Throne Room,

Riven, Rosendun.

1:32 p.m. 20th Banem 1092

Curses and angry shouts rained aloud in the throne room as several ministers let loose a hail of insults on Kashi, the hated daeben and paragon of all things evil. Surprisingly, however, contrary to expectations, Kashi remained silent throughout the insults with a small smile on his face. Occasionally, he would turn to Leila, or send an apologetic smile King Parissius' way.

The daeben was well aware of the newly crowned King's sensitive position. King Parissius could not afford to openly go against his entire court in order to favor a Summoned like Kashi. An act like that could easily be spun into dangerous libel by willing forces.

Kashi and the Hopeful Maggots would have to take care of this issue themselves, or at the very least, create an opening King Parissius could exploit.

"Silence, you imbeciles!" A voice shouted amidst all the shouting, drawing the attention of everyone to a balding 60-65 years old cerulean man with sharp grey eyes. "You are in the presence of the One and only King of Rosendun!" he sharply rebuked, causing the rowdy ministers to bow their heads in shame. "Your grievances may be justified, but we must use reason, not force to prove our point. This is the difference between Residents and Summoned."

"Damn it," Leila cursed, realizing the mortal danger this man threatened. He had formulated the perfect opportunity to launch the first blow against the Hopeful Maggots in the guise of respecting the King.

"So, the true boss finally reveals himself," Kashi muttered under his breath, eyes narrowed as a snide smile slid up the corner of his lips. The daeben leaned into Leila and whispered, "Do you know him."

"Yes," Leila replied, brows furrowed in a tight frown. "Name's Lennoc Zitch, Minister of the Chamber of Commerce. We got into a row during a previous policy meeting when I suggested that those with a yearly income of 10 million Syros and above pay an additional 15% tax to help fund social projects and reduce the burden on the lower and middle class. He's had it out for me since. I did not anticipate he would hijack such an important moment to push his agenda." Leila turned to Kashi with an apologetic look, "I am terribly sorry. I should have planned for this."

"Forget it," Kashi said with a wave of his hand. "No one's perfect. Not even you." The daeben then smiled as he said, "Besides I like to think of this as a free method of finding out who is truly trustworthy among the council."

"Kashi-dono, does the court amuse you!?"

Kashi lazily looked over his shoulder at Zitch who was glaring at him with a challenging gaze. After a moment, he replied with a slight smile, "Not so, minister. I just happen to be a cheery person by nature. Please, do continue. I consider criticisms to be ladders that help me eventually avail over the endless obstacle we call life."

"Such sophistry laced with sarcasm so poisonous it could slay a gorgon," Zitch spat with a disgusted expression. "Indeed, you consider the sacred throne room of Rosendun where sits the one true ruler beneath you. And you dare claim to be an ally of Rosendun and her people?"

Kashi knew better than to engage in verbal spat with these snake-tongued ministers. These people were capable of turning black into white; water into vinegar with their words alone. Therefore, Kashi shrugged and turned back to the front, awaiting whatever this Zitch character had to say.

"Undying Rose of Rosendun, King Parrissius Vermillion," praised Zitch as he stepped out of the ministers line-up and walked up to the edge of the carpet. The wizened minister bowed his head and then pointed at Kashi as he stated, "This man has, on numerous occasions, shown contempt towards the Rosen court, spitting on the values that make our ancestors instilled while they fought to build this country. He is callous, proud, and full of ambition, without any intention of bowing to another."

Kashi raised a brow, pointing to himself in surprise. 'He's talking about me right?'

Zitch continued his tirade of accusations, "I have proof that this man has, using the hard earned coin of the Rosen people, sought out personal gain over the collective good of Rosendun. Not only that, he is also a traitor secretly plotting to usurp the throne and has already begun laying the groundwork for his plan."

Kashi looked at Leila, and then beyond to Lunette and Shadow with questioning in his eyes. 'I had such plans? Why don't I know about them?'

"Such a man is not only unfit to stand in the royal court," Zitch loudly declared with a passionate shout which made even Kashi doubt himself, "but should immediately be executed and his assets seized by the Royal Court to be shared amongst the people."

