"Seriously, Winchester, do you think we really have what it takes to govern a country? We can't even govern our own city. Maybe you don't realize it, but I see it clearly—I was too naive. I thought that as long as we crushed the nobles' arrogance and used force to make them yield some of their interests, the common folk would be able to live a little better. But reality was far, far more complicated than I imagined. I failed. Failed completely. Just as you said, we're both utter failures. We wanted to save our city, yet in the end, we accomplished nothing. The nobles hate me, and the commoners hate me too. Under my naive leadership, this city didn't improve—it got even worse. I can see it. The conflict is still there, and when it erupts again, that may be the day Athkatla falls."
Although Osvid seemed somewhat rigid and dogmatic to outsiders, he was still an elegant old gentleman. Yet now, overcome by emotion, even he had started swearing.
"Winchester... we aren't suited to rule. We simply don't know how to govern a nation. Amn is falling apart in my hands. I can't keep watching Athkatla sink deeper under my rule... We aren't suited for it, so..."
Osvid's voice dropped. Mages were all highly intelligent; there was no doubt about that. Idiots had no right to become mages. But high intelligence did not mean someone could govern a country. At least, Osvid did not believe he possessed that ability.
Only after suffering setbacks could people see themselves more clearly. Osvid was no exception. In the past, he had believed the councilors in the council were all shortsighted, foolish trash. Their greatest talent was figuring out how to squeeze the common folk dry, which was why Osvid had always