“You will follow this with the jubilant news that you are naming your son, Prince True, as your new chief counsellor. He has proved his loyalty to you and his realm repeatedly in his adult life. And he did the same very recently in Firenze at the diplomatic table, negotiating an alliance with Firenze that will mean an end to the strife with our southern neighbors, and open trade routes on the seas, as well as trade directly with Mar-El, which will mean Dellish wares will reach ports on this continent much more expediently, and others abroad we have rarely been able to attain.”

Her husband had lost his pallor.

He now was red in the face and looked ready to explode.

Mercy ignored this too.

“And last, you will declare that the recent tax will be utilized to assist port authorities and ship builders to handle much more significant traffic and custom, for the seas have been open to Firenze and Airen too, though tariffs will be assessed to their imports. This, as well as you and your new counsellor will be open to applications for funding credits to small merchants, farmers and shepherds who wish to increase their operations in order to supply what we hope will be significantly amplified demand.”

“This is all very tidy for you,” he sniped.

“Actually, True made it all very tidy for you,” she replied calmly.

“He is again the hero, Mercy,” Willmer pointed out.

“Did it not occur to you to wonder, even a little bit, why Carrington did not advise you to herald loud and wide the agreements True made in Fire City?”

“I didn’t wonder,” he retorted. “I asked. And I agreed with Carrington that this, as with much else, would make True stronger and me weaker.”

Mercy shook her head. “True is not separate from you, Wilmer. He’s your son and heir. He is a part of you and your reign in a very literal sense. It is Carrington that made you question that. And he had no care that True would appear stronger because of these negotiations. What he could not allow is that you would appear stronger because of them.”

After sharing that, she put her hands flat on the desk and spoke in order to end this.