“The Orlish Prime Minister gave a speech regarding the deadlock on Orland’s conscription reform, outlining that the situation in the frontlines has now reached levels wherein ‘inaction may lead to grave consequences’. She has urged the Orlish Parliament to see things through and urged the women of Orland to rethink their safety and comfort. ‘It is the duty of every Orlish citizen, men, and women, to serve the nation in its time of need,’ she said in her closing remark, fully outlining the need for women to step up for the defense of the Kingdom.”

- ROCN News

+++

United Confederation of Pez

Brewich

“Well, I suppose it was inevitable,” William said, matter of factly. “Quite frankly, I do not understand your foreign policy on Imperial Larissa anyway. It just…well, it doesn’t make sense to me. Empress Katerina is under our captivity. She has no power over her sister and the Empire. I think it’s time we rethink our relationship with them.”

Amelie huffed a bit. “I am rethinking it. It’s just…does it have to be this rushed?”

“She’s coming,” William said. “Alone even, might I add. A full private meeting with you.”

“Well, I’m not leaving here,” Nia said. She was on the other side of the room, reading a book of some sort. They were still cooling off after all from the CFN visit an hour ago. Entertained would not be the sort of words to describe the trio. Amelie herself was still, at this point, undergoing a stage of grief after hearing those men’s words against her.

Words of other people, especially when it was partly right, had always been Amelie’s vulnerability. There was no way she could lie to herself that she was…possibly, though she’d absolutely slap anyone who would suggest it, that she was…well, a soft-hearted woman at the core. And how dare those men stab her that way, on her own damned office, straight into her heart.

Amelie ate her cake faster. Meanwhile, William merely sighed at the lamentable sight of the Queen he served. A little bit of a verbal spar with those rebellious men, and here she was, eating cake like a child to calm herself.

In the end, Amelie was still slightly proud of herself that she didn’t end up in an actual shouting match. She certainly felt a bit mature. And so, with a quick sip of her tea, Amelie stopped her spontaneous case of stress eating and turned back to William.

“Okay, let’s see her.”

“You, me, and Nia?”

Nia laughed. “Well, we better gang up on the poor girl.”

“I like the idea of that,” Amelie said. “Can I tell our staff to make her feel uncomfortable?”

“You’re a strange breed of evil, Amelie,” William laughed. “Come on, the girl’s barely even an adult. Hell, her older sister isn’t even an adult. It’s a teenage girl trying her damnedest best in the face of war.”

“Eh, she’s an Illyenov,” Amelie scoffed. “War is her family’s specialty.”

“You know, I always wondered how you ladies do your rivalry things,” William said. “I didn’t know it was this vicious.”

“I’m not vicious, I’m being proportional. Were it not because of House Illyenov, we’d be in world peace no one would be starving and we’d have conquered the moon!”

Both Nia and William laughed at Amelie, who merely crossed her face with a frustrated expression. “I bet she’s just here to start trouble.”

“Just no magical duels, okay?” William jested. “Though, if you ladies do one, give me a prompt warning so I can vacate.”

“Ah, so that’s how it works now, if I get into an actual fight, you’ll be retreating from my side?”

“Damn right, Your Majesty.”

Amelie sighed. “Fine, I lost. I get it. No eye rolls. No starting any trouble. No sudden drawing of my wand—”

“I didn’t know you were trying to copy your dead great-grandmother.”

Amelie frowned, as she imagined herself drawing her wand to challenge the leader of the Eastern Bear in a good magical duel. Oh, how she relished at the thought. When she was a child, she had always imagined herself to be capable of burning down whoever Empress would rule Larissa when she reigned using her wand.

“I might if she speaks wrong.”

But William just chuckled. “Yep, go on…”

“And…no insults against her person.”

With a clap, he took his phone. “Well, there it is confirmed. Princess Anastasia Illyenov of the Empire of Larissa, coming into your office next…”

+++

“Well…um…” Amelie certainly felt bad when Princess Anastasia Illyenov, a young woman who had only really recently turned sixteen of age, entered her room. The Princess, far from Amelie’s expectations, was truly not one of Katerina’s caliber. She looked very much like her sister, with her pink hair, with the difference being her purple eyes. “Welcome?”

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William suddenly closed the door, which earned a tiny squeal from the tense young woman. “I apologize, um, Your Majesty.”

And with that, Amelie felt the urge to hug Anastasia grow. But this wasn’t how she was supposed to feel! She was facing the mortal enemy of House Ludendorf, more than House Dubois itself! The Empire of the Illyenov family has always been her country’s greatest rival. She was supposed to feel hate, not this bubbly feeling at seeing such a…adorable creature!

“Nothing to worry about, Princess Anastasia,” Amelie calmed her nerves. She needed a quick sip of tea soon if she ever wanted to keep her hands from just head-patting this girl. “Welcome to my office in this…well, embassy. It’s quite messy at the moment, but I hope you understand.”

She nodded meekly.

“I…I understand. Your Majesty, my office is always just as messy after all. I have no time to clean up or…fix things, when, so many things are happening in the Empire. My people are at war with each other after all. And big sis isn’t there to run things she was supposed to run…”

Now, Amelie’s frustrated demeanor returned a bit at the mention of that pink-haired brat. “Your older sister is certainly not the brightest one. Picking a fight with my Orland, at such a time of crisis. It’s difficult to fathom what even was going on in her head. After all, how stupid was that? Orland has the most powerful navy, and Lorathia isn’t far behind, why would—”

“Amelie,” William interrupted. “Amelie…” He stopped and almost whispered to Amelie. “You’re gonna make her cry.”