Kashi had to resist an urge to clap. This man's performance was Oscar-worthy. If Kashi was not well, Kashi, he might have bought what Zenith was selling. Such was the authenticity of the performance. Only after a moment did Kashi finally realize just what Zitch had proposed at the end. With a maniacal smile, he leaned over to Leila and whispered, "That vulture doesn't really think I'm going to smile and let myself be executed, does he?"

"There's no chance you'll get executed," Leila replied, eyes narrowed. Her tone was icy-cold, revealing her building rage as she said, "It's a common trick used by politicians. He's raising the bar ridiculously high to get something a bit lower. Maybe an exile? Or just asset forfeiture? Let's see how it plays out."

"I see. Cunning," Kashi remarked and then said, "Well, I'll leave this to you. You can handle this right?"

"I'm unprepared, and this is an ambush."

"So?"

"So, it'll only take me a little longer than necessary," Leila responded with a chilly, thin smile as she stepped forward. She first glanced at Zitch, then briefly bowed to King Parissius. "The immortal phoenix who always returns stronger no matter the catastrophe, King Vermillion Parissiu—"

"You dare!" Zitch attacked, a glint in his eyes as he roared at Leila, "You curse our king to fall? You are an enemy of the state!"

"Is that how you interpreted it?" Leila responded with a cold smile. "Our great King Vermillion here fell from the highest of perches, was baptized in the fires of war, and returned to his throne stronger and smarter than ever. Rosendun as a nation has returned from the brink of destruction stronger and wealthier than ever." Leila's cold eyes bore into Zitch as she remarked, "A protected son of a wealthy man who has never known hardship might not realize this, but every nation, regardless of strength or prosperity will one day be tested. They will be pulled to the brink of despair, but that is when the character of its ruler has to shine through."

"Ask any warrior here," Leila said as she looked at the guards stationed around the hall. "Who would they rather have at their back. An undying rose, protected by a vase, that has never known hardship—"

Realizing how badly this was going, Zitch panicked and shouted, "That's not what I mea—"

"Or," Leila interrupted, continuing her speech, "a ruler who has experienced countless fires and emerged stronger each time. The strength to get up, learn from past errors and grow stronger is the sign of a truly great ruler, not an infallible existence." Leila's piercing gaze destabilized the politicians train of thought as she said, "No man is perfect. That luxury is reserved for the gods alone." Not that they are perfect either...

Kashi revealed a proud grin as he turned to, and then winked at Lunette. "I said that. She just used my line."

"Leila is even more formidable in person indeed," Lunette praised as she admired the vice-guildmaster's strong figure. "I can only hope to one day be as confident as her."

"You and I both," Kashi stated and then looked at Zitch. "So, we won round 1. How will he counterattack?"

As if prompted by Kashi's words, Zitch cupped his hands, assuming a humble stance as he bowed to Leila. "Ms. Lightwood is as wise as ever. Your words have enlightened this old man stuck in ancient tradition. Your words have opened my eyes, and this shall serve as a learning opportunity for this old fool."

"No such thing," Leila coolly replied with an even facial expression. "Tradition is not something to be tossed away for the new, but built upon, laying foundations for a brighter future. The old pass on traditions to the young that we may build an even better future. Nothing about that is foolish. I thank you for this lesson. I too shall use it as a learning opportunity."

Zitch's eyebrows twitched as he raised his head and stared at Leila. This Summoned was a tough nut to crack. She refused to fall for any verbal traps he laid. However, if she thought that was the end, she was sorely mistaken. "I—"

"Zitch-san," Leila's cool voice rang out, drowning his own and forcefully seizing the initiative. "Earlier, you made several accusations against Kashi, guildleader of the Hopeful Maggots, and long-time friend to the crown, potentially severing a relationship that has fostered great growth and prosperity in Rosendun and inciting a civil war. I believe you must have strong proof to back up those claims, or I will have you tried for not only slander but terrorism against the crown and country."

