The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen

The situation is difficult, and I didn't know anything until today. I've been careless, focusing on the wrong things.

I was so taken into my mission to find Mages, into the people trying to take my place, into Ignis... I haven't noticed how Alba is in danger. Everything else can wait because I won't have the means to help my people if I don't have a stable country.

«Can't we form alliances as well?» I inquire.

«Alliances have a price. Always. No one is going to help just because we didn't do anything wrong.»

«But if Alba is attacked under false pretences, anyone could repeat the pattern with other Kingdoms,» I point out. They all turn to me with mouths wide open. «Right?» I murmur, confused.

«It's right, but we can't survive on luck alone. And thinking someone will help just to keep the established order is relying on luck,» replies the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

«So, we have to look for common objectives. Common views or a common enemy. Who is the worst enemy of Ventis? Are there some neighbours waiting for an opportunity to steal their territory?»

«There are,» Ignis says. «Many, many enemies. It's just a pity that most of them are common enemies for us as well.»

«Oh, awesome. Next time, don't invite me here. Why do I have to listen to bad news only.»

«There is also good news,» he rebukes. «For example, our Queen is becoming more beautiful every day.»

«Oh,» I sigh.

Is this the moment for flirting? In front of all these people, including my brother?

«Plus, we can try contacting some of the neighbouring countries. We have to seek stable peace, if not an alliance. We can't survive the war on more than one front.»

His hand finds mine under the table, and he squeezes my fingers before returning to focus a hundred per cent on the meeting.

We have enemies on one side; on the other as well. Just like on any side. Do we have stable borders at all?

Oh, the Marchioness said that stable borders do not exist. It's possible to maintain a balance for short periods, like a single reign, but it doesn't usually last longer than that. People are greedy on both sides, and peace is boring for most human beings who don't need to fight just to find food.

Our generation will find a way, eventually, but our children will need to work on it over again. History does not admit mistakes or laziness.

«We need to offer something.» I understand. «In exchange for the bother. Wouldn't it be awesome if that something isn't ours?»

«Is your Majesty suggesting we offer territories currently under Ventis?» the Minister of Foreign Affairs intervenes, seeing how I'm starting to get a grasp over everything.

We need alliances. Both because we don't want a war, and if it is inevitable, we need to defend our borders and subjects.

«We can sign treaties with our neighbours about not attacking, about helping each other in war and so on... But that's not a guarantee they will actually help,» I say.

If there's something I've learnt from history, it's that people lie. Even kingdoms and countries do. They promise something and don't fulfil it. They sign documents and leave after you've done your part.

They do a lot of absurd or simply unfair things, and no one can actually change it. International diplomacy is essentially a bunch of lies everyone believes for an unknown reason.

There's not a bigger country forcing us to fulfil our promises. There's no one more powerful, who can guarantee the others will respect it. It's different from the laws of a Kingdom, where the King himself and the judges guarantee there is order.

International diplomacy is just a trick, a swindle. But, we have to believe and participate in this swindle if we want to function as a country.

«We can sign a treaty with some of the neighbours,» the Minister confirms. «Some of them will accept a pact of non-belligerence. Others might even sign more: a treaty of mutual aid with clear clauses. However, most of the Kingdoms won't keep their word. Should the threat of a large alliance not work on Ventis, we would be alone.»

«Oh, I get it,» I say. «We'll use the treaties only to discourage the others from attacking us.»

«Exactly, your Majesty.»

«I see...»

But how can one work if promises mean nothing? What can we do if nothing is certain?

«A signature on a piece of paper can't bring people to fight for us, Veronica,» Ignis explains. «What makes people fight is way more than that. Common threats, ideals, myths... And interests.»

He rummages in between the papers his aide just brought for him. He takes out one and gives it to the Chancellor to read. The document will travel around the table until returning to Ignis from the other side. Like this, I'll have the chance to take a look as well.

«We have to find the right ally. Someone with more interest in Ventis than Ventis has in us. There are a few candidates, but the one I'm more inclined to is the Kingdom on the east of Ventis, Akasite. They have an interest in Ventis, and they don't share a border with us.»

But... if they don't share our borders, how can they help?

«It's a little difficult to organise, and we need to agree without giving away our intentions. I think we should talk with Akasite and let them know they should attack if Ventis moves on Alba. If that happens, we will have a chance to win. Ventis will need to fight a war on two fronts, and just like us: they can't survive that.»

«In the best-case scenario, Ventis will just give up and return to solve their issues instead of waging war on us.»

«Yes, they would offer peace. But, if we sign an alliance, we won't be able to back off.»

Why not? We can be just as untrustworthy as everybody else.

«We can't ignore an agreement. We're not an Empire, just a small country. Our reputation is part of our riches,» the Minister explains.

Now, I see why Ignis kept him here even if he doesn't look very refined. He knows his job well and, judging from his information and the way he talks, he worked here with the late King as well.

«We should start as soon as possible with the contacts,» Ignis says. «With secret messages first.»

Oh, so it really is no surprise the other Kingdoms believed what the evil-doer has written in the missives.

«We should also agree on a code if things progress well,» I add.

«A code? To keep it secret?»

«Not really,» I sigh. «My real concern is that someone might use the chance to cause trouble. I don't want to risk other people sending fake messages. With a code, we'll be sure the missives are from Akasite as well as that all we send will be signed by us. Other than being confidential, of course.»

«Her Majesty is right,» uncle says. «We need to be careful, especially after the latest events.»

He's just backing me up, but it feels good to hear someone saying I'm right. I don't think it's anything so smart, though. Ignis would have come up with the same conclusion if it really was the only way.

But I like being heard.

«Then, we shall proceed as decided. For the moment, let's start a contact without alerting anyone. We'll exchange a few letters and meet in secret. At that moment, we'll define a secret code. Only a few people will know about it, and they will translate the messages for us.»

«It decreases the chance that someone finds the key, right?» I inquire.

«That's the reason. Also, if too many people know about it, then those after you will notice what's going on and get their hands on the information. Like this, they won't be able to translate it before us.»

«But they might read it after it's translated,» I say.

«They might, but that's a problem we have to solve by other means. There are people after your life, which means that heads will roll, sooner or later.»

Oh, sure. Theirs, or mine. One among me and the person behind the attempts is destined to die soon.

«We haven't discussed the matter yet,» the Chancellor points out. «Her Majesty's life is in danger, and we can't find clues. It means the culprit is someone from the Palace, very close to your Majesties... Maybe even inside the Royal Family.»

«Oh, yes!» I exclaim. «I'm also having that impression. It is someone close to us. However, those with a motive are not suspicious. While those who might be culprits don't have any real reason nor advantage from killing me.»

It's a total mess, and, as much as I hate to admit it, the gossip I've heard from the ladies did help a little to realise something.

«Still, I might know where to start the investigation this time around.»

Yet, I can't just say it out loud. It wouldn't bring me any advantage.

«But I'd like to talk about it with the King alone before telling the Council. I don't want to cause a scene if it's not necessary.»

Mine is just a hunch. Like the wrong one I had about the Queen Dowager.

In the end, that woman is innocent, for real, and someone else is the culprit. I haven't ever considered that person, and I'm not clear about the reasons, but I'm starting to suspect.

If my previous guesses were so far from the truth, this time I should be at least a little closer.