I gave her a long silent look before sighing. "If you, the one with such vast experience, fell in his trap, that means anyone else wouldn't have done any better."
"But…"
"You can't blame yourselves in such a way," I stood up, looked at everyone, "I did that as I'm the lord of the kingdom, the biggest figure in it. You… You are my trusted aides, my valiant generals, the real pillars I depend upon to build my kingdom on your shoulders.``
"It's more reason for us to…"
I raised my hand in the face of Hilary to stop her. "Your part isn't to regret and blame yourselves, but to honestly analyse your shortcomings and learn your weaknesses. Knowing what caused all this and doing all your best to correct them is the best way to pay for this loss here."
I turned to Lily before adding, "I gathered all of you here not to speak about the past. What happened happened. Only a kid would cry over what passed. I gathered you all here to speak and plan about our future."
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