Inside the royal palace, King Edmund sat on his throne.
Beside him stood General Gilmon, along with the Royal Elite Guard—the finest warriors in the kingdom.
Before them—
Five men knelt, their posture respectful, heads lowered in submission.
One of them stepped forward, speaking with practiced politeness. "We are the delegation sent by Count Garius De Armand. Our lord presents this to you."
A box was placed before the king.
Edmund glanced at it, scanning the contents.
Exotic dried food. Expensive. Rare. A gift fitting for royalty.
But…
He wasn't fooled.
He had known Garius for far too long.
And Garius—
Would never send a delegation of unknown men.
He would send familiar faces—those he trusted.
Still—
Edmund kept his expression calm and indifferent.
He leaned back slightly, waving a hand. "Just place it there. I will eat it later."
The men obeyed, but one hesitated.