The young king looked at his indignant officials and suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.
It was not his usual weariness. It was the exhaustion of watching dull people discuss dull matters.
He picked out the minister he knew best. "Flocken, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty, the Blade of Freedom in the New Royal Capital doesn't even dare show its face. Why not send Young Miss Olmedo south to resist the enemy?"
"I see. Let me think about it."
Clo waved the noisy ministers away, then told a guard, "Fetch the Council Chairman and Reynaldo."
Before long, the Minister of War and the Council Chairman arrived at the Royal Palace. When Reynaldo learned they were discussing Young Miss Olmedo, he lowered his head. "My apologies, Your Majesty. My nephew has caused you trouble."
"He did it for the Kingdom. It's no trouble..." Clo was magnanimous about it. Stifling a yawn, he asked the Council Chairman, "What do you think, Mr. Irwin?"
"I can smell their fear." The tall Council Chairman smiled. "Reynaldo, your nephew has done well."
"You're too kind..."
The Council Chairman's expression turned serious. "Your Majesty, the Kingdom's enemies have never been outside its borders."
"Not outside?"
The king sat up a little, showing his interest.
"Free City is only a small territory. It poses about as much threat to us as a Kobold does to a Dragon. They can't do anything to us directly, so they can only slowly take over places ravaged by nobles."
"The Kingdom's enemies are within, right here in the New Royal Capital. Young Miss Olmedo stirred the waters just a little, and they all came crawling out."
Reynaldo tilted his head slightly. Why did the Council Chairman's words sound so much like something Annan would say?
"So you