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~~((National Senior Citizens Day -- page 4 of 24))~~
Hector didn't know what to say here, and it didn't particularly help that Garovel was just laughing his ass off at the moment.

"We have no such designs on your Lord of Warrenhold," said President Dance, "but even if we did, 'poaching' would be an incorrect and needlessly inflammatory term, Prince David. We are not forcing anything on him, and Lord Goffe can make his own decisions, no?"

The Prince's big belly trembled as he broke for a chuckle. "So if he were to return the Root, that would be no problem, then? The Lorentian government and general public wouldn't see that as an incredible insult?"

The President folded his arms. "What cause would there be for him to return it? Other than the Atreyan government putting an inordinate amount of pressure on him to do so?"

"As I said, our Queen will not find this amusing," said Hanton.

"And so she will do him an injustice by depriving him of a well-deserved reward?" said the President. "If that is the case, then perhaps your government's relationship with Lord Goffe is not as healthy as it should be."

A tense silence arrived.

'Yikes.' Garovel wasn't laughing, anymore.

Hector felt a bit like the rope in a tug-of-war contest. He should probably say something here, but what?

The President was the one to pick the conversation back up. "Lord Goffe, if the matter of land ownership is too uncomfortable for you to talk about in this present meeting, might I suggest we postpone and discuss it another time?"

Oh fuck. Lord Hanton and Prince David were both looking at him like they had something they wanted to say but couldn't.

Uhh.

Uhhhhh.

'Ask where this land in question even is,' said Garovel privately.

And Hector hesitated. Should he really do that? Well, it was Garovel saying it, so it probably wasn't a horrible idea, even though it kinda seemed like one...

Agh.

"...What land are you offering me, exactly?" said Hector.