Lina looked at Baldwin de Flanders with a faint smile, and the powerful minister, a man over fifty who had weathered countless political storms, suddenly felt uneasy beneath her gaze. He could not shake the suspicion that the Queen had set a trap for him, yet no matter how carefully he considered the situation, he could not figure out what she was planning.
"As everyone knows, the Duke of Upper Burgundy once served my grandfather and my father, making invaluable contributions to the empire. His declining health and decision to retire are truly regrettable. His departure will be a great loss to Lorraine. At a time like this, how could I possibly bring myself to think about anything else?"
