271. A debt p.5
Mia stared with an empty gaze at Theon, trying to find something, anything, to prove him wrong, but she couldn't. He proved he had no business in trying to deceive her many times before. She couldn't imagine that he would try to trick the Metakans by using her evident panic as a helping factor. However, Princess Cassmira was calm as she also looked towards Theon.
"Theon..." Mia almost twitched as she heard the young Princess hide so much meaning behind a single word.
It was a form of familiarity that she could only dream of. Mia had befriended Theon, and since their last meeting, they exchanged many letters, through which she learnt so much about him as a man. Right now, Mia was simply jealous, but she silently vowed never to give up. She had already made preparations, but everything depended on the World's Words and whether they recognised her and her sister as worthy. It was a gamble she had to make, but she was determined to be a responsible Queen. Most importantly, however, she would do it for herself.
Theon looked at Princess Cassmira. "I already informed Matilda that she should remain in the Sleeping Dungeon because the Praetorians who protect her received new orders. They are going to be merciless, and any attempt on her life will be prosecuted with lethal force. The Dungeon is also awakened, and her denizens will keep a watchful gaze on anyone who enters," he advised, unaware of Mia's inner thoughts.
"Thank you, Theon." Cassmira relaxed and turned to discuss something with her brother and Lady Rose in hushed voices. After a moment, she raised her head and stood up. "I think the Emperor will not leave something like that unchecked and unpunished. As soon as your intel is confirmed, we can expect a declaration of war against the Union."
Mia's personal motivation aside, her heart started beating faster as she heard the words, which were like a heavenly choir to her ears. If the Empire of Metaka declared war against the Union, Hilgvar’s chances would rise drastically.
"I don't believe the Emperor would gather enough support for the declaration of war." Theon's voice was like an executioner's sword that cut through her hopes. "The only way of that passing the Metakan Senate is if both successors gave their unconditional support. If Guad or Vettalia don't support the decision, the Empire won't even strengthen the border. I'm afraid that your father will not even try to pass it without consulting them both before such a vote. His authority as the Emperor might suffer a heavy blow if he fails to gather enough support. I haven't studied Metakan laws and legislation system, but I'm pretty sure that he can't just order something like that on his own."
"Hmmm... The Senate might block such declaration, especially now, when our father is so frail." Cassmira bit her lip nervously but sadly nodded in agreement. "But how could we convince Vettalia and Guad?"
"I have already sent my envoys to them with additional evidence, but we won't know anything until it's too late, I'm afraid." Theon sighed heavily.
"In that case, you can always increase the number of soldiers in Hilgvar..." Mia said slowly, looking hopefully at Theon. Even if he increased the number of soldiers to just two or three thousand, that would significantly reduce the burden on her own soldiers.
"It's not that simple, Queen Mia." Cassmira shook her head in frustration. "Arcadia was born in a violent civil war and wasn't even done with dealing with the last pockets of resistance when it declared war on Berna. If King Theon declares war on the Union right now without any seemingly justifiable reason, every country of Aderon will condemn him as a bloodthirsty warmonger. In that case, the Union will have an excellent excuse to draw any neighbourhood forces into their war against the threat of evil Arcadia."
"Even if I openly ask for help?" she asked, but she already knew the answer as she spoke those words.
"No one will believe it..." Prince Leonard sadly shook his head. "Hilgvar has no political or economic ties with Arcadia, so any help will look like an invasion. It will be obvious to everyone: what else could you say about a sudden influx of Arcadian soldiers in your country?"
"What if we announce that the Sixth Legion has been fighting alongside the Hilgvarian army this entire time?" Tia asked with a trembling voice.
"It's far too late for that." Princess Cassmira shook her head with a sigh. "Even I wouldn't have believed that. Have you forgotten that the smaller southern countries always lived in fear of the large northern kingdoms?"
"Then... what can we do?" Mia asked, her voice helpless as she looked at Theon, her eyes pleading for answers.
"He needs a credible excuse to join the war." Everyone looked at Queen Cahrona, who was still standing near Theon. Her reassuring presence emanated around the table, helping everyone remain calm.
"What about your help, future Demon Queen Cahrona? Could your famous, or rather infamous, army aid us?" Tia asked carefully as she raised her head from her notes.
"I'm sorry, but that is impossible..." She shook her head gently and put her hands together. "I'm Theon's wife, and as such, I can't involve my forces without automatically involving Arcadia itself in the war. But even if…"
"I will be direct, Mia. I was told there was a way of justifying my intervention in Hilgvar." Theon interrupted her. He took a deep breath and looked at Mia with an apologetic expression. "Cassmira is under my protection. She will decide about her future, but for now, I can use any force I like to ensure her safety. Mia, if we declare our engagement..."
She abruptly stood up, her eyes wide in shock. "Are you serious?!"
"Yes. Of course, I won't force you to become my wife..."
"What if I want that?" she asked, interrupting him with a clear voice full of resolve and desperation.
"But that might mean that Hilgvar would someday become part of Arcadia. Everything you were fighting for..." Theon replied slowly.
