An hour later, after the meeting finished and everyone was taking a break before dinner, King Leopold called Pascal into a small sitting room for a more private conversation. Two members of the Black Eagles first scanned the room for any scrying devices, then warded it before stepping outside. As they closed the door behind them, the King sat down on a cushioned chair while gesturing for Pascal to do the same.

"Pascal, you know, in some aspects, you really are your father's son, and I'm glad for that." The King spoke with a warm smile almost as soon as he sat down.

"Your Majesty?" The young lord wasn't sure how to interpret that.

"Karl was never good at lying, which was part of why I trusted him," Leopold grinned with a slight smirk. "He rarely had ulterior motives and almost entirely devoted himself to the country. It also helped that his... your family was small, simple, and without a complex web of relations to tie you down with special interests." The King then sighed. "I wish I could say the same about Neithard, but the Manteuffels' propensity for intrigue and scheming is too deeply bred into him."

What exactly is the King trying to tell me? Pascal thought before he tentatively asked: "Is Your Majesty... having second thoughts about placing him in command?"

"See, that straightforwardness is what I mean." Leopold chuckled before leaning back in his chair. "What is your opinion on Neithard, Pascal?"

"I think he's a brilliant general whom I hope I can surpass one day," Pascal stated without hesitation. "However, I'm also not happy that he put one of his men in charge of the Nordkreuz garrison. It feels like he's taking advantage of his position to reshuffle the army's factional balance."

"That is exactly what he is doing." Leopold scowled. "Learn from his military acumen, by all means. But do yourself a favor and do not take after his political ambitions." The King's stern words came with a tone of warning. "The claim that career military officers should remain apolitical is of course, complete bogus. But there is a line to be drawn between being politically astute versus being a nest of intrigue."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Pascal nodded as he committed those words to memory.

The King's clear brown eyes then locked onto the young man's gaze with royal intent.

"Pascal, you and Sylviane were betrothed since childhood, and for much of your life you were expected to become the Crown Prince Consort of Rhin-Lotharingie. So it does not surprise me that the two of you are joined at the hips in many political views."

Does the King know then? Pascal thought about how he had essentially acted as Sylviane's 'vanguard' during the meeting, presenting her assessments and arguments to the King and his generals.

"From the perspective of the Weichsel-Lotharin alliance, there is nothing you said that I would disagree with in the slightest." Leopold then continued, which made Pascal feel a bit more at ease. "However, what I want to know is -- where would you stand if this alliance was no longer useful to Weichsel?"

"Your Majesty--" Pascal's tone was immediately one of retort, which made King Leopold cut him off with a raised hand:

"I'm not saying the alliance isn't beneficial to Weichsel today, or next year, or even a decade from now. But you should know the saying well, Pascal -- that there are no permanent enemies, and there are no permanent allies. There are only permanent interests. And you, Pascal, have a long life ahead of you."

This is definitely a test, Pascal thought to himself. Do I tell the King what he wants to hear? Or...

Pascal's late father had warned him repeatedly. It was one thing to conceal information, but the family had no talent for lying, certainly not against an experienced statesman as astute as the King.

It was why he was brought up to be a professional soldier, a career battlefield commander, and not a power-mongering schemer in internal politics. Pascal might never meet his father's wishes to remain humble, but he could at least be devoted and truthful.

"Your Majesty, I will not deny that such a situation will be extremely disappointing to me. And I will certainly do everything within my ability to make sure it never arrives at that point."

"But in the case where we do arrive..." King Leopold insisted.

For a moment, Pascal merely scowled but said nothing. Then, with a long sigh, he admitted to his King:

"It is difficult to foresee my actions in such a conflicted position, especially after I am married. However, even in the case where that becomes reality, I believe I will still strive to change the divergent course of the two nations. I will do my utmost to ensure that Weichsel's interests can still be found in cooperation with Rhin-Lotharingie, just as I would endeavor to ensure that the Empire will never act against Weichsel's future well-being -- alliance or not."

"And what if all such roads are cut," Leopold pushed. "What if all bridges have been burnt and the two nations are on the brink of war? Which side will you pick?"

Pascal opened his mouth to reply, only to freeze midway.

He had wanted to assure his liege that he was still a Weichsen. Yet part of him knew that there was no way he could guarantee this. To marry into the royal house of another nation meant that his identity would slowly, surely change. He might never be a true Lotharin, but he wouldn't be a Weichsen either in the end.

And if a war starts between the two countries, then... Pascal thought. I would be an orphan without a homeland.

The young lord's lips twisted. His conflicted, frowning gaze made it obvious that he found the question exceptionally difficult to answer, even before he protested:

"That is unfair, Your Majesty, to seek my promise right now."

"I suppose it is." The Monarch replied with a wry smile. "But I had to ask. Because... to be frank, part of me regrets letting Karl make you the pivot of the Weichsel-Lotharin alliance right now, because you have turned out to be far more valuable than I would have thought."

I guess I should take that as a compliment.

The young landgrave then steeled himself once more. He might not have a real answer. But he wanted to at least avow to the King whom he not only owed loyalty to, but respected, admired, even looked up to:

"All I can say is, Your Majesty, that no matter where and when, I will never stop being Weichsen. I will never willingly act to harm Weichsel. And I will never cease to promote the interests of the nation where I was born and grew up in."

If Leopold had been disappointed, he didn't show a hint of it. Instead, the King returned a slow, appreciative nod and a faint smile.

"I'm grateful you were willing to find an earnest answer for me. Had it been your father, I doubt he would have given me such a sincere and personal answer." Leopold replied, which only made Pascal tilt slightly in confusion.

The King then stood up and paced over to the window to look outside.

"You know Pascal, for years, I wanted your father to become a friend. Not just vassal and liege, general and ruler, but someone whom I could trust on a personal basis, and who trusted me..." Leopold then looked upon a portrait of the late Marshal which hung behind Pascal and sighed. "Karl never did open up to me. He was strictly professional to the end."

"My father always believed that some boundaries should not be crossed, Your Majesty." Pascal noted.

"Do you?" The King's eyebrows rose as he turned to face the young lord. "Of course, I know from your record that while you technically respected most authority, you never cared a great deal for the rules. Isn't that right, Runelord?"

For the first time, Pascal felt abashed at his own nickname from his academy days. Sure, it was often used -- perhaps even mostly used -- by his enemies to deride him. But he had simply never cared about what they thought of him.

"I believe in duty," he declared. "But I also believe how we meet our duty is our own choice as individuals."

His monarch almost snorted.

"Kids..."

For a second Pascal found himself too taken aback to consider a retort. By the time he recovered the King had already moved on:

"But then, perhaps it's good that you see it that way. I do certainly hope that I can succeed with you where I failed with your father, Pascal. If nothing else, such bonds of trust last far longer than duty or loyalty."

It took only a second before Pascal's eyes grew wide.

"I would be honored, Your Majesty." The young lord stood and bowed deeply with all the courtesy he could muster. "And thank you."