Hector Breonia rode in a large caravan towards the border. He wasn't angry anymore. Their plan was so elaborate and perfect that, at first, he and his allies simply refused to believe that Arcadians had seen them through. However, the fact that they lost contact with all their agents in Arcadia and most of them in Metaka proved otherwise. There wasn't much time to waste, and the conference was the last opportunity to convince Arcadia to stay away from the war. He wasn't sure about the extent of knowledge that Arcadians and Metakans had, but it was a simple fact they knew was enough to make the decades of preparation entirely in vain. Even if their plans to conquer Arcadia and Metaka were out of reach, taking Hilgvar and the lands that once belonged to Verksa seemed possible. Once they stopped arguing, Hector left D'ester in the capital and decided to go alone to the 'peace conference'. There was not enough time to coordinate everything with Vetulia and Estaria. Still, even if they didn't send anyone important, he hoped his presence would be enough to avoid a premature war with Arcadia.
"My Lord! We can see the site," someone said with a slightly trembling voice.
Hector left his cart, looked towards the distant camp, and swore under his breath. Of course, the accursed Arcadians had arrived with their airships.
"We were approached by the Hilgvarian soldiers who brought us the instructions on how we should proceed, my Lord," his general said in an outraged voice. "If not for those cursed airships, we could easily crush them!"
"Enough, General!" Hector wasn't going to allow himself to be provoked right now. He took the scroll, quickly read its contents, and grinned in surprise. As he continued reading the instructions he could only smile with approval. "We can bring as many soldiers as we want up to one kilometre from the conference grounds. However, only one company can attend as my guards. That's a fairly reasonable request."
"That might be a trap. A hundred soldiers-"
"Of course, it's a trap, General!" Hector growled, interrupting the seasoned general. "They also warned us to keep those soldiers out of earshot to ensure secrecy."
"They want to hide what's happening around that table from their soldiers? They are weak." The general laughed.
"If Arcadia is that weak, they have to ask for peace, and then we should attack right now."
"Don't assume too much, young king." Brimming with amusement, the voice was nearly laughing outright—yet Hector found himself glad to hear it.
"Lord Luie Vetulia! I'm so glad to see you here... But didn’t you abdicate?"
"Of course. But you see, I'm old. If I die here, nothing bad will happen." He laughed and hugged the much younger man. "Where's your father?"
"Bedridden and very weak..." Hector sighed heavily. "His abdication wasn't pretended, Uncle."
"Shame... Before his sister- and my beloved wife, passed away early this year, she told me that she was going to wait for us both. Looks like she won't be waiting long..." The older man looked at the grey sky with a heavy sigh.
Hector put his hand on his Uncle's shoulder and tried to smile, but it was hard. They stayed silent momentarily, but eventually, present worries had to be addressed.
"Are you representing Estaria as well?" Hector asked, and they started walking towards the soldiers who would escort them to the large tent in the distance.
"Nominally..." The former king sighed heavily. "Lately, Kirinalli and Derek have been constantly arguing, and the whole court, with Kirinalli's parents and me, is afraid that their marriage won't survive. Stupid kids."
"I mean... Both of them have strong personalities..."
"Hector, please. Don't even start. I know that both of them are spoiled brats. I fucked up as a parent, and my son is just a few steps from being considered a failure." Luie lowered his head in shame. "King Thomas and Queen Kiri stayed home to ensure those two won't kill each other. Fortunately, they are as disillusioned about their daughter as I am about my son. So generally, you and D'ester are our only hope. How is she?"
"Lovely and beautiful. I was lucky." Hector smirked. It looked like Derek was still the unrelenting asshole Hector remembered him to be. However, seeing his uncle's face, he burst into laughter. "I asked her to stay home and keep everything in order. If we are not wrong, she is expecting our first child, so there is no way I would risk their safety. Anyway. These are the conference instructions the Hilgvarians gave us."
The older and much more experienced noble read them and sighed heavily. "Just from the tone of this paper, I can safely say that we will have an instant war if we make even the tiniest mistake. But to be honest, Mia Francesca didn't write it, so it must have been written in Arcadia. I will voice moderate optimism and say that it looks like they genuinely want peace."
"Hmmm... Maybe they are weaker than we thought?"
"You wish. But there is something I don't understand here." The former king of Vetulia rolled the scroll up and gave it to the soldier standing behind him. "Those ships look old and battered. I believe they might be captured Bernan brigs, yet I don't believe my eyes."
"An Illusion?" The General of Breonia's armies asked, suddenly concerned.
"Yes, and a very powerful at that. I can't see through it. We should be cautious." The older man rubbed his long white beard. "Let's enter the trap, shall we?"
•••
The journey to the large tent where the conference would take place took nearly an hour. Along the way, there was no sign of the Metakan army, which was a good sign, and the Hilgvarians appeared to have brought only a single company. However, the army in the distance was numerous and consisted of four Arcadian Legions. Hector immediately recognized the unmistakable purple standard emblazoned with a grand, golden “VI.” So that army belonged to Arcadia, after all. He shuddered, thinking about all his soldiers killed by those men.
