Kornel was born into nobility, and was well immersed in the affairs of the rich and powerful from an early age. Being an only child, he ended up inheriting his family's entire fortune when he was just 24 years old after his parents died to sickness. Decadent, malicious, and excessively greedy, he schmoozed and wormed his way up to even higher ranks, until he was finally chosen to be the Alkir, or Viceroy, of Sadah.
From the moment Kornel reached his new palace, he is said to have cried tears of joy, proclaiming right then and there that Sadah was his (second to the Emperor, of course), both present and past. Statues of former sultans were torn down, and sculptors were requisitioned to replace them with statues of himself. In order to hoard his area's wealth, he ordered an increase in taxes and for all soldiers to return to the capital city. As a result, rural areas quickly became overrun by Centaur raids. Lines of dignitaries sent from villages unable to pay tribute would stretch outside of the palace, with each one made to grovel at Kornel's feet for forgiveness, much to his amusement.