Freedom is wonderful—just not in the hands of madmen and naive dreamers. Someone has to keep this world in check. I could repeat that phrase a thousand times, watching these fools tear the country apart with every new law they pass.

  The first parliament assembly happened recently. They only did it to calm the mob demanding democratic reforms. Peasants rioted because all the power sat with people they couldn't touch.

  Can they influence the king now? I don't think so. Parties change, but the same people stay at the helm. Sometimes they'll rule directly, and when the crowd gets restless again, they'll stick another puppet in office.

  These thoughts hit me while I sat listening to my own bill being presented. As my assistant read through the project details, I prepared my speech.

  "Mr. Marso, you have the floor."

  I stood, gathering my thoughts for the prepared speech.

  "Esteemed colleagues, this project aims to create favorable conditions for mutually beneficial cooperation with the otherworlders. Their technology and resources could be key to modernizing our economy and strengthening our state's position internationally. We propose special conditions for joint projects that will not only accelerate our country's recovery but also secure our leading role in magical technology development. This is a step toward a sustainable future where our people stand equal with the world's brightest minds."

  Partnership... Through them I'll build my world, my order. They think they control me, like they controlled back then... No, this time I won't let them dictate terms. The session brought no success, as usual. These fools refuse to accept reality. They've already used the otherworlders' help. It's just a matter of time before they beg for it again.

  I leaned back in my chair, listening to the noise in the hall. Officials whispered, discussing proposal details. None of them even understood that their sluggishness was weakness, only strengthening our enemies. The officials' voices blended into an irritating buzz.

  Brother... Memories of him cut into my consciousness like a sharp knife. Alexander was too proud. When they offered him a deal—his life for admitting guilt—he refused. "To accept this would betray everything I fought for," he said.

  I remember them reading his sentence. His face didn't flinch. Only his eyes—those eyes where I saw pain and pride. In that moment, I wanted to scream. To beg. But what could I do? A boy among sharks.

  His death broke me. But what broke me more was my helplessness. All they did was show me how powerless one person is alone. They controlled him like a puppet. Convinced him his only choice was death. And me? They simply erased me from history, like an unnecessary detail.

  But now it's different. I grabbed my pen and quickly started jotting notes.

  "Need for independence from otherworlders. Ability to work with their tech without depending on them. Integrate their innovations into our system, but keep them ours, not foreign."

  I decided to find inspiration in this place. The hearing venue was the old library building, converted for parliament's needs. Its massive stone walls of light limestone preserved past grandeur. Tall pointed windows with stained glass depicting ancient battles and the signing of first laws let in soft light that illuminated the space.

  Inside, everything reminded of the building's former purpose: wooden wall panels, carved columns with grape vines, and remnants of old shelves now serving as archives for parliamentary documents. The central hall had been converted into an amphitheater with delegate seating rows. At center stood a round podium for speakers, with a massive metal coat of arms featuring gears towering behind it—added in the modern era.

  When the hall's noise began dying down, I rose and headed for the exit. Nobody tried to stop me—they all couldn't care less. To them I was nobody, a child they'd allowed to play near the serious grown-ups.

  Through a network of long corridors with red carpets, I reached my office. The massive wooden door opened before me, as my assistant was already there.

  "Mr. Sebastian, you have a letter."

  I looked up from my papers, confused.

  "I don't recall having any appointments today."

  "You're right, but he claimed to represent the otherworlders."

  High walls paneled in dark wood seemed to hide centuries of history. Large windows draped with heavy curtains revealed the night city where lights mixed with factory smoke. My mahogany desk with its perfectly smooth surface stood at center. A fireplace crackled softly nearby, casting warm reflections on an old cabinet filled with folders and rare books. At the chair waiting for me, I paused momentarily, running my eyes over the room's familiar details. Everything here was mine, yet I still felt like a temporary guest.

  I removed my jacket and sat on one of the sofas to await my visitor.

