Politics

Karl listened quietly to Richter and Sir Kylan's analysis, his fingers still tapping rhythmically against the rough wooden tabletop. His deep gaze remained fixed on the flickering lamplight, and he said nothing, clearly weighing the pros and cons of the proposal at lightning speed.

For a moment, the command center fell into brief silence. The only sound was the faint crackle of the lamp flame bursting now and then.

Brendan folded his arms across his chest, brows tightly furrowed, and leaned silently against the back of his chair.

He deeply agreed with Sir Kylan's analysis. From a purely military perspective, asking Fran City to send troops to help defend Tyrol was indeed the best solution available. It would quickly resolve Carnford's urgent shortage of troops, and Earl Rochefort certainly had more than enough reason and willingness to do so.

But a deeper, more realistic concern, like a cold venomous snake, quietly coiled around Brendan's heart. It was easy to invite a wolf into the house, but hard to send it away. Once Fran City's army marched into Tyrol, would this strategic stronghold, purchased with the blood of Carnford's soldiers, still be easy to reclaim in the future?

It was true that Earl Rochefort had rendered Carnford and Lord Karl a great kindness in their hour of need. It could even be said that without the Earl's wholehearted support, Carnford would not be what it was today.

The Earl's personal relationship with Lord Karl was also extremely close. He could even see that Lord Karl and his daughter, Miss Charlotte, were in love. If not for the delay caused by that troublesome marriage to the royal princess, an alliance between the two families would probably have been placed on the agenda long ago.

But politics was politics, and interests were interests.