The grand throne room of Aethelgard had completely transformed over the past few weeks. The opulent, useless golden statues had been melted down, and the heavy velvet curtains were tied back to let in the bright afternoon sunlight. In the center of the vast room sat a massive, polished oak table covered in maps, ledgers, and architectural blueprints.
Stephanie stood at the head of the table, looking down at a small wooden chest. With a soft click, she opened it, revealing neatly stacked bundles of crisp, white paper.
"This," Stephanie announced, her voice echoing clearly in the quiet room, "is how we conquer an empire without shedding a single drop of blood."
