[NPC Post]

[b][color=#d896ff]"Your expertise is well noted, Lady Rosenving. You only need to stick to it, as the rest of your team stick to theirs."[/color][/b] It was likely a bit more curt than necessary, but Fredricus was not in the mood to entertain the mercenary's bravado. There's dozens of men and women like her if one were to discount the noble blood in her veins, a highborn origin that weren't visible in the slightest with how she was behaving.

And next was... the bear. To think that among these motley group he'd feel the greatest connection to the one least human among them.

The king sighed, deep and weary. There was a plea as earnest as his own, coming from someone cuting an entirely different life. War, huh? His eyes swiveled to the pile of paper on the desk, bringing back the thought of simply blowing the horn and march his army all the way to the royal castle of Meche. It would be so... easy.

[b][color=#d896ff]"War is a last resort. Even now the court is divided over it, with no clear conclusion in sight."[/color][/b] Thank all the gods for that silver lining, because if the nobility were instead inclined to it then Fredricus wasn't sure if he can keep himself from stamping approval then and there. [b][color=#d896ff]"But opinions may change should the prince's disappearance become public. I am keeping it under wrap for now, but it cannot last forever."[/color][/b]

The stake was closely implied. Find the prince, and perhaps a modicum of diplomatic relationship can still be salvaged yet.

Then his attention switched to the imperial tutor, the man almost as motivated as Fredricus himself. Good man. If only there's more like him in this kingdom. [b][color=#d896ff]"The royal forest is locked down and under watch to preserve the scene. Some preliminary investigation have been done, though to little result. On the other side, some of the assassins were slain in the attempt and we have the bodies preserved for more thorough examination. Dame Matilda will provide the details, Ser Henri."[/color][/b] 

And next, the traveling doctor. As far as Fredricus knew there's more tales surrounding this one man than everyone else in this room, hopefully it was a good decision bringing him on board.[b][color=#d896ff]"Subtler support will be made available through Dame Matilda."[/color][/b] Messages, checkpoint passes, latest information, discreet access to the sites of crime, things like that. [b][color=#d896ff]"Anything noticeable will require further authorization, but is not completely impossible."[/color][/b] Not every problem can be solved with a surgical knife. Sometimes, one will have to take a sledgehammer to it. As for knowing when and where? Fredricus believed that his judgment hadn't deteriorated far enough to fail to make the distinction.

[b][color=#d896ff]"I believe I have said everything I need to say. If there's nothing else, you may be dismissed."[/color][/b]