The kingdom of Triton is an old, powerful, and self-absorbed nation. It rarely pays attention to affairs outside of its bubble so long as they do not interfere with the kingdom directly. Some might consider such a geopolitical strategy reasonable, while others think it naive. But the kingdom can only see its long history and immediate gain.
~Dominic black
Interlude: The Kingdom of Triton
The Month of Ninsum Day 16 Year 675 Of the Second Holy Calendar
Light from the stained glass windows lining the Hall leaked in, casting the benches and floor of the hall in their luminescent multi-colored glow. Cornelius, Chairman of the Grand Council, required the help of two of his great-grandsons even to stand. An anxious-looking healing mage was watching the moment he was finished. He'd be escorted to have spells and potions cast to preserve his life. After all, he was 98 years old. He hadn't retired because most people couldn't remember when he hadn't been the Chairman of the Grand Council, and it was an essential position that everyone needed to trust.
Cornelius looked downward at a document in his hand. His voice trembled, but he spoke clearly into the magic microphone. “50 votes, yay. 52 votes, nay. Declaring war on the kingdom of Antlatur fails by two votes,” he announced before raising the scepter and bringing it back down with his frail arms. He only made a slight “clack” noise, but two different great-grandsons, as they had been assigned to do, picked up their canes and smashed them against the ground, raising a tremendous noise and ending the discussion.
The respective Lords of the Grand Council Rose to their feet and raised a clamor with them. Those who supported the bill shouted, raising their fists in the air, while those who opposed it shouted in celebration. Those who were either weak or disinterested did nothing except sit there looking disinterested. It was traditional for the council members to express themselves this way, as the vote was anonymous, but it was optional.
Marianne rose from her throne and breathed a sigh of relief. She'd been prepared to use her veto to strike the bill down, but luckily, it hadn't come to that. People would despise her and her power if she used her veto too often. She was exiting the grand Council Hall by the door reserved for the two monarchs of the kingdom of Triton. She was accompanied as ever by her companion cavalry, even though she couldn't ride a horse and had never even left Leuca, the capital city of the Kingdom, once. More of her companion Cavalry, joined her at the large door and in the hallway.
“Sister, wait,” a voice called out to her.
“I can't get used to him calling me that,” Marianne thought, irritated. The man calling out to her was no older than 20; she was 40, his elder, not his biological sister. Two monarchs in Triton were from two royal families, the Aszore Family and the Whitehead family. They ruled as partners and co-monarchs, and to symbolize their unity, they called each other brother or sister. She had served alongside three Whitehead monarchs, and Peter Whitehead was the youngest. Having someone old enough to be her son calling her sister, especially given the fact that all her siblings were dead, was quite uncomfortable.
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“Brother,” she said impassively, “what business do you have with me?”
He glared at her. “You arranged for the declaration of war to be struck down.”
”Yes, I did.” she answered, remaining calm. She wouldn't be angered by such an unadorned accusation hurled at her by a youngster. Maybe that's why I'm uncomfortable with it, she mused to herself. She looked down her nose at him and couldn't stand being considered equal. Seeing him stumble at her calm response, she answered his question before he could even ask it. “Right now is not the time to invade. Yes, their armies are busy invading the Kingdom of Black, but we have our problems at home; now, if you will excuse me, brother, I will be taking my leave.” She gave him one light curtsy before departing.
The council chamber and the Royal Palace were connected with the Royal Palace itself, often called the inner Palace. the outer Palace was weregovernment affairs were handled. She headed into the Aszore families section of the palace and to her office. Once there, she could finally sit down and rest for a moment. Her second daughter, who had risen to command her guard, asked her while sipping a cup of tea in front of her, “Mother, why did you strike down the bill.”
Marianne regarded Esther, who had removed her helmet, quizzically. She was certainly beautiful, unlike her elder sister, who brimmed with the nobility and Grace of a princess. The princess Knight, as people called her, brimmed with a masculine charm. She had ashen hair tinged with the dark blue sea of the Aszore family; her eyes were the same color. Her armor was made for ease of movement and out of the strongest metal, the mythical metal Adamantite.
“The kingdom of Antlatur’s Army is indeed away, but even if we were to conquer something from them, they would return, and we would have to fight a bloody war over what we had taken. Even if we managed to win that war, it would weaken us significantly. Our main profit comes from trade, not from war or conquest, and as long as that's not threatened, why should we fight a war that does not interest us? Why should the Sons and Daughters of Triton bleed and die for a cause that does not concern them?”
“But does it not concern us, Mother? The Golden Stallion is ambitious. If he wins the Kingdom of Black, he will surely turn his spears on us and threaten our trade monopoly in the Gulf of Leuca,” Esther stated passionately.
Marianne smirked at Riley. “You've already given up the Kingdom of Black for dead, and I grant you that their chances are unlikely, but they've driven back every invasion before. There is no reason why it should be any different this time. Even if Antlatur manages to secure victory, they will surely be bloodied after the war, and don't forget the Unscan Union, the ally of the Kingdom of Black. They will surely oppose the Kingdom of Antlatur, the Kingdom of Jaxs, and the other neighbors who despise the Golden Stallion. He will never be able to focus all his efforts on the Kingdom of Triton, and the only way we would fight a full-scale war is if we were the ones provoking it. I have no intention for us to take the plunge and most of the risk before anyone else. Let someone else dive first.”
“And don't forget the Hallstatt Alliance. Those savages are our true enemy and our true target of expansion. Why should we fight border skirmishes in a war we can't win or will leave us vulnerable to our true enemy? Our war with the Kingdom of Antlataur happened because they threatened our trade rights, but so long as they're not threatened, I see no reason why our war with Antlatur should continue except for the petty grudge of those in the council.”
“Didn't Uncle John die in that war,” Esther asked, confused.
Marianne let out a sigh. It's best to keep her in the military sphere moving forward. “And we killed the Golden Stallion brother. Yet he still signed a truce with us. War was merely the final means of negotiation. It's a state of diplomacy. Don't take it personally.”