“I—uh, what?” Amelie looked at the somewhat tense Anastasia. “O-oh, I apologize, nothing, sorry I was carried away! Hah, real apologies for that, Princess.”

Amelie rushed out of her seat and immediately took Anastasia, who was surprised, to take a seat in front of Amelie’s table. “Y-your Majesty.”

“Take a seat! I think we have a lot to discuss about, don’t we?”

William laughed a bit in the background, but Amelie ignored him. Amelie turned into a complete one-eighty now. This…this Anastasia girl. She would be a part of her chess board ! She truly seemed like the perfect candidate for the Larissan throne! Unlike Katerina, Anastasia seemed respectful, and…and good! She must be good.

Oh, I heard she was doing a lot of reforms and is trying to pivot to democracy. I had my doubts, but I’m sure it’s unfounded now! This girl, she’s my girl now!

A replacement to that pink-haired brat rotting in Orland’s captivity!

“Your Majesty, indeed we do. I am here…erm, as much as this would hurt my country’s reputation, to beg. I have heard you are a Queen of gentle disposition and of a benevolent kind. Sure, the Empire has been—”

“Shh, shh, calm down. Take a deep breath.”

The young girl’s nervous speech stopped, and Anastasia immediately followed Amelie’s instructions. Taking a deep breath, Anastasia calmed herself down. Oh, how Amelie felt bad for this girl. She surely seemed young, and innocent. Yet she was now handling an Empire that was torn at the seams. She couldn’t imagine the amount of stress Anastasia must be in.

Oh, if the news about the dire situation of the Imperial Remnants were of any indication, perhaps it was indeed the truth that Anastasia and her regime’s survival was at Orland’s and the international community’s hands. Now Amelie felt bad again, considering how many times she refused to give an audience to the Larissans.

Perhaps she should have been kinder? Amelie wanted to chastise herself. How stupid of her, to torture such a young innocent soul in that predicament. She needed to make up for it, but how?

Calm down, brain. You can do this. You can still repair bridges with Anastasia. She’ll be your new friend, I’m sure of it.

But Amelie would fully understand if the young girl didn’t become one. Perhaps she indeed had been exceedingly cruel to them. Perhaps. Not that it would really change much of the present situation. Regardless of whether or not Orland entertained the Imperial Remnants in Larissa, they hadn’t been able to properly supply Empress Xue Li’s regime anyway. What more about Larissa? Not now, not when they still needed to expand the OAF to keep fighting.

But still! Amelie felt guilty. Oh, she couldn't even fathom why she treated poor Anastasia this way. Look at her breath, it almost looked like Alice when she felt all sad. Now this was bad, Amelie really wanted to hug and comfort and say sorry to Anastasia.

“Thank you, Your Majesty…I feel better now,” the Princess said, before flashing Amelie a thankful smile so radiant, that Amelie almost melted on the spot. How could the sister of that monster even be this nice? Amelie was at a loss for words.

“That’s great!” Amelie said. “I’d like you to feel welcome in this room after all. If you are interested in cooperation and friendship, well, I am too.”

“Is that so, Your Majesty,” Anastasia said, almost too eager. “That’s…all?”

“Well, I think you’re a kind person, and most likely, a kind leader,” Amelie said. “I need more of us on the world stage after all. Young people with kindness and virtue to change everything! Creating the dreamed good-guys team is hard, so I’d like more people aboard here, even if we’re not exactly perfect at…well, being good.”

Anastasia laughed. “It’s like you’re describing this ordeal as something only heroes can save.”

“Well, we are in need of them,” Amelie said. “Though I doubt I’d be one, I think we can still try our best. As for you, I’d like to hear more about your situation. Perhaps, we’ll see how we can do things to help.”

The girl’s eyes almost widened. “Your Majesty, I am so grateful. I…it’s been difficult since I started dealing with this whole ordeal after all. Please know that your help would be extremely crucial for our survival.”

“Tell me then,” Amelie said. “How bad is it?”

“Very bad,” Anastasia replied. “Those rebels, they’re endless. They’re bashing their heads on the defense lines we constructed. My generals say that within a year or two, our resistance might collapse at this rate. We are trying to fight back, but our industries and weapons stockpiles are limited.”

Amelie took her notepad out. “How limited?”

“In comparison to us, the Confederacy gained sixty-eight percent of the pre-war Larissan industry. While we hold the wealthiest regions of the Empire, we hold too little land and manpower to overcome the rest that has fallen into the rebellion. We seriously doubt the possibility of pushing them back, when we are barely holding.”

Amelie nodded. “Then what do you need?”

“Guns, supplies, food, intel,” Princess Anastasia looked up at Amelie. “And Your Majesty, the most important of all…”

“What?”

“We need Orland to let us be accepted back into the world stage,” she almost struggled at saying that. “The Empire will not survive without allies. Without being in this global alliance. I’m willing to do everything, and I am doing everything. Change, reform…I try…I do try to be better. Anything to save the Empire. But…without the rest of the world, I cannot see a future without a miracle. And I cannot leave the fate of the Larissan people to a miracle. So, please…I beseech you…”

Anastasia continued pleading. “Accept us back…we need you to survive.”