Lucas stood calmly in the center of the hall, the weight of a hundred eyes upon him. The Counselor had already dismissed his words, and the nobles had laughed as though he were nothing more than a child playing dress-up in the matters of kings. But Lucas did not falter. His voice remained steady, sharp enough to cut through the noise of the hall.
"You think Valerion has nothing to offer," Lucas said, his gaze moving from the Counselor to the assembled court. "But you are wrong. The King of Rus has already agreed to an alliance. If Lechia joins, it will not be two kingdoms standing together. It will be three."
