Grand Ducal Serene Highness Evony Fluerette Marquis and Primus Levasseur had stepped out from observing the interrogations when the Regnant Guard brought in Agent Seraphina Harada, Agent-in-Charge of South America for questioning to attend a status meeting on the attack at Engelram's Warehouse. They returned to find Agent Harada's remains on the platform and Agent Prime de Lucia stepping out of the Interrogation Chamber.

"Remind me again why any of your Agents would even think to cross you?" Evony asked Agent Prime.

"Ambition has no sense of the perspective." Primus Levasseur answered.

"I'm surprised anyone ever thinks to cross you, Your Excellency, given your abilities." Agent Prime replied.

"Did she yield anything?" Evony asked.

"Quite a bit." Agent Prime replied as the door opened and Deputy Agent Prime Garrelt de las Brosse entered the room and bowed his head.

"Apologies, Agent Prime but you asked for me?" Deputy Agent Prime queried.

"Yes, Garrelt, I need Agents Iriliam and Hesham, to report immediately to Her Excellency's offices and have them bring Agent Eanes." Agent Prime replied.

"Yes, Agent Prime." Deputy Agent Prime acknowledged with bow of his head then turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"So where do we stand?" Agent Prime asked.

"We just finished briefing the Presidium and our suspicions were correct. This initiative of ours started since Primus Cocher's death has proved fruitful in flushing out supporters associated with the late Primus. But this conspiracy against the Realm is also proving to be one of compounding interests, and that is concerning." Primus Levasseur replied.

"How so?" Evony asked.

"That this has all been building. A lot longer than we expected." Primus Levasseur replied.

"And confusing at that which plays to our benefit for now, but the clues are coming together for the others faster than we are able to resolve the matter in our interests. And Aoife's sudden involvement doesn't help matters." Evony said.

"I quite agree. The knowledge this Aoife already possesses is dangerous enough. Imagine what more she knows." Primus Levasseur replied.

"This Aoife, that's The Princess Royal's Fae mother, right?" Agent Prime asked.

"Yes." Evony replied.

"Can't she be killed? I mean, after all The Princess Royal was raised by her Human mother, correct?" Agent Prime asked.

"I wish it were that simple, but The Princess Royal is very sentimental about her family. Even the crazy ones." Evony replied.

"She will be Queen one day. She will have to learn to be more discerning, even of family." Agent Prime said.

"We need to find out what more this Aoife knows." Primus Levasseur added.

"Agreed, and if we decide to dispose of her no one but us three are the wiser." Evony replied.

"Then it's settled." Agent Prime said then called out, "Guard!"

The Regnant Guard opened the door and bowed.

"Find Agent Greystone and have him report immediately to Her Excellency's offices!" The Regnant Guard bowed and left.

"Now about that County Regent of yours?" Agent Prime asked.

"Tamsin? What about her?" Evony prompted.

"While I admire her rather crafty yet precarious pursuit of Chas Marrero she should be thrown in chains for same said actions that risked The Princess Royal's partner." Agent Prime replied.

"She can be managed." Evony replied.

"Is that sentimentality speaking?" Agent Prime asked.

"It's the former cop and bounty hunter in her." Evony replied.

"Nevertheless…" Agent Prime began.

"Yes, this is maddeningly unconventional, but trust me when I say this will not be the last time the Superfriends rush off. It's what they do." Evony said.

"That is a mindset that must change, especially for The Princess Royal. She and her partner cannot continue to risk themselves like this." Primus Levasseur said.

"You'll hear no argument from me, but that is not who they are. They are known to charge in head first, and not always brains first." Evony replied.

"Hopefully, the example of Their Majesties will influence them." Primus Levasseur said.

"Speaking of which, what are Their Majesties' thinking?" Agent Prime asked.

"Now that we know the relic is here for sure we need to send our own hunters in pursuit of it. I trust you have someone in mind for this?" Primus Levasseur replied.

"Yes I do." Agent Prime replied then asked then called out, "Guard!"

The Regnant Guard opened the door and bowed.

"Find Agent Chennai for me." Agent Prime ordered.

The Regnant Guard bowed and left.

"Now what about the larger picture?" Agent Prime asked.

"What do you mean?" Evony queried.

"She means divestment." Primus Levasseur replied.

"That's one part of it." Agent Prime clarified.

"And the other?" Evony asked.

"Total supremacy." Primus Levasseur replied.

"Total supremacy? The last time I recall that subject being raised was right after the War of the Five Monarchs." Evony said.

"And it is being raised again by the Prime Representatives, unofficially of course." Primus Levasseur replied.

"Is Her Majesty finally resigned to it?" Evony asked.

"No, she is not." Primus Levasseur replied.

"What about The Queen Consort?" Evony asked.

"She recognizes the present realities of the question, and agrees The Queen needs to make a decision, especially now that there is a Recognized heir." Primus Levasseur replied.

"But she doesn't want to pressure The Queen." Evony said.

"She wants The Queen to face the issue." Primus Levasseur replied. Evony exhaled slightly.

"The Queen is very loyal to the tenants of Regnant Einiah. He would not have wanted total supremacy." Evony said.

"It was because Regnant Einiah failed to acknowledge the ambitions that swirled around him and the need for greater control that led us down the path of war." Primus Levasseur reminded.

"And you say the question of divestment is also on the table?" Evony asked.

