86 Leader of the Kanta Clan

It was decided that I would visit Mariela alone first and gauge how angry Franz was after Al's accusations. I headed to her chambers the moment I was free from morning tea the following day.

She lay in bed looking over some of her husband's ledgers while he worked on something else in a chair by the fire when I came in. He raised an eyebrow at me. "I notice your shadow isn't with you this morning."

"Franz," Mariela said warningly.

"It's alright," I reassured her.

That comment could be construed as slightly hostile but aside from that he didn't seem terribly angry. Yet. I was here to stir the waters and test out the depth of his ire. I took a deep breath before continuing.

"I won't apologize for what Al said. All of you royals have treated him terribly and deserve more than a few terse words. The only reason I am helping you is because I believe Sigmund would be a worse king. That doesn't mean I like you or will forget what you've done."