The Only Sorrow

The chairman, Akaad, called out.

“Count Ulbera Consilius, would you please come to the witness stand and tell us your story?”

He had singled out Consilius rather than Ferda.

The reason he had seized Consilius rather than Ferda was that he intended to bring up the past, not the present.

Since this had been discussed and shared in advance, Consilius calmly rose from his seat.

“I am Ulbera Consilius, lord of the Consilius domain and the twenty-fifth head of House Consilius. I ask for your understanding, as I was called here so suddenly that I had little time to prepare.”

The polite bow of his head carried the gravity of a knight.

Oldin responded to the greeting.

“I sincerely thank you for dedicating yourself to the Empire as lord of the Far East.”

“I, too, thank you for recognizing my contributions so generously.”...