The gilded marble of the chamber caused the already cocphanous noise of the assembly to echo violently. The raging racket filled every room and passage way in the Royal Palace dimishing the speldor of the anciet building by magnatudes. Rebuilt a dozen times of as many centuries the Auditorium was a marvel of enginering and architecture meant to house the administration of an entire government. A mob of hundreds rendered the well thought out size of the room void. The staggared seats that lined the walls and rose above the central platform were filled to bursting. Many stood crammed together were they could on the ground floor with more awaiting entence just outside the heavy oak and steel doors.
Rudolf Von Arnhert III arose from the large white throne stationed opposite of the entrance. His descent down the steps of the throne were elegant and metholodical with every foot fall. Clicking their heels together the eight imperial guard that lined the stair fell into lock step no more that two paces away. The guards black and gold uniforms gave them a noble look but their arsenal of Muskets, sabers, and pistols reminded all present of their feared lethality. The Thirty other guard stationed amongst the crowd forced all away making a clearing dead center of the room. They formed a variable wall to keep out any harm one might wish upon their leige lord.
Rudolf, arrayed in a heavy panoply of royal ornatments and dress, caught the eye of all immediatly. He eyed the gathered assembly, paciently he waited form the already dimming noise to cease completely. The mood of the room was clear to him; they wanted blood, there would be no persuading on a different course.
The Emperor of Riechsland brought himself to his full undimished hieght and glory, spreading his arms wide he spoke in a deep aged voice. "Lords of the Empire, I hear you, I listened to your woes and worries and I have come to pass Judement." He let his words wash over the gathered until they settled before continuing. "The incursions of Restia in the lands of our protectorats will not be forgiven. This Bastard in white will be brought to heel, his petty kingdom will be sundered and torched by our great empire!" The bloodthirst of the croud reached a boiling point, it didnt take long for the counts and dukes to begin swearing blood oaths and begging for the right to lead the armies of the empire. His decleration of war complete the Emperor in Black strode from the room, passing the lines of lesser notables awaiting entrence, and entered his personal apartments.
Comfort returned to him as he eagerly removed his symbols of office, particularly the heavy gold and diamond encrested crown. He felt drained and worn out, the stress of rulership he had told himself. Half a century of rulership would do that to the greatest of men and he was not as great as those men by any means. However small his role in history would be he had ruled well, ruled justly, and ruled wisely. With all his effort and will Riechsland had been transformed into one of the most powerful nations in the world. The people flurished, that is what mattered to him the most.
Rage gripped him now as his thoughts went to Restia. This userper who called himself 'Emperor' dragged his people into this war. Rudolf had prided himself on keeping his nation at peace while all others around him used violence as politiects by another means. He refused to allow some lowborn bastard who killed his own family to jepordize his empire. His armies would crush this upstart and conquer his lands.
"Perhaps I can install young Zeke as the new ruler of Restia." His daughters son was only sixteen and still a green boy but so was Rudolf when he first took the throne. He made a mental note to send the best teachers in his court to teach Zeke the ways of a ruler.
He leaned back on his sofa, resting his eyes and let somber sleep overcome him to wash away his weariness.