Chapter 228: Truth
Giliath demands your power stones!
*
Seeing the corridor was no longer showing any sign of danger, Claire returned to her usual strict appearance, allowing us to enter the door. I debated on taking Emma inside as well, but at the last moment, I asked her to stay outside with Claire, leaving just the three of us in the room. So it was just the Emperor, Princess Alfin, and me, and we were soon greeted by a middle aged man dressed in a long dark suit. Excluding the events tonight, I have not come across this man in quite some
time, since he was of course my father, the one and only, Chancellor Giliath Osborne.
A smile could currently be seen on his face as he greeted us with politeness, since he knew he was currently in the face of the Emperor.
"Thank you for taking some time out of your busy schedules to come here tonight. Especially you two, Your Highnesses. You two must be tired from the dancing from earlier. It was quite a practice dance or so I've been told. It will definitely be making the headlines in many news agencies after tonight passes.", Giliath said, welcoming us.
"You think so? None of the nobles attending tonight voiced any objections to the two of us initiating the first dance of tonight's ball. Big Brother was able to keep them on the toes during the entire song. I'm sure you've been reported by the news countless of times back in Liberl, Big Brother, but you may rise to fame here in Erebonia and perhaps even our surrounding countries. I'm glad we were able to please such a crowd tonight.", Princess Alfin happily responded.
"True. And the matter that the engagement between you two has been made public for as far as the eyes could see. I do hope taking action like this won't cause any repercussions. We're already being seen in a bad light by Calvard. If they see that two neighboring countries are trying to strengthen their ties as countries, Calvard may even start to perceive this action as a threat. I am sure you are taking countermeasures against this, right, Chancellor?", Emperor Eugent asked the Chancellor.
"You needn't worry about that, Your Highness. I am still in the drafting phase of Non-Aggression Pact, to which I plan to pay a visit to Her Majesty in Liberl right after the turn of our next century. We did give that temporary ceasefire shortly after the Hundred Days War ended with Liberl, but this pact will make it formal, and it will include Calvard as well. I will be giving quite an ample amount of resources to Calvard in response to the engagement announcement that was delivered tonight. If Calvard is smart, they will accept it and enter the Non-Aggression Pact with us. And besides, their economy hasn't been doing well lately, and their housing and stock markets have started to plummet. It's likely Calvard will even enter a financial crisis. President Rocksmith will have most of his worries targeting that in the coming future, and if he starts to see our two countries rise up to become a threat, he won't be able to divert much manpower to counterattack. If anything, this package could even be seen as a financial aid package to help Calvard's encroaching finance crisis.", Giliath said, explaining the situation at hand with our neighbor, Calvard. Hearing the Chancellor's explanation, Emperor Eugent raised his eyes.
"Is Calvard really in such a dire strait? You even deployed those railway cannons at Garrelia not too long ago as well, didn't you?", Emperor Eugent asked.
"Indeed. We have even strengthened our eastern border as well with those railway cannons. If President Rocksmith decides to even lend a tiny portion of his military to instigate a tear between us, it is clear as day that the repercussions he could receive will be drastic. Sure, we currently do not hold any desire to start a new war with another neighbor, but he would be an idiot to try otherwise. He will have his hands tied trying to keep Calvard in check for the time to come.", Giliath responded, trying to clear away any doubt Emperor Eugent had as to how our neighboring countries would try to respond to tonight's events.
Father was true. There is going to be a financial crisis hitting Calvard soon. That is why I contacted Van and his buddies not too long ago about certain things to take interest in Economy and try to take advantage of what may come out of it in the future. I do not know how much of Van's life will be playing out but he will attempt to form an office of sorts, similar to how Bracers do their work, but that was just shoddy mercenary business at best. If he could grow from taking advantage of the crashing stock market, then that would make it all the worthwhile.
As Father mentioned just now, it would be foolish of Calvard to initiate any sort of war in response to the engagement I now have with Princess Alfin.
"I see. It sounds like you've thought of multiple scenarios that could potentially take place from what would happen after tonight, so I'm glad you weren't just sitting idlily to enjoy the coming of our next century. But this talk of looming threats of our nations wasn't the main topic of tonight's discussion, right, Chancellor?", Emperor Eugent said, feeling more relaxed now and his serious look lifted. We all saw the Chancellor nod his head.
"Yes. Their Highnesses are under the impression that any word spoken in this room is to be kept in this room, and not be spoken of anywhere else. Is that correct, Your Majesty?", Giliath asked with a serious look in his eyes. Princess Alfin raised her eyes, since she was informed of this by her father. Seeing the Chancellor say it as well, curiosity only grew in her eyes.
"Just what is so secret that can't leave this room where both Papa and and the Chancellor are present?", Princess Alfin couldn't help but wonder. She couldn't make any guess as to what it was. But I could see that she was going to be in for a surprise, since I could take a a guess what father was going to refer to. It would seem that my relationship with him is finally going to shed some light, at least to a couple people. If I recall, the only other person who knows this secret relationship that I share with father is Grandmother. There is likely Claire and Emma, since the two of them saw my previous meeting with Father back in Crossbell. Outside of these three people and those who were taken in our family photo, it has not been spoken of to anyone else. The less people to know about it, the better. At least until the cold steel games start to kick off.
I do have plans to inform the girls eventually, but it would seem Princess Alfin is going to become the first to know of it.
Emperor Eugent nodded his head in confirmation.
"Yes. Both Prince Naoto and Alfin have been informed before being led to this room. Even you haven't told me this matter directly either, but I can only guess what this matter is for it to say so secretive. If I were to take a guess, it would be about Prince Naoto here, right?", Emperor Eugent asked, causing Princess Alfin to blink her eyes.
"Something so secretive about Big Brother?", Princess Alfin couldn't help but ask as she looked my way. The Chancellor only nodded his head.
"Yes. Come, my child. Let me see how much you have grown since our last encounter in Crossbell's Police Department a couple years ago. It truly has been a while since I've seen you.", Giliath happily said, sporting a rare smile over his face, one that seemed to give off a familiar feeling of familial warmth. The last encounter we had was back in Crossbell was strictly business. I couldn't help but feel some resurfacing feelings as I started to approach father.
"Father...", I uttered softly, causing Princess Alfin's eyes to turn wide in shock. She saw me approach the overbearing man before her, but that gentle smile seemed to elude him for what he was. I walked right up to father, and he suddenly wrapped his arms around me, entering a hug, to my surprise. Still, I didn't stop him, and I hugged him back, enjoying a rare moment like this together.
"I knew it...", Emperor Eugent said, seeing Giliath hug a violet haired boy before him while Princess Alfin remained in shock.
"A-Are you saying that the Chancellor is actually Big Brother's father?", Princess Alfin exclaimed in shock, not believing what she had just heard.