Observing from a distance isn't really working out for me. It would be fine if this room were more properly lit, but as the king is sleeping, there is but a lone candle by his bedside. And now that I think about it, waking up to somepony hanging over you, their face lit by no more than candlelight, would be rather disturbing. Still. . . perhaps if I'm just a bit quieter, I can gather the information I require.
Addendum: Boy, is King Aurum a light sleeper. I managed to quell his qualms with my rather close observation of him by convincing him that the closer I am, the safer he'll be. I had a hard time of convincing him, but he said that so long as I promise to stop breathing so heavily, he'll tolerate it.