Within the promised distance, three more similar standards stood: “I,” “II,” and “V” in gleaming gold, casting an ominous shadow across the ground. Standing alone before the tent, a single soldier in black-and-gold armour awaited them. He was tall, a simple sword at his hip, yet his presence was somehow deeply unsettling, growing more menacing with each step the Union delegation took toward him.
"Dear Gods. Talk about scary..." Luie shook his head and whispered. "Who's that?"
"I have no idea," Hector whispered back.
They approached the mysterious man a few moments later. The silent figure slowly but respectfully inclined their head.
"Welcome you, King Hector Breonia, and you, King Luie Vetulia."
Before they could say anything, he grabbed the tent's fabric, and with a violent pull, he opened the entire side, leaving only the roof intact. "No hiding. No tricks. Please, take your seat, and may our words forge a lasting peace and understanding between our nations."
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He stepped away and joined the company of similarly clad warriors waiting no more than a dozen metres away. The two chairs waiting for them were alone on one side of the large round table. King Luie chuckled and nonchalantly approached the table, not giving Hector time to look better at his future interlocutors. Only when he sat did he notice that one of the chairs on the other side was empty–the one in the middle. They were going to wait for someone? However, he was glad to have a moment to look at the people on the other side of this... Conference table.
From the right, Hector immediately recognized Queen Mia of Hilgvar, though the identical woman beside her threw him off. Then he remembered: not too long ago, it had been revealed that Mia had a twin sister, Tia. He had seen Queen Mia once, ten years prior, when he was just twelve. The golden-haired Nekomi was as striking as he remembered. It was a shame that she was that much older now. Next to the twins was an empty seat, though calling it a mere “chair” felt inaccurate—it was much larger than the others, more like a throne. Hector’s gaze shifted, and his posture tensed. Cassmira and Leonard Metaka sat calmly, their eyes set on the horizon. Young as they were, their presence alone signified the severity of this situation.
Only then did Hector notice a distinctive detail: everyone around him wore formal attire, with no armour or weapons in sight. Cassmira, Mia, and Tia were dressed in elegant gowns, and Leonard wore a tuxedo. Suddenly, he felt out of place in his heavy armour and longsword at his hip. As he debated what to do, his uncle drew a sudden, loud breath, breaking the silence. Hector raised his head, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. He glanced around, startled by his uncle’s sharp intake of breath—a reaction unlike the seasoned politician. Whatever threat lay ahead was clearly unexpected and daunting. However, the sight before him was nothing short of breathtaking.
A tall, young woman strode toward the table, her movements light. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Each step was full of grace and confidence as if she commanded the very space around her. Hector and his uncle were captivated instantly, their attention locked onto her perfect features. Her long, golden hair was gathered into an intricate style, and a crown of gold sat atop her head, encrusted with numerous gemstones that Hector couldn’t begin to guess its worth. Her other jewellery was equally opulent, showing the immense wealth possessed by her kingdom. Draped over her shoulders was a royal mantle, white and blue, lined with fur, trailing lightly behind her as she moved. Her steps echoed softly in the silence, and Hector could feel his heartbeat hammering in his chest. She took her place on the throne-like chair, and for a fleeting moment, their eyes locked. In that instant, Hector was stripped of all delusion.
To his and his uncle's surprise, Prince Leonard was the one who spoke first. "I assume that you, King Hector Breonia, and His Majesty, Luie Vetulia, are going to represent the interests of the Union of the Southern Nations?"
"Indeed, Prince Leonard Metaka. We hold full authority needed to participate in this gathering." King Luie nodded as he replied with a warm smile.
"Excellent. Thank you for taking this chance seriously. This council has no qualms about your competence or ability to make the necessary decisions." Princess Cassmira also smiled, but Hector knew behind her smile was a wall of cold steel.
"We were informed about your noble intentions of creating peace between our countries. Yet, the Union is not at war with the Empire of Metaka or the Kingdom of Arcadia," Hector said, mustering all his confidence.
"There is one thing that requires correction. The World's Words elevated Arcadia's status to Empire," Princess Cassmira chimed in. Hector started wondering why she spoke instead of the Queen of Arcadia.
"Please, King Hector. Let's not insult each other." Leonard's voice was heavy and patient but made Hector realise that whatever the Union had planned was already exposed. "We know very well what you and your allies are planning."
"We want you to know that such ploys won't remain unpunished," Cassmira said sadly. "I see anger in your gaze… Along with some wicked idea that you can pretend nothing has happened, but that won't work. We questioned your spies and agents in Metaka. What you have done and planned is enough for Emperor Darius to declare war. Yet, he is willing to give you a chance."
Hector looked at Luie, who paled slightly, but the older politician sat silently. So their plans for Metaka took a disastrous turn. Before they could reply, a sad voice belonging to Mia Francesca cut the silence.
