Prince Aspero's return to Terra is marked by two significant events.

The first is the return of his twin

sister, who he has not seen from nearly 14 years. The second is the unfortunate demise of the Speaker
of the Senate.

Concerned for the mental stability of his son, King Senex determines it is best to remove Prince Aspero
from military duty until he has recovered from the death of M.T. Courage. Lord Richard Themis of the
Dikaiosyni Region suggest the Prince should be introduced to the politics of the Kingdom by being
appointed to the now vacant Speaker of the Senate officer. King Senex ponders Lord Richard's words.

During the short period of time between Prince Aspero's discharge from military duty and his next
assignment, he continues his military studies and begins to take up blacksmithing. The Prince also enters
a period of isolation, Stephanius Supero is away in Echonia, Senior Marshal Arthur Green is busy
preparing for the next convening of the Senate, and the Prince has kept his distance from his sister. The
gardeners begin to work with the Prince to plant hundreds of rose bushes in the garden in order to
create a maze. Prince Aspero comments: "There is no peace for me in Terra save the garden of roses."

Prince Aspero is eventually summoned to the palace to receive his assignment. The Prince it to assume
the Speaker of the Senate office under the mentor-ship of Junior Marshal Alorius Themis, son of Lord
Richard Themis. Prince Aspero does nothing to hide his anger in this assignment, which will require him
to stay in the capital. As Prince Aspero leaves the throne room he runs into S. M. Arthur Green. The
Senior Marshal gives the Prince a few reassuring words before proceeding into the throne room.

The Senior Marshal reports to King Senex that the Senate is prepared to begin its session. Pleased at this
news the King informs the Senior Marshal that J. M. Alorius Themis is to guide the Prince during his term
as Speaker of the Senate. The Senior Marshal objects to the lack of political experience of the Junior
Marshal, but eventually concedes that the Junior Marshal will make a better mentor than any of the
politicians within the Senate.

The Senate convenes to start its term. Prince Aspero is prepared to move forward with an agenda
provided to him by his father. The Senate refuses to permit the Prince to bring the topics to the floor for
debate. Instead the Senators focus on a matter the Prince considers a waste of time. These debates
continue for three days. Greatly frustrated by this, Prince Aspero rises during the fourth day and
dismisses the Senate for the day. After adjourning, the Prince is confronted by J. M. Alorius Themis. He
advises the Prince to have patience with the Senate.

As the first week comes to a close, the Senate has yet to take its first vote; Prince Aspero decides to
form a team comprised of J. M. Alorius Themis and S. M. Arthur Green. The purpose of this team is to
research all Terran customs pertaining to the function of the Senate. J.M. Alourius Themis and S.M.
Arthur Green assist in the completion of Prince Aspero's guide to the Senate.

While Aspero is in the garden testing the flexibility of the armor he is forging, he is approached by his
sister. The Prince and Princess walk together in the garden, Prince Aspero spends this time to check the
growing rose bushes. He eventually asks Princess Hope to leave him, as he is busy with the affairs of the
Senate and can't give her the attention she deserves. Pleased by this answer, Princess Hope leaves.

The Senate returns from its recess. The Prince takes his place in the Chair of the Speaker and begins the
session by stating the debates before the recess are no longer to be discussed, more pressing issues
must be discussed. This statement contains the full authority of the office; thus, it must be obeyed,
unless retracted or overridden by the voice of the king. The Senate ignores this protocol and resumes
their debate. Prince Aspero smiles and has S.M. Arthur Green write names of those who spoke.

J.M. Alorius Themis seizes the scribe records of the day and delivers them to Prince Aspero. With S.M.
Arthur Green's list and the official transcriptions, Prince Aspero enters the Senate the next day wearing
his newly forged armor. He leads two hundred Senatorial Paladins. Intimidated by this display of force, a
Senator rises to question the Prince. The Prince responses by informing the Senate of their act of
rebellion by not heeding the voice of the Speaker of the Senate while he sat in the Chair of the Speaker.
Prince Aspero reads the names of those who had debated issues the Prince had forbidden. The
Senatorial Paladins take these Senators into custody on the charges of corruption and treason.

