It was the middle of the night and I was awake. It was technically my fault since Luna was so exhausted she forgot to use her sleep kiss on me. However, I wasn't bothered about it. My wives slept around me with satisfied smiles on their faces and I watched the reports from Sebastian and his Slimes. I wasn't sure if I was horrified, impressed, or disgusted with the amount of factions that fought within this, relatively, small kingdom. It seemed like some factions consisted of a single person. I wasn't ready to play with that ridiculous bundle of incompetence. In the morning, I would talk with Theresa and Victor. Her answers would determine if she is worthy of our support. So far, she was the only person worthy of our time. Funnily enough, she was more important than her Father. According to Sebastian's reports, King Lars lost his authority long ago and was, effectively, a puppet. Whoever married Theresa was going to be the next King.
King Lars changed a lot after the death of his wife. Theresa's mother died in an unexplained accident shortly after she gave birth to a healthy daughter. Because of the unresolved death, the King wasted a lot of wealth and health to investigate the mysterious accident but he never found anything. Normally, a widowed King should take another wife, but the nobles plotted against him and prevented him from remarrying. It was obvious that the Iceleonian nobility schemed together this one time. Without another wife, there would be no other inheritors to the throne except for Theresa. She was the most closely protected person in the entire country without herself even knowing that she was the grand prize for a winning noble house. Well, the classic story of a princess locked in a high tower, I guess. I smirked when I noticed that Victor and Theresa were still in his office. I really hoped they moved beyond the formalities. My boi, I gave you all the tools you need and you are not a dense idiot. She may be a princess in the high tower but, while all these Iceleonian idiots are taking their time to scale the steps, you have an airship. Just go pick her up.
"Gingerbreads!" Aoi announced through her dream and hugged one of Luna's tails.
"Cupcakes." The Kitsune dreamily agreed as she rolled over and hugged the Dragonkin while still asleep.
I refrained from commenting and just made sure the cooks were notified about the need to bake fresh gingerbread cookies and cupcakes. After that, I returned to reading my reports. One of the most important things, right now, was the information on how the common folk of the Kingdom fared. The answer was complicated, at best. Some of them were likely to survive a few weeks without any help. Others might die anytime. My vision clouded in fury as I discovered some Iceleonian nobles stole the supplies from the people they were supposed to protect. My intervention in their current circumstances might appear to just be another noble trying to manage society, but I just couldn't leave those people to die. No, if they could be saved by as little as a single order given to my Navy assets in Iceleon. I teleported from under Amber and, after making sure she was fast asleep, I put on my clothes.
I teleported around the corner and just out of sight from Victor's office and walked over as if visiting my officers in the middle of the night was something normal. One of my Praetorians saluted me the moment I walked into his sightline which made a few Iceleonians panic. Without gracing them any acknowledgement of their existence, I entered the office through the doors opened by the Praetorian. I smirked seeing how close the Princess and Victor seemed to be.
"My Lord!" Victor stood up in shock and automatically as he saluted perfectly.
"At ease, Admiral." I returned the salute and looked at the Princess who seemed very embarrassed. "Lady Theresa, we must speak."
Her blushed face gradually paled but she pursued her lips and nodded in agreement. I smiled, in return, and looked at the Iceleonian guards. "Wait outside. The subject of our discussion is not for your ears."
It seemed like a few of them thought to object, but as my Praetorian summoned his glaive, they meekly and obediently left the room.
"Now, all the people and only the people I wanted to speak with are present." I sat in a free chair and smiled at the pair. "First of all, I want to be perfectly clear. I'm not blind and I can see that you enjoy each other’s company. I would assume you have not progressed further than friends but, if you want to move forward with your relationship, I won't object."
That probably hit the mark since they were both almost blushing purple. As they looked back toward each other it was enough for me to confirm I was right.
"As much as I would like to say this was the reason for my late intrusion, it wasn't." I sighed and summoned the reports gathered by my Slimes. "Princess Theresa, your people are running out of time. Your father and his clown are wasting what is left."
"Oh, Gods!" She cried as she read the most severe reports. "I need to speak with my Father! As much as I hate it, I must convince him to do something. He must issue some commands!"
"He won't listen." I sadly shook my head and gave her another report.
She took the papers with a puzzled expression and started reading. Her face changed from anger to fear and, as she closed the end of the report, her face became sickly pale and she was absolutely distraught. Laying the report on the desk, she started bitterly crying. The Marquis looked at the discarded report and after I allowed with a nod, he quickly tore through it. In the end, his face was furious, and he looked at Theresa with compassion in his eyes.
"How could he do that?!" Theresa sobbed as Victor stood up and embraced her.
"It appears that his mind crumbled to the point that he might suffer from delusions." I offered an explanation that seemed logical after reading that report.
"Why did he even allow me to leave Iceleon? And his suggestion about a political marriage?" She looked at me terrified. "That makes no sense!"
"A lot of his actions and decisions make no sense," I admitted.
