Political Instability

After lunch Alexander was let loose on the academy grounds, only having to return to the auditorium at six o'clock.

But while he was exploring his new home, the Queen and her husband, King Emmanuel du Ambur, were sitting in her office making kissy faces. 

Emmanuel sat in Charlotte's office chair, with his arms wrapped around her waist and face buried in her neck.

Charlotte was giggling like a schoolgirl, her arms wrapped around Emmanuel's head as she kicked her feet. "Tell me more darling," she pleaded, "what else do you love?"

Emmanuel chuckled softly as he tightened his grip. "On and you got some thighs on you alright, I'd commit treason just for a taste."

Charlotte's cheeks flushed crimson as she let out a happy squeal. "Emmanuel!!!"

As the royal couple enjoyed each other's embrace, there was a sudden knock on the door.

*knock*

*knock*

*knock*

The knocks were firm and slow.

Charlotte slowly straightened up with a sigh as she turned her attention towards the door. Her expression was curious. 

Emmanuel meanwhile loosened his embrace around her waist, but not fully letting her up. "By the goddess, of all times…" he began murmuring to himself with a pout.

Charlotte reached a hand beneath Emmanuel's chin with a faint smile. "It's okay my love, we'll finish later." 

She then cleared her throat as she spoke up, "you may enter," she said, her voice now firm and regal.

The door slowly opened with a click, revealing an older man dressed in a black suit. "Your Majesty, apologies for the inconvenience but the director of the RBA is here to speak with you." 

Charlotte's expression hardened immediately, "bring him in," she ordered, rising out of Emmanuel's lap before turning to him. 

"Darling, I need you to leave." Her words were curt but held no malice, "you understand."

Emmanuel nodded as he rose, "of course." He replied, "I'll be in my study if you need me."

As Emmanuel approached the door, a tall man in a long, black overcoat was walking in. 

Both men had a brief moment where they brushed shoulders and exchanged glances. 

The man in the overcoat had a cold, calculating expression, while Emmanuel held a glare. 

After the short, tense exchange, Emmanuel exited the room. He closed the door behind himself, while the man In the overcoat stepped to Charlotte's desk. 

Charlotte took a moment to study the RBA director, head of the largest intelligence agency in the kingdom. 

The director had short brown hair that was slicked back, sharp blue eyes, an athletic frame, and a professional demeanor.

But for all of his professionalism, Charlotte couldn't help but notice a hickey on the man's neck and a wrinkled shoulder on his coat.

"What happened to you?" Charlotte asked curiously, rounding her desk while crossing her arms. "The hickey I mean."

The director sighed softly as he reached a hand for his neck. "Your Hound, Donna, took a liking to me, I couldn't stop her." His words held no emotion, and his voice was monotone.

Charlotte chuckled softly as she leaned against her desk. 

Donna always had a thing for hard men with soft features, even when she was a child. 

Perhaps those attributes reminded her of someone, but that's neither here nor there.

"So what brings you by, Director?" Charlotte asked, having a good idea of what it could be.

"I have bad news and worse news, which would you prefer first?" The director asked, retrieving two folders from within his coat.

Charlotte let out a long sigh as she prepared herself. "Start with the bad news." She said, massaging her temples.

With a nod, the Director handed Charlotte the first folder. "The Western empire and its allies are a year into their crusade against the Dvergr…"

As the Director spoke, Charlotte opened the folder she had been given. 

Inside were several reports stamped with the royal seal and paperclipped with black and white photos.

Charlotte's expression immediately darkened upon seeing the photographs. 

It was pictures of villages being burned to the ground, with Dvergr, (stocky humanoids with a short stature and hard white skin) being hung, mutilated, burned, and much, much worse.

"…and they are winning decisively, with almost every engagement being a one-sided slaughter. 

Reports say the Dvergr need at least six to-one odds for something akin to a pyrrhic victory. 

Not only that but with every loss the Western empire and its allies perform what's called a 'cleansing', gathering as many Dvergr as possible and…"

The Director looked as if he were hesitant, his fingers twitching as his lips curled into a faint frown.

Charlotte didn't look up from the folder, however, as she was stuck looking at a horrifying photograph.

On a charred and ravaged battlefield, Imperial soldiers could be seen burning a mass grave of Dvergr. 

Thick black smoke billowed in the air, emerging from a massive pile of corpses.

"The savages," Charlotte muttered under her breath, "this isn't a war, this is… this is a genocide." Her tone was distant, almost borderline aloof.

Charlotte could hardly believe it, the dvergr was a powerful warrior race, who dominated the north of the continent for centuries.

Yet within the turn of a year, they were being wiped from existence.

And it was because of her weapons.

The guns the empire stole off the battlefield and the ones sold by corrupt opportunists in her circle.

She finally looked up from the folder with a grim expression. "I want you to send a delegation to the Dverger, offer them our assistance–"

Before she could finish, the Director shook his head. "Your majesty, that is ill-advised as I have yet to delve into the worse news."