"Let's end this pointless war. Put an end to this senseless bloodshed, King Hector and King Luie." Her voice was full of pain and sadness.
"Why should we, Queen of Hilgvar? You, out of all the people around this table, certainly wish for peace in the face of our armies, but haven't you forgotten that your actions started this war in the first place?" Hector wasn't going to give up easily. "You killed Gilmour Verksa. You forced us to join this war."
"I would never expect you to say something so outrageous, King Hector," Tia said, her voice identical to Mia's. She shook her head in disbelief. "It was that man who attacked Hilgvar first and tried to kidnap my sister. The only thing that saved us back then was the fact we visited Avalon."
"That..." He suddenly saw how weak his argument was, but conquering Hilgvar was still within his reach. "That changes nothing. We are obliged to retake the lands of Verksa. There is also a dispute over the lands taken from Estaria seven hundred forty-eight years ago."
"What?" Leonard gave the man a flat gaze. "You are seriously bringing that back? It was Estaria who attacked the Empire back then, and they lost those lands in punishment."
Princess Cassmira silenced King Hector with her gaze. "Before you say too much, you must understand that the situation has changed significantly, King Hector." She raised her left hand and presented him with a very intricately decorated ring with a sapphire. "You believe that the conquest of Hilgvar is possible. You believe you could gain influence in Metaka or perhaps even take the Empire's lands and assets. Ultimately, you believe that you can win a war against Arcadia. I won't question the fairytales you chose to believe. Still, before you succumb to your fantasies, you must know that by the will of my father, His Majesty Darius Nineteenth, I'm betrothed to Emperor Theon Avalon. Do you believe I will sit idly in Avalon when your henchmen bring war to my home?"
Hector felt a cold sweat cover his back. He wasn't yet out of his shock when the Nekomi twins raised their left hands, showing him similarly impressive rings with sapphires.
"I, Mia Francesca..."
"And I, Tia Francesca," the twins started separately and continued together, "Are betrothed to Emperor Theon Avalon of Arcadia as well."
A burst of humourless laughter stirred the unmoving air and Hector realised that he was laughing. Decades of planning and preparations were ruined on the eve of his greatest victory. The plans made by his ancestors were thwarted by a single man who somehow saw through the decades of careful preparations.
"You think that's it? That you can hide behind the armies of Arcadia? Do you think that we can forget about the past?" He felt emptiness and growing fury.
But as he was about to declare a full-out war, even if the chances of Union were slim, he looked at the woman in the centre. She was calm and disinterested- disappointed even. She hadn't spoken even a word, but Hector realised that everything depended on her. However, just a single glance at her was enough to calm his wrath. She was distant and cold, which forced back the words he was about to speak. And yet, she was like a delicate flower whose presence was like a gift of the heavens to soothe worldly burdens. Her perfect beauty was sublime and seemed out of this world. The more he looked at her, the more beautiful she was as if some kind of charm was cast on him. He also just realised that she hadn't introduced herself and he didn't even know her name.
"Are you fine with this, Empress of Arcadia? Are your armies going to fight the wars of other nations? Will your men die so eagerly so far from home?" he asked quietly. She raised her mesmerising blue eyes right at him, and he felt discomfort under her gaze. "I'm afraid we weren't introduced."
"My name is Aoi Sora va'Theon, the fifth wife of Emperor Theon Avalon, Empress of Arcadia, the Daughter of the Sky. I'm a descendant of the Grand Fire Dragon, Grandine Skash'a Lat-una Ignis, and the God Zephyr," She said, her voice like the sweetest music. Hector swallowed once more. However, this time, it was out of fear. If she wasn't bluffing, she belonged to the fabled race of Dragonkins. "I see confidence in your eyes but also arrogance and fairly well-masked contempt. You believe in the superiority of your armies so much that you fail to see that none of us is even remotely concerned about the outcome of the possible battle. Because of that, you are asking the wrong questions, King of Breonia."
"What questions should I be asking then?" he asked calmly, desperate to regain his negotiating position.
"What can you gain? What kind of guarantees would we offer?" She smiled and put the palms of her hands together. "My husband decided that destroying your entire Union was an acceptable solution, but I managed to convince him to attempt to seek peace. Behind me, you can see the army that conquered Cridia and tossed Berna to its knees. In the end, both of those countries will be forgotten in the coming years. You have a choice, King Hector. You are at the height of the power that the Union can achieve without making enemies all around it. But as impressive as your armies might appear, they can't win this war. Will you choose a future of prosperity or war and oblivion?"
"Empress Aoi Sora va'Theon." King Luie cleared his throat, but there was a hurt pride in his voice, and Hector was afraid of the consequences. "I can't sense any lie in your words, yet you hide your forces behind a powerful illusion. Your Legions are undoubtedly skilled and powerful, but we have far more soldiers. What are you hiding behind that exceptionally impressive illusion that obscures your airships?"