Viscountess Amethyst and I made our way to the assembly chamber with dozens of nobles following after us. No one spoke. Only the sound of footsteps echoed across the hall. The nobles were like elite soldiers about to enter their final battle.0

The nobles from the other factions who had already arrived at the assembly chamber turned to look at us. I felt suffocated. Some were angry. Others were jealous. Some seemed to idolize Amethyst and stared at her with stars in their eyes. Every emotion known to man seemed to be targeted at Amethyst at this moment.0

“Hello, everyone. It seems the meeting will resume soon,” Amethyst said, flashing a carefree smile. “I’m here with the members of my faction. Am I late?”0

No one answered her, but it seemed she wasn’t seeking an answer in the first place. Grinning, Amethyst headed for her seat, though she turned to glance back at me. “What are you doing, Advisor?” 0

“What?”0

“Your seat is right next to mine. Follow me, quickly. I’m sure you don’t intend to leave my side cold and empty.”0

Ah, my memories are vague, so she’s being considerate of me.0

I bowed and followed after her. As I approached the seat assigned to me, the entire assembly chamber came into view. It was very different from the parliament I was familiar with. The chamber was circular, not a semicircle. It looked like a Colosseum. The throne was in the exact center, like a pillar, and the seats of the nobles surrounded it.0

The most unusual part was…0

Water?0

Yes, waterways had been installed under the seats. When I sat down, I had to put my feet in the water....0