Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 395: The Heated Discussion Before Departure

Chapter 395: The Heated Discussion Before Departure

The grand hall of Grafen Castle was dimly lit, the flickering chandeliers casting a warm yet serious glow over the vast room. Lyan sat at the head of the long table, a detailed map of the capital spread before him. His eyes traveled over the map for a moment before shifting to the people seated around him—the core members of his family. Wilhelmina, Surena, Alice, Emilia, Arielle, Belle, Althea, Alina, Xena, Josephine, Tesha, Ravia, Raine, and even the three mountain tribeswomen, Lara, Tara, and Sigrid, were all present. It was a full gathering, and the air was thick with tension.

Lyan could sense the anxiety and unease among the group. The unknowns of the upcoming royal banquet were enough to make anyone wary. He cleared his throat, his gaze softening as it met each of their eyes in turn. He wanted them to understand the gravity of the situation, but also how much he valued their well-being.

"Thank you all for coming," Lyan began, his voice calm but firm. But everyone could see the hint of hesitation from his face.

Of course.

The topic of today’s agenda might be a little bit difficult, after all.

"You’ve probably guessed why I called this meeting. The banquet in the capital is not just a simple event. Prince Erich wants to gather the lords and, most likely, is using this banquet to prepare for an impending conflict. That means a lot of unknowns and risks, especially for those of us who choose to attend." He paused, letting his words sink in. He knew each of the people in this room was willing to lay down their life for him, but he didn’t want to put them in harm’s way needlessly.

He pointed at the map. "The capital is unpredictable right now, and we don’t know exactly what we’re walking into. There will be intrigue, politics, and possibly danger. On top of that, Grafen must remain well-protected. We can’t afford to leave our territory vulnerable while we’re away." He met each of their eyes again, his gaze lingering.

"That’s why we need to decide who will come with me and who will stay here to ensure Grafen’s safety."

Wilhelmina shifted in her seat, her eyes flashing with determination. Lyan gave a small nod in her direction.

"Wilhelmina?"

She didn’t hesitate.

"I’m coming with you, Lyan," she said, her voice unwavering.

"You’ll need someone with a strategic mind in terms of nobility piloting at your side. I’ve fought with you before, and I know what’s at stake. If there’s any chance of war, then I’m coming. I belong at your side."

Surena leaned forward, her face calm but her voice carrying a quiet intensity.

"I also intend to go," she said, her gaze meeting Lyan’s. "I know the inner workings of the capital—I’ve been there many times. If there’s anyone who can scout and track threats, it’s me. I can navigate the political landscape, and I can keep you safe in ways others can’t."

Wilhelmina frowned, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Surena.

"We need more than just a scout. We need someone who can handle diplomacy, someone who can read between the lines and understand the political games being played."

Surena raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing at her lips.

"And what if the games turn physical, Wil? You’re sharp, no doubt, but we need someone who can deal with any unforeseen threats."

Wilhelmina’s jaw set, her gaze hardening.

"We’re not going into a battlefield, Surena. This is the capital, not some wild frontier."

Surena’s eyes flickered, a hint of amusement there.

"In my experience, the capital can be more dangerous than any battlefield."

Lyan listened quietly as the two women went back and forth, each of them presenting their arguments. He could sense the underlying tension—neither of them wanted to back down. Wilhelmina was focused on diplomacy, while Surena was emphasizing security. He appreciated both perspectives, but he could also see where this was going.

Suddenly, Alina stood up, her hands on her hips.

"If Wilhelmina and Surena are going, then I’m going too! I’m not just going to sit here and wait while everyone else gets to protect Lyan."

"Alina, be reasonable," Althea said, her voice soft but firm. "We can’t all go. Someone has to stay and make sure things run smoothly here."

"Why does it have to be me?" Alina argued, her face flushed. "I want to protect Lyan too!"

Josephine leaned forward, her eyes narrowed.

"I’m interested in going to the capital as well."

Xena crossed her arms, her expression stubborn. "I’m going. I don’t care what anyone says. Lyan needs me."

Tesha, who had been quiet until now, spoke up despite in low voice and hesitantly as she saw all of the grown-up older sister and mother figures of her start fighting for her master.

"I-I want to go too..."

"I’ll protect Grafen," Lara said, her voice low but firm. "The mountain tribes have pledged loyalty to Lyan. We’ll guard this place with our lives."

