Place your bet.
The wager?
Facing Jann and Tales, who were staring straight at him, Federico broke into a cold sweat and muttered to himself.
How had the conversation...
come to this?
"I know, Cousin. I don't like this outcome either," Jann said slowly. "But he's right about one thing: this is the choice that minimizes the losses for all three of us."
Tales nodded lightly, struggling to escape an imaginary snare through deep breaths.
"Minimizes... the losses?" Federico looked at Jann with shining eyes, like a captain who had found his compass in a dense fog.
"When we were children, Teacher Feibul said this in our politics class: balance among three."
Jann lifted his teacup without tasting it, merely rubbing the rim thoughtfully.
"If one side hopes to suffer less..."
"It means the other two sides will suffer more," Federico interrupted. He glanced at the silent Tales and said dazedly, "You've forgotten? I attended his classes too, back when you..."
"Before I went to study in the Eastern Land." The Duke of South Bank revealed a dangerous smile. "Fortunately, fortunately, you haven't forgotten."
Federico's expression shifted slightly.
Balance among three...
Then the other two sides...
"What do you say, Fede?"
Tales glanced at the Everlasting Bell and compared it against today's schedule.
"Become a viscount, or should I find you somewhere else to go?"
Federico looked at Tales's tense expression, then at Jann, who looked as though he had everything under control. He suddenly realized that he was the only one still standing in the study.
Abrupt and isolated.
At that thought, Federico's expression grew even uglier.
Yet after only a few seconds, the exiled nobleman took a deep breath, composed his features, and sat back in his seat with a straight posture, sinking into serious thought.
Restoring the