Charlotte had almost forgotten, as she was so focused on the Western empire and their new power. 

"What news could be worse than this?" Charlotte asked, raising the folder with one hand. 

"That information Lady Béatrice gave us, it was true," the Director answered, "the Calmori had orders to kidnap Alexander, and not from Béatrice but from our rogue Blade."

Charlotte frowned as she placed the first folder on her desk. 

She had remembered three years ago after Alexander was found, Béatrice opened up about the truth. 

She claimed she was never working with the rogue Royal Blade, and that whoever kidnapped Alexander had infiltrated her ranks.

That's why she asked for Hinata's assistance.

But Hinata couldn't find anything.

That wasn't the only claim Béatrice made however, she also said that Alexander was taken by an organized crime syndicate calling themselves the Calmori. 

Charlotte didn't believe it.

Not only would that crime syndicate have to have known about Alexander, but they would've had to infiltrate Béatrice's ranks to do so. 

It didn't add up. 

Alexander could only have been kidnapped if the Calmori knew about him, but the Calmori could only know about him if they infiltrated Béatrice's ranks. 

But Hinata investigated Béatrice's ranks and found no evidence of infiltration.

Of course, there was still the rogue, but no evidence has been found of her yet, nothing but her gender.

And even that was in question.

Yet here the Director of the Royal Blade Agency stood before her with claims that Béatrice was right.

It was impossible.

"Explain yourself," Charlotte demanded.

"Your majesty, you may want to sit down for this."

Charlotte pressed her lips into a thin line.

Could it really be that bad, she wondered?

Her expression darkened and her fists tightened. "No, tell me what you know." She ordered, her tone low and cold.

The Director narrowed his eyes as he handed Charlotte the second folder. 

"Your majesty," he began, his voice serious. "no evidence has been found, because the blade isn't just some rouge, she's part of something larger."

Charlotte gritted her teeth as she accepted the folder. "Larger?" She echoed.

The Director nodded, "Your majesty, this isn't a simple matter.

I believe we aren't just dealing with criminals and rogues anymore, but the nobility, military personnel, colonists, and commoners alike…"

The Director gestured for Charlotte to open the folder, "…this is a future rebellion in the making, and everyone is compromised, whether they know it or not."

Charlotte was hesitant to accept that fact, but, could it be true?

Her hands began to tremble slightly as she gritted her teeth. The weight of the Director's words felt almost suffocating.

"A rebellion." She muttered under her breath, slowly opening the folder. "Surely…"

She was immediately greeted with reports of missed military equipment and funds, disappearing units, and retiring officers. 

Nobles in the courts stalled laws and government functions, and criminals were lost while loyalists were arrested and charged.

The list went on and on…

"How was this possible?" Charlotte asked angrily, looking up at the Director with narrowed eyes. "How could I have missed all of this?" Her voice cracked, revealing underlying anger.

The Director shook his head slowly, "everything was faked, the reports, the shipments, the criminals, everything." He explained, "With so many high officials covering for each other, the reports you've received were completely fabricated."

The Director then pointed towards the door of Charlotte's office. "We have been blinded, and they have been listening, watching, waiting for the perfect time to strike." 

He then pressed his lips into a thin line, "and with how deeply this goes, I wouldn't even trust His Majesty."

Charlotte's breaths came shallow as the Director's accusations rolled off his tongue. "No, not Emmanuel, he would never…"

"How do you know?" The Director asked, pressing for an answer, "Have you kept an eye on him, do you watch his every move?"

Charlotte remained silent under the Director's scrutiny. 

He had always been unapologetic and skeptical, which is why Charlotte appointed him to the position of Director.

But right now she didn't like what she was hearing. Emmanuel was her rock, he was there when everyone else failed her.

She could still feel his warm grasp on her waist, his whispers of affection and love. 

Could it be possible for Emmanuel to betray her?

No, that was utter foolishness.

"Where is your proof?" Charlotte finally demanded, looking the Director in the with a murderous glare. 

The Director paused briefly before stepping back. 

"There is none." He admitted, "Emmanuel and your daughters are likely loyal, but you shouldn't get comfortable with that fact and feeling."

Charlotte's frown deepened, just as she thought, there was no evidence of Emmanuel's betrayal. 

"I understand your skepticism, Director, but if Emmanuel has no evidence against him, then I suggest you focus on the traitors you do have evidence against."

The Director slowly lowered his head apologetically. "Forgive me." The Director knew all too well the consequences of crossing Charlotte. 

She was ruthless and effective when it came to action, but the Director believed she had grown soft over the years, and blamed that solely on the King. 

He babied Charlotte like a doll, and it was infuriating.

Soon Charlotte's commanding voice cut through the air. "We must take action, is there a leader to this rebellion, or a central faction?"

The Director slowly raised his head, his eyes meeting Charlotte's. "I don't know, there are too many suspects, and I can't trust my Blades."

Charlotte sighed before her expression hardened. "Then we'll have to go back into the field, both of us."