After the conclusion of the traditional ceremonies, the guests were free to enjoy the after-party, many were still lining up at the buffet tables while many were also just enjoying the atmosphere of the place. Some of the younger ladies were dancing as the music switched to the ones more common to the Terran nobility.

There was an old white grand piano in a gazebo in the middle of the gardens where there was someone playing on it. Many people also just sat on carpets that were laid on the grass while they enjoyed their food and drink.

One table in particular was very interesting to see. Valasaire sat there with some other guests. These guests in particular were no average people, as evidenced by the amount of guards around it. There sat the Kings and leaders of six of the Christian powers in Terra.

"I never expected there to be this many royals in attendance of the wedding." One of the guests at the table said. A strong looking middle-aged man with blond hair and a thick beard

"And I never expected that King Geirhart III of Germania to be here either." Valasaire said to the man "Yet here you are."

"Really? I thought I had sent a letter in advance of my arrival."

"Did you, now?" Valasaire said "Must've misplaced it."

"You misplaced a letter stamped with a royal seal?" the pale-skinned King of Slavsnik said with a scoff "That's very careless. Even by your standards."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"He didn't misplace it. He did read it, he was just feigning ignorance." Valaron replied back "Though he is very careless. Luckily for him, I am much more organised."

"So you did read my letter." Geirhart said

"I am sorry, but it doesn't look like I can readily accept your proposal." Valasaire finally said

"What did this proposal entail, exactly?" Another guest said. A regal looking man with short brown hair, round eyes, and a noticeable scar on his left cheek.

"He wants his son to marry my youngest daughter." Valasaire answered

"The Princess Valerie?"

"Yes." Geirhart answered

"That's not fair. I was going to ask you the same thing! I was looking forward to again create a union between Rumasil and Aerland."

"You already have my sister, John." Valasaire said "What more do you want?"

"Forgive me, your majesty." Geirhart said to the Aerlish king "But I have first sent a formal message to his majesty. So I believe I get the privilege to be considered first."

"But, according to Rumasilian customs, she is required to marry my son." John replied

"Boy, you lost the right to talk about Rumasilian tradition when you married Valasya." Emperor Alexios said "Honestly, if we're talking about adhering to absolute orthodox Rumasilian tradition, your children wouldn't even exist."

"Well put, uncle." Valasaire said

"That's a bit harsh, uncle Alex." John said in turn "Well, uncle Valasar had allowed it. So it shouldn't be too against the traditions."

"Your uncle Kasper was far closer to Slavsnik's traditions than he would admit." Alexios retorted

"And what exactly is wrong with that?" Jan said with a slightly annoyed tone

"Nothing. It just means that John shouldn't use such a half-assed excuse."

"Thank you, your majesty." Geirhart said as he saw his position being defended

"Oh it's nothing, your majesty. I just wanted to repay the bullying my elder sister did to me to her son John over here."

"You know, the scriptures say the sins of the father." John said while whining a bit "I've never read anything resembling the sins of the mother."

"I'm surprised you've read the scriptures at all." Manuel said with a condescending tone "Well at least from what I hear of you from my wife."

"Alright, see here Manuel. Now I'm pretty offended. You know Diana always liked to tease me. But I would like to inform you, I am very devoted to my faith. With a wife like mine, you don't really have a choice."

"I did warn you." Valasaire said "Anyways, tulang (maternal uncle). I would have you know, my father taught me many things of the culture of Rumasil. The only reason he even allowed Valasya to marry John was because John passed an impossible test... with a bit of help from yours truly of course."

"And I can't thank you enough for that, Valasaire!"

"This family is dysfunctional." Jan said with a slightly joking yet still condescending tone

"Aren't you related to them?" Antonio turned and asked his cousin

"You do realise your father and Valasaire's were cousins, right?" Alexios said

"Of course." Jan answered "I respect the late-King Valasar very much. As you said, he was close to his Slavic roots. In fact if I do recall, Valasaire, he specifically wanted you to marry my sister."

"Jan, how many times do I have to say? It just wasn't meant to be, again I apologize." Valasaire said

"And it took you one day before the wedding to realise that? You were about to be married to a proper lady, but instead you went ahead and chose some..."

"Chose some what?" Manuel said with audible annoyance in his tone in preparation for him to hear his sister insulted. Alexios only glared at the Slav.

