.........it was tradition to have your Steward take the throne when you stepped down. However, that tradition has been lost by the wayside.
(from Shirewiki)
Well, as a fervent traditionalist, I believe in restoring as many traditions as we can. I have been loth to raise this, but deep in my background, I am descended from Kaiser Loki I, and matrilinially from an illegitimate daughter of Kaiser James VI.
I do not formally claim the Throne at this time. There are lines of descent senior to mine, but I shan't stand aside for any lesser line.
Good reasons for my Kaisership-

I have added greatly to the claims of the Imperial Republic.

I have experience making proclamations and decrees.

I can assume a slightly-crazed Imperial attitude at will.

I won a FNORD. (I know that doesn't mean an awful lot in the Search for Kaiserness, but I just found out about it, and wanted to brag somewhere about it.)

The Idea of Kaiser James VII/Loki II would frighten certain potential adversaries of the Imperial Republic, and severely annoy others.

Oh, and the Dirigibles you hear in the air, the battleship
Kaiser Mors V taking gunnery practice in the distance........Don't be concerned about any of that, they are there for your protection............
Really.