Chapter 12: The Royal Council

Inside Solecsudo Castle, the royal castle of the Kingdom of Sunkland, was a room with a rectangular table. Seven men sat around it. The one seated at the most central position was tall and firmly built with silver hair and sharp eyes. His ornate clothing marked him as King Abram Sol Sunkland.

Abram frowned as he listened to a report from his chancellor.

“A group of bandits unusually competent on horseback, you say...”

“That is correct, Your Majesty. They were able to outride our best cavalry and escape. Ordinary brigands, these are not. I suspect them to be agents of that roving Equestrian Kingdom.”

“Intriguing... Sion, tell me your thoughts on the matter.”

Sion straightened at his father’s gaze. “Yes, Your Majesty. I...believe we should avoid passing judgment too eagerly.”

“...And the reasoning for your caution?”

“Conflict between nations will cause much of the populace to suffer. It is premature to place the blame on the Equestrian Kingdom. I cannot imagine them attacking us for sport, and they have no reason to do so otherwise.”

“Ah, Your Highness is wise, but still young,” said Count Lampron, a noble whose pride for Sunkland and loyalty to his king exuded from every pore. He chuckled loudly. “Not all rulers are gifted with Your Highness’s wisdom. You should not expect other kingdoms to behave as sensibly as our glorious kingdom.”

“Mindless expansionism fuels the actions of many nations. There is no shortage of foolish rulers who will invade others without just cause simply to conquer more land.”

“Your language is a tad too provocative for these peaceful times, Count Lampron. To some ears, they may resemble the words of a warmonger,” added another participant.

“Oh? I didn’t expect to hear that from you of all people.”

The Royal Council was a meeting of nobility where members engaged in political fencing. Sion, who’d had no intention of engaging with the affairs of governance until gra