"Allow me to correct you, Miss Mónica. Right now I am a Count. Take this, please; read it and you will understand."
What André handed to Mónica was the testament of the Count of Blair.
Mónica took the parchment that was delivered to her and then began to read it.
After a while she left the parchment on the table and a deep sadness could be seen on her face, but a moment later only firmness could be noticed in her gaze.
"So my grandfather is dead?"
Even knowing the answer, Mónica opted to ask.
"I am sorry, Miss Mónica; this was beyond my hands.
At the moment in which the Count, by instigation of an outside person, decided to invade my territory, this end was a fact.
What was I to do then? He left me no other option."
André exposed the facts without hiding anything from Mónica.
"Can I have my grandfather's body back?"
Her firm gaze almost broke while she said these words.
"You can be certain, Miss Mónica. Independent of the result of our negotiations, your grandfather's body will be delivered to you upon finishing them."
André made a promise to Mónica, alleviating a little her concern.
"Then I promise you, Lord Count Solomon, independent of the result of our negotiations, I will not harm your men."
Mónica was only showing good will despite their differences.
She knew that she had to negotiate a surrender here and now; she could not go toward a lost war; that would only increase the number of victims.
"I am glad that you can see which are the important points at this moment, Miss Mónica.
Then, please, declare which are your conditions of surrender."
André went to the key point once and for all.
An intelligent person like Mónica would know that this meeting would only end with her surrender.
"Very well, we will proceed as you wish, Lord Count.
My first condition is that you do not harm the militiamen who were recruited by me this time."
Mónica's petition surprised André.
Certainly he expected this condition, but not as the first; he believed that Mónica would ask for the security of her family.
"Rest assured that we will not harm anyone.
Since they have surrendered and are not combatants, they will have guarantee of their security."
André accepted this first condition willingly.
"My second condition is that you do not permit your soldiers to sack the city nor damage the property of common persons.
I know that avoiding the sack is impossible; therefore I assure you that the noble houses in London City will put up no resistance.
So I ask you that you do not harm them either."
Mónica's words made André know that she had very good control of her subjects; not just anyone would willingly deliver their belongings.
"I also have no plans to sack the properties of common persons.
As for the nobles, if the things happen as you say, you need not worry either.
We will not harm anyone without any motive.
Then I accept your second condition."
The second condition made André very content.
It was noticeable that Mónica was not a person without sense of morality, and that pleased him a great deal.
Mónica was very happy that her first conditions were accepted.
From that moment she looked at André in a different way; it seemed that this was not a bad lord, so the persons of her people would not suffer in the future.
"My third condition: I hope that you can leave my family and the family of the nobles who participated in the war free of all guilt.
All are innocent persons, so I beg you that you do not harm them."
Mónica at this moment bowed in front of André; she kept her head lowered waiting for his answer.
"Please, raise your head, Miss Mónica.
I have no intention of humiliating you.
As for this condition, I will accept it as long as none of them has to confront me.
They can go into exile or they can remain in London City; this does not matter to me.
But please tell them that if any of them has plans to rebel against me, then I will execute him together with his entire family."
Although André's words were hard, Mónica saw no problem in them.
She was benevolent with her people, but she was not foolish either.
"Rest assured, Lord André, my Blair family has no plans of insurgency.
As for the others, if that should come to happen, then they deserve it."
Mónica's last words were very cold.
André was content for it; if Mónica were too benevolent, then she would not serve in the army either.
"As for my last condition, I hope that you, Lord Count André Solomon, can tell me who was the person that instigated my grandfather to go to war."
André could see the ire in her words.
She could not bear that a greedy coward was behind that war, while only her grandfather paid the consequences.
"I do not see what your benefit is with this condition, Miss Mónica.
In advance I tell you that this person is not someone whom you can confront."
André tried to persuade her in order to observe her reaction.
"This is only to remind me who my enemy is.
In the future I do not want to fall into machinations like my grandfather."
"Oh, then you also have me as your enemy?
That is not in line with the promise you just made to me a moment ago."
André smiled while waiting for her answer.
"I understand that it was my grandfather who invaded your territory.
Then I cannot hate you because he sought it.
What I hate are those villains who instigated this war and had no consequence whatsoever."
Mónica looked André in the eyes and the latter could see the sincerity in them.
"Very well, I will tell you who it is.
I hope you do not get frightened when you hear it.
The person behind your grandfather's actions is Duke Bloom."
André amused himself looking at Mónica's reaction upon hearing the name she wanted.
The latter's face turned pale, clenching her fists, with much lack of will in her gaze.
André waited a few minutes for her to compose herself a little.
"All your conditions will be accepted, but I also have a condition."
André spoke suddenly, capturing Mónica's attention, who looked at him intensely waiting for him to say his condition.
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