of the time, enacting the bill for the defense budget of 1007 to help expand their military strength to a defense margin only, hiring imperial experts to help further expand the economic growth, and liberalizing the banking systems to allow more competition between private, public and foreign banks in the nation. Now he's debating to himself whether or not to nationalize all the industry of Bronzehill or prop up the industrial park to expand more for the empire.
Barnaby was studying historical events the empire had to endure. From the first emperor to the current emperor, learning and seeing the patterns that history has always loved to do. He hoped that war might not come to pass, but if it does he'll be more than ready to fight and lead troops into battle.
Margaret was helping out the staff around the palace to ease some of the workloads they deal with on a daily basis. She even likes to help out her father from time to time, so he won't be so stressed out from work.
As Barnaby was about to leave the study to check on his father, he encounters a griffon wearing a long black cape with a military uniform that bared the symbol of the emperor's private messengers. From his age, he looked like he's been doing this for a long time and had a serious look that said I'm only here for a job. He had a bad feeling about this bird, so he decided to talk to him in order to understand his business here.
"Excuse me, sir, mind if I ask what business you have here," Barnaby said with a stern serious look towards the messenger.
"I can't give tell you, this is for the Count of Bronzehill eyes and ears only. So if you don't mind boy I got a job to do." The messenger scoffed as he thought he was wasting time.
"Is that so, well I'm the Count's son. So if you don't mind I think it should be my business as well."
"If you're his son then you should tell me if he's here or not."
"Fine, follow me." He nudged towards the hallway, leading the griffon to his father's office. He was disappointed to not get any information from this bird as he wanted to have. But he didn't have time to worry about that right now, the only thing he had in his mind is what will happen to his father when this bird relays his message.
As his father continued working on the many paperwork he received thanks to his daughter helping him, the sky started to darken outside through the window. Giving the impression that a storm is coming soon, hopefully not a terrible one. The door opened wide for him to see both his son and the griffon behind him.
"Ah Barnaby, who's this with you." The count looked with a smile and a welcoming demeanor.
"This is a massager from the emperor himself, he has something for your eyes and ears only." He walked over to his father's side with his sister, getting ready for what this bird had to say.
"Well then please, Let's hear your message." the count looked towards the griffon, letting him speak freely as he wanted.
"Count Ignatius of the country of Bronzehill, I'm here under the order of the emperor himself to tell you he has... well..."
Died. A thunderous roar echoed around the room thanks to the storm outside, but this was another matter that was too much for the Bronzetail family in the room. It was as though time itself has stopped around them as the world kept spinning around their heads over and over again.
The sister covered her mouth to try to contain her noises as she shed many tears from the news of the emperor's death. She was a sensitive soul that cares about the lives of many even if there from away. The son was disappointed about the news, though he had a feeling something bad was gonna happen. He went over to try and comfort his sister, but he was more worried about his father. The count was a close friend with the emperor ever since they went to college together. Hearing his best friend has passed away must be soul-crushing for him.
"What about his son..." The count said gasping for air, as though the air around him was growing heavier and heavier for him to breathe. "Is his son... Okay..."
"I don't know count Bronzetail. I was only sent here to relay the message I was given to you, I can only speculate he's just as surprised as you are right now. With my task fulfilled, I'll be leaving for the capital." The griffon said as he starts walking away from the Bronzetails, showing a lack of compassion or sympathy from the news.
The son looked angrily towards the bastard, thinking that the griffon should've been at least a little concerned about this situation. The count got up from his thrown, shedding as many tears as his daughter is for his close friend.
"Please, children if you don't mind... I like to have a moment to myself please..." The count asked, placing his hand on his son's shoulder. They both understood as they started to leave the room, closing the door behind them for his father to have a moment. As they closed the door, the two of them started to hear things being thrown around. The father screaming in anguish and grief for the emperor, his close friend.
Both try to comfort each other, as they fully understood what was gonna happen now. The nation will be grieving for him, and give raise for this one question.
What Will Happen To Us Now?