"Are you implying my daughter is not a proper lady?" Alexios asked with an annoyed tone "There are no princesses on the face of Terra more properly raised and educated than a daughter of the Imperial House of Memnos."

"I would expect a daughter of the Imperial family to know when to refuse a man who's already been betrothed." Jan said "But clearly, Aurosian education is highly overrated."

"And I suppose your backwater excuse of a state is a shining example of enlightenment?" Manuel retorted "I've seen peasants smarter than the likes of your aristocracy. Your ambassador to Auros being a prime example of that."

"I know full well he's an idiot. I only saw it fit for him to be sent to a country whom I assumed had about the same mental capacity as his."

"You mock the country of the founders of philosophy?"

"Suppose I am, what do you think you're going to do about it?" Jan said as he stood up and stared straight into Manuel's eyes. Manuel in return for the favour stood up as well. The two people were getting heated and looked as if conflict were to happen. The other monarchs could only watch. Finally, Valasaire stepped in.

"Alright, that's enough from the both of you!" Valasaire said trying to calm the situation down "Must I remind you that this is a wedding celebration. You people aren't even at war for Christ's sake!"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Manuel, calm down and sit." Alexios said to his son

Antonio requested for Jan to do the same to which he did.

"That's good. Everything's much better when the situation is calm and we are all having level-headed discussions. Jan, you can insult me and get angry with me all you want, just not in here. Trust me, I'll accept my long due punishment. But please. If you two want to start a war, do it elsewhere. Not in my palace." Valasaire said

"I have no intentions of making war with Auros." Jan said "I just want justice for my sister. And I'll hold you on your words, Valasaire."

"Anywhere but the face and the groins." Valasaire said to which the others just laughed and the atmosphere began to calm down a little.

"Well, I apologise for my unseemly behaviour." Manuel said as he calmed down and looked towards Jan "It is unbecoming to lose my temper at such low-key insults. I don't care what you do to him, just leave my sister and my country out of it."

"I apologise as well..." Jan said though with a little reluctance "It seems my anger was misdirected"

"Well, luckily that didn't devolve into an international incident." Antonio said "By the way, where is Agnes? Didn't you say she was here?"

"What? You brought your sister back here?" Manuel said "Even I'm not that cruel."

"Of course I didn't ask her to come." Jan said again annoyed "The last time she was here, she tried to kill herself. No, she came here of her own insistence. She said she didn't have a chance to apologise back then and make amends, and so she would like to use this opportunity to do so."

"Her apologise? Apologise for what?" Valasaire said

"I asked her the same thing, but she only said 'for the trouble she has caused'..."

"Honestly, that girl has the soul of a saint." Antonio said

"Wait, isn't that her over there?" Valaron said as he pointed to her direction to which everyone turned their heads to look

"Aye, and it looks like she's dancing with someone..." John said with a bit of a smile "And looks like she's enjoying herself quite a bit."

"Wait, what? Who?!" Jan said with surprise as he saw that indeed she was having a dance with someone

"Wait isn't that..." Valasaire said

"Andreas?!" Manuel said to which everybody was surprised

"Isn't that your younger brother?" Jan asked to make sure

"Yes..."

"Interesting... Is he married yet?"

"No. We've tried to get him to marry but he never had anyone interest him... wait... where are you going with this?"

Jan only looked at Manuel and Alexios with a slight smirk. Manuel finally caught the Slav's meaning.

"Your sister hasn't wed yet?" Alexios asked

"No. As far as I know, she was contemplating joining a convent... They seem to be getting along well enough..." Jan said

"We'll see where it will go from here."

"Well... Anyways, I've been meaning to ask this since before that little incident." Antonio said to the Aurosian Emperor "How goes the conflict with the Razyan?"

"It goes well enough." Alexios said to which he looked to his son to explain further

"...Yes. As we speak, our men have already surrounded their capital. The bird-folk don't have enough manpower to continue this foolish war. My uncle played his cards wrong. If it weren't for my mother's wishes, I'd have his wings cut and him thrown into a cell."

"That sounds like the Manuel we all know and love." John said

"Why would the Razyan even start a war they can't hope to win?" Antonio asked

"Because they're pompous, arrogant, and low on intelligence?" Manuel said

"Manuel! Your mother is a Razyan." Alexios reminded his son

"Well, except for her..."

"It's because my brother-in-law, for all his millenia living on this earth, is still so very foolish. He had believed that he had the support of the Latinites in this conflict. Imagine the shock on his face when he attacked first and the Latinites refused to attack.... hahahaha..."

