The Secret Pact
“Your Majesty Elias, I thank you for accepting my abrupt request.”
“Lord Reiner of the Baldia, I would like to welcome you, but our country is currently in a dire situation. I hope this confidential meeting will be beneficial for both of us.”
Elias and Reiner sat facing each other across a table in a room of the reception hall. At Reiner’s request, the room had been cleared, leaving just the two of them in a tension-filled atmosphere. In the midst of this, Reiner began to speak calmly.
“Then…allow me to present you with a letter I have received from His Majesty the Emperor of the Magnolia Empire. If you would be so kind as to read it here.”
Saying this, Reiner produced the letter and slid it across the table. Elias solemnly took the letter, broke the seal, and read through it. His expression grew stern as he confirmed the contents.
“This is…are they serious?”
“I understand your feelings, Your Majesty Elias.”
The letter from Emperor Arwin-Magnolia of the Magnolia Empire read:
[Firstly, regarding the tensions between Barst and Renalute, the Magnolia Empire is not involved and is merely observing the situation between the two countries. As for your proposal of an “alliance”, after deliberations within the empire, we are prepared to form a pact under certain conditions.
Conditions:
- After forming the pact, major decisions in Renalute regarding military affairs, politics (foreign and domestic), and the appointment of the next monarch shall be entrusted to the final authority of the Magnolia Empire. After the alliance, you must abide by all decisions made by the empire.
- If a princess is born to the Renalute royal family after the alliance, she must be married to an imperial prince or a designated noble of similar rank in the empire.
- Any child born between the couple mentioned in condition 2 shall hold the right of succession to the Renalute throne.
- The details outlined in conditions 1-3 must be kept as a secret pact and not be made public internally or externally.
If you accept these terms, the empire will become your ally nation and is prepared to protest against Barst. We have also received a secret letter from Barst earlier, requesting us to subdue your country.
We are aware that some nobles within the empire have taken preemptive actions to subdue your country, but this is not the stance of the empire as a whole. We expect your wise judgment.]
Elias buried his face in his hands, slumping over. Magnolia was not siding with Barst, but through sheer opportunism was forcing Renalute to choose between becoming a vassal state or facing ruin. Eventually raising his head, Elias muttered bitterly,
“This alliance is in name only…our country would be treated no different from a vassal state. And they demand that any princess I may have, be married off to one of their princes or nobles to hold her as a hostage. On top of that, any child born would then be granted succession rights to our throne.”
“Even so, your nation would survive.”
Elias shot Reiner a piercing glare, but he continued unperturbed.
“Your envoy’s proposal and Barst’s secret letter arrived at the empire around the same time. Within the empire, there are two factions – the Barst faction advocating siding with Barst against Renalute, and the Alliance faction arguing we should ally with you.”
“…The Alliance and Barst factions, both indeed troublesome groups. If I may ask, which do you belong to?”
“You may consider me the leading member of the Alliance faction. As you know, my territory borders your country, Barst, and the Beastmen lands. After hearing from your envoy, I immediately consulted with His Majesty about supporting you. Whether you believe me or not…”
He answered Elias’s question directly without averting his gaze. Reiner was likely telling the truth. Elias then posed his next question.
“If so, I ask that you form a standard alliance with our country. No king would willingly make his nation a vassal state.”
Reiner shook his head quietly.
“Your Majesty is surely aware of the situation. Renalute is cut off from salt and has no choice but to march toward its demise, even if defeat is inevitable. If your military is depleted, Barst will gleefully invade Renalute. At that time, your people unable to fight will be treated as slaves in Barst…The empire cannot be so lenient as to let this opportunity slip by.”
While understanding that charitable unconditional alliances between nations were rare, Elias could not help but ask. Closing his eyes in contemplation, he finally answered.
“…Grant me one day to consider this.”
“Understood…”
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After the meeting, Reiner moved to a guest room at the reception hall. Returning to his quarters in the main palace, Elias summoned Zack, Eltia, and Liesel. Once the three had gathered, he cleared the room and began explaining about the proposed alliance with the empire. The three listened with grave expressions. When he finished, Zack calmly asked,
“What are Your Majesty’s intentions?”