"No, this is something entirely different! We fought against Verksa because they tried to enslave my people. Now we’re fighting the Union, which holds unrealistic and unreasonable claims. They’ve never viewed us as equals despite our countries being of similar size and potential." She shook her head, her gaze shifting from one face to another until it locked onto Theon. "You’ve never been like that. Even when Arcadia fought Cridia, it was already two or three times larger than Hilgvar, yet you always treated me respectfully. I know what happened to the people of Cridia, and later Berna, after your conquests. I can only dream of such prosperity and safety for my people. Now you ask me for a political marriage? Yes, Theon! I agree! As a monarch, I would be insane to reject the protection offered by Arcadia."
"Queen Mia, please..." Theon rubbed his eyes with a weary gesture.
"No, King Theon, please listen to me," Mia’s voice wavered, close to tears, as she saw the chance of her life slipping away. But she steeled her resolve. "Let’s say you manage to pacify the Union for now. Then what? Will you announce that our engagement has been canceled? What’s to stop the Union from attacking Hilgvar again? But next time, there won’t be Arcadian forces guarding our borders. Hilgvar will fall. Even now, my people look to the future with fear. Winter is coming, and there aren’t enough shelters or food for everyone."
Theon remained silent, weighing his options. After a moment, he gave a brief nod. That single gesture was both encouraging and relieving for Mia. She took a deep breath and dared to glance at the Queens of Arcadia. Amber’s expression was an unreadable mask, making it impossible to guess her thoughts. Irene looked indifferent, but there was a subtle sympathy in her gaze. Luna remained stoic, though she had smiled during Mia’s explanation. Hestia wore a mysterious smile, her eyes closed, making it difficult to guess what she was thinking. Aoi’s expression was sympathetic to Mia’s predicament, while Lavender appeared indifferent, though it was clear she would support any decision King Theon made. Freya and Cahrona both wore compassionate expressions, with Cahrona’s eyes shining from held-back tears that Mia didn’t fully understand.
The Queen of Hilgvar slowly exhaled and returned her gaze to Theon, whose face conveyed only grim resignation. Undeterred by his sour face, she decided to press on.
"I know Hilgvar is small and poor, but I promise you, my people are loyal and hardworking," Mia said, disturbing the room’s momentary silence. The nearby officers seemed unaware of the intense conversation happening at King Theon’s table, and for that, Mia was grateful. The slight tremble in the air suggested a barrier was protecting their privacy. She took a deep breath and decided to admit to her feelings. If he rejected her, it would be like standing here naked, but she had nothing left to lose.
Mia closed her eyes and swallowed hard, her fingers nervously clutching the fabric of her dress. "I love you, Theon," she said softly. When no response came, she dared to open her eyes and met Theon’s gentle gaze, which held both pain and denial.
"I fell in love with the man I exchanged letters with almost daily. You helped me and advised me like no one ever has. You saved my sister and Hilgvar when everyone else abandoned us. I’ve incurred a debt so great I don’t know if my lifetime will be enough to repay it. But even so, I won’t agree to anything temporary. I won’t pretend. I love you, King Theon.
A thick silence settled over the room, and every gaze was locked on King Theon. He breathed deeply and steadily while Queen Cahrona kept her hand on his shoulder. The unmoving giant on the simple wooden throne—whose one word could change the fate of millions—remained unnaturally calm. It felt as though the entire world held its breath.
Mia, on the verge of unraveling from the stress and prolonged silence, watched as Theon finally opened his eyes, which briefly flashed with blue light. His face was serious, as though he was preparing to tell her they would need to discuss this later. It wasn’t sadness but unhappiness in his expression, yet his voice remained firm and confident.
"Very well..." he said, simply nodding.
Only then did Mia realize she had been holding her breath the entire time. Exhausted but happy, she sat down, a wave of relief washing over her as Theon let out a long, weary sigh.
"What's wrong with you all?" He looked at Mia, but then, to her surprise, he moved his gaze towards his wives, who had started giggling.
"You have something that attracts women," Hestia teased with a smile, making him hum angrily.
He reached for the stack of papers but suddenly froze, his eyes darting side to side as they slowly widened. His expression shifted from calm to panic in an instant.
"No, no, no… No! Hold up!" he muttered, his gaze fixed on something only he could see. The others quickly realized it must be the World's Words appearing before him. "God, damn it, no…!"
The reason for Theon's strange behaviour soon became apparent as a notification appeared before everyone's eyes. In stunned silence, Mia, Tia, and Cassmira exchanged bewildered glances.
Theon raised both his hands towards the sky in a powerless gesture. "But why the fuck Tia?!"
"What about Tia?" Amber looked at Theon questioningly.
"According to the World’s System, Mia and Tia are obliged to pay for the help I provided. But the cost of that help is outrageously high! I never demanded such amounts of resources! It's impossible to gather!" Theon explained with a tired voice, then looked at the Royal twins. "Since when is Tia a queen?!"
