Kenji had many allies in court.
These allies weren't people he had personally trained but instead a network left behind by his father. Though many of them were senior officials, even elders to him in a familial sense, Kenji's current position in the court made him their leader. Thus, they worked tirelessly to ingratiate themselves with him.
Kenji was well aware that such connections, forged out of mutual interests, were anything but stable. Still, for now, he found their utility indispensable. Many of these allies were deeply involved in various affairs of the court, and their support allowed Kenji to wield influence well beyond the responsibilities of his formal position as Grand Marshal.
Now, it was time to mobilize these connections for his own purposes.
…
Pluvia woke up in her chambers at the break of dawn.
Her sleep had been far from peaceful. She had been plagued by dreams the entire night.
