The space in between the four walls of one of the Karesti Palace’s parlors felt hot as an uncharacteristic rush of anxiety coursed through General Karesti’s veins. Even in the face of the greatest Titanian warrior in memory, very nearly being beaten to death by him, she was never worried. But at that moment, clad in a sleeveless, long purple dress and a circlet signifying her status as a Karesti princess, Rhona was having trouble calming her wild heartbeat.
Just get it over with, she told herself mentally. They deserve to know, don’t they? More than any Central Council member, more than any noble, more than any soldier. They’re his last remaining blood. I, as the carrier of his will, have the duty to pass along an important message.
“If you lose your composure in front of the children, how will you ever present yourself before Halsten? Your superior, your Emperor, your dear elder brother—the only person who can say they’ve ever truly, wholeheartedly loved you? If you--
After pacing around the room for a long time, a knock at the door quickly prompted her to finally take a seat.
“Presenting, Her Highness Princess Ninon Karesti,” the palace steward’s voice announced from behind the door just as it opened. The young girl entered with the graceful, yet polite demeanour expected of the heir to the throne, standing just beside the doorway. A smile twitched itself onto Rhona’s lips.
“…and His Highness Duke Silvan Karesti.”
The other remaining legitimate member of the Karesti family took a spot on the other side of the doorway with princely composure.
“I think we can take it from here,” Ninon ordered the steward with a soft voice. “Thank you very much for escorting us.”
The steward simply bowed in the direction of the three royal family members, before gently shutting the door and leaving the premises.
“Good afternoon, Aunt Rhona!” Ninon approached the general. As part of royal protocol, Rhona stood up to greet the girl who was higher up in the hierarchy, exchanging kisses on the cheeks.
“Hello, Rhona,” Silvan followed behind his first cousin once removed, and repeated Ninon’s gestures with Rhona. “Pleasure to be back at the palace once again. So, this meeting… you mentioned this about having something to do with the war?”
“It does. Thank you for coming over, the two of you. Please take a seat. You’ll both need to listen carefully.”
Ninon readily answered Rhona’s request, while it took a moment for Silvan to sit at one of the two empty couches that faced the one Rhona sat on.
“Aunt Rhona… are you feeling alright?” the young girl sensed Rhona’s tense emotions practically emanating from her skin. The Solich family had a natural aptitude for empathy and kindness, as before the Karesti-Solich union over Titan had occurred, the family were often mediators in disputes between small, long-forgotten clans that were spread about the moon’s surface. As the last remaining member of that ancient bloodline, this trait was present in Ninon Karesti.
“I… I’ll feel better once I’m done telling you what I need to. Thank you for asking, darling girl,” Rhona let out a hint of a smile, before her lips straightened once more. “This war that we fight on two fronts, primarily on Terra and on Mars to a lesser extent, has been going on far longer than anyone has expected. We expected to quash them within a month of the Shargara conference, but that estimation is no longer valid. With each day we pummel the terrorists, they hit back just as hard. Even with the never-before-used technology we’ve finally decided to take out of storage, they are ever so resilient. You would think that by us striking the tent cities in which they hide with their brethren, who I’m sure claim not to be involved in the fighting, that the New Yeupisians would break down on a psychological level and send all their moral pouring down the drain. Not that most of them know what a drain even is, but…”
Does she expect us to understand a word she says? Silvan wondered. Forget about military jargon, what she’s saying is insane! It’s not like she’s talking to her family, but to a crowd of a million plebians instead!
“…it is clear that, unless we endanger our own assets on the Yeupisian continent, we have to plan a way for this war to end without destruction.”
“Are you going to talk to them? The terrorists, I mean. What other way is there to end the war besides talking to one another?” Ninon desired clarification.
“Me, speaking on the same level as a bunch of terrorists? Unfortunately, that is not the way I operate. Neither was it how your grandfather worked, nor his father before him. But, there is a man I know very well, and is very dear to us all.”
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Who could she be talking about? Ninon wondered. A man dear to us all? Could it be Mr. Salomon? No, Silvan hardly knows him. It’s someone else, someone different. My half-Terran uncle, who is being kept in the lowest level of Xanadu Penitentiary as we speak? The one who collaborated with them for years?
“Well, Rhona, don’t leave us hanging!” Silvan cried eagerly. “Tell us who he is!”
“Our Emperor Halsten. I thought that would’ve been a little obvious,” Rhona let off a slight snicker. “But he is the only man or woman fit for such a grand endeavour.”
Ninon’s hands trembled on her laps as her fingers slowly curled. Her lips parted, as if they didn’t know whether to let out a scream or a sob. However, she elected to do neither.
