Chapter 218
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The conference chamber of Dolakan Castle echoed with harsher shouting than ever before. The confrontation between the Northern Noble Alliance and the Imperial negotiation delegation had only grown more intense.
The negotiations, once expected to conclude within a few months, had dragged on for half a year with no meaningful progress, devolving into nothing but exhausting exchanges. At last, the delegation's patience had reached its limit. As they adopted an uncompromising stance, the atmosphere in the chamber became so murderous it seemed swords could be drawn at any moment.
"I am beginning to question whether the Northern Noble Alliance has any intention of signing a peace treaty at all."
Theodore Lion, the Emperor's Chamberlain and head of the imperial delegation, spoke with undisguised scorn.
"Could it be that you intend to keep dragging out these negotiations while watching how events unfold, only to return to the rebels' side if the opportunity presents itself?"
"Refrain from such outrageous speculation!"
An immediate protest came from the representatives of the Northern Noble Alliance.
"We are asking for nothing more than the minimum guarantees necessary. As we have repeatedly stated, if the Northern Noble Alliance is guaranteed the autonomy it previously possessed, we are fully prepared to place our seals upon the treaty."
"I believe the Imperial Court has already provided its answer to that request."
Looking utterly weary of repeating himself, Theodore pressed a hand to his temple and let out a tired sigh.
"The Northern Noble Alliance has already betrayed the Empire once. His Majesty has shown mercy by choosing not to pursue punishment for that crime, but he has made it perfectly clear that the major cities of Valto will, for the time being, remain under the supervision of administrators dispatched by the Imperial Court."
"And precisely how long does 'for the time being' mean?"
A young northern noble seated quietly at the far end of the table folded his arms across his chest as he spoke.
The Emperor's Chamberlain merely shrugged.
"That depends entirely on how quickly you restore His Majesty's trust."
The arrogant reply caused the faces of the Valto nobles to darken. Yet the Chamberlain showed not the slightest sign of backing down, continuing in the same overbearing tone.
"This negotiation is the final act of mercy His Majesty is willing to extend. The Northern Noble Alliance has only two choices. Humbly accept His Majesty's proposal... or pay the price of your disloyalty."
"Enough of this attitude as though you are bestowing charity upon us."
An elderly count of Valto, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke in a grave voice.
"Surely His Majesty also wishes to end this war as quickly as possible. Do you think we are unaware that the other regional rulers have grown increasingly dissatisfied?"
"I feel obliged to remind you that much of that dissatisfaction is directed at Valto itself."
The Chamberlain fired back sharply.
"The rebellion that began in Valto has brought suffering across the entire continent of Robiden. If the other rulers discover that you concern yourselves only with preserving your own positions while ignoring your share of the responsibility, where do you suppose their anger will be directed?"
The old count pressed his lips together.
The Chamberlain did not stop there.
"If this war is not brought to an end soon, Valto will forever be branded the common enemy of the Robiden continent."
The blatant threat prompted one of the northerners to slam both hands onto the table.
"It was His Majesty who proposed these peace negotiations! We came here trusting the Emperor, and you call this intimidation mercy?"
"The Northern Noble Alliance pointed its swords at the Empire! Even so, His Majesty was the first to extend the hand of reconciliation and forgiveness! Yet how have you repaid that generosity? By presenting one outrageous demand after another! Tell me, just how long is His Majesty expected to endure this?"
Unable to contain themselves any longer, members of the imperial delegation also burst into angry shouting, and the conference hall instantly descended into complete chaos.
Watching the spectacle from a seat some distance away, Erich, the second son of House Bleston, released a heavy sigh.
The negotiations appeared to be on the verge of total collapse.
"Can this really be salvaged?"
His nephew Cedric, fidgeting nervously beside him, whispered in a quiet voice.
Erich swept his thoughtful gaze over the nobles seated around the long table.
Thanks to Bjorn Blodar Heimdal's continued successes, the northern nobles had become even more skeptical of signing a peace treaty.
With the people of Valto more hostile toward the Empire than ever before, they feared that siding with the Imperial Court too hastily would brand them as traitors to their own people.
Yet despite the turmoil, the imperial delegation showed no intention of yielding even a single step. They seemed to value the Empire's dignity and prestige above all else.
"Indeed... bringing up the marriage proposal under these circumstances may only produce the opposite effect."
He reluctantly admitted as much.
Although the ruler of the East maintained close ties with the Imperial Court, persuading such a stubborn Emperor and his fanatically loyal retainers would be no easy task.
'Should I revise the plan?'
Erich tapped his fingertips lightly against the table as the image of the young Grand Duke—whose beauty seemed carved from ice itself—came to mind.
Despite his refined features, so characteristic of Osirian blood, the young man possessed a remarkably aggressive disposition.
Could that somewhat reckless and rough-edged youth truly navigate such a tangled political situation?
Still stroking his chin skeptically, Erich finally rose from his chair.
Rumor had it that although the Grand Duke of Siorcan had once been as close to the Crown Prince as a blood brother, the collapse of his marriage arrangement with the First Imperial Princess had caused that relationship to grow distant.
Perhaps it would be wiser to seek another path.
Having reached that conclusion, Erich lightly patted his nephew on the shoulder.
"There's little point wasting any more time sitting here. Let's head back."
Just as he turned toward the entrance, someone appeared walking down the corridor.
Almost instinctively, every noble turned toward the newcomer—and one after another, they fell silent.
