Armand was dressed in his finest clothes. Or, rather, the finest outfit Marshal Staufer could buy for him. The Concord boy was walking alongside the man through the royal palace in the capital of Foldzar. Nobles looked on, not daring to say anything but whispering behind Armand's back when Marshal Staufer was out of earshot.

"They think I'm some kind of lunatic, or they don't and they're spreading rumors that I'm insane to remove me as a political rival," Armand thought. "It's amazing how stubborn people can be, even after someone trustworthy like Marshal Staufer outright shows them the not wolf skulls."

Marshal Staufer had a grimace on his face. He'd had a perpetual scowl for months now.

"How long is it going to take for His Majesty to ignore these nonsense politics?" he wondered.

"Even Rozwialzly wasn't able to convince him to act," Armand recalled.

Inside, the boy was boiling with numerous emotions. His family was alive, he knew that much, but he hadn't seen them in a year. And they were alone with Eris for that time. Worry ate away at Armand deep down. However, the boy hid it so well that few would notice it.

"Yes. Though, if those monsters ever attack openly again, it should spur His Majesty to action," Marshal Staufer said. "Depending on where they attack, of course. And if they're stopped. Without witnesses, people would not assume a massacre is a monster attack."

Armand nodded, but he didn't say anything. Marshal Staufer stopped talking a moment, a contemplative look crossing his face.

"You must be stressed out from all the politics we've been through. You're from a minor noble house, and now, you've spent a year with one of the most powerful men in Foldzar."

"I've spent more than a year as one of the most powerful men in Foldzar the last time around," Armand thought before speaking. "I just have some concerns for the future."

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"I can't blame you. You're getting married about a year from now too," Marshal Staufer said.

He then gave Armand a slight smile.

"Why not take some time off? There's a festival coming up, and I'm sure you're looking forward to it," Marshal Staufer stated.

"That's one of my worries. The festival happened later than now the last time around. What changed to make it happen now?" Armand thought.

A grim notion came into his mind.

"What if Eris goes to the festival? She probably won't, I'm not sure how it would benefit her to. But Eris is clever enough that she can find some way to get more power there. Eris wouldn't want to risk sabotaging any of our plans, but if things are going as well as she says in her letters, they're at a point where she can leave things in the hands of her parents and my sister. If she goes to the festival, then I should be there to keep her from doing anything horrible."

"I think I will go to the festival," Armand said.

"I'll send some guards to escort you. I don't think anyone will try to kill you, but it's best to be safe," Marshal Staufer replied.

"Not that anyone would dare try to assassinate your adjutant, but you're right that it's best to be safe. After all, I don't know if the monsters are going to attack sooner than the last time around. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the disasters came early," the boy thought with a hint of fear flowing through him.

Then, Marshal Staufer smiled.

"A lot of nobles are going to be invited to the festival. You might see your fiance again. You write to her a lot, so you must really like her," he said.

"Not a chance. Eris is too much of a monster for me to love her," Armand thought before speaking. "I care about her, as any husband should his wife."

"I suppose so," Marshal Staufer nodded.

He then shrugged.

"In any case, I'm sure that you'll be happy if you see her again at the festival," the man stated. "I'll start getting things ready so you can attend. Gods know that I'm too busy to."

"Thank you, Marshal Staufer," Armand replied before thinking. "And I pray to all the gods that if Eris is at the festival, I can find her before she tries anything."