A Royal Obligation
Chapter 200: Volatile Situation

Chapter 200: Volatile Situation

The council chamber of Mbuzuoria was thick with tension, each shadow in the dimly lit room seemed to pulse with the unease that had settled over the assembly like a shroud.

King Thaddeus sat at the head of the table, his fingers tapping a steady, muted beat on the polished wood as he surveyed the men gathered before him with a steely and unwavering gaze.

These were his most trusted advisors, lords of Mbuzuoria who had, until recently, been as eager as he to sow chaos in Zephyros and Valeidio. But today, the atmosphere was different.

The councilors shifted in their seats, uncomfortable under the king’s cold gaze but driven by the urgency of the situation.

Lord Varek, was the first to speak, breaking the silence with a tone that was both wary and insistent.

"Your Majesty," he began, his voice taut, "the situation has become... volatile. The threat of war with both Zephyros and Valeidio looms over us. If they join forces, we are at a severe disadvantage. We should not pretend that this will end without bloodshed. Mbuzuoria’s blood."

A murmur of agreement spread among the council members, but Thaddeus’s expression remained unreadable.

The men exchanged glances, and then, with a hesitant step, another councilor, Lord Feron, spoke up. "Our best option, I believe, is to deflect their anger. We need to offer something, as a gesture of peace."

Thaddeus’s gaze narrowed as he studied Lord Feron. "And what exactly do you propose?" His voice was dangerously soft, a stark contrast to the charged silence that followed.

Feron swallowed hard, but he straightened his shoulders. "Prince Carl was the one who initiated this. If we hand him over to Zephyros and Valeidio, they may take his punishment as reparation. It could buy us time to... strategize."

Thaddeus’s expression darkened, a muscle ticking in his jaw. But before he could speak, Lord Varek stepped forward, his words falling like a hammer on the table. "Your Majesty, consider it. Carl is but one son, and you have others.

The kingdom itself should not be made to suffer the consequences of his recklessness.

He acted impulsively, recklessly. He took matters into his own hands without consulting the council, and now we are all on the brink of war because of it.

Let’s Sacrifice now, and plan for a resurgence later. There’s no need for unnecessary war when it can be avoided."

Thaddeus’s eyes darkened, his eyes blazed as he looked between the councilors.

Lord Neren, an equally influential member of the council, nodded in agreement. "Lord Varek is right, Your Majesty. We cannot risk the entire kingdom for one man’s mistakes. Mbuzuoria has other heirs. If we sacrifice Prince Carl, we can avoid the wrath of two kingdoms and keep Mbuzuoria strong."

For a moment, there was silent, as Thaddeus take in the faces of the very men who had once eagerly supported Carl’s schemes, urging him to seize the opportunity to destabilize the alliances between Zephyros and Valeidio.

"Are you suggesting," Thaddeus began, his voice low, almost dangerous, "that I sacrifice my own flesh and blood for the convenience of your peace?"

The lords exchanged uneasy glances, but Varek pressed on, emboldened by his comrades’ agreement. "Respectfully, Your Majesty, the council supported Carl’s plan at first, yes. But we did not expect it to fail so catastrophically. The situation has changed, and we must adapt. Sacrificing one son to save a kingdom is a hard choice, but it may be the only choice we have left."

The room buzzed with whispered agreements, but Thaddeus’s fury was barely contained. He clenched his jaw, his hands gripping the arms of his throne so tightly that his knuckles whitened. His eyes flicked from Varek to other council members and back again, as if daring them to continue.

"You were all so eager for chaos to strike them when it suited our agenda," Thaddeus said, his voice sharp. "But now that the winds have changed, you expect me to offer Carl like a lamb to the slaughter?"

Lord Bronn, a younger but respected voice in the council, dared to interject, his voice level but determined. "We act not for ourselves, but for the kingdom.

This decision, as harsh as it may seem, would protect our people. A single life weighed against countless others, Your Majesty.

We cannot afford to let emotions guide us. This is about survival. If we surrender Carl, we can save Mbuzuoria, preserve its strength..."

"Enough!" Thaddeus’s voice thundered, silencing the councilors. He rose to his feet, his presence dominating the room.

His chest heaved as he struggled to contain his fury. He could feel his vision narrowing, his anger a pulsing heat beneath his skin.

He glared at Lord Varek and his cohorts, who shrank slightly under his gaze, their defiant expression faltering.

"How convenient for you to say now! You would sacrifice my son so easily.

But let us not forget, this council is as much to blame for pushing Carl toward this recklessness. You emboldened him, and now you would see him abandoned?"

The councilors exchanged wary glances, unable to deny the truth in the king’s words, yet still resolute in their positions. Lord Feron shifted uncomfortably but held his ground. "Your Majesty, a ruler’s strength is in his ability to make sacrifices. It’s... necessary, for the kingdom’s stability."

Thaddeus’s jaw clenched tighter, his voice barely above a whisper but sharp as steel. "Necessary? To cast aside my son as if he were nothing more than a pawn?

You would see Carl handed over to our enemies, tortured, humiliated, all so that you may keep your heads safely on your shoulders?"

The tension in the room was palpable, each advisor acutely aware of the king’s seething anger. Some dared not even lift their eyes; others shifted uncomfortably, wondering if they had pushed too far.

Lord Varek’s face was carefully blank, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of calculation.

"If not for your kingdom, then for yourself, Your Majesty. Buying time to regain control will allow you to plan an eventual strike."

A silence followed as Thaddeus took in each of them, his expression one of contempt mixed with disbelief. "Varek, you, of all people, spoke most fervently about seizing power and breaking their unity," he muttered. "But now, when it no longer suits you, you change your tune."

Varek stiffened, his face momentarily flushing with anger, but he remained silent. Thaddeus gave him one last, piercing look before he turned his attention to the room. "If this is what my council has to offer me, then this meeting is over."