Lyan stood on the upper level of the royal lounge, leaning against the ornate railing as he watched Prince Erich and Julius heatedly debating over the map spread out on the table. He had already heard most of their plan—waiting for Varzadia to initiate war, using that as justification to launch a counterattack and invade their territory. It was bold, risky, and very much Prince Erich's style.
"Your Highness, you're overthinking this. If we let them make the first move, we'll be able to rally everyone in Astellia behind us. They'll see that Varzadia was the aggressor, and we won't have to worry about divided loyalties," Julius argued, his voice steady but with a hint of impatience.
"But you're overlooking the damage they could cause if they strike first," Erich countered, his expression growing more intense. "We can't underestimate them, Julius. If they target our weakest points, even just for a few days, it could cripple us before we can properly respond."
