Adelheid stepped forward, furious.
"I am not—"
Kaito raised his hand.
Adelheid stopped, though she trembled with rage.
Kaito looked directly at Serafina.
"No."
Serafina blinked.
"No?"
"No to the monopoly. No to separating Adelheid."
Kaito leaned forward.
"But I'm willing to negotiate different terms."
Serafina studied him.
"I'm listening."
Kaito interlaced his fingers.
"Defensive alliance. Not offensive. If Avernor attacks us, Stahl helps. And vice versa."
He paused.
"Shared Adenitas trade. Forty percent discount. Better than Avernor's deal."
"And the commander?"
Kaito shook his head.
"She stays. But I can send military advisors. Not her."
Serafina stared at him for several seconds.
Then she smiled.
"You protect your… subordinates. How interesting."
Kaito corrected her.
"They're not subordinates."
He looked at Adelheid and Lilith.
"They're my queens."
Serafina raised an eyebrow.
"Queens. Plural."
Her smile widened.
"How… modern."
Lilith spoke for the first time.
"Modernity is relative, Lady Serafina. Some eras understood shared power better than others."
Serafina laughed.
"Touché."
She leaned back.
"I will consider your counteroffer."
She paused.
"But there's something you should know."
Kaito waited.
"Avernor is training its heroes. Specifically to defeat you."
The air grew cold.
"Eldric is leading a squad. Four heroes. Two hundred elite soldiers. Blessed weaponry."
Kaito kept his composure.
"When do they plan to attack?"
Serafina shrugged.
"That… we don't know. But soon."
She looked at Kaito.
"That's why my offer is urgent. Without allies… you'll be crushed."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"I understand."
He stood up.
"Give us a day to consider your revised proposal."
Serafina stood as well.
"Fair. One day."
She extended her hand.
Kaito shook it.
"Until tomorrow, Lord Kaito."
"Until tomorrow, Lady Serafina."
That Night — Private Meeting
Kaito, Adelheid, and Lilith met in private.
"I don't trust her," Adelheid said immediately.
Lilith nodded.
"Neither do I. But the information about Eldric…"
"Could be true," Kaito finished.
He sat down.
"We need to decide. Do we accept the revised alliance?"
Adelheid frowned.
"It's risky. We'd be tying ourselves to Stahl."
Lilith added,
"But without allies… Eldric will destroy us."
Kaito closed his eyes.
"Then we accept. But with exit clauses."
He looked at both of them.
"And we prepare for war. With or without Stahl."
Adelheid nodded.
"Understood."
Lilith smiled.
"Then tomorrow… we gain an ally."
---
The Next Day — Signing of the Treaty
The audience hall had been prepared with more formality than before.
Two parallel tables.
On one side, Kaito, flanked by Adelheid and Lilith.
On the other, Serafina with her two main advisors.
Between both tables lay a document drafted overnight.
Serafina read it aloud.
"Treaty of Defensive Alliance between the Kingdom of Stahl and the Kingdom of Neudämmerung."
She paused.
"Article One: Both kingdoms commit to mutual defense in the event of external aggression."
"Article Two: Neudämmerung shall supply Adenitas to Stahl at a forty percent discount from market price."
"Article Three: Stahl shall send fifty soldiers as a permanent liaison force and military advisors."
"Article Four: Neither kingdom shall commit to offensive actions without mutual consent."
"Article Five: Either party may terminate the treaty with three months' notice."
She looked up.
"Any objections?"
Kaito shook his head.
"None."
Serafina smiled.
"Then let us proceed."
Both signed the document.
Adelheid and one of Serafina's advisors acted as witnesses.
When it was done, Serafina stood.
"Congratulations, Lord Kaito. You now have your first international ally."
Kaito stood as well.
"And Stahl gains privileged access to strategic resources."
Serafina laughed.
"Exactly. An alliance of mutual benefit."
She extended her hand.
Kaito shook it.
"To the prosperity of both kingdoms."
"To prosperity."
---
Two Hours Later — Serafina's Departure
Stahl's convoy prepared to depart.
Serafina approached Kaito one last time.
"A personal warning, Lord Kaito."
Kaito looked at her.
"What is it?"
Serafina lowered her voice.
"Avernor is not your only enemy."
She glanced around, making sure no one was listening.
"There are others… like you. Summoned ones serving other kingdoms."
Kaito frowned.
"Others who were summoned?"
Serafina nodded.
"Stahl has one. The Empire of Kaltstein has three. Even smaller realms have attempted to…"
She paused.
"The world is more complex than it seems. You are not alone. But you are not unique either."
Kaito processed the information.
"Why tell me this?"
Serafina smiled.
"Because I want you to survive. A dead ally is of no use."
She mounted her horse.
"Take care, Lord Kaito. And take care of your… queens."
She looked at Adelheid and Lilith with an unreadable expression.
"They are more valuable than you realize."
With that, the convoy departed.
When they vanished beyond the horizon, Lilith spoke.
"I don't trust her."
Adelheid nodded.
"Neither do I. But the information is useful."
Kaito looked toward the mountains.
"Other summoned ones…"
He turned.
"We need to know more. Adelheid, when the scouting teams return, prioritize intelligence on neighboring kingdoms."
"Understood."
Kaito began walking back.
Then he stopped.
"And Lilith… investigate whether any of Stahl's soldiers attempted anything suspicious."
Lilith smiled.
"I already did."
Kaito blinked.
"And?"
Lilith walked toward him.
"One tried to spy. I interrogated him."
Her eyes gleamed.
"He revealed something interesting. Stahl also has 'ancient summoned ones.' Not blessed heroes. Something different."
Kaito felt a chill.
"Like you?"
Lilith shook her head.
"Not exactly. But… similar."
She turned away.
"The world is more dangerous than we thought, my king."
And she vanished into the shadows.
Kaito remained alone with Adelheid.
"Commander… this keeps getting more complicated."
Kaito nodded.
"I know."
He looked out over the valley of Aschenfall.
His kingdom.
Small. Vulnerable.
But his.
"That's why we can't stop."
He turned to Adelheid.
"Prepare everything. When the war comes…"
He paused.
"We'll be ready."
Adelheid nodded.
"Always, Commander."