“F-Father…? Aunt Rhona, stop pulling my leg! You know he’s been asleep for over a decade now. The best doctors in the Empire couldn’t even hope to wake him up. Did you bring us here so that you could tell us some sort of joke?” Ninon said in surprise, not quite angry, but not very upset either.
“Have you been trying to revive him this whole time?” Silvan put all the context clues together. “Using some kind of method outside of conventional medicine?”
“I have studied and pursued a strategy to revive him for the entire duration of my tenure as General,” the woman finally made herself clear. “It’s a clear method… no, a protocol. We can bring him back without a doubt and soon we will have the tools to make it happen.”
“I believe he should continue to rest,” Ninon objected while keeping her anxiety at bay. “It’s been so long. Since that accident, or whatever it was that happened. It would be like waking up in a brand new world! And if were really meant for him to wake up, I’m sure it would’ve happened by now. Aunt Rhona, are you certain this is the only method you can think of to put an end to this war?”
“Think of the consequences, Rhona,” Silvan added. “Who would he blame for the fighting even getting to this point? Them, or us? What punishment awaits them?”
“Whoever it is, they shall be damned!” Rhona suddenly raised her voice. “Our Emperor knows best. And he will do the best. It was in his tenure that our relationship with the Terrans were at an all-time high. I am no Empress. I am merely a regent, and I will hold that title until our Emperor returns and brings back the Empire to where it should be.”
The two younger Karesti royals jumped slightly at the General’s snap.
She’s dead serious, Silvan noted. I’ve never seen her get so upset so easily, not even in the Council Chambers.
“Well then, as the Emperor’s daughter and his heir, I would like to have my voice heard. I’d like for there to be several conditions before you go through with something so monumental. Isn’t that the very least you could do, Aunt Rhona?” Ninon suddenly stood up, making her thoughts known.
“I will have the final say at the end of the day,” Rhona reminded the girl, back in her normal disposition. “But yes, you are his daughter. I know this a lot for you to process, so I will give you both a few days to think this over and come back to me with any thoughts you may have.”
“I will go with whatever Ninon says.” Silvan stood up, both youngsters now on their feet.
Ninon only then realized that she was clenching her fists so hard, that her nails began to draw blood from her impervious Titanian palms. How could Rhona have had such an incredible ambition? Bringing back the father she deserved to have growing up, but for the sake of a war on another planet and not for her as his child? That idea didn’t sit well with her at all. She had accepted the fact that Halsten would spend his remaining days peacefully inside the Pod.
The man had passed the age of 40, and his final breath would only be a few years away at most. His Empress Consort was waiting for him, on the other side of the barrier that separated life from death. That idea had dwelled within Ninon’s mind for as long as she could remember, and suddenly she was being made to unlearn that thought. How was this at all fair for her?
“Very well then,” Rhona rose to her feet. “Your presences are very appreciated. Thank you, Silvan and Ninon, for being able to come in today. Your input is very important to me.”
“This was an important discussion, indeed,” Silvan said in a mutter, eager to leave the meeting. “I will take my leave.”
Silvan bowed his head forward as a gesture of respect to Rhona, then left through the door he came from.
Meanwhile, Ninon remained at the spot she had stood on. Her gaze was on the floor in front of her feet, her fists still tightly clenched even though the skin of her palms was broken.
“Darling, is something the matter?” Rhona asked, walking up to the girl. “You know you can tell me, right? Tell your aunt what’s on your mind right now.”
Ninon slowly lifted her head, and she plastered a shy smile across her lips.
“I just zoned out. I’m sorry.” she said in her characteristic soft, polite tone.
“When I was planning this all out with my Martial Council, you were at the forefront of my every thought. There was no way I could separate you from all this. So, rest assured, I will do everything to make sure you’re at ease. Do you understand?”
“Y-Yes, Aunt Rhona.” Ninon briskly nodded.
Ninon stood at the same height as her aunt, though the latter donned high-heeled shoes while the former did not. Rhona gently took the girl’s head in her hands and brought it to her lips, giving the princess a kiss on the forehead.
“My strong, beautiful, thoughtful girl. I think you’re starting to take after me a little bit.” Rhona giggled
Ninon gave her a nervous grin, before she took her leave.
As soon as the door closed, she saw Alda waiting for her with the same cheery, kind expression she greeted her with every morning. Only this time was Ninon’s reciprocation genuine as they made for the princess’ chambers.
Alda will know everything that went on in there. I’ll find a way though this bizarre chain of events with her. Even Silvan knew that Aunt Rhona was saying something absolutely absurd. I could feel it. Alda will understand it too, when I tell her.
Unbeknownst to a single soul in the Palace, an additional set of eyes had watched all that had occurred and heard every word that was uttered. Satisfied with having sufficient information, Stalking Packer withdrew from one of the several windows she was perched upon since Rhona made her into the parlor. She was going to deliver it to an important pair of ears.