Varian's Affairs of State and Family Matters

Stormwind City Royal Palace.

Varian returned wearily from yet another quarrel at the Noble Council. He had just proposed issuing additional rewards to the soldiers who had marched to Northrend, but the nobles had broadly opposed it.

"Your Majesty, the kingdom's finances are tight!"

"Your Majesty, the army is fighting for the Alliance. Why should us nobles have to pay for it?"

"I opposed sending troops to Northrend from the start. And now you want to give money to those poor soldiers? Not a chance!"

The voices of opposition swelled into a wave that nearly swallowed the king whole.

At times, Varian felt that he was not Stormwind City's king, but its sinner. In the end, Bolvar, the Regent Grand Duke, stepped forward to mediate. Only then did the Noble Council agree to allocate a sum of money, giving a small bonus to officers who had joined the northern campaign according to their titles. As for the ordinary soldiers, they did not receive a single copper.

"This is outrageous! The soldiers fought for months in Northrend's frozen wastes, and in the end, they did not even get a bonus. Meanwhile, the noble officers still got to profit from it." Varian returned to the palace and smashed a vase in anger.

Whenever he was about to lose his temper, his guards would keep well out of his way. As a young and wise king, he could not show his irritability and dissatisfaction to the outside world.

Just as Varian was about to smash another one, the shards on the floor miraculously rolled themselves into a ball. Then a black ring of energy appeared and vanished without a trace.

"Who made you angry, my King—" Sargathas, the Evil God in elven guise, walked in. Seeing Varian fuming, she hurried forward, heart aching,