"There be our destination!" Miguel pointed from the main deck to a small figure of large white walls and a large harbour "There be the great city of Siesia, the pearl of the Provarian isles."

The fleet had managed to arrive at the great port city of Siesia. The Rumasilian flagship was at the head of the fleet and was the first of the ships to make port. Many of the other ships had weighed anchor closer to the coasts.

"Tell the men to check the supplies and restock." King Valasaire said to one of his captains. The captain nodded and proceeded to do as he was ordered.

Valamar and Cassandra looked at the sight of the city with awe. It was a city near in grandeur to Hutalaut, although being smaller. Valamar could spot the high battlements facing the ocean and the large fixed guns upon them. Provarian-Valamen flags were on top of the many battlements, flying spectacularly in the winds.

Valamar, Cassandra, and the rest had made their way to the docks of the city, disembarking from the ship. Valasaire, Valaron, and the senior generals had already stood there along with some guards.

They saw that most of the dockyards from afar were still busy with activities of unloading and loading items from ships and things as expected of major shipping ports. However, when they saw the large Rumasilian fleet in front of their eyes, many of them stopped to gawk though soon after choosing to continue their activities, albeit a little slower.

On the docks where the Rumasilians had landed already stood a large regiment of Provarian soldiers, standing in discipline, holding their weapons to their sides while some were holding the banners of the Valamen family alongside the Provarian-Valamen emblem. Some of the soldiers were heavily armored in plate, with helmets that looked grand, sporting feathers and plums. They looked to be some sort of elite guard. In front of them, stood a regal looking man in fancy clothes as what a typical Latinosi noble would wear.

However, something about this man intrigued Valamar. He had curly brown hair as well as a slight beard around his mouth though he still looked a little young despite it.

Miguel immediately walked to the man and bowed. Valamar understood that this could only mean the man was the young King of Provaria. He was King Esteban V of the Provarian Valamen.

Soon enough, after having what looked like a short conversation with his brother, the Provarian King walked towards King Valasaire and in turn bowed deeply in honour.

"To His Majesty, The Great King Valasaire XIX of Rumasil, I bid welcome to the great city of Siesia." King Esteban said, though surprisingly in a tone of reverence and humility instead of the commanding tone of the king he was. If Valamar didn't know any better, it would look like one of the many nobles in Rumasil greeting his father

"Yo soy Esteban V, La rey de las islas Provaria. Head of the Valamen of Provaria." Esteban formally introduced himself, though this time, his presence became more commanding "I bid you great welcome as Lord and King of this city, your majesty."

"Such humility I see." Valasaire spoke up as he saw the way Esteban was greeting him "One wouldn't think it was a high noble greeting me, let alone a king."

Valasaire then returned the welcome as he bowed in return.

"The pleasure is mine to be received like this, your majesty." Valasaire said to the young Provarian King

"Please, let us all head to the palace. A banquet is ready for our guests, however humble it may be given the current circumstances."

"Before that your majesty." Valasaire turned to one of his men as he gave nod. Moments later, from the ship walked a nobleman being handled by a group of soldiers.

"Diego de Gissario..." King Esteban muttered as he saw the nobleman being dragged to him, forced to kneel on both knees in front of him "Where did you find this wretched cur?"

"In my palace, under the pretense of being a messenger of the Kingdom of Provaria and House Gissario." Valasaire said "We had immediately captured him and his entourage after the arrival of your brother."

"You people are savages!" Diego roared "For an official dignitary to be treated so... callously!! This breaks all laws of diplomacy."

"Excuse me... did you say official dignitary?" King Esteban said, with a calm yet frightening expression "Care to explain yourself?"

"I am a dignitary of the legitimate state of Provaria under the Gissario! You are a pretender to the throne! A foreigner! A traitor to his people!"

"Your masters were the one who usurped my rightful throne... but no matter. Whatever I say would not get through that thick skull... and don't talk to me of legitimacy, Senor. For all we know you might be one of my grandfather's many bastards."

"Such disrespect! I am your mother's older brother by legitimate blood! The Gissario have been and always will be the real power behind the Provarian throne! You are just a puppet! A puppet who intends to change his master!"

