Delegations (4) Trade Route and Resources
"I know, I know ! Geez, we aren't even the spokesperson for the meeting. So why the rush?" the nobleman complaining while run after him.
"You fool !! That's why everyone keeps underestimating you, just shut up and follow me !!" The man lashing his friend behind while heading to the meeting room located on the western part of the palace. Both of the young man was an officer hired by the prime minister to write the meeting process. They were bind by magical seal to never divulge any information to the outside.
They walk inside the huge rooms, A large hexagonal table along with eleven seats placed in the middle of the room. A chandelier decorated with precious gem hanging on the cellar, not too far from it another table with two seats could be seen by the young man. It was a designated seat for them to do their jobs behind the prime minister.
When they arrived inside the room, they could see the prime minister count Sawyer Cassady standing beside his designated seat. They rushed to greet him because he was the only ones inside the room, while the others hasn't yet to come.
"Greetings, Lord Cassady w-" Both of the young man sentence cut off by the Count.
"Skip the formalities. Ares. Cain, share this file on each seat and don't forget to prepare a blank papers to write down the events in the meeting."
"Alright sir." Both of the said in unison. They began to work earnestly by placing it in front of every seat, preparing the blank papers and the ink along with the quill pen.
When they were at it, another noble man comes and followed by another. They are new grand duke Salvatore along with his father, Dante and his son Isaac. Isaac himself inheriting his dark red hair from his mother because his father had platinum blonde hair. Both of them had a golden eyes, with Isaac on the brighter shade.
The next ones was Duke Easton J. Orthos following by Count Maisie as the lower noble representative from the Ducal of layover factions.
The Duke Harrison Marvin J. Harrison" was followed by his sons Jude Harrison and Count Colster or called William Colster as another factions.
Glacia empire divided into three factions, The ducal Orthos factions and Ducal Harrison Faction. They often fought like oil and water, sometimes they stand side by side, then at each other throat but the king do a good job to act as their catalyst and stabilizing the politics... and the last was a neutral faction leading by the grand duke, they tried to not fought too much but still spoke their judgement on every matter as wise as possible.
In the end the meeting room was eventually filled with every influential figure in the Glacia Empire. Not too long after that Durham Crown Prince joined the circle along with Duke Solelia and his personal attendant 'Ragnar'.
After their small talks, all of them sit on the designated seat.
"Your Majesty the Emperor Aillard von Cassius has come." Stated one of the guard outside, along with the opened door. The emperor could see everyone standing with half bowing their bodies except the Durham Kingdom delegations. He walks straight to the empty seat.
"You may rise."
In one sentence everyone's stand straight and said in unison 'Long live your Majesty.'.
"Lets us start the meeting, Lord Cassady you may start speaking."
"As you wish your majesty."
Sawyer Cassady then began to summarize the topic briefly.
"Today's meeting will discuss the trade route between the glacian empire and the holy region, in which case the Durham Kingdom offered its help to become a negotiator as the agreement progressed on the condition that they ask us to provide aether stone in three years."
Surrounded by several mountains and vast land, Glacia Empire naturally had an abundant stone mines. Lot of it filled by aether crystallize made by natural phenomenon. Sellable and valuable at the market. Then the Durham Kingdoms obvious demands was enough to dealt a heavy blow for them, being an exclusive buyer means they had the right to monopoly a large amount of it. Such as them being the third party to smooth the deal between the holy region and empire glacia in upcoming collaboration made the agreement will surely bore a fruit.
Thus, it's not a bad proposal and yet many of them start to arguing.
"It's too long, we can't solely sell it to your kingdom. Please state a reasonable demand for us to accept your proposal." Dukes Easton said it vehemently. His circumstances made him doing so, given the fact that his business mainly based from the crystallize aether mines in the first place. He doesn't want to suffer some losses.
"Of course, Our kingdom won't one-sidedly take advantage of the deal such as asking the empire to sell the aether stones in half the original price of the market. We're not that poor character, Lord Easton." Stated the crown prince Durham kingdom while staring straight at the Dukes of Layovor.
"We will buy it at the original price, just state the number." He continued in arrogance.
Everyone in that room could gradually feel that the atmosphere is getting tense. Duke Easton was agitated by his behavior while people like Cain and ares are unconsciously gulped their own saliva, They're just a common worker and their strength was only mean for self-defences. This suffocating sensation comes from the strong suppressed aura which was clashing inside the rooms. They could only wish for the meeting progressing in a steadfast manner, and resulting in satisfactory for both party.
"Lets don't be too serious, alright ? Actually, the food is good. Try some of it, Prince Hayden." Isaac told the prince while eating the apple pie on the plate.
Everyone was dumbfounded at Isaac words, he was munching the food nonchalantly. The Emperor smiled at his directions while Duke Eastion was cursing him internally.
The crown prince, took the food as he suggested. "Sure, its tasty Lord Isaac." He commented.
