In the game of power in the south, Ryan often only learned the outcome after it was over.
Count Clayton's departure made Ryan realize that his count father had failed once again on the road to becoming a grand duke.
The Imperial Capital's flowers and splendor welcomed every victorious return. Defeated men did not deserve them.
Thus, Floyd and his father-in-law, Count Teton, left the Imperial Capital. They had been the first losers in this game, and now Count Clayton had followed as the second.
In this game of power, ignorant minor and mid-ranking nobles had no seats at the table, but the great nobles were not necessarily much better off.
With Clayton's departure, the Imperial Capital returned to its main conflict. The struggle of interests between the Emperor's political faction and Grand Duke Fleming's faction began anew. This time, however, the Emperor had far too many supporters at his side.
Two weeks later, Grand Duke Fleming had no choice but to compromise. Of course, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse, and he was merely short of water for now. Grand Duke Fleming did not leave the Imperial Capital. He remained there and held on, but under these successive attacks, he had no choice but to throw out the interests of a great many minor and mid-ranking nobles.
Grand Duke Mayers took the lead. As Columbus IV's supporter, no one could compete with him for the first bite.
This bought time. The nobles in the Imperial Capital no longer had time to keep attacking Grand Duke Fleming's side. As Grand Duke Mayers marked out his own territory, the remaining nobles turned into ravenous beasts.
For Grand Duke Fleming, this was also a way to buy time. But he knew very well that he might not be able