"...The barking of a traitorous dog is of no consequence to me." Esteban said, finally being fed up from the awful conversation. Esteban then looked to a clergyman who was standing beside him "Padre. If you would be so kind as to give Lord Diego his last rites before his execution."

When Valasaire heard that, he merely raised his eyebrow. This young tiger was finally bearing his teeth in front of them.

"He is your subject." King Valasaire said as he told his soldiers to release the man, handing him over to the Provarians "Do justice unto him as you see fit."

The Gissario lord began visibly shaking himself as the priest began to recite his last rites while holding up a cross. Although clearly shaking, the nobleman only gave King Esteban a deathly stare after kissing the cross and reciting the Lord's Prayer in the Provarian tongue. To his surprise, there was no executioner on the premises... could it be he was going to be spared?

All of a sudden, it was King Esteban himself who unsheathed his sword which gleamed in the sun's light. It looked to be recently polished and sharpened. King Esteban gave a single hard slash which cleaved halfway through Lord Diego's neck, blood streaming out of it like a fountain, though Diego looked like he was still a little conscious. Esteban then gave a second strike with his sword, lopping off the man's head as his body fell to the ground.

"Rest in peace." Esteban said as he made the sign of the cross "Men, dispose of this garbage lying in front of me, thank you very much. And get someone to mop the floor while you're at it. Pay him handsomely too."

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Immediately two men carried the corpse away while the small pool of blood still adorn the docks.

"I do apologise for such a bloody spectacle." King Esteban said as he brought back his friendly and composed demeanor towards King Valasaire "I hope none of that filth got on to your apparel. I seem to have sullied my boots. But, no matter."

"It is of no concern of mine what happened to that man." King Valasaire said as he shrugged it off "Then, shall we proceed?"

"It is to my knowledge that the King of Aerland is to be here as well." King Esteban said "Yet I do not see him."

"King John will be on his way. He is currently overseeing a few things."

"Very well then."

The people there then made their way towards the palace of Siesia. Cassandra only looked at Valamar with an uneasy expression after witnessing such a scene of execution.

"He just executed the man like that..." Cassandra said to her husband in a hushed tone

"You are a warrior, so I know you've witnessed brutality before." Valamar said

"That is during battle... I never liked seeing bloody executions." Cassandra said "When you become king, I don't want to take part in any spectacles such as that."

"Don't worry, I won't. I'll just have kak Vera do it for me. God knows she loves the carnage." Valamar joked. All of a sudden he felt a slap to the back of his head. "Ouch!!"

"You do realise I'm right behind you, right?" Vera said to her younger brother

"I was only joking..." Valamar said

The Palace of Siesia stood atop a tall cliff, overseeing the sea and the harbour. It's architecture was marvelous, reminiscent of the Latinosi style. Some parts of the battlements even connected to the palace, making the city look very similar to a citadel.

They entered the throne room of the palace, a somewhat modest room compared to what would be found in the great palaces of Rumasil or Auros though still well-furnished.

King Esteban had taken a seat on his throne. Beside him was another throne, occupied by a beautiful looking young lady. She had an air of elegance around her, especially when sat next to Esteban.

"Allow me to formally introduce you gentlemen to the Palace of Siesia." Esteban said "This beautiful girl besides me is my lovely wife, the Queen Emilliene de Amiroi."

"It is a pleasure." The girl stood up and curtsied

"The Queen's appearance has much in common with her elder brothers." King John said as he entered the throne room along with his wife and retainers "I apologise deeply for being delayed, your majesties..."

"It is of no problem, your majesty." King Esteban said "Although, your appearance here seems to have made my wife a little tense."

"I am fine..." Emilliene said

"I would like to personally offer my condolences to you for the deaths of your elder brothers." John said as he bowed "I fell the Prince Charles by my own hand while Prince Henri was struck by an arrow through his eye... They died valiantly while protecting their countrymen."

"It was a time of war, your majesty." Emilliene said though with visible sadness in her eyes "Such things were bound to happen... I can only be thankful for the ceasefire between Aerland and Famone which I hope would lead to peace..."

"We can only hope for such things..." John said with regret

"Now that that's settled, we can focus on the matter at hand..." Esteban said as he stood up and sat at the large table which had previously been prepared in the throne room for the meeting between him and Rumasil.

