"Gentlemen, wise men of Emerald City, now that things have come to this, give us the truth."
Daikman, Viscount of Travelers' Gathering Fort and Director of the Commerce Department, seated in the front row of the Council Hall, watched Federico and the deputy high priest tear into each other. He sighed and spoke quietly:
"Who among you had a hand in today's grand spectacle?"
As everyone's attention was drawn elsewhere, Brioti, the Municipal chief Administrator, leaned closer and quietly asked the circle of high-ranking colleagues with whom he was on better terms:
"Or has someone already reserved a seat in that damned council?"
Even the regency?
"Utter nonsense." Di Donato, president of the Eternal Oil Guild, shook his head. "Heads would roll over something like this. Who would dare?"
"Then someone dares," Honorary Baron Amisarashvili snorted coldly. "After the Duke lost power and the Prince became Regent, who came looking for each of you in private?"
His gaze burned, without the slightest attempt at concealment.
"Or rather, who did each of you go looking for?"
The senior officials unconsciously averted their eyes, avoiding one another's gaze.
"Whoever orchestrated this, from the look of it, it benefits us laborers of the Empty Palace—and even most of the people in this hall, doesn't it?"
Lord Mylahovich, the highly respected chief financial officer, sighed softly:
"Everyone thought that once one Iris Flower fell, they could simply replace it with another. But reality is this: when the Iris Flower falls, everyone rushes in to tear off a bite of flesh."
Since the Iris Flower was about to fall—and even if it returned, it could never restore its former grandeur—someone had to fill the gap it left behind, didn't they?
"By forcing the Prince to sign this contract?"
Mayor Amisarashvili gave a disdainful sneer.
"Wouldn't