“…If it comes to ruin or becoming a vassal state, then a vassal it shall be. As long as we survive, there is a future. But if we face ruin, there is no future. As bitter as it is, understand this – being a vassal state is our only path to survival.”
“Does that mean you will offer Eltia’s long-awaited child to the empire?!”
Upon hearing Elias’s words, Liesel interjected. Liesel knew how much Eltia had been looking forward to having a child. She had seen Eltia’s struggles, sadness and suffering from being unable to conceive. The idea of taking that child away from Eltia was unacceptable to Liesel. However, Eltia spoke up gently to the heated Liesel.
“Lady Liesel, thank you for those words. However, this is precisely why a king and his concubine have children – to fulfill such roles if needed. If my child is a princess, I will raise her accordingly.”
“Eltia…are you truly alright with this?”
Shaking her head, Eltia continued in a soft chiding tone.
“Renalute stands at the precipice of ruin. As the queen, you must not lose your composure, Lady Liesel. Besides, we do not yet know if my child will be a princess or a prince. So I am alright.”
“Eltia …… ”
Tears streamed down Liesel’s face as she was overcome with sadness. In contrast, Eltia remained composed as she consoled her. Watching the two, Elias muttered apologetically,
“Forgive me for only being able to discuss such matters with you in your condition. As a king and father, I have been negligent…”
“Your Majesty, we still do not know the gender of this child, so please do not trouble yourself.”
Observing them, Zack asked Elias sternly,
“Then I take it you will accept the empire’s terms and ‘form an alliance’?”
“Yes. Tomorrow, I shall inform Lord Reiner of my acceptance and request that he return to the empire promptly. Should any skirmishes break out, it would only increase the casualties. I will ask him to help resolve this situation swiftly, given our acquiescence.”
Saying this, Elias closed his eyes solemnly.
The next day, Elias and Reiner met again at the reception hall. Elias informed him of accepting the proposed terms for an alliance and handed him a secret letter addressed to the empire. He also requested that Barst’s movements be halted as soon as possible. Reiner promised to return to the empire immediately and convey Elias’s sentiments to the emperor.
“I will definitely communicate Your Majesty Elias’s feelings to His Majesty.”
“Lord Reiner, I implore you…”
“Implore me…about what?”
Elias stopped mid-sentence and covered his face with his hands, hanging his head. Sensing his emotions, Reiner waited in silence for him to continue. Eventually, Elias slowly raised his head and spoke tremblingly in a soft voice.
“It’s just…regrettable…”
At that moment, Elias’s eyes were reddened and moist with tears. Yet Reiner said nothing, merely accepting his words with a slow nod. After the meeting concluded, Reiner departed Renalute that very day to return to the empire.
Elias too summoned only the powerful nobles of the country after the meeting. He not only explained the alliance with the empire but also revealed the details of the secret pact.
The nobles were shocked at the revelation that this so-called “alliance” was effectively making them a vassal state. Outraged that Elias had decided the nation’s fate without any consultation, they unleashed their fury upon him. However, Elias raised his voice, filled with resolve.
“Who will grieve over the nation’s demise? Who will rejoice? In whatever form, as long as we survive as a nation, there is a future. But if we face ruin, there is no future. As bitter as it may be, understand this – this path of becoming a vassal state is our only way to survive.”
Hearing Elias’s words, the nobles regained their composure but fell into dejection. Yet each shed resentful tears, hung their heads, or clenched their fists at the prospect of their proud nation becoming a vassal. Eventually, calming down, they nodded in silent acceptance of Elias’s decision.
They too understood the reality. Refusing the empire’s terms meant no future for their nation. Thus, the once-proud Dark Elf kingdom of Renalute became a vassal state of the empire.
When Renalute formed an alliance with the empire, Barst hastily withdrew their troops from the border region. The empire had pressured Barst, demanding the protection and return of the abducted Dark Elves. It was Lord Reiner of the Baldia who had traveled directly to Barst to convey the empire’s will.
Within Renalute, victims of abduction and kidnapping rejoiced at being reunited with their families. The nation’s citizens also became extremely friendly toward their new imperial allies, actively embracing imperial culture as a result.
Amid the flurry of developments surrounding the imperial alliance and issues with Barst, Eltia safely gave birth to a child – a daughter named Farah-Renalute, bearing a striking resemblance to her beautiful mother.
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