Hey! So, I added like two scenes to the last chapter so if you read that before yesterday/if you don't understand who the "King" I'm referring to in this chapter title is, please read that before you proceed!

Huntsmen.

Thousands of them.

Lined up about face in fifteen neat battalions that spread farther than Weiss ever imagined possible.

At first, Weiss thought someone had authorized a high school field trip to the manor. The huntsmen were dressed in every colour combination known to men and clashed with each other terribly. One would think that the legion of the bravest huntsmen serving the country would have one collective uniform. It was only upon closer inspection that Weiss noticed the plethora of whimsical weapons these men and woman were armed with. Was that a baseball bat-bazooka? Weiss blinked. Yes. Yes it was.

"Where in the world did you get an army from?" Weiss raised an eyebrow at Yang who was looking so self-satisfied with herself.

"Oh you know, I talked to a friend… who talked to a friend… who talked to a friend…" Yang grinned. "I have a lot of friends apparently."

Weiss nodded. "So what are they for? Fighting the White Fang?"

"Psh, no!" Yang laughed. "The White Fang actually listen to reason. And their demands are quite achievable."

Weiss blinked. "Okay…? So then, why do we have an army?"

Yang smiled at Weiss and turned to look out the window at the troops. "Do you remember the first lesson dad taught us about leading Vale?" Yang breathed. "The one where he told us never to let our status go to our heads — never to abuse our power — because that's when people revolt and we end up with our heads on stakes."

Weiss rolled her head around in thought.

I feel really important right now. Yang beamed, sitting upright in her father's seat — the comfy one that he used as his work desk. Do you feel this way all the time? It must be great being head of council!

Instead of looking pleased at his daughter's pride, their father's expression turned serious.

Come here Yang, you too Weiss, he beckoned, calling his daughters over to the window where he knelt to one knee. I have an important question for you. He paused until both Yang and Weiss nodded, signalling their attention. Do you think I, as head councilman, am more important than the other councilmen?

Yes? Yang answered slowly. You're the one who gets to decide things once and for all!

And plus, you are 'head' of council. Weiss added sagely. There's one of you and five of them.

Lord Xiao-Long shook his head. Let's look at this another way. What if I just made whatever laws I wanted? Even if the other council members didn't agree with me. For example, Weiss, the Lord turned to the younger daughter, how would you like it if Yang was allowed to choose what we have for dinner every day and always chose curry?

Weiss' noise scrunched up immediately. I hate curry! Weiss exclaimed with a little stomp of a foot.

Curry! Yang repeated with glee simultaneously.

Lord Xiao-Long smiled. Right. Weiss, you wouldn't be very happy with Yang, right?

Weiss shook her head. I really wouldn't like her.

We'd probably fight a lot. Yang added with her thinking face on.

Exactly. And fighting isn't peaceful. It is disruptive and harmful to you and the people around you. Lord Xiao-Long continued. So it's the same thing with me as head of council. Being head of council is just a title. And even though I am technically allowed to make whatever laws I want doesn't mean I actually can.

So, the other councilmen are actually more important than you? Yang asked, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as her baby mind worked furiously to piece the puzzle together.

In a way, yes. The father nodded.

"Yes, I remember," Weiss replied finally. "He told us that the other councilmen were actually more important than him."

"Do you remember what he said after that?" Yang asked.

But who else is even more important than me or the rest of the council members?

Little Weiss shut her eyes to think more carefully. Ummmmmmmmmm.

The citizens. Little Yang replied firmly. Her eyes taking on a certain sharpness.

Right! Lord Xiao-Long beamed proudly at his daughter and reached out to pat her on the head. Above all else, everything that we do needs to be for the citizens. With his free hand, he squeezed Weiss' hands. There will be times when you won't know which path to take or what decisions to make because every option seems to hurt somebody. When that happens, choose the option that benefits the citizens even if it hurts you or the other nobles. We aren't any different from them just because we live in a fancier house and wear fancier clothes. Very easily, you both could have been born a commoner or even a Faunus. It was pure chance you both ended up being my beautiful daughters. And I hope you always remember that.

"The citizens are more important than any of us?" Weiss answered after drawing up one shiny fragment from the murky depths of her memories.

"Right," Yang nodded. "I read through the transcripts of your meetings, Weiss."

"Oh boy," Weiss groaned. "So you saw how utterly useless they all were."

Yang grimaced thinly. "I saw that you tried your best to do things by the book— to respect the opinions of the other councilmen. To convince them through infallible logic…" the warrior's voice trailed off.

"But?" Weiss prompted.

"But the citizens are what matters most. And I think the other councilmen have forgotten about that."

Weiss shrugged. "It's not that per se. It more that they don't consider Faunus to be human, let alone citizens."

"And they are wrong." Yang stated firmly. "And I think that it is times like this that there is a head of council. That we are head of council. So that when life is going horribly wrong we can fix it, immediately, no questions asked."

Weiss turned to look at Yang. "I'm with you. But I still don't get why we have an army if we are going to pass the Faunus Rights Act — that is what you meant by 'fixing it' right?"

"They are for your protection," the voice wasn't Yang's. It was a deeper, smoother one.

Weiss turned around to see Blake strolling in, bow intact and Gambol Shroud on her hips. The kitty was looking mighty slick.

"Protection from what?" Weiss asked as she stepped towards Blake and into a waiting embrace.

"They, dearest Weiss-y," Yang rested her elbow on Weiss' shoulder, "are to keep the councilmen from revolting. And to protect us from future assassination attempts." Yang tapped her finger to the side of her face. "And to enforce the new laws we are making," Yang added after a moment's thought. The warrior gestured to Blake. "I made your girlfriend Lieutenant-Captain-Leader-thing of them all."

"What?!" Weiss asked, with a bit more fervour than she had intended. "Not that I'm unhappy," she amended, hugging Blake. "It's just, why do I only get to know about this now?"

"I needed to work out the finer details," Yang explained. "And plus, Blake is perfect. She'll be able to deal with both the Faunus and humans as well as couch the other huntsmen on how to handle such situations delicately. Plus, she's quick on her feet so she can monitor all the huntresses and huntsmen. No one cares more about your safety than her. And, she's trustworthy. We need trustworthy right now."

"Where do I fit into all your plans?" Weiss asked finally.

Yang just grinned.

^^ I also just wanted to thank everyone for the warm welcome back. Reading some of your reviews makes me so happy ^^ I remember why I like doing this. So thanks~