"All is as I've stated in my letter, your majesty." Esteban said as his attention was focused to Valasaire "I agree to become a vassal of the Rumasilian Kingdom in return for the aid against the Gissario... I also agree upon the secession of the Provarian colonies in Selvia to Rumasil and Aerland with the matter of division being given to the respective countries to agree upon themselves."

"This is all a wonderful deal, but you do realise Provaria will be considerably weakened by this?" Valasaire asked

"Provaria's strength was never that powerful to begin with. The last invasion we mounted against Rumasil more than a decade ago has bankrupted us and Provaria became chin-deep in unpaid debts. Not to mention the fleeing mercenaries had in turn pirated and raided Provarian coasts and trading ships... the invasion was more a disaster to Provaria then it could ever be to Rumasil."

All of a sudden, Valasaire - who was until then calm - pounded his fist on the table which cracked it slightly. The loud bang reverberated across the room and even shocked most people. The King's air became dark and even King John became slightly uneasy as he looked at his brother-in-law.

Valamar and Vald also became very uneasy. It was a mood they rarely see on their father. It was a mood he only shows when he is very angry, above and beyond what was usual.

"You say it has cost you more?" Valasaire spoke as his tone was cold and his eyes dark "It has cost Rumasil dearly! It cost the tiger its head! A great King died because of that forsaken invasion! You say the Gissario costed you half your family? The main branch has been cut down to only a little over a few dozen sons left! We lost three quarters of our numbers! Rumasil had not been invaded for over fifteen centuries! And an Insignificant speck like this rock dared to-!!"

Valasaire's tone was getting more intense as he was beginning to shout at the Provarian king who began to shake a little until Valaron put his hand on his brother's shoulder to calm him down from his rage.

"Abang, calm down." Valaron said "The boy didn't mean any ill by what he said."

"None at all, your majesty." Esteban said as he bowed his head. The young King of Provaria calmed down from his trembling. Esteban's wife was also slightly scared looking at the fury of the Rumasilian King as she held her husband's hand under the table. Esteban continued, "I deeply apologise if I may have offended you."

"It... it's my fault..." Valasaire said as he calmed down "I got a little heated... I ascended the throne during a mournful time. The pain from fourteen years ago is still fresh in my mind especially when it is Provaria we are dealing with... I forget that your majesty King Esteban is even younger than I was when I ascended the throne. Forgive my tone... Anyways, you were saying?"

"Right. About the debts. The biggest contributor to our funds was none other than the Latinite Empire."

"Damned Latinites. Sticking their beaks into places where they are not wanted." Valasaire said

"Most of the money we made in the past decade was used by the Gissario to pay back our own internal debtors and that of the merchants, however the debt to the Latinites have yet to be repaid..."

"Is that part of the reason you wish to vassalize your country?" John asked

"Why yes. Becoming a vassal of Rumasil puts us under its protection as well. Seeing as how you are already at odds with the Latinites, I have no intention to pay back the debts to Emperor Valerius."

"You're a sly one." Valaron said

"Well, now that we know the basic reasons, let's get down to business." Valasaire said "What are your terms?"

"First, I would like to be exempt from paying tribute for the duration of a decade to focus on rebuilding my shambling economy. Also during that time, I would like the right to refuse a call to arms from you as to focus on internal matters. In return, after that time, Provaria will be at your disposal, given that our rights and privileges be honoured and that I retain sovereignty over domestic affairs as well as economic ones. In any case, this deal would benefit us as it would open Provaria to a larger trading network of nations as well. So your majesty, do we have a deal?"

Valasaire nodded his head in agreement to the terms that were presented to him by the Provarian King. "You drive a considerable bargain... but I accept." Valasaire said

"I have already drafted the agreement in advance." Esteban said as he called for one of his retainers to bring in the parchment.

King Valasaire had proof-read the terms on the parchment and then took his pen and signed it as did Esteban. King John took out his seal and stamped the parchment as well as a guarantee between the two kingdoms.

"May we usher in a new age of glory." King Esteban said "Now, you all look famished. The food may be humble, but we have prepared a feast for you. Please, enjoy!"

This will be the last feast before they embark to Valencei.