"Do you even know what you are requesting, Juwan?"
Klog is not happy to hear Juwan asking permission to accompany Zils to the Royal library. Juwan has requested and audience and they were left alone.
"Yes. I'm aware, Prime Minister."
"What make you think I will give that permission?"
"This is for the Prince's sake ."
"Excuse me?" Klog can't understand Juwan.
"Prime Minister, you should know where my loyalty with...we both know what the Prince want with her."
Klog looked at Juwan accessing. Juwan is the one most loyal to Vrag, he is with him at Judecca. He has the same goal with Vrag, they want to stop the war. Klog never thought of stopping the war, they are on the winning side, but after he saw what happened to Eder he is wondering if the two years war has taken a toll on the country. Many of the people lost their sons, husbands, fathers. He wanted Vrag to be the one ascended to the throne but he is so attached to the Crown Prince he never have the ambition to do so.
Judecca is the turning point where Vrag decided to fight for the throne on one condition, the war must stop. Klog is still torn in between but if Vrag finally show the ambition to be a King he will support what he want to do. He is not sure what the Juodas faction will say about stopping the war but they have suffered the most lost now, they might agree to the possibility of a truce.
Vrag gave him another surprise when he capture the Azure Beauty and he wanted her to be his Queen. He still doesn't know how Vrag get all the information. She is a beauty befitting of a display Queen but wether she can be a loyal or a threat to Vrag is another question. She is a soldier anyway.
"It is necessary to make her on our side."
"Why is that? She just have to be the 'Queen'."
"She knew about the dead people."
"Are you serious?"
Juwan never see Klog's wrinkled eyes widen so big.
"Given the time she spent with the Prince. She will know eventually."
"The Prince never separated from her even after she knew about it?"
"He stay with her but...I have suspected that the Lady has fall for the Prince."
"Are you sure about that?" the rumor is Vrag has been bewitched, if the Azure Beauty has really fall for Vrag it will be easier to control her. Women always follow their feelings instead.
"Not really sure but we all know Prince Vrag is a great lover..."
Klog sighed. He lay his back on his chair and closed his eyes. He is assessing every information on his hand. Prince Vrag has dismissed his harem. Well, after he recovered he didn't really use them at all, rising worries about his sexual capability after the trauma. Vrag has mentioned that it is purely physical attraction with this new woman he interested in but this only woman that shared his bed never conceived until now. Vrag need a heir if he ascend to the throne and Klog need to see the proof that he can produce an offspring.
"What can you tell me about their relationships now?" Klog asked still his eyes closed.
"Hmm...they are quite intimate I think."
Klog open his eyes and look to the ceilings. "But she never conceived until now..."
"I do believe the Prince has done everything he can..." Juwan is not sure how to tell Klog about the bed life of his master. He has asked the information from the door guard. "But there is a saying that if a woman's heart is not owned her body will not accept."
"So you are saying if the lady is not in love with the Prince she will not conceived? Such nonsense...she might be unable to..."
"She is in enemy's territory, she is not feeling secure, especially if she realized she attracted to the Prince. She will want to run away and have nothing to do with him."
"Such an irony...while the Prince has refused to produce an offspring for the sake of the Crown Prince, now he can't produce one when he want to..." Klog sighed.
"Don't you think it's best to make her at least feel comfortable? When she conceived she will have no choice but to stay here. She will not betray him."
Klog keep silence for a while. He finally said though. "Only the royal library." Royal library doesn't have many visitors anyway especially after the wars, it can be closed for one day.
"Thank you very much, Prime Minister." Juwan looks so happy, earning a frown from Klog.
"Another thing."
"Yes?"
"Do not fall for her." Klog gave a warning.
"I will not, Prime Minister."
Klog gave a gesture that Juwan may dismissed himself. He was left alone in his room.
Klog still remembered when Vrag asked him to give the brooch. Vrag mentioned that he wanted to keep the old man in a safe place. The brooch is decorated with the infamous azure jewel, something that unique from Arethea. He started to get suspicious but Vrag has hidden him somewhere.
After they caught Corinth, they have sent a messenger to Arethea offering a truce in exchange of the safety of Prince Edmund. There have been no reply for months. Klog is wondering how Vrag will stop the war when the other side is not cooperative. They have to march to Maranth to capture the Second Prince but it's still a risky strategy eventhough they are on the winning side. Vrag has mentioned that he is preparing for something that is not ready yet but never elaborate further to him.
Now someone has poisoned the Crown Prince, they will have to handle the fight to the throne. He is not sure if it is a good thing or not. If Vrag managed to get the place on the throne it will be easier to negotiate a truce.
Klog sighed. He looked at the report about Crown Prince's death. He need to send someone to Aram to investigate this "violet serpent".