In the Royal Council Hall, ministers were seated in the order of their ranks, from the highest to the lowest, their faces held in tension as they awaited the king's presence.

Kallias walked in with his royal aide a few feet behind him and they all stood up bowing their heads in reverence.

They waited for him to sit down at the head of the table before settling down in their respective seats.

Silence reigned in the hall, no one uttered a word, not daring to speak before the king and finally Kallias broke the silence.

“What are the state affairs that need to be taken care of?” He asked...