A man of almost unreal beauty entered the chamber, accompanied by two knights who appeared to be his aides.
Several nobles recognized him immediately.
"The Grand Duke of Siorcan..."
Only a few weeks earlier, the ruler of the East had been carried into Dolakan Castle looking little different from a corpse.
Dozens of stunned eyes slowly traveled over the man's sculpted face and powerful physique.
According to the soldiers who had witnessed the battle, a poisoned longsword had pierced straight through his side and emerged from his back. Rumors had spread that even after the High Priest had begun treatment immediately, his condition had been so critical that survival itself was uncertain.
Yet as the man strode across the hall, there was not the slightest trace of injury visible upon him.
"I trust you'll forgive my arriving without prior notice."
As though it were the most natural thing in the world, he took the seat of honor and smiled leisurely.
"I simply couldn't contain my curiosity over how these negotiations have managed to remain deadlocked for half a year."
"...I heard you only recently regained consciousness. Should you already be moving about?"
The Emperor's Chamberlain asked cautiously.
Picking up a wine goblet and wetting his lips, the man answered gently.
"As you can see, I have recovered completely."
"That is certainly fortunate news. His Majesty will surely be relieved."
"I regret causing His Majesty such concern."
Speaking in a flat voice, the man leaned back in his chair and casually loosened the buttons of his perfectly fitted doublet around the collar.
The motion resembled nothing so much as a great feline lowering itself quietly just before springing upon its prey.
Erich quietly sat back down.
It seemed the Grand Duke of Siorcan intended to honor his promise.
There was no need to rush. He could watch how the man handled this situation before deciding his own course.
As that thought crossed his mind and he folded his hands upon the table, the Grand Duke continued lazily.
"Pay me no mind. Continue your discussions. I'm quite interested to see how these negotiations will ultimately conclude."
"Your Grace, have you not been appointed Supreme Commander of the Imperial Allied Army? Shouldn't your attention be focused there rather than here...?"
"What a heartless thing to say."
The man let out a quiet laugh, as though hearing an amusing joke.
"You expect someone who has only just returned from death's doorstep to crawl straight back onto the battlefield?"
He casually raised his empty goblet toward the servant standing behind him.
The startled servant hurried forward and filled the silver goblet to the brim.
Taking another sip, the Grand Duke turned a languid smile toward the Emperor's Chamberlain.
"Or does His Majesty hope I die young upon this land?"
"How could you possibly say such a thing!"
The Chamberlain's expression stiffened as his voice rose.
"Surely you are not attempting to place responsibility for your injuries upon the Imperial Court? That was entirely—"
"My wounds were simply the result of my own shortcomings."
The Grand Duke cut him off dismissively before setting the goblet down with a sharp clack.
Tension immediately spread across the Chamberlain's face.
Only moments earlier he had loudly insisted that the resentment of the regional rulers was directed toward Valto rather than the Imperial Court.
Yet here stood one of those very rulers openly expressing dissatisfaction with the Emperor himself.
It was little wonder the Chamberlain looked thoroughly shaken.
His expression rigid, he forced himself to speak in a conciliatory tone.
"His Majesty is deeply grateful for Your Grace's devotion. He personally instructed us to spare no effort in providing whatever assistance is necessary for your complete recovery."
"How truly generous."
The Grand Duke murmured emotionlessly before resting an elbow on the table.
"But what I require is not another healer."
His voice remained calm.
"It is peace. If His Majesty truly values his subjects, then I ask only that he devote every ounce of his strength to ending this war."
The young Chamberlain's face hardened.
In contrast, the northern nobles visibly brightened.
They clearly believed events were beginning to move in their favor.
The Grand Duke slowly swept his indifferent gaze across their faces before continuing.
"The longer this drags on, the weaker the Empire's unity will become. Surely we cannot continue pretending that obvious truth does not exist."
"So... are you suggesting that His Majesty should bow his head before traitors?"
The young Chamberlain spat through clenched teeth.
As the heir of a family that had served for generations as the Emperor's right hand, he clearly found the Grand Duke's challenge to imperial authority utterly intolerable.
Looking calmly at the man whose forehead bulged with veins as though he had witnessed an unforgivable betrayal, the Grand Duke released a weary sigh.
"Of course not."
"My point is simply that we should stop sacrificing the Empire's security for the sake of a meaningless contest of pride. The Roem Empire was founded upon the ideals of unity and harmony. The First Emperor, Darian Roem Gwirta, even embraced our Khan people—who had opposed the Empire for generations—as members of that Empire. Now that the Roem Empire stands upon the brink of division once again, it is time to restore that spirit of reconciliation."
The eloquent speech flowed effortlessly from the lips of a man famous for his silence.
An odd stillness settled over the chamber.
After staring blankly for a moment, the Chamberlain finally asked in a somewhat irritated tone,
"What exactly are you proposing?"
"If we are to bring this conflict to an end, then the Empire and the North require a symbol that will bind them together once again."
Only then did realization dawn upon the young Chamberlain.
His eyes widened.
Murmurs spread throughout the chamber.
The Grand Duke casually lifted his goblet and continued smoothly.
"The Imperial Court requires assurance that the North will never again raise its banner in rebellion, while the North seeks an unquestionable guarantee that it will once more enjoy its former standing as part of the Empire."
He paused.
"A union between the Crown Prince and the daughter of the family that represents the North."
"What stronger symbol could there possibly be?"