The marquis slammed his hand on the desk, glaring at Karl. If his plan had any credibility, he might have listened, but what Karl was proposing seemed like the ravings of a madman.
"I'll pretend I never heard this. Leave."
"Please, reconsider. We must take drastic measures now," Karl insisted.
"Are you deaf? I said, leave!"
At his father's unyielding command, Karl bit his lip.
"…Just think it over, Father. This is the only option we have."
Receiving no response, Karl turned and exited the study, his face twisted with frustration as he looked out toward the dueling grounds. The memories he wanted to forget played vividly in his mind.
"Don't underestimate me," he had boasted, "this sword has even slain lesser dragons…"
Thud.
"Kek!"
"Damn it."
His face flushed with shame at the thought. He wished he could bury his head in a hole. But worse than the humiliation of his defeat was what followed.
