In the banquet hall of Dolakan Castle, a more sinister shout resounded than ever. This was because the confrontation between the Baltic noble alliance and the imperial envoy intensified.
The talks, which were expected to be concluded within a few months, have been repeatedly exhausting for half a year without much progress, and as the delegation finally reached the limit of patience, a bloody atmosphere began to fill the hall as if it were about to be stabbed.
"Whether the Northern Noble alliance has the will to sign a peace treaty, and now even its true intentions are questionable."
Theodosius Leon, the Emperor's attendant and head of the delegation, shot at him in a sarcastic tone.
"Aren't you planning to drag out time with this meeting and watch the situation, and then turn back to the side of the traitors?"
"Please refrain from making excessive assumptions!"
There was an Immediate backlash from the Baltic Noble alliance.
"We are only asking for the minimum safeguards. As I have said, if only the autonomy of the Northern Nobles alliance is guaranteed, we are ready to put our seal on the treaty."
"I know that the Imperial family's answer to that request has already been fully conveyed."
Theodosius sighed tiredly, pointing to his temples, as if he was tired of it.
"The Baltic Nobility alliance has already turned its back on the Empire once."
"His Majesty has shown leniency and will not hold him accountable, but he has made it clear that for the time being, the major cities of Balto will be inspected by magistrates sent by the Imperial Court."
"How long exactly does 'for the time being' mean?"
A young northern nobleman who was sitting quietly at the end of the table asked with his arms folded in front of his chest.
The Emperor's attendant shrugged his shoulders calmly.
"It depends on how quickly you restore the trust of the imperial family."
The chaotic tone of the attendant gave a fierce aura to the faces of the Balto nobles. However, the man continued his words in a high-handed manner without showing any signs of intimidation.
"This meeting is His Majesty's last mercy. The Northern League alliance has only two paths to choose from. Either humbly accept His Majesty's proposal, or pay the price of disloyalty."
"Don't give even one-sided favors."
The old Count of Balto, who had been silent all along, opened his mouth heavily.
"Isn't it the same for His Majesty that he want to end the war as soon as possible? Don't you think we don't know that the feudal lords in other regions are not the only ones who are dissatisfied?"
"I can't help but remind you that the complaint is also directed at Balto."
The man hit it sharply.
"The entire continent of Robiden is suffering because of the rebellion caused by Balto. If you find out that you are neglecting this responsibility and only focusing on preserving your position, where will the arrows of your wrath be directed?"
The old Count kept his mouth shut at the man's point.
The attendant did not stop there and pushed forward vigorously.
"If this war is not ended quickly, Balto will be branded as a merit of the continent of Robiden."
In response to the blatant threatening remarks, a northerner slammed his desk violently.
"His Majesty the Emperor is the one who proposed the peace talks! Is it your tolerance to impose such threats on us who believe in His Majesty and come here!"
"The Northern Nobles alliance has pointed its sword at the Empire! Nevertheless, His Majesty first extended a hand of reconciliation and forgiveness. But you are not reciprocating this by offering absurd conditions! How far should His Majesty endure your shamelessness!"
Angry shouts erupted from the impatient envoy, and the chairman quickly turned into chaos.
A heavy sigh came out of the mouth of Erich, the second son of the Blesston family, who was watching the scene from a distance. The meeting seemed to be about to collapse.
"Can this situation really be resolved?"
Right next to him, his nephew Cedric, who was shaking his hips with an anxious expression, whispered softly.
Erich glanced thoughtfully at the nobles around the long table.
Bjorn Brodal Heimdall's performance made the northern nobles even more skeptical of the Peace Treaty.
At this point, when the hostility of the citizens of Balto towards the empire has reached its peak, they are afraid that they will be branded as 'traitors' to the nation if they prematurely side with the Imperial family.
However, even in the midst of this turbulence, the imperial envoy showed no signs of backing down. They seemed to be more wary of damaging the dignity and prestige of the empire than anything else.
"Certainly... In this situation, bringing up the story of marriage might only backfire."
He reluctantly admitted.
Although the eastern monarch has a close relationship with the imperial family, it will not be easy to persuade the stubborn Emperor and blind loyalists.
'Should I revise my plan?'
Erich tapped his fingertips on the desk, remembering the young Grand Duke who looked like he had been carved out of ice.
Unlike his delicate appearance, which stood out from his Osirian descent, he was a young man with a fairly warlike temperament.
Will the fledgling, who seemed a bit rough and reckless, be able to handle this complex situation skillfully?
Erich caressed his chin with a skeptical expression and then stood up from his chair.
It is said that Grand Duke Sheerkhan is like a brother to the Crown Prince, but rumors spread that the relationship became estranged as his marriage to the first Princess went awry.
It seemed better to find another breakthrough. Erich came to such a conclusion and said in a voice filled with disturbance.
"I think it's a waste of time to sit here. Let's just go back."
Then, just as he was about to leave with his nephew, someone walked into the meeting hall.
The nobles turned their heads reflexively, holding their breath without saying anything. An unrealistically handsome man was leading two knights who appeared to be aides into the hall.
