Artemis eased into the common room of Sandy Books retirement home. The soft tick of an old clock mixed with the scent of coffee and aging paper. Across from him, Robin Evergreen cradled a ceramic mug, steam curling up around his silver hair.
Robin looked up, surprise brightening his faded eyes. "I don't often get visitors," he said with a small smile. "It's good to see you, Artemis."
Artemis settled onto the green sofa beside him. "I wish it were under better circumstances. I can't reach Lolita about ending the Sangria conflict—she insists on fighting fire with fire."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Maybe if you talk to Lolita-"
"Artemis." Robin placed his coffee cup on the round table, cutting him off gently. "You're forgetting about Lolita's conflict with Richard Scott and Jacob Kennedy over the interest payments. She believes the world map is mislabeled—that the ore mountains belong to Intermarium, not to Ossory. She isn't just dodging copper taxes; she truly believes she doesn't owe a dime of that debt."
Artemis rubbed his temples and sighed. "You should have been Ruler, Robin. You were next in line."
"I never wanted to rule Intermarium. Too much responsibility for my taste," Robin said, shaking his head. "Besides, I wasn't going to steal my younger brother's dream. James wanted it. So, James was appointed."
"But look what he left behind," Artemis pressed, leaning forward. "Can't you challenge Lolita? Strip the position away from her?"
Robin let out a soft, amused chuckle. "With what authority? James didn't name me in the will, Artemis."
"Why didn't you at least discuss the details of the will with your brother?" Artemis asked.
Robin rolled his eyes, though his tone remained mild. "Because I had no idea he was running out of time. James kept everything private; hardly anyone in Intermarium knew about his cancer diagnosis until it was too late."
Artemis's cellphone rang from his black pants' pocket. "I'd better let you go; it looks like you got an important call to take." Artemis nodded as Robin rose from his chair and left.