A flicker of confusion flashed through the Duke's eyes as he heard Victor's calm and forthright declaration. To him, it appeared that Victor was being completely honest, lending credence to the idea that Victor's actions hadn't been his own. But the idea that Victor Klein had been controlled by some sort of nefarious force was a terrifying thought, since Duke Arkov hadn't detected anything of the sort. Troubled, he glanced at Garrett, but before he could speak, the door opened and the new queen swept into the room.

"Garrett, there you are," she said. "You wouldn't believe how worried I was about you when you disappeared. How did you disappear like that?"

Wincing, Garrett kicked himself for not reminding Eloise to talk to him about it when he was out of the Duke's earshot. Smelling a story, Duke Arkov stared at Garrett, his eyebrows slowly rising inch by inch until Garrett thought they might merge into his hairline.

"It sounds like there's something you haven't mentioned to me yet," the Duke said.

Doing his best to smile disarmingly, Garrett shrugged.

"I don't have combat powers, at least directly, but I do have a sort of connection with the mysterious."

"Is that how you got a guardian spirit for Eloise?"

"Yes, in fact," Garrett said, grasping the explanation like it was a life-saving rope. "That's exactly right. It also gives me some other abilities, like the ability to remove myself from people's attention for a short period of time."

"That reminds me," the Duke said, turning to look at Eloise, "this pendant of yours. I want to take a look at it."

Clutching the flower pendant protectively, Eloise stared warily at her uncle.

"I'm not going to break it, I promise. I just want to understand it."

This time, Garrett was relieved that he had already ordered Isabelle to retreat, so when the Queen finally did hand it over, and Arkov examined it, he didn't find anything unusual. Since the Queen already carried a dream flower seed, Garrett didn't feel the need to add anything to the pendant. So while it had a hint of energy to it, left by Isabelle's time hiding in it, there was nothing else unusual for Duke Arkov to find. After looking it over, the Duke tossed it to Garrett.

"Let's see you summon that guardian spirit."

"The pendant won't work anymore," Garrett said, looking rather forlorn. "It takes time to set up, and the spirit isn't here anymore."

It was clear that Duke Arkov smelled something fishy, but didn't quite know how to pin it down. Walking over next to Garrett, the princess took it from his hand and crouched down next to him.

"Thank you, Garrett. Without it, I wouldn't be alive."

Though he grumbled, Duke Arkov couldn't argue against that truth, and so he dropped the matter. Garrett had already proven himself time and again to be loyal to the throne, and Duke Arkov knew that if he continued down this line of questioning, he would end up doing more harm than good. That left, however, what to do with Victor and all of the noble families who had participated in the attack. Seeing that Victor was standing quietly by the side, the Duke shook his head and sat down.

"What a mess. What an absolute mess."

"On the first day, too," Eloise said, sitting down next to the Duke and rubbing her forehead. "If I had known this is what it meant to be queen, I would have stayed in Port Reverie."

"Don't worry," the Duke said, chuckling. "Tomorrow will be a lot better, and if it's not, then I'll join you in going to Port Reverie.”

“But what do we do now?" Eloise asked, looking around.

"I'm not sure," Duke Arkov replied ruefully, rubbing his chin. "You know, your father was always much better at all of this than me, which is why he was the king, and I was just his dumb brother. I was good at hitting things. Still am. So if there's an enemy army marching our direction, or a beast wave coming from the mountains, I'm your guy. But all this political stuff just gives me a headache."

"Me too," whispered Eloise, patting her uncle on the knee. "But good thing we have somebody who seems to like it."

Turning on her smile full force, she turned and batted her eyelashes at Garrett.

"Oh Garrett.”

“Yes, your majesty?”

“What do you think we should do to be able to clean up this mess?"

"If I may be so bold, your majesty, I think this is less of a mess and more of a wonderful opportunity."

"Opportunity? How do you figure?"

"Simply put, the story you tell the citizens will determine how this event is viewed. Additionally, you have the opportunity to change the power structure in the city for the better without depleting your resources."

