The Council dismissed every accusation against Annan's subordinates. He remained Grand Lord Raymond's honored guest, as though nothing had happened.
Captain Reyne and Makarov understood the game. Joan seemed to grasp some of it. Only Illymoyas was baffled.
Among the Dragon Clan, if two dragons had a dispute, they fought to decide who was boss. Annan and Grand Lord Raymond clearly wanted each other dead, yet both acted as though nothing had happened.
"Why don't you just fight?"
"Because those are the rules nobles live by."
Annan returned to Illymoyas's side.
"They sit at the top of society and haven't had their fill of it yet, so they invented rules to keep conflicts from escalating."
People who slaughtered entire families at the slightest provocation were crude and tasteless. Besides, if you killed someone else's family, didn't you have a family of your own?
Two nobles fighting until they were both ruined would be ugly, and it would only benefit everyone else.
Illymoyas studied Annan for a long moment. "I get it. You can't beat him."
"True."
Annan wished he could disregard the rules as the Empire did. Offend him today, and the Imperial Guard would knock on your door tomorrow.
Unfortunately, Free City had everything an empire needed: an excellent leader, a fair system, and citizens who believed in it. The only thing it lacked was time.
Give Annan another ten years... no, five, and he was confident Free City's foundations would surpass those of the Broken Mountains—golden treasures aside.
The nobles in the Council Hall were filing out in an orderly fashion, except for President Feilin, who ran out looking sick and utterly flustered.
A guard in Gold Armor approached Annan with a message from Grand Commander Raymond: he invited Annan and the princess to visit.
Curious what else