"Thank you for taking some time out of your busy schedules, and likewise mine, to come here tonight. Especially you two, Your Imperial Highness, Your Royal Highness. You must be tired from having fun dancing during the ball. It was quite the dance, or so I was told. The little stunt you two did will definitely make the headlines for those reporters we just so happened to invite.", Giliath said, revealing a smirk on his face.
Oi, you're the one who caused all of that, Father!
Regardless, I saw that smile on Father's face. By now, it was just us four behind the closed door. Claire had already returned to the hallway, and seeing there was no immediate danger, she returned to her strict appearance. I debated whether to bring Emma in along with us, but she took to the other side of the door behind us. I figured asking Emma to do that was better.
"You really think so?", Princess Alfin asked, and smiled. "None of the Nobles opposed the two of us having that first dance earlier. Naoto was able to keep all of them on their toes during the entire song. I enjoyed it greatly! I'm just glad the two of us were able to please such a crowd. It will definitely make the headlines. You will likely rise in fame from this, Naoto. And perhaps to our neighboring countries."
"True. And the matter of the engagement between you two has been made public as far as the eye could see. I do hope taking action like this won't cause repercussions. We're already seen in a bad light with Calvard. If they see that two neighbors are strengthening ties with one another, Calvard may even perceive this as a threat. I am sure you have countermeasures against this, right, Chancellor? Otherwise, you wouldn't have proposed such a thing in the first place.", Emperor Eugent asked, looking at Father.
"That is not something you needn't worry yourself with, Your Imperial Majesty. I am still in the middle of drafting the Non-Aggression pact. In due time, I will pay Her Majesty a visit in Liberl. Once the next century begins and after the festivities end. We've had that ceasefire in place since the Hundred Days War ended, but this will make it formal. We are including Calvard in this trifecta deal. We will be giving them quite an ample amount of resources to say otherwise. If Calvard plays their cards well, they'll enter the agreement with us. Besides, their economy hasn't been looking well lately. It is likely they will enter a financial crisis soon, so they'll have no option but to accept the Non-Aggression Pact. President Rocksmith will have his own worries to care about in the coming future. He will not be able to divert much energy to Liberl and Erebonia once that happens.", Giliath said, explaining his viewpoint. Sheesh, that was a mouthful.
But what Father is simply saying is, we'll pay Calvard so they don't have to worry about what we're doing here while they worry about their own problems. The looming economic crisis. Hearing that, Emperor Eugent raised his eyebrows.
"Is Calvard really in such dire straits? You even recently deployed those railway cannons in Garrelia Fortress not too long ago, didn't you?", Emperor Eugent asked.
"Indeed. We have strengthened our eastern borders with the addition of those railway cannons. If President Rocksmith decides to even flaunt a tiny portion of his military to instigate a rift between the three of us after the Non-Aggression Pact is signed, it will be clear as day that the repercussions he will receive will be drastic. I do not have any desire to start a new war with another neighbor while we have been busy to amend what little relationship we still hold with Liberl. By doing this engagement, it should hopefully lead to a better path. Otherwise, it would be President Rocksmith's own undoing should he attempt another fight with us.", Giliath said, letting his smile remain on his face.
Talk about being cutthroat right there. Father really isn't giving President Rocksmith any wiggle room to work with. Even with the slightest amount of backlash, Father has huge-ass guns in the direct line of fire that can be shot at a moment's notice.
Do I need to say it? Hell yes I do!
As expected of the Blood and Iron Chancellor, haha!
I say that, but Father is true here. Around the same time Millium Orion wakes up inside the Black Workshop, Calvard is hit with a financial crisis that President Rocksmith has to deal with. It likely plays a key role in his departure as President. He does not renew for another term. Instead, a guy named Roy Gramheart takes over, and we get to see that at the end of Reverie.
I do not have much opinion yet for Mr. Gramheart, so we'll see how he acts once Cold Steel's story wraps up. I wouldn't be opposed to meeting him either. There's only two individuals who had the guts to oppose the Grandmaster directly. Father is one such person, and Roy Gramheart is the other. He even went as far as requesting a ceasefire between Ouroboros and Calvard. Ouroboros wouldn't touch Calvard until whatever plan Mr. Gramheart had came to fruition!
It's a shame I was brought into Zemuria before seeing all of that take place in Daybreak's arc. I'm even more interested in using Vermillion Eyes now. I just need to pinpoint what year I want to view.
But for the time being, that is why I had reached out to Van and his buddies not too long ago. I brought up a few topics with him Van wasn't expecting to hear. I want him to take his school studies seriously, and potentially learn courses like Economics so he doesn't end up in the dumps later on.
