This was obviously meant to buy time. Caldmellia’s proposal had shocked everyone, and they needed a minute to decide on an official response. At the same time, it was proof Wein had been cornered.
“That is reasonable enough.” Caldmellia nodded with a sharp glint in her eye. “However, Your Highness must understand that the situation is tense. The true work will start once you become a Holy Elite, so there is no time to waste. I ask that you provide an answer before my return.”
Having deduced Wein’s plan, Caldmellia had issued a firm warning. If he carelessly wasted time, the West would consider it a betrayal.
“…Understood. Allow me to consider it briefly, and I’ll have a response ready soon.”
“I look forward to it, Prince Regent.” Caldmellia smiled. “After all, winter is on its way.”
“Yowch… She got me good.” Wein groaned loudly as he and Ninym reconvened after their first meeting with Caldmellia. “Never thought she’d try and make me a Holy Elite.”
“We’ll need to make sure it isn’t a bluff.”
“Nah, she was dead serious.”
Ninym agreed, but that meant Wein was truly a stone’s throw away from joining the Holy Elites.
“Well, no point in draggin’ this out. East or West, we’ll have to decide while Caldmellia is here,” Wein said.
“Your policies haven’t changed, right?”
“Nope. I’m still with the Empire. Caldmellia’s ‘Holy Elite’ idea threw me for a loop, but all I could think was, ‘That all you got?’”
“Didn’t she say the West would give you full command of its forces?” Ninym asked.
“Who cares? That sounds like a massive pain,” Wein replied with a shrug.
His reaction didn’t surprise Ninym, but the mental picture of her master acting as supreme commander in a battle that might split the continent made her heart race nervously. Nonetheless, she chased that emotion to the back of her mind. Ninym believed the Empire was a better choice, and it was vital that Wein stand firm as well.
“Still, some vassals might be tempted,” Wein remarked.
To become an ally of the Empire or accept a proposal to be made a Holy Elite. No one would find the choice easy.
Some vassals would side with the East while others were liable to staunchly defend the West. Wein and Ninym could already predict the ugly debate ahead.
“Perhaps her plan is to divide Natra’s royal court,” Ninym suggested.
“Maybe, but I sure wish we could just avoid this mess altogether.”
The Flahm woman sighed. “We can only hope nothing else goes wrong.”
Needless to say, those prayers went unanswered as their discussion with the vassals spiraled out of control.
“Our nation is a longtime ally of the Empire! Moreover, Prince Wein and Empress Lowellmina share a storied history! To join with the West would be to abandon everything we’ve established! It’s outrageous!” cried one pro-Empire official.
On the other hand…
“A permanent alliance can only exist between nations of equal strength! The Empire’s ambition to unite the continent under its banner is a well-known fact! Its expansionist greed will eventually spell our doom, so we should protect ourselves while we still can and side with the West!” argued the opposition.
These grievances alone made it hard enough to reach an understanding, but underlying anxieties such as Earthworld’s novel Empress and wariness regarding Wein’s possible Holy Elite status made the sea of opinions unbearable.
I wonder if we’ll really settle this by the deadline. Ninym shook her head, awash with a mix of fear and confusion. This was a matter of if, not when. Even so, Wein couldn’t afford to make heavy-handed decisions lest he further divide the palace politics. He had to reach an endgame while keeping a very delicate balance. Ninym steeled herself in preparation, yet no sooner had she done so than Levan arrived.
“Ninym, I have two matters I wish to discuss.”
“…What’s happened now?” Ninym asked sullenly. It wasn’t the warmest welcome, but she couldn’t help it. Levan had given her nothing but bad news lately.
Levan’s answer only deepened her frown. “I trust you’ve heard the Flahm have been talking about Caldmellia’s visit?”
Ninym expected as much. She also had concerns about the treatment of the Flahm if Natra sided with the West.
It was only natural for the local Flahm to worry. Levan had done his best to keep everyone calm, but there was only so much to be done.
“There’s hearsay that Prince Wein will pledge loyalty to the West and abandon the Flahm.”
“…!” Ninym’s expression went from outrage to panic.
The Teachings of Levetia viewed the Flahm as a sinful race and allowed others to treat them like slaves. However, Natra was the complete opposite and guaranteed the Flahm the same rights as everyone else. Yet even with this in mind, it seemed entirely plausible that Natra might cast the Flahm aside as a show of solidarity with the West.
Wein hadn’t announced an intention to do anything of the sort, however. Caldmellia hadn’t suggested it, either. The rumors were pure fiction.
“Who started this rumor?”
“There are several sources. It could have been domestic powers who loathe the Flahm’s recent progress, pro-independence Flahm activists, or a result of controversy born from citizens who fear for the future.”
“This will be a difficult fire to put out.” Ninym had anticipated a frenzy among the Flahm should a plan to join the West become public. However, she had hoped careful preparation could mitigate this.
What could be done now, though? Caldmellia’s sudden appearance had forced Natra to choose between East and West while a fire blazed directly beneath them. Who knew what chaos would ensue if Wein announced an alliance with the West?
We were too optimistic. Ninym understood that painfully well. Calming Natra’s increasingly restless Flahm would be no easy task. There’s one quick way to settle this, but…
The answer was simple. If Wein announced his intention to remain with the Empire, it would ease the Flahm people’s fears, at least temporarily. Should he wish to side with the West, even only temporarily, Ninym believed she could convince him to reconsider, if nothing else.
However…
That plan guaranteed only the Flahm’s happiness. Ninym prioritized her duty as Wein’s aide above loyalty to her people, and she couldn’t say for certain that provoking the West was in the nation’s best interest.
What should we do?
Levan interrupted Ninym mid-crisis.
“I’m sorry, but there’s more.”
“Yes, you did mention that. What is it?”
Whatever it is, it can’t be good.
“Our rendezvous with the backer will be held three days from now.”
“…!” Ninym’s expression darkened, and she sighed. “Is it safe to assume this timing was intentional?”
“Indeed. Considering events thus far, word of Prince Wein’s potential collaboration with the West likely played a part.”
“…All right, I’ll come. I’d rather focus on the discussion between Prince Wein and Caldmellia, but my hands are tied.”
Levan nodded lightly.
Between Ninym’s duty as an aide and her position as future leader of Natra’s Flahm, Ninym would always choose the former. However, that didn’t mean she could just ignore the latter’s issues.
“I wonder who awaits us,” Levan mused.
“Not anyone we can trust,” Ninym spat.
And she was correct.