A Tender Farewell
A few weeks after the envoy visited, the Imperial Palace began preparations to prepare for war. We had not intended to start the war so quickly, but the Sanki Kingdom did not intend to just kill our King either. They attacked a border city, allowing William the perfect excuse to declare war. The nobles were no longer able to argue since the Sanki kingdom conducted such a blatant attack. However, they mostly didn't argue because a phantom was blackmailing them into compliance. Apparently the Black Death feared that his business would take a hit if the noble classes continued to protest.
Or at least that was the rumor.