King Alaric of Aranthor is having a meeting with the crown prince and the princess in the grand council chamber. The room is adorned with tapestries depicting Aranthor's glorious past, yet the atmosphere is tense.

"Damn those wicked merchants. How dare they ask me about the situation at the border?" said Alaric, slamming his fist on the table.

"Father, calm down. I might have an idea on how to handle this situation," said Lyanna, her voice steady despite the tension.

"Idea?" asked Alaric, his eyes narrowing as he looked at his daughter.

"Yes, Father. How about we write a letter to the Empire and ask for assistance?" said Lyanna.

"It might be a good idea; however, once we involve the Empire, Drakoria might get involved too, and this could end up causing a world war. The worst part is, we will not benefit from it," said Alaric, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"I see, Father," Lyanna replied, her face thoughtful.

"Thalion, how are the negotiations going?" asked Alaric, turning to his son.

"Those disgusting orcs want to share the profits 50/50 with us. Who do they think they are?" Thalion answered, his face twisted with anger.

Isn't that actually good? Lyanna thought to herself, but remained silent.

"How dare they! It is our mine, and it's the humans who discovered it," Alaric shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber.

But it was discovered by the adventurers though, Lyanna thought to herself, but knew better than to voice her opinion.

"Father, I had planned to sneak soldiers into Elzaran to help the side that will aid us in fighting Orcathia," said Thalion, his tone confident.

"How about we negotiate with Elzaran? Instead of sneaking soldiers in, we can help Elzaran's crown princess maintain power. We can also supply her with weapons, and she will be indebted to us. Then she will help us fight Orcathia," said Lyanna, her eyes sparkling with a strategic gleam.

"It might be a good idea; however, we need to wait for the merchants to return from Elzaran so that we can know the situation and which side to support," said King Alaric, nodding thoughtfully. "Especially since Elzaran has suddenly stationed soldiers on the border. It will be hard to sneak anyone in now."

"Father, if this plan doesn't work, we will have to let sister marry into our neighbors from the north in exchange for their support," said Thalion, glancing sideways at Lyanna.

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"What? I don't want to. Father, we can let brother get married to Elzaran's crown princess," said Lyanna, her voice rising.

"What did you say? Do I look like a fool to you? I am going to marry the princess of the Empire," Thalion declared, his voice dripping with arrogance.

"Princess from the Empire? Brother, you dream too big," said Lyanna, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips.

"How dare you! I am the next king of this kingdom. After I become king, I will send you to those disgusting orcs," Thalion shouted, his face red with fury.

"Enough, both of you!" Alaric shouted, slamming his hand on the table once more. The room fell silent, the tension palpable.

"How are the nobles reacting to this situation?" Alaric asked, his voice now calmer but still stern.

"Everyone is focused on their territory, and they are pretending not to see the situation our country is in," Thalion answered, his tone bitter. "They keep increasing taxes in their territories, squeezing every last coin from the peasants. They're more interested in their own wealth than in the welfare of Aranthor. Some even take bribes to ignore their responsibilities, and they indulge in corrupt practices, exploiting the people without any sense of honor."

"We will increase the taxes again, in case we need to go to war," declared Alaric, his voice resolute.

Again? We might end up like Elzaran. Soon the nobles might rebel, Lyanna thought to herself, but kept her worries hidden.

"Speaking of which, Father, how did the information about the mana stone mine get out?" Lyanna asked, her brow furrowing. "We were so careful."

"That is a mystery we need to solve," Alaric said, his tone darkening. "Only a few trusted individuals knew about the discovery. Someone within our inner circle must have betrayed us."

"Could it be one of the nobles?" Thalion suggested, his eyes narrowing. "They might have leaked the information to gain favor with Orcathia or to sabotage our plans."

"It is possible," Alaric admitted. "But there's also the possibility that the merchants spread the information. They stand to gain the most from any conflict, with increased trade in weapons and other goods."

"Merchants?" Lyanna echoed, her eyes widening. "They are always looking for opportunities to profit, even at the expense of the kingdom. If they did this, we need to identify the culprits quickly."

"Indeed," Alaric agreed. "We must investigate this matter thoroughly. Trust is a rare commodity in times like these."

"Father, where is Mother?" asked Lyanna, changing the subject.

"She is trying out the goods she bought from the merchants," Alaric answered, shaking his head slightly.

Mother only cares about luxurious things, Lyanna thought, feeling a pang of frustration. She knew that their family’s focus on material wealth could be their downfall if they didn't pay attention to the growing unrest among their people and the threat from their neighbors.

King Alaric leaned back in his chair, his expression grave. "We must tread carefully. The situation is delicate, and one wrong move could plunge us into a conflict we are not prepared for."

Lyanna nodded, her mind racing with potential strategies. Thalion, still fuming, crossed his arms and stared at the floor.

"Father," Lyanna began cautiously, "if we support the right faction in Elzaran and gain their trust, it could tip the scales in our favor. But we need accurate information and a clear understanding of their internal politics."

Alaric sighed heavily. "You're right. We will wait for the merchants to return with news from Elzaran. In the meantime, we must strengthen our defenses and prepare for any eventuality."

The meeting ended with a sense of unresolved tension hanging in the air. As Lyanna and Thalion left the chamber, they exchanged a brief, uneasy glance. The future of Aranthor was uncertain, and they both knew that their next moves would be crucial in determining the fate of their kingdom.