— I better do it while everyone is still sober. I should not worry… I'm their queen after all — Hildegard reassured herself.

There was already something prepared for this occasion. On an elevated spot near the throne, a servant bearing a winding horn would call the nobles' attention once Hildegard gave the order in case there was an announcement or declaration. She came close to him and gave the signal. After nodding in agreement, he blew the horn. As the noise echoed through the main hall, the entertainers ceased to play the instruments and all the nobles turned towards Hildegard.

— Children of Ymir and honorary Eldians! Since we are reunited here, I would like to take this opportunity to make a proclamation.

Innumerable pairs of eyes looked at her with expectation. She felt her heart pounding faster and her hands sweating.

— During my tenure of the Founding Titan and my reign as the Queen of Eldia, I announce that our great nation shall not engage in any wars of aggression or expand its territory further.

The crowd gasped in astonishment and whispered among itself.

— Outrageous!

— But are we not fated to inherit the world?

— Who will civilise the barbarians?

A tall man with properly tied hair and trimmed beard came from the crowd and stood besides Hildegard. It was hard to recognise him at first due to the changes in his appearance, but it was Arnulf Gerber, the current holder of the Attack Titan.

— I ask of you to calm down, brothers and sisters. I wholeheartedly support the queen in her decision.

The whispering continued. Some faces were still surprised, others were angry.

— There are some… "rats" hidden among us. Disguised as slaves, servants, or even nobles.

— Thank you, Arnulf. What I mean to say is that Eldia must first deal with its internal problems before expanding. We will fight an internal war and exterminate all seeds of dissent. — Hildegard added.

Sören watched from among the crowd. "So that is her strategy. I need to do something about this."

— The Brandt clan supports the queen as well. — Sören said as he approached the other two. — As most of you might know, our queen was kidnapped. It was only out of sheer luck that the search parties were able to find her.

There was less noise now. It seemed that most of the people present agreed with the decree. Suddenly, a familiar voice shouted from the middle of the hall.

— I object!

Everyone turned towards Hodritz Bjorn. Stroking his goatee, he continued to talk:

— During this very moment, men under the Bjorn clan's banner are stationed on Paradis Island, one of the last bastions of Marleyan resistance. — He looked around, meeting some gazes of approval. — And they're fighting the barbarians, close quarters, with spears and swords! There's more, not only on Paradis are our soldiers fighting, but also on the southern frontiers. Will you abandon your subjects, my queen?

— The troops will simply be ordered to retreat to Eldia. — Hildegard answered. — Conquering Paradis is not the priority at the moment.

— Then tell me, queen! What if the infiltrated rats are collaborating with Marleyans living in Paradis or with the rump states to the south? For the good of Eldia, we must get to the end of this!

— What are your proofs for this argument, Hodritz? — Sören asked annoyed.

— What are your proofs against this argument, Brandt? — Alexamenos retorted from among the crowd.

Sören remained in silence. Gesturing heavily, with a cup of wine in his hand, and obviously inebriated, he continued:

— We must sever the roots of this evil, we must attack their headquarters. Eliminating the rats within our own borders will only bring more spies!

— Alexamenos, you must acknowledge that… — Sören tried to speak but was interrupted.

— Never before in the face of the world has a nation equal to Eldia existed. I do not share your blood and that is why, as an outsider, I can say that you need to expand! My people's culture was vastly enriched by your conquest! Glory to Eldia!

In a patriotic fervour, most of the intoxicated nobles and even a good number of the sober ones shouted together with Alexamenos "Glory to Eldia!" repeatedly. Glory was preferable to peace and stability.

Hours later, after some discussions and small squabbles among the nobility, Hildegard found herself staring into nothingness at her room. "I couldn't do anything after all…" She remembered how only a few hours prior, the celebration descended into chaos. Glasses being thrown, people attacking each other, women screaming hysterically… The worst part is that some of the titan clans, namely the Tybur, Bjorn, and Haugen, were in favour of Hodritz's and Alexamenos' bloodlust. What could she do in order to prevent thousands of deaths?

Sören didn't sleep at all that night. He thought about alternatives to another war until dawn. The queen could erase the memories of all the Eldians who were present on the celebration, but the titan shifters and the outsiders, such as Alexamenos, wouldn't be affected. Was it feasible to do it then eliminate the non-Eldians? Queen Hildegard definitely would not approve of this. She doesn't want to become a tyrant like some of her predecessors were.

— Damn that Hodritz. If only Heinrich had not died that day… — He said out loud.

Judging by the light coming from the curtained windows, it was already morning. With heavy eyelids and even heavier legs, he got up, drank some water, changed clothes, and shambled around the Brandt clan's estate. Alexamenos of Thebas, as annoying and overwhelming as he was, was a friend to the Brandt clan. His uncle and his parents were especially fond of him until but a day ago. A short female servant scurried from the direction of the gates and approached him with a low gaze.

— My lord, you have a very important guest.

— Who is it? — He asked lazily.

— The queen.

Hildegard felt the sweet tea smell as a servant poured two cups on a small table outside. The breeze gently moved the veil she wore over her braided hair. Sören felt anxious due to the unexpected visit and silently fidgeted on his chair.

— Your slaves brew good tea. — She broke the silence after taking a sip. — Would you mind if I borrowed some just so they can teach my servants?

— Enough with the small talk, queen. Why did you come here?

— Oh, nothing too serious. I just came by to see you.

She firmly grabbed his hand, almost tipping Sören's cup of tea over.

— And to see some memories. I want to know if we can find answers in the past.

They remained in the same position for about ten seconds, which seemed to last an eternity to Sören. She released his hand and looked puzzled, sighing and sipping on the tea again.

— I still don't quite understand this matter of memory inheritance. To be honest, I haven't had many glimpses of the past. — Hildegard commented, seemingly disappointed.

— Hildegard… Erm, my queen… If you'll allow me to make a remark, I think the answer to this problem might not be in the past.

She turned towards him. Her deep blue eyes gazed intensely at Sören, which left him intimidated somehow.

— What I mean is that war is imminent, either amongst Eldians or against non-Eldians. Which one will it be?

— Don't ask me to decide which lives are worth more. — She answered, putting the hand on her brow with concern. — I'm all out of ideas… I have no way of knowing how many spies infest the nation.

— That's it! — An idea finally lit up Sören's mind. — Why don't we send our own spies to the foreign nations?

— That… is not an impossible plan. How do you intend to execute it?

They spent the afternoon discussing their new plans. Anything was preferable over an all-out war. Hildegard was glad Arnulf suggested she visited Sören.