Yeah, now that was what he’d expected when he walked in…

Darling wanted to laugh at the morons. I should step down. That would teach them an invaluable lesson.

But unfortunately, he couldn’t do that to them.

Giran scowled at his “friends” and their mockery as they called for the guard to arrest Darling and hand him over to the League.

“Gerents?” he shouted. “Do you not understand what that would mean for us?”

Utter silence filled the hall.

“We wouldn’t have a faggot for a leader!”

“Enough!” Giran roared. “I will not stand by and see our emperor insulted!” He pinned several of them with a brutal glare. “If the League steps in, all of us are replaced. Do you understand me? The CDS will be disbanded. Immediately. Our titles will be confiscated and those of us here in this room will join those already imprisoned.”

That finally got their attention. Yeah, the bastards didn’t like that thought at all.

A deafening roar broke out until Giran let loose a fierce whistle. “Let’s hear from the emperor what he intends to do for us.”

He and the rest of the room looked to Darling.

Darling clasped his hands behind his back and eyed them coldly. “My plan is simple. I intend to walk right into the heart of League territory and ram their dictate for our surrender down their throats.”

The royal guard cheered. But the gerents weren’t quite so enthusiastic.

“They’re not going to let you walk in and take our people out,” a woman sneered. “They’ll come for us.”

Darling shrugged with a nonchalance he didn’t feel. “They might. But it’s not likely. As far as the League will know, the attack won’t be sanctioned by the Caronese,” he reiterated. “The Sentella will be leading it.”

“Why would the Sentella put their lives on the line for us?”

Because I’m one of its founding members, imbecle…

But he could never say that out loud. “It’s what they do. Everything is already in place. Nemesis and Kere are standing by to start the assault as soon as I give them the clear. Something I didn’t want to do without consulting all of you first.”

Giran gave him a fierce military salute. “I am with you, my lord. May the gods speed and keep you. Most of all, may they give you the strength to save our people and bring them home.”

The royal guard let out a resounding sound of approval.

But the gerents…

They remained quiet for so long that Darling began to wonder if he hadn’t bored them to sleep.

Finally, Lady Tehrshin rose to her feet to address him. “I remember my father telling me when I was a girl that the League would never act against any nation. That all they wanted was to keep us in peace and health. But over the years, I’ve watched as they lost sight of their mission. Now I am one of those who is directly affected by their actions. They hold my only son for no reason whatsoever. Today I am the one who suffers. But tomorrow, it could be anyone in this room. They need no reason these days to kill or suppress. I support you, Your Majesty, and I commend your courage. Would that all men possessed it. May the gods bless you always, Emperor.”