Sitting forward and resting his elbows on his knees, Duke Arkov gazed intently at Garrett.

"Explain."

"Imagine with me two different scenarios," Garrett said. "The first is that you take the route typical royal families would take in this scenario."

"You mean we kill the families of anybody involved in this debacle and confiscate their goods?"

"Exactly. You could take their wealth wholesale: property, people, money, all of it. And you could eliminate them, forever removing their families from the city. However, while you can do that, there is a cost associated. Distrust from the other nobles, fear from your citizens, a general sense of unease or a lack of stability. It was these things that led us to the situation in the first place. And that isn't to say there isn't a time and place for wholesale slaughter, but I'm simply suggesting that now might not be that time. To mark the beginning of a rule with bloodshed bears ill omen."

"But what's the alternative?" Duke Arkov asked. "Do we just let them go? Remain unpunished?"

Smiling, Garrett shook his head.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"No. Instead, you kill them with kindness, guaranteeing their loyalty. The nobles who died in the room with the queen did so at the hands of the enemy. They were simply doing their duty to protect the queen from his blade. Their wives, children, and all of their assets will remain safe. In fact, you go one step further and you reward their heirs."

"Wouldn't that just encourage more dissension?" Eloise asked, her forehead furrowing as she tried to understand what Garrett was getting at.

"It would, if they weren't aware that you were aware of their father's duplicitous deeds. They know their father has committed an unspeakable crime. And yet, as they sit terrified in their home, word comes that not only is the crown aware of their father's deeds, but in her mercy, the queen is willing to overlook them for the sake of peace. The only reason the queen would do such a thing is for one of two reasons. First, she truly is a good person, in which case the emotion evoked would be one of loyalty. Second, she simply isn't worried about another betrayal, invoking fear. The combination of these two is a tremendously powerful deterrent. It has the additional benefit of keeping the beginning of your reign free from blood. Now, of course, this will only work if there is actually a villain upon which to pin the crime."

As the room fell silent, Eloise and Duke Arkov looked at each other, half in disbelief that Garrett had just come up with such a plan and half wondering where they would get a villain. Both of their questions were answered a moment later when Victor stepped forward.

"I would be willing to volunteer myself to act as catalyst for this plan. Though I was under the influence of a mysterious entity, I still bear the guilt for my action, and so it is only right that I pay for my crimes."

Seeing the queen glance over at him, Garrett held up his hand and shrugged.

"His choices are his own, but you can be certain that what he does, he does for the kingdom."

"You realize that if you go to the chopping block, you'll dishonor your family, including this son of yours," Duke Arkov said coolly as he stared at Victor.

"I do," Victor replied, his voice completely calm, "which is why I would ask one final grace from the queen."

Turning around, he walked back to the end of the couch where there was a small bag and picked up a bundle that he unrolled, revealing a crimson cloak and a red mask.

"I have no right to ask this of you, but if you feel merciful, please allow me to be executed in anonymity."

Though it seemed that the duke wanted to reject him, he ultimately turned to Eloise, awaiting her decision. The silence stretched until it felt as if it had been minutes since the last sound was uttered, and the entire time Victor remained bowed. With a deep breath that hid a sob, Eloise nodded.

"You have wrought truly terrible things upon me and upon this city, but out of consideration for the many years of service during which you proved a faithful servant, and more importantly for the sake of your son, blameless in all of this, I will grant your request. You will be executed by Duke Arkov, and what remains of you will be burned outside of the city. But you may rest assured, knowing that the Klein family will not end with you.”

"Thank you for your merciful judgment, my queen.”

“Take him away."

At Queen Eloise's order, the duke stood up and gestured for the two guards at the door. The mask was slipped onto his face so nobody would see him, and he was taken out of the room.

"I'm proud of you," the duke said to the queen as she bit her lip, trying not to cry. "You're more merciful than I, which bodes well for the future of our city."

Turning to Garrett, he patted him on the shoulder.