A faint sigh flowed from the mouths of some nobles who recognized his face.
"Grand Duke Sheerkhan..."
He was the ruler of the East who had been brought to Dolakan Castle as as a corpse just a few weeks earlier.
Dozens of pairs of eyes in astonishment swept through the man's sculpted face and sturdy body.
According to the testimony of the soldiers, the poisoned long sword pierced the man's side and pierced his back.
Even though the doctor immediately began treatment, there were rumors that his condition was so serious that they could not guarantee a recovery.
However, there were no signs of injury anywhere in the company as the chairman was walking across.
"I ask for forgiveness for what happened without asking permission in advance."
As if it were a matter of course, the man who took his seat at the top of the table said with a relaxed smile.
"I can't control my curiosity about why the talks have been sluggish for half a year."
"...I heard that you just woke up. Are you already allowed to move here?"
The Emperor's attendant asked with a wary look.
The man who picked up the wine cup and soaked his lips said in a gentle tone.
"As you can see, I am now fully restored."
"That's a good thing. His Majesty can also worried of you."
"It's a pity that I have caused trouble to His Majesty the Emperor."
The man spat out dryly, leaning against the back of the chair and loosely pulling the buttons on the tightly filled doublet. The appearance reminded them of a goat and a wild beast quietly bowing down just before rushing towards its prey.
Erich put his upright body back on the chair.
Grand Duke Sheerkhan seemed to be thinking of keeping his promise to him. It won't be too late to see how that man will resolve this situation and then decide on a future.
Thinking about this, he put his clasped hands on the desk, and the man continued in a relaxed tone.
"I don't care about it, just keep talking. I'm very curious about how this meeting will come to an end."
"Didn't you assume the position of commander-in-chief of the Imperial Allied Forces? Shouldn't you be more concerned about that than this meeting."
"That's a very barbaric statement. Are you going to crawl back into the battlefield right away after dying?"
As if he had heard a funny joke, the man who had lost his mind raised an empty glass to the servant standing behind him.
The servant who was called rushed over and filled it with silver goblets. The man who brought it back to his mouth and took a sip said with a languid smile at the Emperor's attendants.
"Does His Majesty want me to die on this earth?"
"How can you say that..."
The Emperor's attendant raised his volce with a puzzled face.
"Are you blaming the imperial family for your Injuries? That's all...!"
"My injuries are all due to my inadequacies. How could I blame the supremacy of the empire for this?"
The Grand Duke, who cut off the chief attendant's words in a nonchalant manner, put down the glass so that it made a sound. A tense tension appeared on the attendant's face.
Just a moment ago, the feudal lords' dissatisfaction was loudly directed at Balto, not at the imperial family. However, one of the Empress's, Grand Duke Sheerkhan, was openly showing signs of dissatisfaction, which would have been very embarrassing.
The man, who was rolling his eyes with a firm expression, immediately spat out conciliatively.
"His Majesty the Emperor is deeply grateful for the dedication of the Grand Duke. He has also repeatedly asked the Grand Duke not to spare all the necessary support to restore his health."
"What a thank you."
The man muttered in an unmoved voice and leaned over the table.
"But what I need is not a healer. It is the end of the war. If His Majesty truly cares for his subjects, I can only hope that he will do his utmost to end this war."
The young attendant's face stiffened. On the other hand, the faces of the northern nobles were full of fire. They seemed to think that the situation was going in their favor.
The man, who swept through the face with a dry gaze, opened his mouth again.
"The more time drags on like this, the weaker the bond of the empire will become. Isn't it impossible to continue to ignore that self-evident fact?"
"So... Now His Majesty the Emperor should bow down to the traitors."
The young attendant spat out viciously. As a member of the loyal family who had served as the Emperor's right-hand man for generations, he seemed unable to tolerate the Grand Duke's remarks that seemed to confront the authority of the imperial family.
The Grand Duke, who looked down at the man with blood on his forehead with calm eyes, as if he had witnessed a fatal betrayal, let out a tired sigh and said.
"No way. The point of my words is that let's stop doing stupid things that miss the essence of the security of the empire by clinging to a fight of pride that has no real benefit. The Roem Empire was built on the idea of unity and unity. The first Emperor, Darian Roem Guirta, accepted even our Khan people, who had resisted the empire for a long time, as a member of the empire. Now that the Roem Empire is on the verge of division, it is necessary to revive its spirit of unity."
The words that flowed out of the mouth of the man who was rumored to be taciturn caused a strange silence in the hall.
After a moment of dazed expression, the attendant asked in a somewhat nervous tone.
"What the hell do you want to say?"
"To put an end to this strife, we need a symbol of union that will unite the Empire and the North again."
Only then did he realize what he was proposing, and the young attendant's eyes widened.
In the midst of the absence of excitement in the hall, the Grand Duke, who lightly lifted the cup in his hand, continued his words smoothly.
"The imperial family needs assurance that the North will never rebel again, and the North wants to be guaranteed that they will be able to enjoy the same status as before as a member of the empire. The combination of the Princess of a family representing the north and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. What could be more certain?"
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