"I won't allow them to touch you." Victor declared with a steely voice.
"Yeah, yeah..." I waved my hand dismissively which caused them a shocked pause. "You can hide her, sure. After all, no one could touch her in Arcadia. But maybe, instead, we did something about this situation?"
"What do you mean, Lord Avalon?" She asked through tears. "I wasn't aware I was just a prize to be claimed. I had no idea that Father was just a figurehead!"
"We didn't know either." I shrugged. "Still, I won't be sitting idly while your people are dying."
"But what can we do? According to this..." She pointed at the report and trembled.
"I don't see any insurmountable problems." I shrugged once more. "The question is: what do you want? We can simply take you away and you will live comfortably in Arcadia. You can stay and try to save your people."
"I..." She looked at me shocked. "If I run away, all those people will die." Her eyes filled with tears. "I couldn't live knowing that I could save them and did nothing... Forgive me, Victor. For the good of my people, it seems like I have to give myself to the most important noble-"
"Excellent answer, Princess Theresa," I said quietly, interrupting her sad descending monologue. "But why would you think Victor would abandon you? You shouldn't seduce him if you just want to leave." I grinned as both of them lowered their steamy gazes full of guilt which I found incredibly amusing. "It happens that he is, currently, the most powerful and, by extension, the most important noble in Iceleon. The fact he is not Iceleonian is irrelevant if you ask me. I'm just a visiting emperor so I don't count. So we are going to proceed like this..."
Her eyes went wide as she heard my proposal.
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•••
After breakfast, we resumed the negotiations. According to our plan, Theresa and Victor would arrive late. Lars and his Clown stared angrily at her empty chair which only confirmed that Theresa was a trophy to win all along. My wives and I were calm. We ignored the nervous glances of the General and, to add insult to injury, we chatted about the most trivial things we could imagine. The doors suddenly opened and Theresa entered along with Victor without fanfare or announcement. The fact the pair were walking side by side caused the King to grimace and made the General furious. Behind them followed her knights, Kana and Melody, whose faces betrayed their nervousness. However, before the King, or the General, could say a word she stopped behind her seat and addressed her Father.
"While you were comfortably asleep, Father, the weather at home worsened further. As the Crown Princess of Iceleon, I requested immediate support from the Arcadian Empire." She announced with a firm and calm voice. "Thousands of our subjects wouldn't have survived till the morning without Arcadian intervention."
"Theresa! The negotiations weren't-" Lars' eyes went wide.
"I used my authority to conclude the negotiations!" She angrily interrupted him. "That's what our people expect from a responsible ruler!"
"You had no right-" The General stood up in fury.
"Shut up!" She slammed her fist over the table, which shocked her Father, and silenced the Clown-General. "I hereby dismiss you as the General of the Iceleonian Army and strip you of your noble rank. You have brought nothing but shame to the name of the Kingdom of Iceleon. I have nothing more to say to you. Arrest that man and remove him, Melody!"
"Yes, your Highness!" Her knight slammed her fist over her chestplate in a knightly salute.
"You have no right!" The King stood furiously and shouted angrily. "I won't allow you-"
"The shameful puppet of corrupted nobles has no right to lecture me, Father." She said with a grim and serious voice. "You allowed our people to suffer far too long. As Crown Princess and the only person who can ensure the stability of our royal name, I remove you from your office, Father. Through your incompetence, you have almost brought about the downfall of our royal authority and allowed the nobility to seize power they should never have had."
"You can't..." Lars paled as he slumped back in his chair.
"Yes, I can!" She shouted angrily as she leaned over the table.
"Lord Theon Avalon, help me stop the madness of my Daughter!" Lars looked at me with a begging gaze.
"Lord Victor, what's the meaning of this?" I asked and pretended to be surprised. I also dismissed the request of King Lars with a nonchalant wave of my hand. Since I hadn't told my wives about my late-night meeting with Victor and Theresa, their shock was real.
"As you ordered me yesterday, I began working on the rescue plans we needed to execute once the negotiations were finalised, my Liege. Princess Theresa was eager to help me not waste time later, so we worked late when reports brought the news of deadly temperatures that befell Iceleon. Using the authority you granted me, my Lord, I used all the assets under my command to help Lady Theresa save her people." He explained according to our plan but then, Theresa seemed to improvise. She grabbed Victor under his arm and looked at the furious General.
"I received a report that you were supposed to see. For your eyes only." She lied but with so much anger that no one would challenge except those with a Truth Seeker skill. "Its content condemned you and branded you as a traitor."
"You stupid bit-... Ugh..." The general doubled over after receiving a powerful blow from Victor as he blurred across the room.
"Stay quiet, lowly clown." Victor's voice was threatening and cold. "She is forever out of your reach."
"I will never be a voiceless plaything." Theresa declared as she approached Victor with a warm and affectionate smile. She looked at the General in disgust as she, once again, took Victor's arm. "Father! A long time ago you promised me that I would be happy and now, that one time, you have kept your word! I want everyone to meet my fiancé: Marquis Victor Thornton!"
