About a week after the disastrous meeting with Takumi, Leo received word from Corrin on how long his delay was before the next meeting. It was an entire month. Leo let a smile crack across his entire face. It was much longer than he expected and most definitely long enough for Queen Scarlet to recover from her illness, meaning that perhaps he wouldn't have to deal with Takumi after all. But then Leo looked down towards the end of Corrin's letter.

"Takumi, Oboro, and Sakura will be staying in Nestra for the next month. All three of them, and hopefully Queen Scarlet as well, shall all attend the negotiations when they resume."

Leo resisted the urge to scream when he learned Takumi would return. And to make matter worth, his wife Oboro would be attending. He had never met Takumi's wife, discounting merely seeing her at his coronation, but he knew she was known for her burning hatred of Nohr. Leo was trying to hide his frustration with Corrin, but evidently he was not doing a very good job.

"What's bothering you, my liege?"

Leo hated to admit it, but he had missed Niles the day before. If not only because he might have intimidated Takumi. But then again, there was also the potential that he would have said… things to Princess Sakura. Things Leo didn't want to be associated with and things Sakura certainly did not need to hear. But Leo knew he could at least confide in the man, strange as he was.

"Ugh. You remember that meeting I had with the Hoshidan prince yesterday, correct?"

"Prince Pineapple? What's that letter have to do with him?"

Leo groaned at Niles's awful joke. "Well, long story short, 'Prince Pineapple' was a prick and messed everything up until his little sister had to calm things down."

"Little sister? Oh yeah, the one who got hitched with the rooster ninja?"

"Niles, if you don't stop making awful jokes about the Hoshidan royals I'm not going to tell you shit."

"Fine, fine. Anything for my king." Niles gave a slightly sarcastic bow.

If anyone else did that, Leo would have dismissed them. But he had been dealing with Niles for years and put up with him simply because he was a valuable retainer and good friend. Also, not the kind of person anyone would want as an enemy. "Well, negotiations are postponed and I thought I'd just be dealing with the queen. But for some reason, Corrin feels that I have to deal with Takumi again. And his wife."

"Oh… oh gods. I've been through some real crap in my time, and even I feel bad for you." Niles gave Leo a friendly slap on the back. "But if anyone can pull through all this, it's you."

"Thanks, Niles. Anyways, could you brief me again on what I said I was doing today? Reading that letter got me a bit crabby."

Niles pulled a scroll out of his cloak and cleared his throat. "Well, you're up to address the nobles tonight. But before that, you still have to fill in a few positions. We need a new lead tactician, new head general, new leader of border security, new lieutenants to said leader, and a few new court sorcerers."

"Damn it. That's a lot. How much time do we have?"

"Hey, don't sweat it." said Niles, putting the scroll back. "We have about 10 hours to pick the positions and I made sure to summon all of the candidates you chose to the castle."

Leo sighed in relief. "Niles, you're a lifesaver. I will begin meeting with them after breakfast."

About half an hour later, Leo had finished his breakfast. It was pretty simple by his standards. Just some eggs and sausages. But Leo knew that not every citizen of Nohr had access to good eggs, especially after "Garon" had decided to force all farmers to supply the royal army with their food whenever they requested. When a glutton such as Hans had such a high position, farmers ran out of eggs a lot quicker. And if they didn't agree to give any away, Hans had a tendency to kill all the chickens and eat them instead. Of course, "Garon" didn't care, being a disgusting abomination of dark magic that had no right to exist in a mortal world.

Leo opened the door to the chamber he had summoned Arthur, Effie, and Niles to. "Well, you probably both know why you're here."

"I'm afraid I do not, King Leo. My apologies." said Arthur politely.

"There's only one thing he would want from us right now, you fool." spat Niles. For some reason, he never got along with Arthur.

"Hey! You leave my husband alone, you one eyed shit!" barked Effie. She was very defensive of her husband. Definitely a good wife for him, especially since he never seemed to defend himself from insults.

As Niles was about to respond, Leo interrupted. "Niles, don't. Anyways, Arthur, I am sorry. It appears I neglected to tell you. You're all getting promoted."

All three retainers let out gasps. Arthur got up and immediately kneeled. "My king, it is a great honor to be worthy in your eyes! May I ask what our new jobs are?"

"You're all still retainers, but you are getting new jobs as well. Arthur, you are the new leader of our border guard, replacing Lady Daniela. I believe your devotion to justice will serve our kingdom well in keeping our kingdom safe."

"I will not disappoint you, my king." replied Arthur.

"Effie. You are the new head general of our military. I trust you, who have been a dedicated servant of the royal family for years, will serve much better than a brigand picked off the streets."

"Trust me. I'm nothing like that bastard Hans. I'll do my best to make Nohr a nation to be proud of again."

Leo knew Elise's servants would do great at these new jobs. They always sought peace, just like his sister. The last people he would want were those hungry for more battle.

"And last but not least, Niles. You are our new head tactician. I trust you will serve better than that worm Iago did." Leo balled one hand into a fist at his own mention of that name. Even Niles enjoyed the suffering of others less than Iago did. If there was one thing Leo had no regrets about, it was killing that spineless wretch.

"I am honored, King Leo. I promise to be a satisfactory tactician." Niles gave a little bow.

"I trust all three of you will serve Nohr well in this new era of peace. Do not disappoint me. You are all dismissed for now and have no assignments for the day. Your work starts tomorrow."

The three newly promoted retainers left the room and Leo told one of the servants to call in the candidates for the other open positions. There were not nearly as many as he thought there would be. Then again, most of the people who would be getting promotions were dead or gone.

Gunter fell down the Bottomless Canyon. Benny and Charlotte fell defending the borders. Silas betrayed his countrymen and was exiled. Peri and Laslow died defending Xander. Selena and Odin had just left. Leo resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands as people filed into the room. There was nothing he could do to bring anyone back. But he could find new people to keep his nation safe. Nohr would never be the same, but it could always move forward.