I do not know how much of Van's life will play out from here before Daybreak takes place, but I do know he will attempt to create a business of his own called Arkride Solutions. Similar to how Bracers do business, but Van treads the fine line. More like how a mercenary works, but he dabbles in both the good and the bad. A true and true jobber!
Adding to what Father brought up, it really would be foolish of Calvard to initiate any form of war in response to the engagement I now have with Princess Alfin.
Seeing Father be of sound mind while conversing with us like this, Emperor Eugent nodded his head.
"I see. It sounds like you've thought of multiple scenarios that could potentially play out from here on. I'm glad you were not sitting idly to enjoy the festivities. But this talk about looming threats for our respective nations wasn't the main topic tonight now, was it, Your Excellency? Otherwise? Why bother bringing Alfin along with Prince Naoto?", Emperor Eugent asked, being more calm now. He even had it in him to reveal a playful smirk.
"Yes. The potential danger on the horizon isn't why I have brought you all here tonight. It was just one thing I wanted to talk about.", Giliath said, nodding his head. "But before I proceed with our next topic of discussion, Your Imperial Highness, Your Royal Highness, you have agreed not to utter a single word that leaves this room, yes?"
Hearing Father say this too, Princess Alfin's curiosity grew more and more.
"We have. Just what is so important to talk about that can't leave this room where both Papa and Your Excellency are present?", Princess Alfin asked, not knowing where this was heading. She couldn't take a guess as to what it was.
But Princess Alfin is going to be in for a world of surprise. I could fathom a guess as to what Father was about to do. My relationship with Father is finally going to shed some light. At least to a couple people here.
There is Claire and Emma beyond the door, but they were present during my visit at Crossbell city's CPD. Then, I reunited with Father, and Emma formally introduced herself to him then. And likewise, that was when I met Claire.
It has not been spoken of since the time we took that family photograph. Then, Princess Alfin was too young to remember that she was present with His Imperial Majesty and Empress Priscilla. Prince Olivert knows the truth, though. He was also there, and so was Prince Cedric. But Prince Cedric was also just as young as Princess Alfin was and he couldn't remember either.
The less people know, the better. In a way, there isn't a single person here tonight who wasn't there back then. I do have plans to inform those in my harem eventually, but not now. Perhaps by the time Father announces to Rean at the end of Cold Steel II that he is his Father. That takes place inside the Infernal Castle, and that is being taken over by me, so I'll have to find some way to let that play out.
"Indeed. Both Alfin and Prince Naoto have been informed before being led to this room. I have not spoken of the matter directly either, but I can take a guess as to what you want to bring up, Your Excellency. It is concerning Prince Naoto, yes?", Emperor Eugent said, and smiled. But that just caused Princess Alfin to blink her eyes at us.
"This really is pertaining to Naoto?", Princess Alfin asked. All Father did was nod his head.
"Yes. Come to me, my child. Let me see how much you have grown since we last met at the CPD a couple years ago. It truly has been a while since we've last met.", Giliath said. This time, a genuine smile appeared on his face. A smile that I had not seen in a long time. Faint memories of what took place a decade ago began to resurface. It really has been a long time since I was brought into Zemuria. I'm already thirteen!
"Father...", I murmured, smiling. The moment I acknowledged Chancellor Osborne as my Father, Princess Alfin's eyes turned wide in shock. Chancellor Osborne was normally such an overbearing man and hard to approach at first, but I paid that no mind, and simply approached him.
Just as a father would do to his son, he wrapped his around me, and we enjoyed a hug. A rare moment shared between us.
"I knew it. What happened back then wasn't just for show...", Emperor Eugent said, sucking in a cold breath of air. "You really are a charmer, aren't you, Chancellor? How had the mother fared?"
"Not well, I'm afraid. Her Royal Highness had complications during childbirth. She did not make it.", Giliath said. A hint of remorse appeared in his eyes. "But that did not stop us. We grieved, but moved on. Kasia accepted Prince Naoto as her own before that unfortunate event took place that claimed her too."
"I see. It was a tragedy on that auspicious day. But I think it has played out for the better.", Emperor Eugent said, showing a hint of sadness in his eyes. Just that reaction alone is enough for me, so thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.
Kasia truly isn't dead for that matter either. Her soul is soundly sleeping away inside a sealed vessel, stored in an out-of-reach place that only Roselia and I know about. Even Emma or Tamamo aren't in the know of where Roselia put her. Isola's soul is also in that same place. I do not know when I will make a move on this.
But as I thought about that, Princess Alfin's expression was rather funny to watch. She went through several stages of emotion, but above all, she was shocked to her core.
"A-A-Are you saying His Excellency is Naoto's father!?", Princess Alfin exclaimed, not believing what she had just heard.
And so, the truth had shed some light!