"I quickly found myself with few people I could trust. The two factions began plotting in one way or another, and I was subjected to countless marriage proposals as well as countless attempts on my life. I needed allies, people I could trust with open-minded perspectives that wouldn't fight back against my visions of the future."
"I'm guessing this is where Lloyd comes in?"
"That's right. I had been gathering information on potential candidates to replace my staff when I stumbled upon a report of an interesting individual, Lloyd. He was a commoner from a poor family working towards a better life as a merchant. His innovative thinking and sharp mind were just what I was looking for, so I decided to set up a meeting.
Here's the second part of the last chapter, as promised. Enjoy!