Weighing the Issue

"So, I know it's not an ideal situation, Lord Serenoa, but I think we ought to hand over the Rosellan villagers," Benedict started. "We can figure out what to do after..."

"Excuse me? We absolutely can't hand over the Roselle!" Frederica protested.

"Yeah! If you'd seen them at the Source, you'd agree," Roland cut in. "We can't let citizens of Glenbrook end up in slavery like that!"

"I mean, they have a point," Serenoa mumbled. "I really don't want to..."

"Of course not!" Erador agreed. "Lord Symon would say the same thing!"

Benedict sighed. "Yes, but what else are we supposed to do? Hyzante will not tolerate being defied in such a way."

Anna nodded. "We can just figure out something to do after. We need to survive first, and..."

"And then what? We let my people suffer just so we can save ourselves?" Frederica shot back.

Geela tapped her chin. "You know, I hasn't thought of it like that, but it's really just one step away from handing Lady Frederica over, too. Would you agree to that next, Benedict?"

"Well, no, but..."

"See?" Roland replied. "We really can't capitulate on this issue!"

"You know what? I agree with Prince Roland!" Hughette chimed in. "He's got a point! Slave labor is bad!"

Serenoa sighed in relief. Truth be told, he'd wanted to defend the Roselle from the start, but he couldn't figure out a good way to do it. But if five of his seven main allies were in agreement...

"Well, Benedict, I think we have the answer," he said. "See? We have to defend the Roselle. It's what my father would do, and what I hoped we could do from the start."

"W-wait, Lord Serenoa," Benedict protested. "We can't just settle this without a vote!"

...It was a weak defense, and Benedict was aware of that. Still, he couldn't just give in so quickly.

Roland blinked. "A vote seems a bit redundant at this point, doesn't it?"

"It does, but we may as well make it official." Serenoa sighed. "Fine, get the Scales of Conviction, Benedict."

He hastily complied, and the retinue prepared their tokens. Soon enough, five of them sat on one side, and only two on the other. Frederica and Roland bore almost smug grins at the result, and Serenoa gestured at the Scales as he spoke.

"See, Benedict? Slavery is bad. You can't argue with the Scales, can you? Now, we must plan our defense strategy."

"I told you so," Roland said as they all sat down.

Benedict sighed. Well, when he put it that way, it did make him sound wrong, didn't it?

Maybe advocating for turning Wolffort citizens in for slavery just to save themselves was kind of bad after all...