The king placed his crown on the armrest of his throne. He rubbed the spots where the cold gold dug into his skull. Ruling a country was hard. He had just finished hearing the whines of the public. ‘Hearing the troubles of the people’ that’s what his advisor officially called it. It was two pronged. On one hand even the lowliest peasant could have their concerns voiced to the king. It made them feel like they had a voice, even if the king ignored their complaints. The other prong was it helped the king keep a pulse on the country. The only downside was how long it took him away from his money.

The doors to the throne room opened. “We’re done with court today. Come back tomorrow.”

“You’re majesty. I think you will find that this matter can not wait.” The king looked up. He recognized that voice. That dreaded, wispy, better than you voice. The king sighs then places his crown back on his head before getting up to greet the old man.

“Cardinal Dante, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“No pleasure here. Pleasure is a sin.”

The king pauses, waiting for the man to continue, but he doesn’t. King Caderousse gritted his teeth. The cardinal always plays games like this. Showing up unannounced, making the king feel awkward by dropping the conversation. “Why are you here?”

“How rude. To think that me, your old friend, and leader of the kingdom’s churches could’t visit his own king.”

“You’re old alright, but not much of a friend anymore.”

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“Of course I am your friend. I’m such a good friend that I came to tell you about something before I even tell the pope.”

“Whatever it is, how much do you want?” The king went straight to his goto tactic of bribing people.

“You know me. I am of the cloth. Greed is a sin that can not penetrate the vestment of God. This information is free.”

“What is it?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

The king wanted to grab the cardinal's turkey-like neck, but he couldn’t. It’d be troublesome to kill a cardinal. The Theocracy would not be pleased. They may team up with the other human countries to declare war on The Kingdom.

“Yes I would very much like to know.”

The cardinal smiles. “One of your barons has forced a priestess to heal a monster.”

“What?”

“Dragged her off into the woods to cast master tier magic on some lizard hybrid.”

The king’s heart sunk. He knew exactly what baroon that was and exactly what lizard human hybrid that was. “What do you intend for me to do?”

“If you got rid of him and the monster he has an alliance with before the pope where to find out about this incident. Then I’m sure his holiness will be very forgiving.”

“Thanks for your words.” The king sighs. He watches the cardinal slowly walk out of his throne room, then slumps down in his chair. What are you, a puppet state? He springs up. A female voice just talked to him. He looks around the empty throne room. Collapsing in his chair he sighs. This stress is causing hallucinations. Hallucination or not the voice is right. No king should have to bend a knee just because their neighbor is the holy land for their country's religion. He didn’t want to give away his most profitable baron just because he did something the Church didn’t like.