  "Mr. Marso, this is William Crawford."

  I rose from my chair to shake hands with the approaching man. He looked about forty, maybe forty-five. Thick dark brown eyebrows framed his light gray eyes. Small glasses in thin metal frames sat on his nose. Sandy hair combed back carelessly.

  He wore a strict but practical three-piece suit of dark blue material, reminiscent of railway uniforms. A small silver badge depicting a locomotive on his lapel confirmed my guess. His shirt was perfectly pressed, and a narrow black tie was knotted with pedantic precision. He wore heavy leather gloves on his hands but removed them as he approached.

  The man extended his hand confidently.

  "Hello Sebastian Marso, I'm William Crawford. I've come with an interesting deal."

  "Please, have a seat."

  William glanced toward the balcony doors.

  "Let's step out to the balcony instead. Fresh air and a cigarette will help you understand me better."

  I was somewhat surprised by such a bold suggestion. But at this point, I was mostly just curious what would happen next. We stepped onto the balcony, and I looked out over the city blocks. My office faced the parliament's rear. This gave me a view of the city's western part. A huge number of houses belonging to various nobility and common folk separated us from the stadium.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "I understand, Mr. Marso, I've come at an inconvenient time. Please understand: I have no other choice."

  "And what choice will you offer me?"

  "For ten years now you've represented the minority from the lower city districts. And for ten years you haven't been able to advance your career."

  I was about to object, but after a brief pause he continued.

  "You're stuck because you play by their rules. And them? They wrote you off long ago."

  I winced. He spoke confidently, clearly knowing more than he should. I decided to object.

  "Whose rules are you talking about?"

  "Those who hide behind their walls. Who live as if this world no longer exists beyond their palaces. They don't care about your constituents, about your ideas. You're just a tool while you play for their benefit."

  I'd heard such speeches before. Big words that mean nothing.

  "And what do you propose? Drop everything and put on a show for the crowd?"

  I smirked, but my voice betrayed inner tension. My companion leaned forward slightly, peering at me as if trying to look inside.

  "A show? No. I propose clearing the stage. Destroying it. Let no one dictate to anyone how they should live."

  ""Clear the stage"? Sounds like a child's dream, nothing more."

  "What if I told you there's a chance to lead this movement? You could be the one who guides them. Not a subordinate. Not the voice of a minority. But leader of a new order."

  I laughed, but even in my own laughter I heard doubt.

  "And what do I get from this?"

  He raised his hand as if to stop my thoughts.

  "Not what you want. What you deserve. You've carried this burden for so many years. Now think, why not shift it onto those who placed themselves above everyone? Let the elite taste their own fear."

  "This all sounds too simple to be true."

  He apparently already sensed my doubts.

  "Truth is always simple. It's just inconvenient for those hiding behind complexity. You deserve more, Sebastian. Your brother knew it. And I know."

  I tensed. My brother's name hadn't been spoken in this office for many years.

  " Don't you dare..."

  " I don't dare. I remind. Remind you what they did. How they erased him for their games."

  His voice grew quieter, almost a whisper.

  "They removed him not because he was an enemy. But because he was dangerous to their lies."

  He leaned closer, his eyes seeming to drill into me.

  "You see? You feel it? This isn't revenge. It's a chance. An opportunity to do what he wanted but couldn't finish."

  I stayed silent. Everything boiled inside. It wasn't fear or anger. Rather, something dark and alluring.

  "And what will be required of me?"

  He leaned back, his face lit by a smile like someone who'd just won an important argument.

  "For now, just words. But when the time comes... action."

  "And when will that time come, Mr. Crawford? You're not from the otherworlders, are you?"

  "And why do you think that?"

  "The otherworlders are satisfied with the current situation. They can easily bring this country to its knees without me. Hell, the whole continent including the demons."

  At that last phrase, danger radiated from this man. He clearly didn't like it.

