???: [Sure, as long as this perspective can make the world a little bit better.]
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What does the blooming of a flaming rose, the disappearance of two duke candidates, slave revolts, and peasant uprisings all have in common?
"They are all a pain in the ass for me! Hah!"
Count Telantra didn't really like his job. Sadly, he considered himself pretty good at it.
After a knock at the door, his trusted secretary and advisor came in. She had a slender figure, wore glasses, and tied her black hair behind her head in a tight knot.
"Drogo's representative will be here in a few minutes," she reported. Then, noting that no one else was around, she added her own thoughts. "Did you really have to send those two to the labyrinth? Why do you always go so far for them?"
She was, of course, referring to the two strays that Count Telantra had taken in just two years prior. One dragon and one bloody rose. From Veronica's point of view, they had been nothing but extra work.
"Of course I did. And it wasn't just for their own benefit. Firstly, it would be a pain in the ass if they stopped trusting me just because of my business with Duke Drogo. Raya is smart but doesn't quite grasp just how fragile the balance of power is in Artenia and the compromises necessary to keep everything from collapsing. She will have her moment, but now is not the time."
Veronica nodded then turned around to shut the large door to Telantra's office.
"Artenia is on the brink of a civil war," she said. "You and I both know that this could be the incident that finally lights the powder keg."
"Yes, ever since the 'Night of the Burning Rose,' civil war has been inevitable. The vacuum created Marquess Witherton's death has left the royalist faction in New Artenia fragmented and has weakened the demonic front, making many peasants lose their homes to beasts and increasing poverty rates across New Artenia–"
"Blah blah blah," Interjected Veronica, stopping him from ranting on. "Everyone knows that it was Lagrimas who did it, but without any proof no one can touch him. This doesn't explain, however, why we continue to house not one, but two dead individuals which, if found to be alive, could ruin everything we've built."
The two stared at each other intensely. After a moment of silence hung in the air, the Count continued cautiously.
"Actually, I was just about to explain that. You're right, it is dangerous. Until Prince Jarod can assemble enough troops in New Artenia to fend off Lagrimas's faction there is no way the royalists can win if war does actually break out. At the same time, we have no legitimate excuse to send troops across the sea. Additionally, the Old Artenian nobles are pressuring the royalty to not do anything because the countries surrounding Old Artenia seem to be eyeing their territory."
"Until investigations can show proof of Lagrimas's crimes, there is only so much Jarod can do an ocean away from us. If we had Adam testify that it was Lagrimas's men that attacked his home then that would be enough. However, if we did that, Lagrimas and Drogo would simply go on the offensive and start the civil war early, resulting in hundreds of thousands of lives lost at the minimum on top of us losing. There is only one reason why they haven't already attacked yet. That is because the legendary relic of House Drogo, Ryuzu's Fang, is missing. This is supported by the rumors that Drogo himself has been going out in search for it. Two months ago, I received confirmation that he'd visited Guileva."
Most of this was information that Veronica had already known, but to hear everything said so plainly was still enough to give her a minor headache.
After a second, she responded, "Right… As bad of a taste it leaves, I still think that it would be better to just hand the kids over though. You'd be rewarded handsomely and this city would be safe from Lagrimas and Drogo, who hold the advantage in this conflict. Don't tell me that you're doing this because you've caught feelings for them or that your honor won't allow you to break a promise. I know for a fact that your heart is cold, hollow, and incapable of love. So why do this?"
The Count smiled at Veronica's words and stood up, facing the window behind his desk that gave a view of the sprawling city of Celestia. However, he responded to Veronica's question with yet another question.
"Veronica, what's your opinion on the two?"
She seemed slightly annoyed at Telantra's refusal to give an answer, but sighed in resignation and responded.
"I think Raya will become a strong figure in the future. She is intelligent and has charisma. Most of all, she managed to bring that boy, Adam Witherton, with her. Speaking of, I think that it's ironic that the son of a pacifist would become such a monster."
"Interesting, this seems to be a rare instance where we mostly agree with one another. Moreover, have you heard of the six known monsters of the human realm?"
"Everyone has, but it's just a rumor. Six beings that are capable of decimating armies and leveling cities completely on their own. Do you truly believe in such a thing?"
Telantra liked to talk about random things he found interesting quite often, so Veronica had long gotten used to these kinds of talks. However, that didn't really make it any less annoying when he would dramatically monologue about worthless things.
"In my travels I was fortunate, or should I say unfortunate, to have met two of these six. The Old Dragon and Captain Blackbeard. Not many know this, but the Old Dragon is actually Kael Drogo. The other four are said to go by the Abyssal Princess, the Sentry, the Regal Arbiter, and the Mad Worm. The pressure that they exert by simply being in their presence is enough to kill. But for some reason, when I looked at Adam with my Eyes, I saw a something similar to what I saw in those monsters. I call it the inhuman factor. To gain such overwhelming strength you must give up that which makes you human. Long story short, I think that kid has the potential to become a true monster. That is why I want him here."
Veronica couldn't help but grimace whenever Telantra brought up his 'Eyes.' She hated when he used them but couldn't deny that they were the primary reason Telantra was able to amass the power that he did.
"…Personally, I think that he'll get himself killed before he ascends to such a level of strength," she said.
"Maybe, but I'm still willing to bet on him. It's better than letting those tyrants do as they please."
Veronica handed the Count his coat from the hanger besides the door and he put it on before briskly walking out the door.
"Now, let's go meet our guest."
Veronica couldn't help but note that Count Telantra was wearing the brooch that Raya had gotten him as a New Year's gift. She didn't bring it up but wondered how much of his earlier words were truths.
Does he even notice how often he wears that thing?
Though Veronica would throw verbal abuse at the Count whenever she got the opportunity, she knew that he was a better man than most nobles.
Walking behind the Count, she smiled to herself as she imagined him spoiling his children one day. He would be the type to be dragged along all day by his daughter.
She looked out the window to recompose herself.
Finally, she said, "They should be pretty deep inside the labyrinth by now. Though I told them to stay in the upper areas only, I can't help but wonder if they're actually following that advice..."