The room remained heavy with silence, and the expressions on the attendees' faces were a mixture of exhaustion and confusion.
And the reason was simple.
Michael's bombshell declaration.
That he was the heir of a forgotten kingdom.
That he intended to restore that kingdom to its rightful place.
That single announcement had shaken everyone's composure.
The silence of Emperor Oswald of the Pamir Empire had only deepened their confusion.
In the end…
The matters concerning the Holy Empire and the war strategy were left unresolved.
No decisions. No commitments.
Just an awkward, anticlimactic conclusion to the day.
"Then… shall we reconvene tomorrow to discuss the remaining points?"
King Romano II, as the summit's host, tried to regain some dignity as he posed the question.
It was a little late for that, perhaps, but still necessary.
Surprisingly, Michael gave him a gentle smile.
A smile that spoke of complete composure—fully aware of his advantage, yet not condescending.
