Suikoden VII

Chapter Eight: Part Two

Note:This doesn't impact the story in any way, but it's going to be a while before there are new character images.

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Chapter Eight: Part Two

Blutkrieger

King Franz sat behind his desk silently. He hadn't said a single word in days. Not since Princess Philomena's state funeral. But Albert knew that it wasn't out of mourning for the Princess that he remained silent. Albert wore a serene mask on his face as he stood before the King's desk, his body language stiff but also simultaneously relaxed.

King Franz traced the surface of his desk with his index finger, but he held Albert's gaze. "Thirty-four years ago, I freed this country from a tyrant." He had broke his silence. His voice was low. Dangerous. "The people have forgotten what my father had been like, but I remember. I saved this country. I had an Army of allies behind me, and I won. Had I not won, then Zelant would have eventually been annihilated by its enemies.

"But what do I have to show for my victory?" he continued. "What do I have to show for the blood, sweat, and tears I shed for this country? For the daughter who died for this country?!" His voice thundered, and he slammed his open palm against his desk. He took a moment to compose himself before he continued. "For everything I suffered and sacrificed," he spoke calmer again. "I have a traitorous daughter I so graciously let live after she killed my wife. She turned her siblings against me. She turned the Kobolds of Zelant against me. She turned the Magic Guild against me—"

"The Magic Guild has not sworn allegiance to Astraea Reiser, Your Majesty," Albert pointed out.

"She will go after them," King Franz retorted. "Just as she went after my Bhayankar and stole him from me! She stole an animal that has the Beast Rune on its back! How did she do that, Albert?!"

"No doubt in the same way she was to get Kion Reiser to join her," Albert said. "And we know how much Kion Reiser hates his sister."

"She has allies from the Bianca Alliance and the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia!" King Franz snapped, surging to his feet. "And most of all—she has a True Rune! A True Rune that was supposed to be mine, Albert! She has made me a laughingstock against MY KINGDOM! Everything that I have sacrificed is amounting to nothing! It will be only a matter of time before she does seek out the Magic Guild! And the Elves and the Pixies! What are you planning to do about it, Albert?! You are my Chief Advisor, and yet YOUR advice has led us to this point! How are you going to fix this mess you created?!"

Albert raised his hand for calm. "I do not seek to further upset you," he said calmly. "But Your Majesty must remember that you did disregard my advice. I advised you not to utilize Bhayankar in the recent battle. I advised Your Majesty to utilize Yuber instead—"

"Because that animal was so efficient at killing Astraea before!" King Franz retorted sarcastically.

"He would have killed Kion Reiser," Albert said. "And he would have killed any and all soldiers who were loyal to him. We would have been able to blame his assassination on Astraea Reiser. But by sending Bhayankar after him—yourSarcosuchus after him—it led us to this point. All we can do is move forward, maintain our current allies by any means necessary, and go to plan B."

King Franz's brow froze. "'Plan B'? You really think that will help us?"

"If you want to bring down Astraea Reiser, then these are our only options," Albert said. "And if you want to win both wars and maintain your monarchy, then moving forward I need your full cooperation Your Majesty. Do you understand?"