"Theresa! Stop this madness at once! I order you!" Lars shouted in desperation in his voice but it was clear he was incredibly afraid of something.
"No, Father. This is only the beginning." She smiled viciously and snuggled herself into Victor's side.
I shrugged and looked at Lars. "It appears this is some internal problem in Iceleon and I don't want to be involved. Congratulations to both of you! I'm so happy for your happiness!"
"No! No, no, no, no!" The General shouted and reached for his sword but he was restrained by one of my Praetorians and disarmed with a single stroke; breaking his hand with an ugly crunch that echoed across the quiet room.
"Yes." She smiled with satisfaction. "I won't be watching idly as your greed destroys our country."
Her voice echoed in the chamber and made the Iceleonian soldiers uncertain about what they should do. A few of them drew their weapons in a feeble attempt to free the General. However, my Praetorians disarmed them in a heartbeat. With just a single hit of their armoured fists, they broke bones or incapacitated the Iceleonians, making everyone see the contrast between the two formations. As Melody cuffed the screaming General, Kana cuffed the King who seemed to reject reality.
"You matured and changed so quickly. Please accept my apologies, Queen Theresa." Cahrona smiled warmly but Theresa seemed clueless as to the reasons for Cahrona's apology. "When we first met, I saw your feelings and emotions and voiced my objections. But seeing you now, I see how much you have grown. However, it wouldn't be possible without you, also, Marquis Thornton."
"We..." The Marquis' face turned red but I simply smiled and waved my hand.
"You both are adults so, I guess, you know what you are doing. Especially you, Theresa." I smiled.
"Never in my life was I more sure of anything than this, Lord Avalon." She smiled and looked toward Kana who was escorting her father out. "Lock him in his room in the embassy and ensure he doesn’t do anything stupid."
"I'm disappointed, Theresa," Lars said with a sad voice but, instead of making her feel guilty, he infuriated her even further.
"You are disappointed in me? Don't make me laugh. I was nothing more than the reward of an auction you ran among the nobles." She looked at him in pained-fury. "Don't worry, Father. I will restore the house of Iceleon to its former glory."
"Don't you dare threaten the Iceleonian nobility!" He warned her with fear in his voice.
"Don't you get it, Father?" She hissed. "They are done for."
"Only their support can allow you to rule Iceleon!" He shouted as he was pushed to move along by Kana.
"I'm now the protector of Theresa, Lars of Iceleon," Victor said calmly. "They will face me. They can only submit to her or die. There will be no allowances for disobedience."
He looked in shock at Victor and then turned his gaze toward the two Praetorians who disarmed ten Iceleonian Royal Guards. He lowered his gaze. "I wish you luck, my Daughter. If you can be happy then I will be as well..."
As things were entering their conclusion, Hestia slowly nodded toward the Praetorians and the General and the former King were stopped near the doors.
Theresa turned to the remaining fifteen Royal Guards. "Will you serve me with all your hearts and convictions?"
Ten guards, including Captain Natan Krone, kneeled. Five others seemed to be shocked as their bodies refused to obey them.
"Only those whose intentions are pure and honest can swear their loyalty to Queen Theresa." Hestia slowly stood and gracefully moved to the side of my chair. "Who do you think you are to think I will allow such treachery in my presence?"
She dropped her mortal disguise and the pressure of her presence forced all the Iceleonians, except for Theresa and her loyal soldiers, to the ground. Hestia applied a bit more power than usual as her Divine Presence pressed the soldiers flat against the floor. Lars and Jergen stared at her with pure fear while Theresa's eyes went wide in shock. She went to kneel but Victor grabbed her hand, preventing her from lowering herself.
"I am Goddess Hestia va'Theon, the fourth Empress of Arcadia, the Everburning Flame!" She announced. "Theresa Iceleon has my blessing and acknowledgement as the righteous Queen of the Kingdom of Iceleon. I speak on behalf of Zeus, Hera, Zephyr, Verka, Ertu, Akh'ila, Kaal'nai, and Tuul'kara who extend their blessings as well."
"I, Emperor Theon Avalon, known as The Champion of Eriar, The Chosen of the Archangel, The Bringer of Equilibrium, The Friend of the Eternals, The Protector of the Weak, The Bane of Void's Servants, The God Slayer, The Vengeful One, and The Conqueror, and by many other titles, acknowledge the right of Theresa Iceleon to rule the Kingdom of Iceleon as its sovereign and unquestionable ruler," I said with an official tone that seemed to finally break any rebellious ideas in the present Iceleonians. "According to the previous agreements from the time the Queen was a Princess, the alliance between our countries is in effect. The Arcadian assets in the region are yours to command, Queen Theresa."
"I confirm the deal and alliance between our countries. Thank you, Emperor Theon Avalon, for all your help." She curtsied politely and after leaning over Victor, she gave the General one last disgusted gaze. "Martial law is in immediate effect."