Chapter 1950

Rising from the chessboard, the king spoke again, "The return of Prince Faber is a boon for Biskeland, raising our stature among Westernia. Naturally, we can't afford to lose a commander of your caliber."

With that, he stood by the window, hands clasped behind him, gazing out at the Crystal Elegance Pavilion.

As he took in the view, he drew a deep breath and added, "But you, Liam, you're a man who sees the grand scheme of things. For the sake of Biskeland's future, sometimes, no matter how painful, we must be willing to make sacrifices."

Liam showed no sign of surprise at the king's words as if he had anticipated that very conversation and promptly stood to offer a crisp military salute.

Liam spoke up, "Your Majesty, I've got it all figured out, and there's no need for you to worry about me. I've been meaning to hang up my boots and head back home for a while now; just never found the right time to do it.

"Today, I'm stepping forward to hand in my resignation, to step down as the