"But... what about the children? What should happen to those children? Are they destined to suffer these indignities?"
Arthur sighed as he continued to apply ointment to the Parliament's eyes: "Your Majesty... the members are not saying that children are not worthy of protection. However, within the current system, to protect the children, some people's perceived freedom must be sacrificed. To give the police a step ahead in power, London must tolerate premature suspicion. To ensure suspicion doesn't harm any innocents, one must accept that scoundrels are always quicker than the police..."
Arthur was about to continue elaborating on the "cost of the system", aiming to push the young monarch into Scotland Yard's embrace, but before he could finish speaking, the dining hall's thick doors were slowly pushed open by an attendant's knock.
Cold air, like an icy current, silently poured in through the crack of the door.
"The Duchess of Kent, Your Highness..."