"It's true, though, King Theon." Tia nodded with a delighted smile. "I am the Queen of Verksa, while my sister remains the Queen of Hilgvar. We kept it secret and wanted to announce it once the war against treacherous Verksa ended, but events have spiralled out of control."
"You planned this!" Cahrona declared more as an accusation than question, filled with shock as she pointed accusingly at Tia.
"Of course I did!" Tia admitted proudly, without a hint of shame, leaving Mia stunned. "He healed my body and soul. I belong only to him."
Mia’s eyes widened in disbelief as Tia continued. "My sister was first charmed by the only man who treated her like a queen. But as for me, I was already indebted to him. From the moment I saw him, I resolved to do everything in my power to be with him. I’ve studied endlessly to become a competent general, and as you can probably tell, I’m obsessed." Tia’s gaze gleamed. "But don’t worry... I’ve almost achieved my goal."
"Two sneaky cats..." Amber shook her head with an amused chuckle, to which both Mia and Tia reacted by sticking out their tongues.
"Girls, please, we have an urgent matter to discuss," Theon sighed, his expression turning serious. He tapped his finger on the table, commanding everyone's attention. The tension in the room shifted as the focus returned to the current situation.
On the map, miniature airships steadily moved north of Arcadia while a much larger formation headed toward Avalon. "Victory’s battlegroup is en route to Everlight, and the First Fleet, under Grand Admiral Sparrow’s command, is making its way directly to Avalon. It's true that no country is capable of stopping me on their own. War is just the extension of diplomacy. However, if I overuse that option, Arcadia would never know peace. No country would be willing to trust us, and we will face a total war against all countries of Aderon. Even if we win, it would be a truly empty victory. Millions of people would simply hate us and we would face never-ending rebellions and insurrections. Conquest is easy but holding territory and gaining the trust of the people—this is the real challenge. That's why I want to make a statement that will shake the public opinion of Aderon. Mia, Tia—you’ll return to Hilgvar aboard HMS Dauntless."
Cassmira and Leonard sharply drew their breaths while the Queens nodded with predatory smiles. While Mia and Tia looked at each other in blissful ignorance, Rizk'a started explaining what Dauntless was to them. They paled briefly, after which their eyes flashed with flames of confidence.
"I want a peaceful coexistence with the neighbouring countries, but if they want war, they will get it—and swiftly, when they are unprepared." Theon’s voice was cold, sending a chill down Mia's spine. His tone was as methodical as if he were listing simple tasks. "You will also have the aid of Galahad and three additional Immortal Legions," he continued, extending his hand over the table as the mentioned forces flashed with a brighter blue aura. "Once I deploy the Thunderbolt Legion, the Iron-clad Legion, and the Death Heralds Legion, the Union will face the same forces that conquered Berna. The firepower of Dauntless alone is enough to end the war. The Union has no countermeasures to protect their armies, and the only threat they can pose to the dreadnought would be Janet running out of ammunition."
"That's..." Mia was out of words, hearing that just a single airship could end the war. "Overwhelming..."
"I hope so." Theon slowly nodded and looked at Cassmira and Leonard. "I would like you to assist Mia and Tia, Prince Leonard, as the official representative of Metaka. If we have to, we will bluff, but I want to discourage the Union from making any moves against Arcadia, Metaka, and Hilgvar."
"I should go instead..." Cassmira said with iron resolve.
"If you do that, sister, you will announce to the world that the same forces that came to the aid of Hilgvar could be used for claiming the throne of Metaka." Leonard put his hand on his sister's shoulder and sadly shook his head. "I know what you want... However, my presence with the expedition forces would be less threatening to Guad and Vettalia. I will go, King Theon."
"Hmmm..." The King rubbed his chin in a thoughtful silence.
"I will go as well," Aoi said slowly. "I will represent you, Theon. Amber, Irene, Luna, and Hestia can't go because you want to scare and shake the Union."
"Well yes, but your presence..." He started, but she angrily waved her hand.
"Is necessary if you want them to believe you are serious," Aoi interrupted. "You can't force them to send any meaningful representative or have themselves come to the peace conference just because that's what you want, right? I'm the Queen of Arcadia, not just a fiancée. The Union will have to send serious representation if they don't want to offend us. They might ignore Mia, with whom they wage war. They might even ignore Cassmira and Leonard, whose status is complicated. But they can't ignore me. Not when I'm waiting on their borders with the army that destroyed Berna." Aoi looked at Mia and Cassmira, who lowered their heads with sour expressions. "But, you want the Union to acknowledge your claims. You want to simply tell them that you know about their plans against Metaka, Hilgvar, and ultimately, Arcadia."
"Well yes..."
"But we are also serious about a peace treaty. You won't be able to be there, and there is no way we could organise a peace conference in a Dungeon. My presence will be enough to show them goodwill," she said firmly. It was apparent that Theon wanted to disagree, but ultimately, he sighed heavily, making Aoi smile. "Don’t worry. I will take Morrigan and an entire battalion of Praetorians with me."