"The official word will be that your father has retired and gone to another city to recuperate from an injury. Unfortunately, he'll pass away along the path.”

“Thank you for your kindness, your eminence."

"It's not my kindness, kid," the duke said, flashing his shark-like smile.

After he had left, Queen Eloise took a moment to gather herself before speaking to Garrett.

"I really do want to thank you for everything that you've done. I don't know the extent of it, but I know that it is more than I have any right to expect. Not only did you risk your own safety, but you risked the safety of those under you. I would be honored if you would continue to serve as your father did, as the steward of the royal family, though right now that's just me."

Bowing his head, Garrett spoke firmly.

"I'm sorry, your majesty. I have no desire to hold the position of steward."

"Oh."

Garrett didn't have to look up to know that Eloise was disappointed.

"However," he said, "you have my loyalty, and I am happy to work behind the scenes for you. I have long come to realize that my abilities are most useful when out of the spotlight."

"So that means I can still talk to you," Eloise said, her voice much more chipper.

"Indeed, so long as I don't remove it, the power to communicate mentally will remain. I'm happy to advise your majesty on any subject you feel my expertise will be of assistance in."

"Okay, that makes me feel a lot better," Eloise said. "I thought for a moment you were going to run away and leave me all alone."

"You have the duke, your majesty, as well as Henrietta and your other friends. You need not fear being alone."

"I know," Eloise said, pouting slightly, "but for some reason, I just feel better knowing that you're not going to ignore me."

Keeping his expression as calm as possible, Garrett's eyes flickered to the five blooms that hovered above Eloise's head. Internally, he was screaming, and not in a good way, though none of that showed on his face. He had planted the dream flowers in Eloise's mind as a means of enabling them to communicate, but had never considered what would happen as her trust towards him grew. As it did, her soul spark naturally nourished the flowers, and when she became queen, the explosion of energy that had been infused into her soul spark caused them to grow even faster. The only saving grace was that she had willingly chosen it, instead of being forced into loyalty. Realizing he was going to have to modify his plans, Garrett pretended that he was considering something. Noticing his hesitant look, Eloise waited, and finally, with a sigh, he turned to Ryn.

"Ryn, would you mind showing the queen your mask?"

Though she was unsure why Garrett was asking. Ryn nodded and complied, pulling her golden mask from her waist pouch. As soon as she saw the flower, the princess's eyes lit up.

"What is this?" She asked.

At Garrett's mental prompting, Ryn began to explain.

"I am the chosen of a great being."

Her eyes flickered to Garrett, but thankfully, the queen was so busy looking at the mask that she didn't notice.

"And this, um, great being provides me power in exchange for helping with certain tasks."

Unsure why Garrett had brought the subject up, the queen passed the mask back to Ryn, and turned to look at Garrett.

"Our actions today were because that being, called the Dreamer on the Throne, wished for you to survive, and establish a stable rule in this city. The mysterious entity that possessed my father was another of these great beings, but one who wanted the city to fall into chaos. One of the powers these great beings can give is protection from other mysterious entities."

Though he spoke in a roundabout manner, Eloise was smart enough to know what Garrett was getting at. Reaching up, she clutched the pendant Garrett had given her, feeling the five petals as her eyes lingered on the five-petaled flower on the mask.

"You said that this Dreamer on the Throne can protect us from other malicious entities?"

"Yes," Garrett said. "It's not commonly known, but there exists a world beyond this world, a world full of those malicious entities, called nightmares, and these nightmares constantly seek to enter the real world, in order to wreak havoc."

"And this dreamer, what does he want?" The queen asked, her voice quiet.

"He asks all sorts of things, really," Garrett said, rubbing his cheek. "I don't know. Ryn, what does he ask you to do?"

"Well," Ryn said, "he asked me to compile a list of all of the nobles, all of their dirty laundry, and who's connected with who, and then he asked me to present it to you, your majesty, as an ascension gift. You'll find it on the desk of your study."