Regarding the Arch Duke

"Emissary," you begin, "no, I believe addressing you as such throughout this conversation is improper. May I ask your name? I do believe you already know of mine."

The emissary appreciate your curiosity. Most lords or noblemen he speaks to undoubtedly never bothered to ask his name. "Wilbur, Sire. My parents named me Wilbur after my father's grandfather."

"Well Wilbur, I must say that I never expected the Arch Duke of Lothelsabourg to come here. I hear he is often a busy man," you comment. "His realm after all serves as the buffer between the Confederation and the Kingdom of Frankia to the west."

Wilbur turns his head to you though you both keep walking. "A buffer it may be but a well protected buffer and still a part of the Confederation." Dietrich, who is walking a little ahead of you, listens intently at what you have to say next.

"Tsk, well protected indeed. A beautiful piece of land, his realm is. Protected by mountains to the north and the south, a great river Rhein to the east. Those natural landmarks also serving as it's borders. There's also the strong line of fortifications to the west which keeps the Kingdom of Frankia at bay from taking his lands thus becoming a direct threat to the rest of the Confederation."

Wilbur frowns slightly. But not out of displeasure but more of curiosity. "Your Highness, if I may ask, what do you know of the Arch Duke?" Again, Dietrich listens closely.

"Arch Duke Franz Jacques, the Arch Duke of Lothelsabourg. His family has ruled over those lands for generations, nearly bankrupting themselves on more than a few occasions in building those forts to deter the Franks. Speaking of the Franks, the current King of Frankia, King Francois, is his cousin."

"The Arch Duke is widowed with only one child from his marriage and has remained unmarried since the **** of his wife. Though he has a child, the problem arises in the fact his child is a girl. King Francois, being his cousin, serves to inherit his lands should the Arch Duke die. If not the King, then his son and heir, Prince Louis." Dietrich looks back at you for a moment before facing forward again. Impressed and a little astonished at what you know. Indeed, it would be a terrible thing for the Franks to absorbs the Arch Duke's lands. The Frankish kings have been rapidly centralizing their realm of late, and the passing of the Confederation's mightiest defensive bastion to a rival power could fundamentally shift the balance of the region.

But it was Wilbur who made their unknowingly mutual reaction known, "I must say, good King, I did not expect you to know all that." That is when you stopped suddenly, causing the two other men to stop as well. You gaze intently at Wilbur who quickly raises his hands before him defensively.

"My apologies, your Highness! I meant no disrespect! It's just that I was informed you were sent to become a priest. I had not figured you would be educated in such matters." He spoke with panic in his voice.

"Relax, Wilbur." You tell him and he lets out a relieved breath. You resume walking as you say, "You wouldn't believe of the things they taught me in the priesthood."

A few moments of walking later and you find yourself in front of the doors to the council room. Two guards were stationed there. They bow at you in respect. "We're here," Lord Dietrich informs you. "Open the doors," You command the guards. In perfect unison, the guards grab hold of the doorknobs, turn them and the doors open. You, Dietrich and Wilbur enter the council room and the guards close the door behind them.