*Knock*
*Knock*
"Yes. Come in."
Edric's voice ordered.
The door to the chambers opened and uncle Ryan came with his head bowed.
"Her Majesty has called for you, Your Highness."
Edric was sitting on the chair beside his study table. He nodded his head in a practised manner as if he was already expecting this call.
"Okay. Uncle Ryan."
Edric stood up and put his coat on. The doors closed behind him as he walked towards the Empress's office.
...
"Why have you called me here, mother?"
Edric bowed his head and asked politely.
"Can't I call my own now? I also get worried."
*Sigh*
"Mother, I'm fine. I would not have gone if I had even the slightest of doubt."
"Just like when you went to the Rihas desert."
The Empress had a playful look in her eyes.
"Mother... We agreed not to talk about that."
Edric's ears had reddened with a tinge of embarrassment.
*Laugh*
"This never gets old."
Seeing his mother enjoy herself, Edric chuckled.
After Edric lost his father in a war, his mother had rarely smiled and this was one of those rare instances.
His mother had shouldered all the responsibilities of the Emperor. She had done everything in her power to groom him into a good leader. Edric understood the reason behind her strictness and didn't blame her for that. If anything, he was grateful.
"Mother, can we get to the point now please?"
The Empress ceased her laughter and nodded: "Yes. Let's discuss."
After a slight pause, she continued: "You might still remember that I asked for a condition in return of the approval."
"That's right, mother."
Edric could feel a sense of dread washing over him.
"I have called you here mainly to discuss about that condition."
Edric nodded in response to this statement, the feeling of dread increasing by the second.
"We humans have been in a constant war for many centuries now. You also know just how difficult it has been. It's nothing short of a miracle that our bloodline is still intact. However, the same is true for the other side as well."
The Empress stood up from her chair and then continued: "Both sides have been suffering for a very long time. The losses are huge."
"Yes, mother. I know. Isn't that the reason why we have reached an agreement with them?"
The Empress paused for a second, thinking something.
"Reaching an agreement was hard. But, we did it."
There was a tinge of melancholy in her voice.
*Sigh*
"Everyone knows about the agreement that we had reached. But there is one thing that only me and that old hag know."
The Empress takes a deep breath and then continues: "We decided that it would be beneficial for both races if we had a hybrid ruler. The child born with both royal bloodlines. It was just a preposition at first but then we started considering it."
"Wait, wait, mother. You don't mean to tell me..."
"—I think you've guessed it by now, son."
The Empress interjected Edric midway.
"I know it's hard to believe. Even I didn't believe it at first. You also know their pride."
"Yes, mother. But it doesn't make any sense. How could they agree? No, how did you agree?"
Edric felt a huge headache coming. None of it was making any sense to him.
"I... had to agree. If we continue with the current pace then the war is imminent. Both sides have limited resources."
"But, that can't be the real reason. You can't be serious about thinking that I would believe this. Mother, tell me."
Edric saw a hint of helplessness in his mother's eyes for the first time in years.
*Sigh*
"You really have grown up."
Another sigh escaped from Empress's lips.
"Both of us understand that this war is harmful for both races. Our agreement is really fragile. It can hold up for so long."
There was sarcasm in her voice now.
"The best that we can do right now is to create a living treaty. This is not a solution, just a delay. But we need this delay. I know my son. I've put an enormous responsibility on you. I am sorry."
"Mother..."
All the resistance in Edric's heart had vanished. He had realized the responsibility his mother had put on herself along with her nemesis. This responsibility was no less than the one they had put on Edric by a single bit.
They would have been remembered as the Empresses who diluted the bloodline. The Empresses who committed a heresy.
"I understand mother."
Edric said his last words before leaving the office.
He understood the problem. The resources were limited. The treaty was fragile. The war would be tragic for both sides. Both sides would be damaged.
He didn't mind becoming a hostage. Neither was he hesitant to take on the responsibility. But this was still a lot to process.
Suddenly, a quote crossed Edric's mind while thinking about this condition:
"I am willing to be cursed in songs, only if the singers remain."