You agree to sponsor some festivals for the commoners, and put some money away to hire mercenaries for the Army.
810 AD, Spring
"An alliance? Against my kingdom??"
"Alas, this be truth, my liege." The Spymaster tips his hat. "My agents working abroad just sent me a warning about such a nasty plot brewing outside our borders."
"Who's preparing to strike us?" The Advisor asks, while the Spymaster unfurls the scroll in his hands.
"Two Kingdoms - Trist and Forc. Apparently, Princess Talia of Forc, having married the recently enthroned King Tastan of Trist, is collaborating with him and her elder brothers to strike at our lovely kingdom." You furrow your brows.
"For what purpose?" The Spymaster smiles sadly.
"My agents weren't able to ascertain. However, our Army isn't as it was before, our territory is vast and our resources rather limited. Perhaps to steal land or riches from us. Perhaps to kick us down a bit. Who knows but them." The Advisor strokes his beard thoughtfully, and then grumbles.
"And what about Memech of Gon?" The Spymaster shrugs.
"Not a word, yet, but I will have agents sent to ascertain what he is plotting, too." You dismiss the Spymaster, who leaves to do his job.
Distressted, the Advisor turns to you. "My liege, all these little kingdoms are in north and west of us. Each one is rather small and unremarkable but I would like to remind you that even the indomitable Saint Fray fell before the might of the three enemies who ambushed him on the Fefhyrllach Bridge. I would err on the side of caution and assume Memech, having been forced to give parts of his homeland at the end of our last war, isn't going to show up as our friend when the other two monarchs come knocking at our gates."
A) "You're overreacting. Let's wait for Spymaster's agents to bring us more information, especially about King Memech of Gon."
B) "Call the Marshal and ready the Army! They won't attack us because I will attack them first!!"
C) "We better prepare for the worst. Tell the Treasurer to deliver even more money to the Army, we need recruits and weapons, stat!"