Renaissance Palace, Ballard Chamber.
The setting sun streamed through the stone window, casting long shadows across the council table that looked like alternating bands of golden and black sword blades.
"Is there really such a good thing?"
The Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Starlight, Viscount Connie, put down the recently delivered "Petition for Substitute Service of the Emerald City," his face filled with skepticism.
"That master of the Fleur-de-lis."
Connie looked towards his peers in the royal meeting:
"Duke Kevendill actually took the initiative to request taxation in place of conscription, reducing the conscript quota for the Emerald City, and even supports the Royal Family's expansion of the Standing Army to take over the national defense duties left by the conscripts?"
The ministers at the royal meeting exchanged looks.
Only the scarred man from the Kingdom Secret Agency, who returned with this petition and stood quietly by, remained silent.
