Sefina Hale wants one thing and one thing only - to save her parents' dying sugar plantation. She doesn't care about her friend Elia's plight to win the king's heart, she doesn't care about the healing tensions of the war between Mavacuria and its n...
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Jimin was beginning to understand why Seojun often skipped Silver Council meetings. He had been home from the war for less than six months, and already the meetings were threatening to turn his hair naturally grey.
He sat in a meeting now, positioned in the first chair on the righthand side of the table. Seojun had decided to grace them all with his kingly presence today, and Jimin flinched as his brother stood from his chair to shout at Lester Quinrow, lord of one of the largest fertile valleys in Mavacuria. Lord Lester wanted more workers from the capital to work on the irrigation project in his valley, but Seojun demanded that they stay in Mikido to expand the high-speed rail connection to Sihan. The argument had been circling for nearly two hours now, and the Council was nowhere near close to a vote.
Lord Lester slammed his fist into the table. The thud resonated throughout the room, and Jimin squeezed his eyes shut as his body locked up.
It's not a cannon, it's not a cannon, he repeated in his hand. You're home. You're safe. The war is done.
Still, when he opened his eyes, he saw dead soldiers around him, not lords. Beside him, Jungkook touched his elbow in concern. Jimin shook his head and blinked, reentering the argument.
"Let's break for lunch," Seojun said, waving a hand through the air. "When we return in an hour, we'll vote."
"You'll lose half your crops if I don't get those men!" Lord Lester bellowed.
Jimin's chair squeaked as he stood. "And you won't sell half your crops if we can't get them to Sihan. My vote is with my brother, your king." He eyed the room. "If you were smart, you would vote the same."
Men grumbled as they left the Council chambers, streaming into the hallways to enjoy lunch in one of the palace's many sitting rooms or galleries. On instinct, Jimin followed Jungkook. He had promised Kai he would eat lunch with him today, but he needed his best friend's reassurance for a few minutes before meeting with his younger brother.
"You chose one hell of a time to come back," Jimin said. "Silver Council disputes and a rebellion break-in? I'm starting to think you're bad luck."
Jungkook shrugged. "You chose one hell of a time to end my last station. Speaking of which, where am I off to next?"
"Don't know, don't care." Jimin locked his hand on his friend's shoulder. "For now, I need you here with me."
"You know I hate politics, Jimin."
"And you know I hate cilantro, but that doesn't keep the world from growing it," Jimin said.
"That's not at all the same thing – ugh, whatever." Jungkook shook his head.
They entered the observatory at the top of the palace. It was a spacious room with a greenhouse-like ceiling of geometric glass panes curving upwards from the floor. Typically, brass astronomy instruments littered the space, but the royal staff had temporarily replaced them with lounge chaises and small tables for the current court session. Jungkook brightened as he led Jimin to the far side of the room, where a small woman sat, looking out at the city.
