A lot was said in that last meeting. Too much, in fact, for Wen to be comfortable with. Luckily his wife has so far paid it no mind when his entire plan was practically blurted out. Illa was currently finishing last minute checks with letters that needed to go out as soon as possible. Regular work things. Wen planned to head to bed early, as he had a lot of things to do tomorrow. Damage control, rework plans, create new backup plans, figure out how in the stars that Demideity’s little plaything, of all people, heard their plans.
Illa walked in, her eyes sunken in and her whole body hunched over. His heart ached for her, of course. Her own kingdom she worked so hard to keep under her control was falling apart before her very eyes. She probably wanted nothing more than to run off to the mountains where the air was frigid and fresh. He moved to open the window in their bedroom. When he looked back, she softly smiled at him. Yes, that was exactly what she needed. Though the tiredness was still there.
Illa walked over to him, all sense of posture and formality left at the door, and slumped into his arms. She breathed in and snuggled close. “You always know just what I want.”
Wen wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t? You’ve been working so hard. It’s the least I could do.” They stood like that, by the window, for a few more minutes. Of course he enjoyed every minute of it. Just being with Illa in the same room means it would all be worth it, eventually. He loved his wife more than anything, and would do anything for her.
He saw how hurt she was after she received news that the explorer's ship had been lost at sea. Their children were on it. He was also upset, but only because that ship could have led them to a new world filled with precious metals and jewels that would propel their country into a golden age. Should that ship had succeeded, he would have gained the status necessary to make those trade deals official. Besides, his children didn't have any elements. They were a lost cause anyway.
When Illa finally had her fill of touches, she sighed as she pulled away and began to change to her nightwear. Through the screen she began to talk. “So what’s this about extra tanks for the Lacrussian Revolution?”
Ah, so she was just buttering him up before she began with the accusations. Or trying to gain courage to ask. He had to throw her off, but denying it entirely would raise even more suspicion. “Lacruss came to me asking for tanks to squash the revolution they’re experiencing. Of course I denied them, since I have no authority. I told them to go through you. Maybe the lad heard only part of the conversation and assumed the worst?” This would be throwing the Lacrussian diplomat under the rug, but he couldn’t dare have his own wife be against him. Not when he’s so close.
He could hear her hmm-ing and see her nodding through the screen. She seemed to have bought it? Wen could finally exhale. She came out dressed in her nightwear and gave him a smile and a kiss on the cheek. “Just a little miscommunication then, yeah?”
“Of course.”
She nodded once more and sat on the edge of the bed. “Such a shame most of the tanks are gone. I can’t possibly steal Obraria’s resources now.”
Wen sensed an opportunity arise for him. “I’m sure you don’t need the entirety of what was ordered. Just a few should do the job, if you’re more sneaky about it. And I’ve seen how big those turtles are, they could fit quite a number of people in there.” If he could sneak his people into just one of those turtles, he can infiltrate Obraria to end the Demideity. That brat ruined his plans, so of course he should pay the consequences.
Illa nodded along with it. “Sneak in with some miners in the turtles, and get out before they’re spotted… I’ll have to think it over with Eris.” Perfect. Eris would convince her properly, and she would definitely take her word over his.
“Right, enough work talk. Time for bed.” They gave each other a kiss on the cheek and agreed to turn off the lights.
The next morning, Wen had an early meeting with the Lacrussian Diplomat, Esoti, in his office. She was understandably upset when he told her most of the tanks she had ordered on behalf of her country had been thrown off the cliff by a Master Air Elemental, and the rest possibly being sent to Obraria.
“We should have known better than to trust a no good king consort son-of-a-bastard-whore piece of no-good lying shit stain with no authority.”
Wen could only blink at the string of profanities that were thrown in his direction. Prudavans sure had a…creative mouth. He patiently waited until she was done insulting him—he would get nowhere in this attempt at a new negotiation otherwise—until he could get in a word. “Madam Esoti, if you could lend just a few more carts or iron and other metals we can, at the very least, sell you a dozen or so turtle tanks.”
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She laughed, and laughed, and laughed. Wen patiently waiting once more. “Oh, you were serious?” Her face turned serious, almost angry once again. “You want us to give you more precious metals so you can sell us the tanks we’ve already paid for? In advanced?”
“No, no, of course not. I merely meant to say the tanks you’ve already purchased would be sent to you, of course.”
“Of course.” Esoti stared him down. Wen was beginning to get uncomfortable at how stubborn she was being. It’s not like the Master Elemental is their fault. “No deal,” she finally said. “I’ve heard how our deal was leaked to your wife. We won't be able to get those tanks over the borders anymore.”
