The moonlight was cold and clear. The funeral song in his ears had stopped, replaced by another peal of laughter from the Flower of the Fortress and the shouts of her soldiers.
"Depose Duke Jenn and destroy Jann?"
In the lounge, Prince Tales repeated the king's words, then drew a deep breath.
"Let me guess, Your Majesty. You'll rally the strength of the entire kingdom to raise a royal Standing Army of more than thirty thousand men for me—strong, well-equipped, and invincible. You'll give me Wrath of the Kingdom in my left hand and Wing of Legend in my right. Then, under my correct leadership, they'll charge into Emerald City from both sides, brutally and irresistibly, break through Empty Palace, drag Jann Cavendish off his ducal throne, stuff him headfirst into a toilet, and flush him into the moat?"
King Kessel was silent for a while.
"No."
Tales gave a mocking scoff of just as I thought.
"Then you must have prepared a perfect plan that can safely and quietly get rid of Jann without forcing the four great lords into rebellion and destroying Star Kingdom in a civil war. That's why you have the confidence to order me to run your errands, right? After all, we should both have learned something from the previous 'Sand King' incident—and perhaps from my little protest as well?"
The Iron Fist King glanced at him, then turned toward the desk.
"Open it."
It took Tales several seconds to realize that he was referring to the scroll the king had brought.
The Prince pursed his lips to express his displeasure at Kessel's attempt to keep him in suspense, but he still went to the desk and picked up the scroll. He found the exclusive crest of the Iris Family stamped upon it.
"Warmly welcoming...