Maximilian paused for a beat, letting silence stretch just enough to make Vincent feel the weight of it.
If he were as petty and craven as Vincent, he might've smirked at the question.
Instead, he folded his hands on the desk and replied coolly, "I don't have personal candidates. But if you're asking who I'll vote for—my choice is Anthony Ashbourne for Grand Viceroy."
Vincent had anticipated the name Anthony Ashbourne, but he wasn't done testing the waters.
"How about the Commander?" he asked, voice casual—too casual.
Maximilian's gaze drifted aside. He exhaled through his nose, long and deliberate.
"Any suggestions?" he replied. "I haven't given it much thought. Our pool of candidates is… limited, to say the least."
Then he shifted his eyes back to Vincent, studying him with the faintest trace of interest. "You've worked closely with the Sovereign for years. Surely, you'd know better than anyone who's best suited for such a vital position."