“Have no worries, I have already dealt with Queen Illa. She doesn’t suspect anything. We will just have to be sneaky about the tanks from now on. I can procure a separate, more discreet factory to make the tanks. Provided we have the materials to do so.”
Esoti crossed her arms and legs as she continued to stare him down. She seemed to be looking for a weakness, or opening to stop the deal. She couldn’t find one though. “Fine. You have one month, starting the minute you receive the metals.” She stood up, and Wen offered his hand to shake on the deal. She turned around instead.
“Thank you, Madam Esoti. Lacruss will not regret this.”
“I certainly hope not.” She glared at him one last time before slamming the door closed.
Wen sighed in relief and collapsed back in his chair. One meeting down, one to go. Esoti always scared him. Something about the way she held herself. Always so stubborn. Of course she would make the perfect diplomat.
The next meeting was after lunch, with Lord Treasurer May and Lord Marshal Eris. This one would be significantly easier. Or it should be. They all waited until the servants left after preparing an after lunch tea. Eris was first to speak. “How in all the stars did that soldier find out our plan?”
May took a sip of her tea. “I’m not sure how, but he is now a liability and should be dealt with.”
Wen scoffed. “I’ve never seen the two of them apart for longer than a few hours. Demideity Yarro would never allow it.”
Eris nodded. “I’m told that soldier is one of my strongest. Any plan that involves fighting him head on will fail.”
“If he’s so strong, why is he still only a soldier? The head on his shoulders seems decent enough, from what I’ve seen,” Wen asked.
Eris waved her hand dismissively. “He hardly has any meaningful connections. It’s clear the others don’t trust him, and won’t follow him if he were to be placed in a higher position.”
“Hmph. Well if fighting him won't work, then the best to do is send him someplace far away,” May said. "A Lacrussian diplomat guard, perhaps?"
Eris shook her head. “The Queen will have no need of soldiers any time soon outside of Listhua. We have plans inside the Southern District, but since he has been assigned to find that child we cannot call him back.”
“I suppose we will just have to fight him, after all. Which reminds me. I plan to send at least one turtle into Obraria with the rest of the Queen’s company. My wife seems dead set on stealing their resources. Please convince her to do so stealthily.”
“What do you plan on doing with those people?”
“I have some spies of my own, of course. Skilled in combat, not good enough on their own, but with enough they should easily be able to overpower either Soldier Kael or Demideity Yarro.”
“I see.” Eris took a long sip of her tea. “If we can split them up during the fight, we should be able to take both down at once, then. I hear Obraria is highly religious, and there are a number of temples scattered all over the country. If we send in some others, disguised as a religious group, we can get them to cooperate in separating the two.”
“Let’s call that Plan B.” Wen and Eris looked to May with confusion. “A very nice plan, but the entire thing would be easier if we could get the Emperor of Obraria to cooperate in apprehending one or both of them.”
“I shall write a letter, then. He should listen to me.” He saw Eris give him a look, but he wasn’t sure what she meant to say, so he elected to ignore it.
May continued. “We should offer him something. He won’t help us for nothing, and he may not understand that you don’t hold that much authority.”
“Yes, that should work to our advantage. We hardly know what’s going on in Obraria thanks to all this paranoia, but they hardly know about us in turn.”
Wen nodded in agreement. It seemed like a solid plan. If they could knock out either of the duo he would consider it a win. The three of them drafted an official letter asking the Obrarian Emperor for assistance. In exchange, Wen would cease all hostilities with Obraria. Had absolutely no authority to do so, but he was secretly hoping he would be able to convince Illa to stop after she had her robbery. Hopefully she wouldn’t get caught either.
The Deities' warning would mean nothing if their precious Demideity was no more. With the Demideity and his partner dealt with, Wen would be able to make money off the turtles, and then from there he could begin to import the energy crystals that Lacruss was mining. He would become rich. The country would prosper, and bring about a new age. No more Deities looking after them like nannies. This country could be its own, just like Lacruss.
A few days later, a reply from the Emperor of Obraria came in addressed to him. It was full of mockery and insults, saying he knew that King Wen held no authority to make such a promise. The Emperor was confident that Listhua was no match for them, and they didn’t want to risk angering a Demideity. Apparently, they worshiped Demideities alongside the Deities.
Wen crumpled the paper in anger and frustration and tossed it into the fireplace. Their initial plan would have to do, in that case. No matter. As long as the Emperor doesn’t actively interfere in the plan, they should be fine.