Close to the future

At the capital city of the northern empire- there was a debate.

A debate among the ministers.

"We should use this chance and claim the country as our own!"

A solitary room at the top of the imperial palace located at Zanra- the capital. Only two knights guarded the door- and there was only one window-

"Fool! They are backed by the west!"

Twelve ministers- 

Each with a motif of his own.

"Since when were we such cowards that feared those westerners?'

The Emperor- the empress- and the princesses were quiet.

After all- 

One man- one particular man wasn't present- and without him they couldn't make any lasting decisions.

And even the ministers knew-

Yet-

For the sake of arguing-

They argued.

"Such pointlessness-" One of the princesses mumbled… "Where is Sir Xerphantalous, anyway?" The youngest princess- and also- the most-

The other two princesses remained quiet.