"Lord Isaac, It's an important matter. Do mind selecting your words carefully." Ferael stated, warning him sneakily.
"If Lord Isaac doesn't have any suggestion regarding this matter, just watch it. Isn't it something the Salvatore Household always do anyway?" Eiston said in a mirth, looking at the dark red haired man in his late twenty with sarcasm.
'Well, it's true.' "I didn't know Lord Eiston cares about our family circumstances so much." Isaac said,
"I do have a few in my mind. But it seems my opinion didn't matter. Isn't it right your majesty the emperor?"
As soon as he asks the emperor, Duke Eiston flinched and stare at Isaac with resentment. The new Grand duke may be young when he was appointed. But he was terrifyingly brilliant and carefree, because of that he often concede his vouch, but sometimes he's participating on a whim and causing everyone in the meeting had a sudden headache.
"Do speak, Lord Isaac." exclaim the emperor.
"It's my pleasure, Your Majesty." Isaac said, "Well, in my opinion Prince Hayden demands for his kingdom was reasonable. Like everyone know, Our empire resources are enormous and it won't suddenly gone in a blink of eye for three years. Since our Empire had a great relationship with the Durham kingdom, this agreement would surely beneficial for our relationships." He explains.
'All of you must be aware that Durham Kingdom was a powerful kingdom, It would be better to classified them as allies rather than an enemy.' Isaac thought, "What I am trying to say is that our household didn't mind prince Hayden conditions as long as their side would take responsibility to successing our deal with the Holy Region." He smiles smugly to the duke Orthos Factions and back to his nonchalant expression in a few moments.
Everyone inside the room feels awkward with his character. Prince Hayden, smiling face was painted on his front, he did like the Grand duke way of thinking while the king himself left pondering over it.
The Duke Orthos seems anxious while the Duke Harrison, Lord Marvin seems unperturbed by this matter.
"What do you think about this matter? " The emperor asks Lord Marvin whom casually drinking his tea.
He was silent for a moment after looking at the emperor side. "I do agree with Lord Isaac."
'We need to lay a safety net in case something goes awry' Marvin thought, "perhaps we can reduce the term of the agreement or limit the number of aethers to be monopolized in the market either way is fine with me." Marvin continued.
When Lord Marvin finishing his statement, Duke Orthos decided to spoke.
"But You-"
"Prince Hayden, looks like my people need your assurance regarding this matter." The emperor cut the Duke Easton shortly and looking straight at the prince meaningfully.
Prince Hayden could see everyone attention at him once again. "Of course your Majesty, I am sure that the holy region won't be able to turn down Glacia Empire Proposal. I may won't be able to inquire much reason to support my claim, but we had them tied to our kingdom."
"You're bluffing! " Duke Easton stern voice resounding inside, "If you don't have what it takes to prove your words, then it's just an empty words."
"Say Dukes, do you take me for a fool? Why would I enclose My kingdom matter to the outsider." Hayden answered, looking at the red-faced duke grumbling with rage. "If the Glacia kingdom didn't agree to my conditions because of an agreement that has not yet occurred and too afraid about your own empire capabilities to win the proposal, then that's it. The deal is off."
"Silence!!!"
The emperor voice reverberated inside the room preventing the Dukes Easton to say more words.
"We will agree to your conditions prince Hayden, however we will add some condition when the deals established." The emperor stated, no rooms to butt in.
The emperor was looking at the prince silently. Rumors about the prince being an arrogant and sly was true, He was smart. He hit strike at the spot where it hurts, for a long time ago Glacia Empire really did reign as a supreme. The kingdom keeps absorbing another kingdom as their own kin until as it is now.
As an empire, people who lived inside its wall and basking with its glory becoming more attached and eventually refuse to change. The Emperor realized it, that they were slowly left behind. He knows for sure that Durham Kingdom getting bigger years by years. The Dwarf kingdom and the beast Kingdom had already become their alliance. Their land keeps developing and peaceful without prejudice against another race while Glacia empire still held that beliefs.
'Sigh'
"Then I'll leave this matter to the prime minister. I don't want to hear any of your disapproval about this." The emperor said and stands from his seat. He then looks at the crown prince side who sit without saying anything and glanced at the Grand duke along with Prince Hayden directions. He was sure that his own son needs to learn more in the future, with a tired mind he spoke.
"We had a banquet for your companion tonight. Make sure to attend the party, Prince Hayden."
"It's my pleasure, your Majesty."
"Then, I'll take my leave." The emperor said while leaving a bunch of the bowing people. The tranquil atmosphere still remaining inside the rooms even after the emperor left.
"Now, then lets us resume our meeting. Starting from the Durham Kingdom proposal and its following conditions."
Count Cassady stated, gaining everyone attention. Some of them still in disbelief, a few of them were angry, and the rest of them were satisfied. They are to nod in unison and began to discussing again.