Ivan sat staring at the files before him. He knew what had to be done. He had the gun in his hand, he just needed to pull the trigger. War. It was the only thing that could be done at this point. The threat was too large to negotiate, the obstacle too large to simply try to work out an agreement. It was over. It had been since it started. Since the pot had began to boil, since the water began to steam. The funny thing was, it wasn't really his choice.
Sure, he could vote against a proclamation of war. It was as simple as saying one word. Nay. Yet it wasn't. The Parliament was too embroiled, too determined, too dumbfoundedly stubborn to let the Eutristinian mantle of power be dismissed. A no vote would spell political suicide. He'd be seen as a coward. The man who couldn't pull the trigger when he had nothing to lose. But most importantly, he couldn't make the King look like a fool. William had all but declared war those weeks ago when he protested the C6. To not go through with the promise would politically de-claw James into an over confident loser.
With a creak, the doors to the drawing room opened.
"Hello William..."
William had always had a persona to him, an aura of coldness, an aura that made you feel he calculated your every move and seeked out your vulnerabilities. It's what made him such a successful politician. As he walked down the halls of the palace, one could feel such a presence that staring down a lion would give.
Today, William thought,
Today is the day. As he turned the corner to the drawing room, he felt no regrets. He knew what had to be done. He had nothing to lose. If anything, he would only gain from what he was about to do. Parliament had always liked him, seen him as an excellent symbol, an astounding figurehead for the nation. Now he had not only their favor, but their support.
With a creak, the doors to the drawing room opened.
"Hello William," Ivan said from the couch from which he was sitting. Hunched over, looking up as the King took off his coat and placed it on the coat rack.
"Hello Ivan. I see you've been reading up on our current situation," A menacing silence entered the room as Ivan thought how he could put what he was thinking into words.
"Seeing that you are in no hurry to talk, I will introduce my thoughts on the matter. As we all know, Jahe is our most dear and closest ally. We can only take every precaution to ensure this relationship-"
"Were the spies a precaution?" Ivan sat staring intensely.
"We can only do all in our power to make sure we know-"
"Why didn't I know? I'm the blemmin Head Defense Adviser, I demand to know how my country defends itself," Ivan began to sit up straighter.
"I'm very sorry that we could not provide this information with you at the time, we could not risk the information falling into the wrong hands," William stood looking down upon Ivan.
"Am I the wrong hands William? Do you need to shield information from me that is my direct duty to address?," Ivan began raising his tone, as William struggled for words.
"It is my duty as King to oversee the government runs smoothly. I will do as I see fit to make sure this happens," William said sternly.
"I'm not going to allow you to do this William," Ivan glared.
"It is not your place to tell me what I can and cannot do my dearest Adviser," William cooed condescendingly.
"It is not your job to make my decisions for me William."
"Ivan, sign the bloody paper."
"No. I can't. I don't care what this will do to me. I can't allow my country to lose lives to this."
"Alright then," William shot back, "Ivan, this is happening. Your charades cannot stop what lies before us. War is coming. I suggest you get on the right side of history."
With that, William left the room in his same cold, calculating stature, leaving the coat behind as to remind he was always there.