  "Hmm. You're right, I'm not from the otherworlders. Let's say... I'm a third force."

  "And what are the goals of this "third force" of yours?

  "Haven't you guessed yet? Think over our conversation, I'll contact you later. Just this."

  He handed me a flower. It looked real, but the petals were made of paper.

  "A flower?"

  "Symbol of a noble cause. Don't lose it. It will help us meet again in the future."

  This was very strange. But even stranger was that after these words, William easily jumped to the neighboring balcony and disappeared inside the building. I stood on the balcony for a long time and after a couple hours finally returned to my office. Through paperwork and tasks I pushed away the frightening thoughts, but the moment I got distracted, everything said rushed back into my head.

  "It's gotten dark, time for me to head home."

  "Mr. Marso, you have a visitor."

  "Too late, I'll see them tomorrow."

  My assistant tried to protest.

  "But..."

  The door burst open and soldiers flew into the office. A woman followed. Her presence immediately filled the room. Cold, piercing dark blue eyes, strict posture, movements—everything about her spoke of strength and power. Her image, thought out to the smallest detail, was mesmerizing, as if before me stood not a woman but the embodiment of an ideal.

  "Lady Camelia Morael, to what do I owe a visit from such a beautiful woman?"

  "Please, Sebastian, drop your flattery, I'm not here for that."

  "Then how can I help you?"

  "Here and now I need to know who was in your office a couple hours ago?"

  "Excuse me, what?"

  They'd sent the kingdom's hound after this person. Camelia is beautiful, I'd gladly invite her to dinner, but I won't do it. Why? She's cunning and completely absorbed in her work. She executed her own husband for treason.

  "Don't play dumb. We're looking for a man in an engineer's suit. What did you discuss here?"

  "Ah, you mean him. I wasn't trying to lie to you at all."

  I leaned back in my chair, watching as Camelia slowly circled my desk. She glided her gaze over the papers as if choosing something to pick at. But her smile, light and barely noticeable, betrayed a hidden game.

  "Sebastian, you operate with words so often. Sometimes I start to doubt you control them at all."

  Her voice sounded calm, but I caught the hidden mockery. Still, I tried to appear confident, though everything boiled inside me.

  "That's because I'm surrounded by inspiring conversationalists."

  "Ah, flattery again..."

  Camelia placed her hands on the desk and leaned closer, almost conspiratorially.

  "I hope you're not trying to lull me with it."

  "Just stating facts, my lady."

  She laughed with a short, almost genuine laugh, but immediately frowned again.

  "Fine, let's get to the point. This person you spoke with—what did you discuss?"

  "Railways, budgets, bureaucracy... Isn't that what politicians usually deal with?"

  I shrugged, hoping it sounded convincing enough.

  Camelia tilted her head, her gaze sharpened, but her voice remained casual.

  "And yet, Sebastian, there's something... unusual about this. A simple engineer suddenly drops by to discuss such important matters with you."

  I held a pause as if about to share a secret.

  "You're right, Camelia. He was quite... unusual. Called himself a dreamer. Offered what he called a "bright future" for our country."

  She raised an eyebrow, and her lips curved in a slightly mocking smile.

  "A bright future? How original. And what did you tell him?"

  "That I'm ready to listen to anyone. Sometimes even in dreams you can find a grain of reality."

  Camelia laughed quietly, her laughter like the rustle of silk.

  "What a noble approach, Sebastian. But don't forget: dreams can be dangerous. Especially when they obscure reality."

  "Oh, I never forget that, Lady Morael."

  She turned to the door, but before leaving, looked over her shoulder:

  "If you feel like telling me something else, don't hesitate. I'm always ready to listen."

  "And you think I could ever refuse you?"

  Her eyes flashed, and a sly smile appeared on her lips.

  "Sebastian, you don't refuse. You just give yourself time to think how to wiggle out."

  With those words she left, leaving me alone in my office. A game. That's what this was. But whose piece would be in check next time?