Ravia gave a nod, her gaze steady. "We can hold the line here. But I agree with Wilhelmina—Lyan needs people with him who understand the situation at the capital."

"But we’re family," Raine said softly, her eyes wide. "Shouldn’t we all go together?"

"Family or not, we need to be practical," Alice said, her tone patient. "We can’t leave Grafen vulnerable. The capital is dangerous, but so is abandoning our home."

The debate grew more heated, everyone speaking at once, each of them determined to prove why they should be the one to accompany Lyan. Voices overlapped, hands were raised, and even Lyan found it difficult to keep track of who was saying what. He watched them all, his eyes filled with both amusement and admiration. He knew how much they cared, and that was what made this so hard.

Arielle, who had been sitting quietly at the far end of the table, finally stood up. Her expression was thoughtful, her eyes serious as she looked at each person in the room. The room quieted as she began to speak, her voice calm but filled with conviction.

"Everyone, listen," she said, her gaze sweeping over the group. "You all want to protect Lyan. I get that. But we can’t afford to leave Grafen unattended. If Prince Erich is preparing for war, that means we could be vulnerable here. Someone needs to stay behind and manage things. Someone needs to make sure that our people are taken care of, that our defenses are strong, and that we’re ready for anything."

She paused, her gaze shifting to Lyan, her eyes softening.

"I want to go with you. Believe me, I do. I’m interested in the capital affairs as well. But my talents are best used here—in logistics and administration. I can keep everything running smoothly while you’re away. It’s what I’m good at. And I bet if I go there, jobs will get piled up when I return anyway."

Lyan met her gaze, and for a moment, he saw the conflict in her eyes. She wanted to be there, to protect him, just like everyone else. But she also knew where her strengths lay, and she was willing to put aside her own desires for the good of Grafen.

"Arielle—" Lyan began, his voice filled with gratitude.

She gave him a small smile, cutting him off.

"I’ll stay behind, Lyan. I’ll make sure Grafen is safe. But you’d better come back in one piece, okay? I mean economically."

Surena then spoke up, her eyes filled with determination.

"Even if Arielle is not going, we can’t all go altogether! Someone has to stay to ensure the defenses are intact, to keep everything organized and secure."

The room erupted again, everyone insisting on going, each of them giving their reasons and counterarguments. Voices overlapped, echoing off the stone walls as each person fought to make their point heard.

"If we’re a family, then we should go together. We protect each other!"

"I can lead the defenses here, just let me go this time!"

"But Lyan might need a support in the capital, and I’m the best suited for that!"

"No way! We can’t afford to leave the castle completely undefended. Some of us must stay!"

"I’ve been with Lyan since the start of this whole endeavor—if anyone should go, it’s me!"

"Don’t make me laugh, I’ve fought alongside him just as much. I deserve to be there!"

"We all want to protect Lyan! But if we all leave, who will protect what we’ve built here?"

"That’s why we need to be smart about this, splitting our forces could leave us weak!"

"We can’t split ourselves too thin, but Lyan needs a strong presence with him! If it’s only a few of us, he could be at risk!"

"I know, I know! But there has to be a balance. We can’t leave the people here unprotected!"

"If Lyan’s going to the capital, he needs people who can handle the political games too, not just fighters."

"And that’s why I should go! I know the capital well—my presence will make things easier for Lyan!"

"But what about those of us who’ve helped establish alliances here? Lyan might need diplomatic help more than just military strength!"

"We need a healer and an advisor. We need scouts and strategists. We need—"

"We need to be logical! We can’t bring everyone, and we can’t ignore the defense of Grafen."

"Please, I can’t stay behind again. I feel useless if I’m not with Lyan, watching his back."

"Don’t say that. You’re not useless! But we have to think strategically."

"Why can’t we just bring as many of us as possible? If we’re all there, there will be no weakness!"

"But what if something happens here? If we’re all gone, who will lead in our place?"

"The people here trust us, but without one of us present, we could lose their faith and leave them vulnerable."

"We just can’t agree on this, can we? How do we decide who’s more important?"

"Lyan needs everyone, and Grafen needs everyone. But how can we do both without leaving someone feeling abandoned?"Lyan looked around at the chaos, his eyes widening slightly as everyone continued arguing. He took a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to think of a way to settle things.

"T-This is getting out of hand..." he muttered under his breath.