The heavy silence after the Duke's decree lingered like frost, clinging to the air long after the words had fallen.
One by one, the gathered vassals shifted in their seats, the tension easing only slightly. Papers were straightened, throats were cleared, but no one dared speak first.
Finally, the steward bowed his head, his voice measured and polite, though a faint tremor betrayed his lingering frustration.
"…If that is your decision, Your Grace, I will begin reviewing the ledgers immediately. We will need to divert funds from the infrastructure projects to meet the commander's request. Some of the northern villages will have to endure another season without road repairs."
The knight commander exhaled through his nose, half in relief, half in quiet triumph.
"Those villagers will survive a rough road. They will not survive a demon incursion. I'll have a revised list of supply demands prepared by tomorrow morning."
