The blue spectacle on his finger spun slowly as it had thousands of times before. He had forgotten where he learned how to do it, and how even he was doing it right now, but his hands moved with purpose regardless. He thought about the odd expression of his Land-Duchess when he used the heirloom as collateral for down payment at his rental. It was an unusual sunken face for an old woman.
Krawford started by slamming his arms at a steep angle to his table. "You mean, the bastard, Krista Jean Sautre?"
"Heiress Krista now, but yes.", the scribe replied.
The council moved in their chairs, some looked to themselves, most to Wilhelm, almost like they were seeking for an ideal to adopt, a stance to take. How fitting for sheep being unable to think for themselves.
The burly man looked downstairs to see if anyone had witnessed the words that would soon alter most of their ambitions in the Imperiority. Apparently, high society was not incompetent to pleasure drowning one of the Emperor's pity side projects. No one could have heard a syllable.
The Imperial Guard Captain stood lifeless at the stairwell landing.
The Lieutenant, however, did not look at anyone but His Majesty. His mustache wriggled a funny manner.
"But that's Impossible", he began.
"Lieutenant, forgive me for not being more properly articulate this evening. Perhaps it would be for the best I should express His Majesty's intentions more candidly. You see, there are two problems for the new heiress. Because of her mother's passing 4 years ago, she is without a Guardio Levistata for the ceremony. Naturally Her Majesty should assume the title for her sake, but-" The hairless scribe quivered his lips for the remainder of his address and Krawford suspected anything owed by the Queen to Krista would not be in good faith.
"She is assisting Miss Hilda currently in her studies abroad." And barely exhaling his second breath, "The 2nd problem is the absence of introductions for the new heiress among the Notability houses. Naturally, her coronation cannot proceed without commendations from Six Houses. Lieutenant, His Majesty is aware of the council's work at Caden Island and this is what he wishes you understand. His Majesty is of the opinion that your council possesses significant sway in four districts of the Notability and has assigned a task to yourself: To Obtain four commendations in the name of Lady Krista from House Virgio, Soloid, Sphynx and Calum. In doing so, living up to the expectations of your Emperor and serving the Imperiority. Middle-aged council members, some balding, some saggy faces, some crooked, some partly decent, all sat with the same look, pure infantile fear. The Council of Viveno was at a forced crossroad, with either way most likely a death sentence.
Krista Jean Sautre, daughter of Lady Vonheim, the one and only Mistress of His Majesty. Her very existence a stain on the reputation of Her Majesty, who had accepted vows to the Empire on the basis of the eradicating Mistress/Concubine liberties on His Majesty's part. A world wonder that Lady Vonheim's spawn wasn't beheaded immediately after discovering the news upon her deathbed. Now the spawn becomes the 5th heir, without so much as a twinkle of an eye..
Krawford did not avert his eyes from the Emperor. He thought about Caden Island, the biggest failure of his career, and started with a pose not dissimilar to a simple man feigning deep thought. "Your G-"
"Can you do it- or not?"
The voice of His Majesty reverberated so deep in his echo chamber of a throat. His eyes shot upward and he was looking now at the miserable council. His eyes had the same cool blue from earlier that evening, but now a wild moving sort of intensity sat behind his pupils. It was a blue flame that danced over his subjects, specifically reserved for if so. It was a silent privilege to be considered by those eyes, as the Emperor was now awake.
"Your Majesty?!", Krawford.
"Either you can, or cannot", the Emperor.
Krawford reviewed the task at hand. His council was about to accept the equivalent of a burning boat of an assignment. If the scribe was correct, the King had been successful in manipulating the sanctum to consummate his marriage to Vonheim, and assuming that Jean Sautre blood was now Imperial Blood, and now all there was to worry about were the Notability, right? Except these people would kill their second-borns to be even considered even 9 rows away from the Imperiority Family tree and only two on that list might fall short of exterminating all immediate family members. They might get to Krista first way before her coronation, if not already. And His Majesty wants recommendations, not only that, but for the council to facilitate the documentary?? The piglets and goats of the barn? It had to be a test, because it was too comical.
A sudden deep-seated instinct caused him to exhale slowly while lifting his back. Many people would not wish point it out, and many more would forget it soon afterward, but Krawford was a Military man. Raw situations were not out of place to a Lieutenant in His Majesty's Armed forces. It seems even himself had forgotten the fact in this instance. He remained quiet, the deliberate kind an Instructor or a starry student should have to a new problem. Five seconds, 10, 25, 40.
"Of course, Your Majesty. The council possesses play books to establish Noblemen support for all of His Majesty's children upon his delegation for the Emperor Apparent. And I know several of those drafts which should perfectly appeal to Lady Krista. Which would you like to hear?"
It was always the only logical answer. It might be a burning boat but it was sailing on the wind of His Majesty's will. It would not sink anytime soon.
Krawford went on for the remainder of the evening. He gestured often to the burly council member by his right, who offered affirmative grunts and nods at critical junctures, but delivered his lecture without awkward interludes. It was filled with rehashed information, inconsistencies and lukewarm arguments. However, if even a morsel of an idea was improvised on the spot, it was a pretty incredible feat for this council. The Lieutenant drew another breath. Up until now, the scribe fiddled with his parchment with every word he had pronounced. His hands flared like a transcriptionist but most likely he was only assessing the presentation and leaving his impressions, with heavy critique. His Majesty remained inert but could have been the most attentive person there.
"I want to discuss Lady Krista's first problem, Your Majesty-"
The scribe looked up this time.
"I propose you use Lady Nirvana for Guardio Levistata. Lady Vonheim had served in her estate for most of her adolescent life, and as I understand is revered by the Noblewoman. We know that Lady Nirvana's household still exchanged letters frequently up until Ms Vonheim's demise and played a significant role in arranging her funeral and relocating Krista. Practically, they are family.", said Krawford.
The boy with a blue ring on his index finger clenched his jaws. His Majesty exchanged a look with his scribe, with the latter answering:
"Respectfully, Lieutenant, "practically" is not within the definition of a Guardio. Unless, you have something other to add-"
"Of course, there is always the second option", Krawford had snapped. His eyes were now a fiery yellow behind those spectacles, and any trickle of anxiety in his voice seems to have been expunged. He adjusted his posture once more.
"By that, I mean the Heiress's older brother, Wilhelm Jean Sautre."
The burly man eyed Krawford carefully during the silence. Once again, everyone on the council used the same expression, a sturdy deadpan look, as if they had listened to their obnoxious mothers reiterating a household principle for the umpteenth time. Obvious.
His Majesty suddenly stirred once more and his voice boomed louder than ever.
"How Interesting. And what does the brother have to say?"
Wilhelm's hands stopped, and he looked into his father's eyes for the first time.