Reduced to a Prisoner

The banquet ended in failure.

The false king's banquet had become a complete joke. Hardly anyone had attended, and the guests he had invited were a stinking bunch of Goblins, a crowd of filthy Civilians, a nouveau riche Merchant, and the notorious Faceless Baron.

Word was that the former head of the Laurencet Family had gone to the banquet hall and exposed the false king’s ugly mask on the spot.

That was how the Noble and wealthy citizens gleefully mocked the event the next day.

Seen that way, Annan's banquet really did look like a farce.

Calls to denounce Annan as an impostor posing as Levis grew louder. Some of the more radical Nobles even clamored for the impostor's immediate arrest.

Francois was impressed that Annan could still sit calmly through it all. "Aren't you angry?"

"No."

Annan tilted his head slightly from behind his desk. "Della, Assassination this man."

A shifting shadow opened the oak door and left the Study.

"Uh..." Realizing Annan was joking, Francois went on. "Annan, I know you don't want to believe Olmedo's father is the culprit. But when a man's position, actions, and everything he's done all point to him being the culprit, then he's the culprit."

"And Olmedo didn't appear at the banquet last night..."

Annan knew that too, but he could not think of a reason.

Augusta Olmedo was no schemer. He had no reason to work with the Ratfolk, even if he coveted the City Lord's seat. It would be like a wealthy man staking his entire fortune to win a hundred Gold Coins at the gambling table.

Francois pressed on. "If you keep silent, you'll only invite more attacks."

"What can we do?"

Annan looked at Francois.

This was a battle fought within the Rules:

Augusta Olmedo knew Annan was