'Civil war!?' Zitch's heart instantly skipped a beat as he understood what the wisben was trying to do. Leila had instantly shot the stakes to the height of civil war so that in the event Zitch loses, he would not get away with a slight reprimand. This was blatant retaliation against his calling for Kashi's execution.

But wait. Maybe he could use this to his advantage, Zitch mused. "Civil war you say. So, are you saying Kashi would rebel if he were sentenced to die?"

"Have you ever heard of an innocent man who willingly walks to an unjust death?" Before Zitch could pounce on the opportunity presented, Leila continued, "However, Kashi would not be the instigator of the civil war, as he would simply migrate to another country with his guild." Leila revealed a cold smile as she declared, "It is the common folk of Rosendun who will start a riot when they see the livelihood of other countries drastically improved by the Hopeful Maggots' inventions, while they have to pay an arm and a leg for the same luxury. Imagine how they would feel knowing that all those could have been theirs, but a few rich politicians pushed out the Maggots in order to fatten up their already bulging pockets."

Leila's eyes flashed as she went in for the kill, "Tell me Zitch-san. Do you care more for the people or your coin?"

"Nonsense!" Zitch snorted, choosing not to address the question. The trap was not in the answers, but in the question itself. No matter his response, Leila would have a trap ready to ensare him. "Do not try to sway the court with hypotheticals and hearsay. Let us focus on the facts. The—"

"Facts?" Leila interrupted, once again stealing the spotlight at an opportune moment. "As you wish, I shall focus solely on the facts." Raising a finger, she said, "Fact Number One: The Hopeful Maggots has the highest dungeon completion rates and clears. Without the Maggots, Rosendun will lose a significant portion of its dungeon clearance force, which will greatly increase the danger for neighboring villages."

Leila then raised her middle finger as she continued, "Fact Number two: Be it through hunting, trading or crafting, the Maggots are a vital aspect of Rosendun's commercial industry. Our industries create thousands of jobs for the common people, and a large amount of our profit goes towards public welfare causes, and development of projects to benefit the people. Even now, construction on the islands south of Rosendun has provided roughly three thousand well-paying jobs."

Leila raised her ring finger as she continued in a flat tone, "Fact Number Three: The Hopeful Maggots serve as Rosendun's primary conquering force. We risk our lives on the frontline to broaden Rosendun's territory, thereby reducing the risk to Rosen's soldiers. Also, our involvement in the frontlines is unofficial, so it absolves the Royal Crown of any guilt if we were to fail in a conquest or cause a disaster during an expedition. Getting rid of the Hopeful Maggots will vastly impact Rosendun's military might, unless of course you already have a replacement lined up. One which was most likely bought with coin, and would easily betray Rosendun for even more coin."

Zitch opened his mouth to absolve himself of the absurd claim, but Leila did not give him a chance. Once again, she went for the kill, "Fact Number Four: The Hopeful Maggots, through the efforts of its leader, Kashi has served as primary negotiators between Rosendun, Serisis and Merriheim, culminating in an agreement to bind these three nations under Rosendun's flag. Tell me, minister, what exactly is your goal here, that you aim to disrupt Rosendun's trust in her greatest ally moments before an achievement that every king has dreamed of since her inception?"

"What!? Unification!?" Several ministers shouted in shock as they stared at Leila. The stunned crowd quickly turned to look at King Xafier, but upon seeing his lack of reaction, finally realized that Leila was telling the truth.

"No. No. No. Zitch, that bastard didn't say anything about this," Several ministers wailed in desperation and regret as they glared at the bald minster. "Are we doomed? No. No. He has to have a plan. I can't go out like this."

'Unification? So, he was actually telling the truth.' Zitch's eyes narrowed in thought. 'All the more reason I cannot let these Maggots have the glory for this.' Collecting himself, Zitch said with a warm smile and a soothing voice, "You raise some good points, but I never called for the Hopeful Maggots to disband or leave the country. Only for its leader, Kashi to be executed. I would never place the sins of the father on the son after all." 'Hmph, if you think this is over, think again.'