"The Grand Ducals raised the question during a meeting of the Joint Conference of the Parliamentary Council some years ago. Be forewarned you may be pressed to weigh in, perhaps even asked to leverage your history, so to speak with The Queen." Primus Levasseur replied.

"I will need to win the inclusion of the 25th Delegation first." Evony said.

"Support for it may be predicated on a quid pro quo." Primus Levasseur said.

"Of that I have no doubt. So I gather both these unofficial questions will be raised formally during the Convocation?" Evony asked.

"With this latest attempt on The Queen's life these matters must be addressed." Primus Levasseur replied.

"What about the marriage question between Fae and Humans?" Evony asked.

"That will also be raised." Primus Levasseur replied.

"Well, sounds like a full agenda." Evony said.

"And when the Convocation has concluded The Queen plans to take her Great Sleep back at the Prescotti Homelands." Primus Levasseur replied then looked intently at Evony. "Are you planning to remain at the Presidium after the Convocation?"

"For a while, yes." Evony replied.

"It will be good to have you back at the Presidium." Primus Levasseur said.

"My enthusiasm is a bit muted. I have some issues to attend to." Evony replied.

"Rana Chevalier?" Primus Levasseur prompted.

"And my family. I was able to avoid seeing them during Trick's installation, but this time it will be inevitable." Evony replied.

"I understand." Primus Levasseur replied.

The doors opened to reveal Agent Chennai who curtsied before them all.

"Nadu! Glad you're here!" Agent Prime greeted.

"Agent Prime, how may I serve?" Agent Chennai asked.

"I have a special task for you." Agent Prime replied.


Later in Evony's private offices Agents Iriliam, Hesham, and Eanes entered the room and bowed low before Agent Prime who sat in a chair with her legs crossed off on the left of Evony's desk. Deputy Prime stood behind her. Evony looked on from her chair behind her desk with Primus Levasseur, Stasio and Dyson seated in chairs on her left.

"Agent Prime, how may we serve?" Agent Iriliam asked.

"Rise." Agent Prime ordered. All three Agents straightened up.

"Your 'Special Mandate' has concluded." Agent Prime stated.

"We understand, Agent Prime." Agent Iriliam replied on behalf of all of them. Agent Prime then lifted her hand and the Regnant Guard opened the doors to admit His Serene Highness Dakari, and Agents Greystone and Korvo. Everyone stood and were about to offer their felicitations before Dakari when Dakari raised his hand.

"Please." Dakari said as they resumed their seats. Then to the surprise of Stasio and Dyson Dakari bowed before Primus Levasseur and then went and stood behind Primus Levasseur.

"Agent Greystone. You will seek and apprehend Aoife McCorrigan, the other The Princess Mother." Agent Prime directed.

"Yes, Agent Prime." Greystone replied.

"Agent Eanes, since Chas Marrero operated under your North American jurisdiction I wish to investigate any further deeper connections he might have had." Agent Prime said.

"Understood, Agent Prime." Agent Eanes replied.

"Thereby, I'm assigning Agent Malikov to replace him." Agent Prime directed.

"With the greatest respect Agent Prime, but is that wise? She still has yet to complete her final assignment." Agent Eanes said.

"It will serve as an accelerated part of her training."

"Understood, Agent Prime." Agent Eanes replied.

"Agent Korvo will assume the charge over Europe." Agent Prime directed.

"Understood, Agent Prime." Agent Iriliam replied. "And what of Rumlar? He is the Agent currently responsible for Europe."

"And that is your immediate charge. Bastiaan Rumlar is to be hunted down and brought before the Agency!" Agent Prime directed.

"Bastiaan Rumlar? He's one of the best Agents in the history of the Agency." Agent Hesham said.

"Bastiaan Rumlar was specifically named by Agent Harada as one of the leading conspirators in the murder of Primus Cocher and the attack upon Her Majesty." Agent Prime replied.

"Understood, Agent Prime. Your will be done!" Agent Iriliam replied.

"And that of The Queen's and the Parliament of Fae." Agent Prime replied then waved them off "Now off you go! "

"Yes, Agent Prime!" Agents Iriliam, Hesham, and Eanes all said in unison, all bowed low and then turned to leave the room followed by Deputy Prime de la Brosse. Evony waved to Stasio and Dyson to follow them out as well.

"Agent Iriliam, a moment." Agent Prime called out. Agent Iriliam stopped and turned around.

Once the doors closed only Evony, Dakari, Agent Prime, Agent Iriliam and Primus Levasseur remained. Primus Levasseur stood and walked up to Agent Iriliam.

"You have served The Presidium well, Agent Iriliam." Primus Levasseur said.

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Agent Iriliam replied.

"While your 'Special Mandate' has concluded there still is some clean-up work to be done. You understand?" Agent Prime said.

"Perfectly, Agent Prime." Agent Iriliam replied.

"You may go." Agent Prime directed. Agent Iriliam bowed, then turned and left.

"I must say I was surprised that you appointed Kenzi to serve under Agent Eanes so soon. Are you sure? That is an enormous responsibility." Evony asked.

"This is an investigative assignment and she has experience as an Investigator, plus this is her world so she has the upper hand in digging deeper into whatever Marrero may have been involved in." Agent Prime said.

"Incisive thinking, as always Agent Prime." Dakari replied.

"Speaking of which, Your Serene Highness, where is Agent Malikov? I thought she was with you?" Agent Prime asked.

"She went off to find The Princess Royal." Dakari replied.