[quote=IncredibleBee]
Yeah, but openly assembling an army counts as "large ripples". It's best we dissuade them immediately.
[/quote]

50 men is barely an army. Infighting between nobles is allowed and will only be stopped by the king when it's in his or the kingdoms best interest to stop wars between nobles. 

[quote=IncredibleBee]
No I mean it seems like nobody gets the plan.I call it Plan: Diplomacy.There is absolutely no way we can survive a direct confrontation with the Royal Army at full force as we are. If we treat the spies with hostility, King has permission to wreck our shit. If he learns I've hired mercenaries, he has permission to wreck our shit. If the spies don't come back, he has permission to wreck our shit.The only way to keep the spies from going "Hey Isolde is plotting something" is by treating them as allies. We invite them in, put on our best clothes, and behave well while I explain that these are not in fact mercenaries, but a few extra bodyguards to fend off the local bandits, as they've gotten rather rowdy as of late.
[/quote]

Hiring mercenaries is therefore not giving him permission to wreck your shit. 

On the other hand, he's the king. If he wishes to fuck you up, he will do it. Nobody can/will stop him because the other nobles will lay claim to your lands, villages, castles and birthright. There will be smart deals struck to deal with you. The mere fact that you are still alive shows that he does not wish to wreck your shit as is. He is your brother after all, a bit of an asshole brother but he's your brother none the less. Sparing you was more or less symbolic for 'look I'm a good king.'