“I am sure all of you nobles here understand what the Knights of the Azure Sky represent in the Griffindor Kingdom. As the guardians of the capital, we had never left our post in the preceding 100 years.”

Lafayette began his story by embellishing the prestige of the Knights of the Azure Sky, the knight unit he was once affiliated with.

“The griffin riders, the treasures of the kingdom, have become even more important under the rule of King Victor Bertrand de Griffian. It was truly absurd that such riders were sent into a foreign war at the behest of the Noctein Kingdom, a kingdom we had been fighting a fierce war with up until that point.”

However, that ridiculous course of events had actually transpired. That was undeniable, even if the unexpected end result was the capture and defection of the griffin riders after an embarrassing defeat.

“When King Victor Bertrand de Griffian first received the request from the Nocteins, he immediately refused. The other influential nobles likewise supported his decision, saying that there was nothing to be gained.”

That was obvious. The griffin riders did not even participate in their own war – one in which they surrendered. It would have been strange if they were dispatched so easily.

“However, the Nocteins made the request once again, and they extended a very tempting offer.”

The nobles narrowed their eyes...