“Caldmellia wants to meet, huh?” Wein groaned from his office chair, his chin resting on the palm of one hand. “Any guesses as to her objective, Ninym?”
“…”
“Ninym?”
“O-oh, sorry. I didn’t hear you.” Ninym shook away her thoughts. “You asked about Caldmellia’s motive, right?”
The message from Levetia claimed she wished to meet Wein to discuss Natra and Levetia’s future relationship. Wein was obviously the nation’s regent, and Caldmellia governed the Levetia religion in the elderly Holy King’s stead, so such talks promised to be crucial. This would be no tea party. Several key issues were on the line.
“I would assume she hopes to win over Natra,” Ninym said.
Wein nodded lazily. “No surprise there, now that the Empire’s civil war has concluded.”
The Earthworld Empire dominated the East, while the Levetia faith largely ruled the West. Natra was caught in the middle of their constant conflict. In his time as regent, Wein had maintained a delicate balance as he seized new territory. Diplomatic efforts with the West and the Empire’s own internal woes kept him out of hot water.
However, Earthworld had returned to relative peace, thanks to the recent coronation of Empress Lowellmina, and the nation would inevitably shift its focus back to expansion. Something had to change if the situation was going to improve. Every power, including the Empire, knew this. And so a meeting between Wein and Caldmellia had been arranged as a precaution.
“Three main roads connect the East and the West, and Natra sits on the northernmost one. Everyone sees us as a huge pain in the butt,” Wein remarked.
“However,” Ninym began, “an alliance with us is a convenient way for either side to keep the other in check.”
“Right. The Empire sees Natra as a foothold to the West, and the West sees us as a shield against Imperial invasion. Besides, we’re known opportunists. Milking us dry won’t cost either any sleep.”
“You took advantage of upheaval to gain new territory, and now everyone is after our heads. Perhaps we’ve gone too far.”
Wein shrugged. “A puny little country like Natra will topple from the slightest push, yet both sides have realized it’s a pest worth courting instead. Not a bad deal, right?”
“It’s still a pain,” Ninym replied with a frown.
“I can’t argue that,” Wein replied with a wry smile. “In any case, it looks like we’re on the same wavelength, Ninym. I bet Caldmellia will try to get Natra to break up with the Empire and become an indisputable part of the West.”
“You’ve dodged the subject so far, but time is running out.”
“Exactly. If we reject the West now, it’ll decide its only other option is to nix our relationship.”
“And it’ll act before the Empire is ready.”
The gist of the plan was surely to declare war on Natra and assemble every Western nation to subjugate it before the Empire could act. Natra would then serve as an official line of defense against the East. Despite the small nation’s impressive progress, Natra had no chance of victory if the West’s other nations decided to gang up on them.
“Of course, the Empire won’t just stand idly by and watch its ally and buffer get slaughtered…” Wein noted. “But there’s no way its reinforcements will reach us fast enough in an emergency.”
The Empire was currently exhausted, and until it recovered, it was unclear how long it would take their forces to reach a foreign nation. The risk was too great.
“We’ll invite a hopeless, multi-front war if we turn down the West’s request, and we can’t depend on the Empire’s reinforcements. Natra has to go along with the West and Levetia,” Ninym said, dissatisfaction written all over her face. As a Flahm, she couldn’t help but fear that Western oppressors would reach her people in Natra.
“By the way, do you remember what Strang said?” Wein asked. “About how Lowellmina will need to demonstrate her military might?”
“I do. Ah, I see your point.” Ninym grimaced. “If Natra allies with the West, that will give the Empire justification to declare us traitors and attack.”
“I believe that’s probably Caldmellia’s objective.”
The West feared drawing Earthworld’s eye; meanwhile the Empire needed the perfect scapegoat. Both sides sought to make Natra a treasonous sacrificial lamb.
To the West, Natra was the Empire’s longtime ally. The various countries would grow hostile if nothing was done, but they’d be pleased to see the Empire strike Natra down.
To the Empire, Natra was a foothold to western expansion that should’ve been annexed ages ago. No one would protest a traitorous neighbor’s due punishment.
“We’ll be crushed by the Empire if we join the West and crushed by the West if we join the Empire…” Ninym said.
Wein nodded. “I bet they’ve already secretly teamed up to take us out.”
“…That’s not funny.”
It was truly a life-or-death situation for Natra, but for better or worse, Wein and Ninym were familiar with the Empire’s situation and understood the threat. No one else in Natra would’ve agreed. A majority of the citizens happily expected a bright future ahead ever since Wein’s longtime ally Lowellmina became Empress.
“I’m not a mind reader, so I can’t say for certain how either side will act,” Wein stated. “If Natra gets caught up in Lowellmina’s military antics, she might realize we’re sitting ducks and rush to send reinforcements, even though it’s pointless. On the other hand, if we join with the West as a shield against the Empire, we might be welcomed gladly. That being said, I personally think everyone except Caldmellia is probably on the fence right about now.”
Do we ally with Natra or destroy it? Should we aid the opposition or go it alone?
Given the choice between advantage or disadvantage, people would always pick the former. If both sides showed potential profit, however, they’d hesitate and wonder which was better.
“Plus, no government expected Lowellmina to become Empress. She’s rattled the continent, and everyone is only now considering their next steps. Caldmellia’s ahead of the game,” Wein added.
“…Which means she’s operating on her own, and the West isn’t involved,” Ninym concluded.
Caldmellia was taking decisive action while everyone else dithered in order to turn things in her favor.
“Now that pain in the neck has room to play.” Wein smirked. Nothing could deter the confidence and ego in his arrogant smile.
“What do you propose we do?”
“First, let’s meet with Caldmellia. She’ll probably try to tempt us with a sweet deal, so we’ll use that to sniff out her scheme.”
Did she intend to ruin Natra or work together? The estimated value of Caldmellia’s proposal would reveal the truth. Of course, Wein assumed it would be nothing too lavish if he was right about the lack of Western support, but it was food for thought.