"True enough, there was little outcry against that war. Our whisper-nets caught few rumbles of sedition. The real work of crushing dissent only began when we named Cynthia our foe."

  "That's because we had exhausted our repertoire of pretexts," the emperor replied. "Cynthia and Godma share no meaningful interdependence. Our northern connections extend only as far as Crividsylvan; regarding Cynthia itself, we've not even exchanged ambassadors, and our understanding of its people remains rudimentary. Initiating hostilities against an unfamiliar nation presents challenges on every front. Our path to war was cleared only by their king's fateful decision to march to Crivi's aid."

  "Then Your Majesty intends to employ this strategy against the remaining northern realms? But recall our treaty—King Royce has pledged to restrain the northern kingdoms from interfering in our Cynthian campaign."

  "Consider another perspective," the emperor countered. "In truth, it is profoundly unnatural for the northern states—particularly Duviliel—to withhold aid from Cynthia. They were once a unified nation, sharing blood and culture. While I cannot predict the future with certainty, at this juncture, Royce has performed admirably, even compelling Duviliel to hesitate in sending relief forces."

  "Perhaps King Richard weighs his own chances. To send help to Cynthia is to declare war on Godma. And he has good reason to fear ending as Cynthia will end."

  "Precisely my design." William Davidow permitted himself a rare smile of satisfaction. "I would wager substantial gold that Duviliel will eventually commit troops—this seems virtually inevitable. A nation known for extending aid to foreign powers could hardly abandon its own kinsmen. Duviliel merely awaits the opportune moment, constrained by pressures from multiple fronts. King Richard will likely dispatch his army once we penetrate Cynthia's capital, perhaps delaying until Cynthia stands at the precipice of total defeat. His fraternal obligation demands he rescue his sister, Claire Grace."

  "There, Your Majesty, my certainty falters," the spymaster said, tugging at his beard. "Argonians are said to be iron-willed, yes, but my sources paint a different picture of Duviliel's King Richard. Cautious, they call him... or to put it bluntly, a man easily frightened. Since his ascension, Duviliel's military forces have contracted rather than expanded—a pacifist approach his father, King Albert, would have found utterly unconscionable. Duviliel requires military strength not because of Cynthia—those fraternal conflicts have long subsided—but because of Brigar, that northern realm that once attempted to absorb Duviliel entirely. Yet now Richard defers to King Royce's counsel... by any reasonable measure, this borders on craven acquiescence."

  "Your assessment has merit. We must prepare for the contingency that he abstains entirely from intervention. However," the emperor added with enigmatic satisfaction, "I have devised a contingency."

  "I would be most grateful for Your Majesty's illumination."

  "It hardly constitutes brilliant stratagem," William Davidow admitted, his expression betraying restrained but unmistakable pleasure. "Whether King Richard deploys his armies or maintains his distance, his soldiers will nevertheless be discovered on the battlefield—bearing Duviliel's griffin standard, intermingled with our fallen Godman troops."

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  Doruni's expression briefly crystallized into a mask of shock. "Your Majesty means..." He paused deliberately. "I comprehend. And yet..."

  "What troubles you?" The emperor's smile broadened. "Do you find it beneath imperial dignity? That reaction is entirely natural. When first conceiving this approach, I questioned whether I still embodied sovereign authority or had descended to the level of some petty thief pilfering milk from pastures. Yet setting aside moral considerations, the plan remains undeniably effective—accomplishing dual objectives with singular efficiency."

  "On the battlefield, moral considerations frequently yield to pragmatic necessity—this principle I acknowledge. Yet, Your Majesty, despite this strategy's evident advantages—providing justification for aggressive action against Duviliel after Cynthia's conquest, even manipulating King Royce into unwitting treaty violation—it nonetheless constitutes deliberate deception. Military deception directed against enemy forces represents acceptable practice, and this I wholly endorse, but your proposal would deceive all parties—most critically, your own subjects. For seditious elements, this revelation would present a critical vulnerability—legitimate cause to challenge your sovereignty. For those loyal Godman citizens who have faithfully supported you, including soldiers sacrificing themselves in distant provinces, the disillusionment would prove devastating. They would conclude that their foundational beliefs were merely illusory reflections, like moonlight rippling across disturbed waters. Popular support constitutes the cornerstone of effective governance. Though historical tyrants have ruled without such consent, such regimes inevitably prove ephemeral."

  Doruni recognized he was transgressing beyond his authority, venturing into inappropriate territory, yet felt compelled to continue. "What characteristic has invariably distinguished Godma, in my estimation? Our unwavering dedication to our citizenry's welfare. Regardless of our expansionist campaigns or our ruthlessness toward foreign adversaries, within our borders, we have administered justice with scrupulous equity. Godma's people believe that our imperial lineage—and Your Majesty in particular—embodies wisdom and justice in governance. Should rumors of such underhanded machinations circulate during this pivotal military campaign, not merely our northern operations but your entire reign would face unprecedented jeopardy." As his counsel concluded, a weighty silence descended over the garden.

  "You know," William Davidow mused, his gaze deliberately fixed upon the path before him, "I have consistently found intelligence operatives the most inscrutable among my advisors. One must extend them trust while simultaneously withholding complete confidence. Intelligence represents both their weapon and currency—their loyalties typically align with whichever position offers greatest advantage. This perception remains largely unchanged. However, Doruni," he turned to face his spymaster directly, "I perceive in you a quality conspicuously absent in your contemporaries: genuine loyalty. Naturally, I hope this merely reflects my misapprehension, yet your counsel—I shall interpret it as sincere guidance."

  "Your Majesty honors me beyond my merit," the spymaster responded with measured humility. "As your servant and Godma's faithful subject, my obligation is unequivocal service to both. I express these concerns solely because of their profound implications. Whether motivated by personal sentiment or objective assessment, I cannot countenance even the possibility of imperial authority being compromised at this critical juncture."