J.M. Alorius is outraged at this bold action, but much like the rest of the Senate, believes that it is a show
of force and will pass. While the Senators who have been arrested are held, one begins to speak of
major acts of corruption among groups of Senators. This raises the interests of the Prince who begins to
piece together an investigation. The next few weeks are spent with Prince Aspero reading the names of
those accused and has them brought into custody for questioning; the Senate has shrunk from 120
sitting members to 70. J.M. Alorius Themis becomes concerned since he is involved in the corruption,
but hasn't been arrested yet.

Taking action, a coalition is formed among the few, but powerful Senators and J.M. Alorius Themis to
remove the Prince before further harm is done. The Coalition first tries to have the Royal Court
intervene in the matter. After testimony from the Prince and S.M. Arthur Green the Court determines
that the Prince is within his jurisdiction to conduct these arrests. The Royal Court even dispatches extra
Paladins to maintain the growing number of arrested Senators. This failure to halt the arrests causes the
Coalition to take desperate measures.
Piecing together false charges and using the military power vested in the Marshal Offices, the coalition
moves to arrest the Prince. The Prince has adjourned the Senate for a period of time to allow the start of
the corruption trials. After the first set of trials the Prince leaves for the peace of the garden. He is
pleased with the growth of the rose bushes, but his solitude is interrupted with the approach of Princess
Hope. The two royal heirs walk together discussing unimportant things. As the two prepare to leave the
garden, J.M. Alorius Themis approaches the Prince demanding he put a stop to the corruption trials and
allow the reinstatement of the Senators that were removed. Taken back by this bold request, the Prince
refuses, stating that the corruption has not yet been rooted out. Displeased with his answer, the Junior
Marshal orders his Paladin escort to arrest the Prince. Prince Aspero immediately draws his sword,
Princess Hope gets behind her brother. The Prince lowers his sword and hands it to his sister before
complying with the Senatorial Paladins. Princess Hope runs to tell the Queen and King of this
development.

Determining that arresting the Prince is not enough, the coalition begins to piece together a case to
demand his execution. King Senex considers crushing the Senate in order to release his son, but is
advised by Lord Richard Themis to allow the outrageous charges to be dismissed in a court room setting
as to preserver the honor of the Prince. Lord Richard begins to demand answers from his son’s actions,
J.M. Alorius Themis doesn’t responds, instead he severs all communication with his father.

After two weeks of imprisonment, the trial begins. Prince Aspero stands accused of purging the Senate
to install pro-regal Senators. As the evidence piles up against the Prince, the coalition begins to relax as
J.M. Alorius Themis prepares to give his testimony. Half way through the testimony the city bells ring
and a herald enters the court to announce the execution of ten pro-regal Senators on charges of
corruption. The court erupts demanding the Prince is innocent of the charges. J.M. Alorius Themis
dismisses this outburst saying it was part of the Prince's plan to hide his true motives. Shortly after the
court is back in order, a second herald enters with election results. These results were submitted as
evidence showing that free elections were held to replace the corrupted Senators, no irregularity were
found. The case is dismissed, the Prince reinstated as Speaker of the Senate. By the Prince's instruction
the coalition and the Junior Marshal are taken into custody for treason.

The trial against the coalition begins a week later. It is a short trial with many of the Senators pleading
guilty with hope of being shown mercy. The judge, by instruction of the King, sentences them all to
public execution.

On the day of the execution, Prince Aspero stops the executioner before he beheads J.M. Alorius
Themis. Prince Aspero mounts the execution platform and draws his sword and stands over his former
second servant. In one swift blow the Prince beheads the servant that betrayed him. He nods to the
executioner and leaves the site, vomiting once he is a safe distance away.
As the Chronicles concludes Senior Marshal Arthur Green is given temporary control over the Senate.
Lord Richard Themis, overcome with shame for his son's treacherous actions commits suicide in the
privacy of his chamber in the capital. Prince Aspero leaves the capital to travel to the Themis Estate to
pay respect to the family. Upon his arrival he is harshly greeted by Lady Jade Themis, the daughter of
the late Lord Richard Themis. It is the first meeting between the Lady Jade Themis, and the Prince
Aspero.