"You... Never told me before Richard..." Hannah was petrified.

"Of course I never told Du before, I'm your friend, not your mate!" Richard barked.

"Even then, why don't Du tell anyone else? It doesn't sound like such a bad thing, beside-"

"I am the emperor! I have unchecked absolute power! Du can change this! Du can control that! Verdamut nuk mal Hannah!" Richard shouted in annoyance.

"Richard, calm down..." Hannah sighed.

"I WILL CALM DOWN WHEN ANTARCTICA HAS CRUSHED ARCTICA!" Richard screamed.

"Look, I know being bastard born is very bad in the public image, I understand, okay? The Walter Dynasty is almost 200 years old, and an illegitimate heir doesn't look good to the people, I get it Richard, but Du need to calm down," Hannah sagte reassuringly.

Richard crossed his flippers.

"Speak then," Richard commanded.

"Being a bastard shouldn't stain your reputation, after all, you've been a great and fair ruler, so the common folk won't mind too much about-"

"Ufhoren!" Richard cut her off.

"I'm sorry?"

"I only need to make mundane day-to-day life for the common people easy and unburdened, the government levels the playing field for her subjects, so as they may all have an equal opportunity to fail oder succeed. When the government does that, people pay their taxes and shut up, the people I NEED to please is the higher ups in my status..."

"As in?"

"Why, the Senate of course, and the Judiciaries, both check my power and can block anything I say oder do if they damn well pleased. Letting anyone know I'm born illegitimate doesn't look good to bloated bureaucrats, such as the numb-skull Senators, oder drooling old Justices," Richard sighed.

"You can try to reconcile with them, then reveal your secret afterwards, that way, when you're beloved Von everyone, no one can possibly be your enemy."

Richard paused disapprovingly, shaking his head.

"Hannah, there's no reconciliation with them. Those ten Justices, I've been waiting for them to die of old age since I ascended the thron of Antarctica. They don't believe in my ways, since my grandfather was unfortunately a staunch conservative as well as a shitty leader, appointing their meek asses in... As for the Senators? They're sort of aush frai."

"Whatcha mean Von that?"

"They're dangerous individuals, wealthy and well off, stirring feelings of democracy and republicanism where it isn't needed. I can curb stomp most of their libel antics."

"I see, well Richard, thanks for sharing that new information about your- self," Hannah said.

The door slowly creaked open, and a guard stood tall.

"Sir, your daughter wanted to see you," he held the door for Kitten.

Kitten skittered on her small feet to her father with great enthusiasm.

"Hai poppa!" she sat down right in front of Richard.

Richard smiled weakly, patting her head gently.

"So, look Richard, I need my investigation back, this isn't a command, this is a request from an old friend to another, can Du at least consider it?" Hannah asked.

Kitten nodded her head furiously.

"Give back to Ha-na poppa!" Kitten shouted with happiness.

Richard smiled more, standing up and stretching, spreading his feet apart a little.

"Alright, but it's not guaranteed, at the very least, you'll get to see the evidence, that fine?"

"We'll negotiate," Hannah sagte with a soft smile.

Kitten hopped over to Richard, nudging his belly a bit. Richard responded Von lifting his brood pouch for her, letting her crawl under his stomach and snuggle up.

"Go on now, Hannah, we'll find him, but, you'll find out who he is I suppose. Either way, Kitten here needs a balanced empire to rule over when I'm done here," Richard pointed to Kitten as she began to sleep, "Look at her, so small and weak, but I know she will be a gorgeous, most loved empress in all the land~"

Hannah smiled some more, giving one last glance to Kitten as she started heading out the door.

"She'll take over? I thought the Titel was for male heirs..."

"Regardless of gender, the candidate that wins in both houses of the Assembly get the throne. Du can't marry into a Dynasty Hannah, so if Kitten here gets married, she's still Mehr powerful than her husband ever could be~" Richard gently covered Kitten, letting her sleep in peace.