That evening at the General's residence.
While people chatted, Daemond studied at the faces of the four men surrounding his table. Diggory Millys and Timothy Lanisius sat to his right, while the other two chiefs, Agripa Olympius of Catania and Ponti Scato of Aesis, sat in front of him.
All four seemed to be in high spirit, enjoying their dinner casually, telling jokes and laughing.
Timothy, the Head of Vale district, even appeared to be slightly drunk from the huge amount of wine he had consumed during the banquet.
"Thank you all for coming tonight, gentlemen," Daemond said, raising his glass. "I hope this dinner will mark the beginning of a good cooperation between us."
Everyone responded to Daemond's toast by raising their own glasses and drinking to the bottom.
Timothy took the liberty to topped up his own glass with more wine while saying, "This year's festival was truly successful and lively. All thanks to the remarkable reputation of General Daemond in attracting such crowd."
All the District Chiefts nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Daemond just chuckled softly.
"My reputation isn't entirely mine, Lord Timothy," the general answered in polite response. "Everything I do is under the direct order of our king, King Gustav. It is he who has established a strong military force to maintain peace and integrity in the Kingdom of Navaell."
"Ah… You're being too modest, General," Agripa, the Regional Head of Catania, who also happened to be Diggory Millys's brother-in-law, replied. "In my opinion, a troop is only as strong as its leader. Without your leadership, it would have been impossible for our kingdom to push back the rebels from our borders."
"You're all too kind," Daemond replied again. "The strength of my troops lies within each soldier. Without them, I am just one man on the battlefield who wouldn't be able to do anything."
Suddenly, Timothy hiccupped, causing everyone to immediately shift their gaze to him.
"Uh... Excuse me, General," Timothy said. "I didn't mean to offend, but in my time leading Vale, this is the first time I've met a High General who is humble. If I may be honest... it's quite disappointing."
Some faces in the room looked shocked by Timothy's response. He seemed too intoxicated to control his tongue properly. Insulting a Kingdom General? Did the man want to die?
Ponti even appeared to be holding his breath while Diggory, who was sitting next to Timothy, nudged his arm to warn him.
But Daemond seemed unaffected. He simply asked, "Disappointing? How so, Lord Timothy?"
Ignoring the judgmental looks from his peers, Timothy continued, "Well... General.... I didn't mean to insult or belittle you. I'm just stating the facts. The highest military leader in the kingdom should be admired and feared. With you being humble like this, it's no wonder rumors are circulating among the city's residents that the strength of our kingdom's army is no longer as strong as it used to be."
Daemond burst into laughter upon hearing Timothy's explanation.
"I'm sure it's just a rumor, Lord Timothy," Daemond replied. "I always tell my soldiers not only to prove their strength but also their humility. I don't want our soldiers to be feared by the people. They are here not to intimidate. As long as the people abide by the rules given by the kingdom, they are under the protection of the royal army. A soldier must treat the people well. But of course..., this doesn't apply to traitors and their supporters. Don't you agree, Lord Timothy?"
Daemond's response, veiled with a threat, immediately made Timothy realize what he had just said. The man suddenly sobered up from his drunken state and stuttered in response.
"Y-yes... of course, General. You're absolutely right."
"But thank you for bringing this issue to my attention, Lord Timothy. Now I know that there are rumors about the strength of the kingdom's army among the people. Perhaps it's wise for me to heed your advice and start being cautious."
Timothy's face looked increasingly downcast upon hearing Daemond's threat. He seemed like he would turn into a puddle if Daemond kept staring at him with his sharp gaze.
Fortunately, not long after, the General shifted his gaze to Diggory.
"You look tired, Lord Diggory. Or is there something bothering you that you'd like to share?"
"Eh... No... nothing, General," Diggory hurriedly replied, surprised by the sudden attention directed at him. He couldn't possibly tell the General that he just wanted the dinner to end so he could search for Annica, could he? The other chiefs would mock him.
"I'm just tired," Diggory continued. "It seems like the festival preparations have left me lacking in rest."
"I understand. Stay here tonight, then. It's very late, there's no point in leaving at this hour." Daemond gestured to one of the servants standing by the door and whispered something in the man's ear.
"I don't want to inconvenience you, General," Diggory replied, though that's what he hoped for.
"You won't be inconveniencing me at all," Daemond said after the servant left. "My servants will prepare rooms for all of you and will escort you when they're ready."
Daemond finished the remainder of his wine before standing up.
Everyone in the room immediately laid down their utensils and stood up.
"Meanwhile, allow me to rest," Daemond announced. It seemed not only Diggory who was tired; he too could no longer bear this exhausting small talk any longer. Bureaucracy was not something he enjoyed. Daemond had other plans for tonight besides conversing with these sly-faced men. "Don't let my absence interrupt your dinner. Please, continue. Make yourselves at home."
Daemond walked out, leaving the four regional heads to continue their dinner without him.
They all immediately slumped back into their seats once the General disappeared and letting out sighs.
For a moment, there was silence in the room. Then, a voice.
"You need to watch your mouth, Timothy," Agripa, the Catania Regional Head, was the first to speak. "Why would you say something like that in the middle of a party? It only makes things awkward."
Ponti nod his head in agreement. He didn't speak much, but this time he felt the need to reprimand his colleague.
"Lord Agripa is right, Lord Timothy," Ponti muttered. "As long as we follow the rules given by the central authority, I believe they won't meddle with our power in the regions. Besides, if the rumor is true and General Daemond is to be the king's heir, it's best if we're not on the wrong side by making him angry.
"Or perhaps you're planning something, Lord Timothy," Agripa interjected again. "Do you have something to hide that you're trying to show your teeth in front of the General?"
"Hey... don't act innocent, Lord Ponti," Timothy retorted, sounding offended. "We're all doing what needs to be done to survive this far. General Daemond should be thanking us. If that man keeps treating us like traitors, he'll end up with a knife in his back."
Ponti slammed his hand on the table.
"Don't be ridiculous," he couldn't contain his anger anymore. "Just because General Daemond looks soft, doesn't mean he's weak. Do you want your head to be chopped off first before you can control your tongue, huh?"
"Hey, no need to shout," Timothy retorted. "If my plan to infiltrate spies had succeeded, we wouldn't need to guess what that man is thinking now. Who would have thought that he would reject the two women I sent?"
"Maybe the women you sent were ugly," Agripa retorted. "Besides, if we need spies, why not use someone who's already inside? Didn't Lord Diggory just send his slave here?"
Both Timothy and Ponti immediately turned to look at Diggory.
"That's right," Timothy said. "Lord Diggory, what if you ask your slave to be our spy?"
"What?" Diggory shook his head. "No. No. It's too dangerous. I don't want Annica to be a spy. I don't want her involved in political matters like this."
"Oh, come on, Diggory," Timothy pleaded. "It's for all of our interests, isn't it? Don't you want to know what that man is planning by coming all the way here?"
"I SAID NO!"
"Fine... Fine..." Ponti finally intervened. "Let's discuss this another time. Remember where you are. Every time you drink too much, you two quarrel like dogs and cats."
Diggory pushed his chair back and stood up. All this talk about politics, who's spying on whom, was giving him a headache. He came here not to discuss plans to spy on the General. Honestly, he didn't care what the General was planning in his territory. He hadn't done anything that needed to be hidden. All this time, he had always complied with the central government's wishes and didn't play behind the scenes like Timothy and whoever else.
He only came to find Annica.