Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 333: Wilhelmina’s Unease (2) The Overheard Discussion

Chapter 333: Wilhelmina’s Unease (2) The Overheard Discussion

"Gramps?" she said softly, catching his attention.

Abraham turned to face her, his sharp eyes softening when they landed on her. "Lady Wilhelmina," he greeted with a respectful nod. "Is something the matter?"

She shook her head, trying to keep her voice steady. "No, I... I was just wondering where Lyan is. I need to speak with him."

Abraham regarded her for a moment, his gaze seeming to pierce through the surface of her calm exterior. He always had a way of knowing when something was weighing on her mind, and yet, he never pried. "He’s in the war room," he said simply, his tone gentle. "Shall I accompany you?"

Wilhelmina smiled, shaking her head. "Thank you, but I can find him myself." She hesitated for a moment, then added, "You’re always so kind, Gramps. Thank you for everything."

Abraham’s lips twitched upward in a barely-there smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "It is my duty and my pleasure, Lady Wilhelmina. Always."

With a grateful nod, she turned and made her way toward the war room, her heart pounding louder with each step. The hallway leading to the room was dim, with the occasional flicker of candlelight casting shadows on the stone walls. As she approached, she heard voices coming from inside, but one voice stood out above the rest—Lyan’s.

Pausing just outside the door, Wilhelmina’s breath caught in her throat as she heard the weight of his words.

"What do you think our chances are in a conflict with the taken Kasmira Kingdom?"

Her heart raced, and for a moment, she hesitated. Is this really the right time?

But then, she remembered why she had come. She couldn’t wait any longer. It was time to stop hesitating. With a deep breath, she gently pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Wilhelmina stepped into the room, the heavy oak doors creaking slightly as they swung open. The air inside was thick with the tension of strategic planning. The war room, with its dark wooden beams and large central table, was the heart of Lyan’s operations—a place where decisions that could shape the future of entire regions were made.

The first thing that caught her eye was Grimclaw, the Deadlight. His skeletal form loomed over the table, the eerie blue glow of his eyes flickering with an intelligence that was far beyond the undead creatures he commanded. Once a fearsome and silent guardian, Grimclaw had become an integral part of Lyan’s war council. He now oversaw the movements and deployment of the skeleton army, which acted as a vital part of Grafen’s defense. Grimclaw’s presence in the war room wasn’t just as a commander of undead forces; his ability to sense through his summoned undead made him a valuable overseer, providing insights into any threat approaching Grafen.

Around the table sat Emilia, her crimson eyes focused and intense as always; Alicia, with her cold, calculating expression; and Surena, her mischievous grin in place, despite the serious discussion. The moment Wilhelmina entered, all three Valkyries looked up, acknowledging her presence.

"Lady Wilhelmina..." they greeted, their tones varying from surprise to curiosity.

She nodded, acknowledging their greetings but not dwelling on them. Her heart was pounding, and she was barely holding back the flood of emotions that had brought her to this moment. "Can I join whatever discussion you’re having?" Her voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of urgency that she couldn’t quite suppress.

The room fell silent. The Valkyries exchanged glances, sensing the tense atmosphere. Grimclaw’s hollow, glowing eyes turned toward Lyan, staring at him intently. Though he had no mouth, his body language asked the question: Are you going to explain, or should I?

Lyan met Grimclaw’s gaze and gave a slight shake of his head. "No, I’ll be the one to explain." His voice, as always, carried an air of calm authority.

Wilhelmina’s eyes were fixed on Lyan as he spoke. There was no accusation in his tone, just a matter-of-fact delivery, but she could feel the weight of his words before they even reached her ears.

"I was just discussing the current political landscape," Lyan began, his eyes locking with hers, "especially considering my position as a noble and the future of Grafen. Given the instability in the surrounding kingdoms, particularly the Kasmira Kingdom’s current state, I need to consider all possibilities—including the likelihood of war."