"That Emperor Valerius is a sly one." Manuel said

"I've heard the tension between the Latinites and the Vasilians have escalated in recent times." Geirhart said

"Yes. They have started pouring soldiers at their borders as well. The new Vasilian Tsarina has no love for her father's murderers."

"Tsarina Yekaterina, was it?" Alexios said "She's only twenty yet looks to be a promising leader. She's already married herself off to the Tsar of Loskawy."

"A new power in the west, eh?" Antonio said

"That's the Latins’ problem, not Auros's." Manuel said "The more people gunning down for them, the better."

"Speaking of strong Queens, I've heard the Karlreichers have a new queen as well." Antonio said, looking at Geirhart

"Ah yes. Her Majesty Antonia Maria von Karlreich. Only sixteen years old. In fact she had offered to marry herself to my son Albert."

"Did you accept?" Valasaire asked intrigued

"No. I politely declined. I had Albert do it to her in person."

"See, Valasaire. When you decline a girl, you do it before getting engaged." Jan snarked

"Why on earth did you decline?" Valaron asked

"As I've said. Germania's intentions are clear. We intend to have my son marry your daughter, King Valasaire."

"Honestly, that's the single most idiotic thing I've heard all day." Manuel said "You would turn down a queen for one of his daughters?"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Valasaire said offended

"Your daughters aren't really the most docile of creatures."

"But they are the prettiest."

"That came from the Memnosian blood in them. Looking at your face, there's no way they inherited from you."

"How dare you insult my beautiful visage? You take that back!"

The other royals merely laughed.

"You really don't know how to raise your daughters. Can't even get them to get married." Antonio said

"Unlike you, I don't use my daughters as pawns for political gain." Valasaire said

"Yet you willingly do so to your sons?"

"They'll have to learn that life's not fair. Their men. They're not entitled for everything to go their way."

"I wish your father had that same mentality." Jan said to which Valasaire only rolled his eyes

"Anyways... are you really sure you want your son to marry my Valerie?" Valasaire said

"I'm very sure." Geirhart answered affirmatively

"Haven't you heard what happened to all of his daughters's previous suitors?" Antonio asked him

"They all had their asses handed to them." Valasaire answered it for Geirhart

"None of them were my son." Geirhart said calmly with a smirk

"Those are fighting words, your majesty." Valasaire said "The price for my daughter's hand is simple, and I'm not even the one who set it. If it were up to me, I'd accept your proposal in a heartbeat. Have your son beat her in a duel."

"I know the terms very well, your majesty. Need I say that's what got my son so excited. We want to see how good your daughter is. The Karlreichers are staunch allies and their queen is most promising, however her constitution is weak and we fear she is not in good health much like the Grand Sovereign, with all due respect."

"Yes, I can see that being a problem." Antonio said, knowing full well the condition of his health

"The Germanians would do well with a strong queen at the side of a strong king. And I assure you, I've had my son study your customs well and matched his manners accordingly. I assure you, your daughter will be treated well, as she deserves."

"Already confident of victory now are we?" Valasaire said "How presumptuous of you."

"Let's call it hoping for the best. My son is here, and we can commence the duel right away if you so wish."

"Ahem..." John finally said to get attention "Are we forgetting something here? What am I gonna do now? I expected to get something for my son. Guess it was all for nothing."

"I thought you were here just to see me." Valasaire said

"On the contrary. I wasn't expecting this many royals to be in attendance here, but if it makes you happy, I'm willing to make a deal with you." Geirhart said to John

"What are you talking about?" John asked with intrigue

"I do have a daughter. You've heard of the name Hildegarde von Coburg?"

"... Wait a moment... Ah yes! Now I remember! Your daughter is the Hildegarde, the most beautiful princess in Ayros?

( Antonio : *coughs*bullshit*coughs*)"

"Why yes..."

"I accept this proposal wholeheartedly!" John said as he immediately shook Geirhart's hand

"But I do hope you would mind my daughter being a few years older than your son."

"Pssssh. That's not a problem... I mean look at Antonio, his wife is five centuries old! And don't get me started on uncle Alex here! He basically married a living relic."

As he said that the two men only stared at him unamused.

"Alright, I'll shut up now."

"Alright..." Valasaire said as he cleared his throat "Now that we have that out of the way. Can I see this son of yours?"

"But of course. Captain, summon my son here." Geirhart said to one of his guards