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“You think so?” said a younger man. This one looked like a common office worker in a plain gray suit and black-rimmed spectacles. “Isn’t that why we refused that idiot prince’s request in the first place?”

“Yes,” said Vincent, “but if the investigators don’t realize it was his doing, then the result is the same. And I’m betting the prince will make sure they don’t realize.”

“Fair point,” said one of the two women at the table. She was younger as well, with a plump, rosy face. “If the public believes some random criminal tried to kill the Queen, then there’ll be a wave of support for stricter legislation and law enforcement across the board. Things’ll only get harder for us.”

“But the Queen must have her own plans as well,” said the other woman. “She has clearly been taking her sweet time with this whole ordeal. She might just expose the true culprit on her own.”

“Perhaps,” said Vincent, “but if we can assist in that, we should. Or at least ensure a suitable scapegoat takes the fall.”

“You want us to help the Queen?” said the oldest man. “Us?”

“She is young,” said Vincent, “and likely now a servant as well. If she were to become indebted to us, our position would be much improved, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Are you serious?” said the man in glasses. “That woman is going to have a target on her back, and not just from her brothers. If she really has a reaper now, then the Vanguard and Abolish must be watching her. One or both of them could send someone to kill her. Are you suggesting we get in the middle of that shitstorm?”