Wilhelmina felt her chest tighten at the mention of her homeland, but she said nothing, letting him continue.

"Kasmira is our neighboring country, and its former territories are not far from Grafen," Lyan continued. "With the current political situation, wars seem inevitable. I have to consider the possibility that one day, we might find ourselves in conflict with the forces occupying the Kasmira Kingdom."

His words were spoken calmly, but they struck a chord deep within her. This was why she had come. She had felt this looming over her head, a dark cloud that she could no longer ignore. She had been running from it, hiding from the truth that her homeland was now in the hands of another power, and soon, it could be dragged into the chaos of war.

Lyan paused for a moment, as if weighing his next words carefully. "I was merely considering what our chances would be, should that day come. What are our strengths? Our weaknesses? What actions can we take that would still be permissible by the royal family? And more importantly... what would victory cost us?"

For a moment, the room was quiet, the gravity of the discussion settling in. Wilhelmina opened her mouth to speak, but before she could find her words, Emilia broke the silence, her tone firm but not unkind.

"Lady Wilhelmina," Emilia began, her eyes softening as she met Wilhelmina’s gaze, "we all know about your past and your connection to the Kasmira Kingdom. But you should know this: we’re not going to rush into an impossible mission because of it."

Alicia, who had remained silent until now, nodded in agreement. "This is a strategic discussion, nothing more. We’re considering all our options. No one here is suggesting that we launch a campaign to retake Kasmira on a whim."

Surena leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, but her usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced with a more serious expression. "We know you have a personal stake in this, but we’re looking at it from a practical standpoint. We’re calculating the chances of success and what kind of resources we’d need."

Wilhelmina exhaled slowly, her heart still heavy but now a little more steady. "I see..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, but it carried the weight of her understanding. She had been afraid that this discussion would be about her, about her past. But it wasn’t. This was bigger than her, bigger than her lost kingdom. This was about the future of Grafen, and Lyan, as always, was thinking several steps ahead.

Lyan gave her a soft, reassuring look. "Wilhelmina, I’m not planning to put you—or any of us—through something reckless. But with the political instability in this region, I need to be prepared for every possibility, including a potential conflict with Kasmira."

For a moment, she stood there, processing his words, feeling the weight of her past and the uncertainty of the future pressing down on her. The room remained quiet, the others respectfully giving her the space to gather her thoughts.

Finally, she spoke, her voice firmer now. "I understand. I know that my past makes this situation... complicated. But I want to help. I want to be part of the decisions, of the planning. If there’s a chance—any chance—that we can avoid unnecessary bloodshed or... or reclaim Kasmira without sacrificing too much, I want to be there to help make that happen."

Emilia smiled, her fierce eyes softening with approval. "Of course. We never doubted your resolve."

Alicia glanced at the map of Kasmira on the table, her fingers tracing the borders of the kingdom. "We need every mind we can get on this. Your knowledge of the region could be invaluable. But like we said, we need to consider all the factors before making any moves."

Surena leaned forward, a sly grin creeping back onto her face. "Besides, it’s always fun to have you around for the planning. You bring a certain... nobility to the whole affair." She winked, lightening the mood just a little.

Grimclaw shifted slightly, his glowing eyes flickering as he silently observed the exchange. His presence reminded everyone in the room that, despite the light moment, there were serious matters to discuss. The future of Grafen, the looming threat of war, and the uncertainty of what lay beyond their borders weighed heavily on all of them.

Lyan cleared his throat, bringing the conversation back to its original purpose. "For now, let’s focus on gathering intelligence. We need more information on the current state of the Kasmira Kingdom’s occupation. If we do end up in conflict, I want to know every strength and weakness of our enemies,"

"Lyan," Surena called him and gave him a meaningful look.

"Of course," Lyan nods. "Our priorities are not just the threats outside the kingdom, but what’s within as well. Grimclaw, send some spies to the surrounding noble territories as well. I believe there will be some future conflict with some of the nobles around us as well. And we would need to deal it perfectly,"