The Tyrant's Queen

50: to unleash

One hour before the monarchs' departure

"We have enough evidence to prove Yhun's violation of the priesthood.

"One is the testimony by the mid-wife that you had your men to find during your time in Shahark.

"The mid-wife repeats her testimony that she was in the same room as Yhun and Letellia during childbirth.

"There is additional testimony from a fellow mid-wife who remembers her friend running out at three oh-clock and returning with an outrageously large payment.

"Of course, we also have the most powerful testimony of...Her Majesty."

Twirling a quill between his fingers, Lucien listened to Ikan's report, looking down at a blank parchment paper.

"I see." Putting down the quill, Lucien took up another cigar and lit it against the candle fire. "Investigations into my mother, Queen Dowager Yuhe and Lady Eiji?"

"Ongoing, sire. There is enough evidence that proves Yhun's violation of the priesthood, but many officials of powerful clans have put up petitions for clemency.

"The problem is that there are precedents of officials and priests who broke laws and principles of the country but were granted clemency."

"And most of those precedents were given in my father and brother's time," chuckled Lucien, exhaling a ring of smoke.

"Your Majesty. I am concerned for you and my son."

"..." Perhaps Thalia had left on her own accord. Perhaps-

"I heard you first believed Queen Estel's statement that she knows where Her Majesty is. Subsequently, you made a dangerous promise with Lady Casarine. And now..."

It was as if all Lucien's capability to feel, had been numbed.

He hadn't been able to feel Lady Casarine's slap, and now, couldn't properly taste the damned cigar.

"All the officials who're still pleading for Yhun's clemency. Most of them were given soldiers by the state for protection.

"But they also have private soldiers they have accumulated over time without my brother or father's permission.

"If we add all of their soldiers up...how many of them do you think there are, General?"

Flicking ash onto the coffee table, Lucien dared a look into Ikan's eyes. They were as steady and unwavering as always.

Ikan's weakness and strength was his honesty. He wasn't a man to break his promise to not bring up Thalia's lineage.

A low grunt escaped Ikan's lips. His gaze flickered down, to where a heap of Lucien's used cigars were, crushed into bits between his fingers.

"Even a successful military confrontation will result in great damage, Your Majesty. Many rats are planted all over the court by Yhun. There might be more private soldiers than we imagine.

"Your private army might be enough to throw them off, but not for long. They have already seen that you are no scarecrow king. Preparations for the worst case scenario would be under way."

"When have you become so cautious, General?" Lucien retorted coldly.

Ikan was unfazed. "You are not thinking straight, sire."

"I am thinking straight and there is only one thought in my head, General."

Lucien realized why he had suddenly become so calm. The two solutions to finding Thalia were simple.