The doors to the Council Room opened.
Napoleon II entered first.
The room was long and rectangular. A heavy table dominated the center, polished dark wood marked faintly by age and use. Tall windows ran along one side, curtains drawn back to let the morning light spill across papers already laid out in neat stacks. Chairs lined both sides of the table—fifteen of them occupied.
All conversation stopped.
Chairs shifted. Boots scraped lightly against the floor. Fifteen men rose as one.
Napoleon II stopped at the head of the table. Charles took position to his right, a half-step back. Armand stood to the left, arms resting loosely at his sides, eyes already moving, cataloging faces.
"At ease," Napoleon II said.
The ministers sat.
No one spoke until Napoleon II nodded once.
"Let's begin," he said. "You'll introduce yourselves."
He looked to the first man on his right.
The man stood.
He was broad-shouldered, hair already thinning despite his middle years.
