Time to work, for real this time. I've been waiting for what feels like an eternity for the king to return, now it's time to put the proposal on the table and resolve this once and for all. I straighten the sleeves of my tunic, which Duke Moonlight gave me to wear for a proper social event for the first time.

Normally, when it's time to resolve something, I just send a notice to the people and go there to break things, but for some reason, both Leliana and the Duke insisted that I wait for the king before discussing the matter.

Close to me are two more people: Ravenna, wearing a beautiful black dress that seems to imitate a pair of bat wings on the back, and Victorian, this time wearing armor over his body to cover everything. How awful, why does it have to be the three of us out of everyone?

"Fix your collar."

Ravenna addresses me, stretching her sharp nails toward my neck before pulling the collar up, completely messing up the neat way it was folded.

"You don't suit being such a posh boy."

"Thanks, I guess?"

"Be sure to maintain your trash personality and as many bad manners as possible."

"Stop cursing me, you wicked woman."

As expected, she isn't even rooting for me properly and mostly wants me to fail. At least Victorian is on my side, right? Son of a bitch, the guy prefers not to even come close to resolving this, he's flashing that smile that says, "That's the way, boss!", but I just wanted to solve your problem already!

Ah, whatever. I just need to wait for the audience with the king and finally go resolve this issue, that way I prevent Victorian from getting into trouble with Leonhardt and I'll be more at peace... Then I'll take my well-deserved vacation at a resort surrounded by beautiful women. Hold on, when did I start talking like an old man?

"Darius Moonlight, Ravenna Galbraith, and Victorian Muspell" a butler calls our names, opening the door to the waiting room we are in. "The King awaits you for the audience."

Finally! The witch takes the lead and curtsies to the butler. She was the one who decided to lead our group, knowing much more about etiquette than the rest of us.

I enter along with them, and as soon as we cross the door, I feel the weight of the environment crush me. The throne room is silent, only the echo of our footsteps spreads across the smooth marble. The king is already there, seated, with that look of someone who hasn't slept in days. It's not like I've spent much time with my uncle, but his aura is the kind that makes you think twice before opening your mouth, very different from the one I saw in the dining room.

Ravenna walks firmly, treating every step as if it were a performance. Victorian tries to maintain his posture, but you can see he's a little too stiff, like a statue afraid of cracking. And me? Well, I just follow, trying not to think that I'm wearing a tunic that smells like mildew.

"Your Majesty" Ravenna speaks first, bowing with a class I would never possess. "We have come as summoned."

The king raises his eyes in our direction. The uncle I knew before is very different from this one now, but the strangest thing is how the queen is not here either, nor the prince or princess. Is an exhausted face not enough, did he also decide not to bring the family back out of fear?

"Darius Moonlight..." he pronounces my name slowly, you can see the fatigue in his speech. "You requested this audience, so speak."

I felt all eyes fall upon me, as if I were the main course of the banquet. There are other nobles around us, and I can even hear a whisper about how my collar is messy. Seriously, I feel like I'm going through public embarrassment, but I couldn't care less right now.

"Your Majesty, I won't beat around the bush. The man next to me is named Victoria, he was one of the slaves I rescued from the Scorn a few days ago, around the date of that Libertarian attack. My request is quite simple: he has a family in the north, and I wanted to send him there with an escort."

The counselors in their respective places started whispering. Ravenna, on the other hand, showed a smirk, probably anticipating disaster.

The king did not respond immediately. In fact, it seemed more like he was going to fall apart at any moment if he tried to speak, judging by how he even had difficulty moving.

"Do you truly believe you can come to my court... and demand that I send an enemy back home?"

Oh, I messed up.

"Darius, I understand your empathy for the lives of others, and your action to save the enslaved people was also extremely beautiful, however, with this man's presence, I cannot simply let him go. You should know this, better than anyone."

I know, I know! It's only now that the realization is hitting me and I've noticed the slip-up! It's not that Victorian is unknown, on the contrary, being a general in the north who caused problems with rebel troops already puts a heavy weight on this neck! Why did I only just realize this now?

Damn, did I rely too much on the idea that they wouldn't know who he is? If so, I'm screwed big time! Smooth it out, Darius, find an adequate answer...

"A-hem, Your Majesty! There's one thing you are forgetting!"

"What would that be?"

"Victorian was of the utmost importance in dealing with the Libertarians, who, let's face it, almost killed you and would have caused the kingdom's biggest scandal! Without him, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the palace! And I am not exaggerating or being disrespectful, after my father, Duke Moonlight, investigated the Libertarians' possessions, we found several explosives and also another fleet of golems!"

Surprised gasps come from the audience. Great, this point is important to hit, I don't want to put myself in the position of being audacious or saying absurdities. I first have to work with facts to make this work.

I'm also inflating my friend's presence a little. He did a lot, don't get me wrong, but compared to Leonhardt and Duke Moonlight, it's a whole other ballgame.

My uncle scratches the goatee on his chin, probably weighing the case in the balance. While this calculation error regarding Victorian's origin was a huge problem for me, there was still a way to bounce back as long as we negotiated.

"Right, you are correct about that... but I cannot give a hasty judgment, considering this man also caused damage to the kingdom in his own way. I understand that his goal was to protect his own land and family, however, the fact remains."

Yeah, he's going to be more stubborn than I wanted.

The king suddenly stopped speaking, and his tired expression changed as if someone had lit a candle behind his eyes. It wasn't joy or pity, in fact, it looked more like when someone remembered a very interesting video from the past about some random subject.

The silence of the hall was broken when he leaned forward... are you going to tell me a secret to lean over that much, old man?

"...But perhaps there is a way."

Just say it, my heart is practically jumping out of my throat! Do you have any idea how hard it is to stand here kneeling? My flesh is already aching, and my bones are begging for a truce!

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

He drummed his fingers on the arm of the throne, a short smile appeared on that devilish face.

"I will agree to send him back... but only if you resolve the crisis plaguing the North in my name."

A shiver ran down my spine. Ravenna smiled, that poisonous smile she always wore when she saw someone sink into impossible debts. Victorian instantly raised his head, eyes wide behind his helmet, and I realized that he already understood the kind of mess I'd gotten myself into.

"Wh-What crisis exactly?"

"Local clan rebellions, scarcity of supplies, attacks by ice beasts" he listed them as if reciting a shopping list, but every word only made me want to jump off a bridge and end this life. "The North is in collapse, and no one on the council has found a solution. This war of independence has also drained many of our resources, and we may face more problems soon if this conflict continues to extend. If you take Victorian back and reestablish order... then, and only then, will I grant the necessary pardon."

A murmur spread among the counselors. Some widened their eyes, others shook their heads as if the king had lost his mind. I stood still, staring at my uncle, trying to decipher whether he was testing me, punishing me, or simply taking the opportunity to get rid of two problems at once.

What kind of mission is this, you crazy old man?! Go to the North, that backwater place?!

"Your Majesty..."

"That is the condition. Accept, and your request will be granted. Refuse, and the man beside you will return to chains."

What did I get myself into...?