Hero – Part 03
Zenobia couldn’t believe her ears.
“The Empire and the Crowd Powers… have merged?”
The person who had just delivered the news nodded, an air of smug confidence surrounding her.
“Indeed. I have come here to report the formation of the Imperial Federation.”
They were gathered in the audience chamber. Zenobia sat on her throne, while Arvie Irving stood beside her. Military officials from the Militant Nation flanked the Girl King.
The guest before them was none other than Francisca of the Imperial Warriors. She had arrived unannounced, with no prior word, and after a brief greeting, immediately declared the formation of the Imperial Federation.
If this was true, they had just claimed two-thirds of the continent. Such an event was unprecedented in the continent’s history.
“I don’t understand,” Arvie said, adjusting his glasses. “This is a major matter that could threaten the peace of the entire continent. If the Continental Law Commission, which is supposed to oversee that peace, was involved, we should have been notified. Am I wrong, Commissioner Albright?”
He turned to address the woman standing behind Francisca—Justina Albright, a member of the Continental Law Commission.
Pinching the temples of her glasses to adjust it, she replied, “I’ve already confirmed this with the representative from the Militant Nation. Did you not receive a notice from them?” she said matter-of-factly.
If they did, they wouldn’t be this agitated.
“Before the formation of the Imperial Federation,” Francisca said, “we consulted with the Commission. It was unanimously approved. The representative from the Militant Nation also consented. There’s no reason for complaints.”
Damn you, Zenobia thought bitterly, clenching her fists tight.
The Continental Law Commission was a committee established after the conclusion of the great war, with representatives from various nations. It was founded under the noble purpose of reflecting on the war, ensuring such events would never occur again, and promoting equal oversight and mediation among the continent’s nations.
Zenobia and the Militant Nation had long suspected that the Commission had been overtaken by the Empire, but they failed to address it. Now they regretted ignoring the matter.
“Also, there’s been some disturbing rumors about your country,” Francisca said calmly.
“What do you mean?” Zenobia responded.
“I’ve heard you’ve been in contact with the supposedly neutral Independent Trade City. And that you’ve even invited the blacksmith, a valuable asset to the continent, in preparation for the upcoming Valbanill Campaign.”
She went straight for the throat. Intel had clearly leaked. They’d suspected as much ever since Cecily and her companions were targeted by assassins, but hearing it confirmed out loud was honestly not good.
Zenobia, however, couldn’t help but feel they were being overly aggressive. There was less than a year before Valbanill’s seal broke, so it made sense to act swiftly, but why were they so forceful? What exactly was the Empire trying to achieve by merging with the Crowd Powers?
“I will admit, the Militant Nation has been in contact with the Independent Trade City,” Zenobia said in a low voice. “But that was solely to prepare for the Valbanill Campaign. We never meant to outmaneuver other nations. If anyone is to blame here, it’s your country, isn’t it?”
The Girl King fixed Francisca with a sharp gaze.
“As my strategist, Arvie, pointed out, the merger of nations without a conflict is unprecedented. Normally, such public declarations would be made in the Independent Trade City, a neutral region. So why, then, come here to the Militant Nation and break that protocol?”
What is your objective?
“Yes, that is the main topic at hand,” Francisca said. “What the Imperial Federation now demands from your country will concern national interests, interests the Independent Trade City should have no part in. That’s why we’ve taken this approach.”
National interests… and their demands? As Zenobia struggled to grasp the meaning behind her words, the black-armored female warrior continued.
“You claim your nation is cooperating with the Independent Trade City for the Valbanill Campaign,” the warrior continued. “The same applies to us. This merger is also in preparation for the war.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Imperial Federation have completed their preparations for the Valbanill Campaign with this merger,” she explained. “With this union, we alone are more than capable of fighting Valbanill. In fact, involving other factions would only hinder us.”
“And I am asking you what that means!”
“We want your nation to transfer all authority regarding the Valbanill Campaign to us.”
Zenobia was stunned. She wasn’t the only one. The senior members of the Militant Nation were equally shocked. A chorus of disapproval rose, but Francisca’s expression remained calm. She even nodded slightly, as though acknowledging their response.
“Yours is a natural reaction. And so, allow us to present a proposal.”
“A proposal?” Zenobia scoffed. “And who exactly are you to make—”
“Let us settle these rights through close combat,” Francisca cut her off casually. “Valbanill thrives in the depths of a volcano. In battle against that beast, projectile weapons like arrows and cannons are of little use. Swords and spears are the only true weapons for the job. I assume your nation has taken this into account in your preparations?”
The limited choice of weapons made sense, given the volcanic battlefield. It was common knowledge among all nations involved in the Tri-Nation-One-City Conference.
“Our forces are also prepared for close combat,” Francisca continued. “In terms of nature, they probably aren’t much different from yours. It should be a perfect match. Both sides have prepared forces for the Valbanill Campaign. A battle of pure strength between the Imperial Federation and the Militant Nation—this is our proposal. The result will determine the transfer of rights.”
“Have you gone mad?!”
“If you refuse,” Francisca said brazenly, “it will be war. We are determined to secure the rights related to the Valbanill Campaign. That is all we have to say. Now, what is your stance?”
They had to be genuinely insane. Zenobia was even gripped by fear. Calling their move high-handed wouldn’t even cut it. If there was a word to describe this Imperial Federation, it was madness. Even then, it didn’t seem enough.
While Zenobia and the others were stunned into silence, someone else reached their breaking point. She had been listening just outside the audience chamber, and despite her superior Harvey’s attempts to stop her, she stormed in.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Cecily shouted. Her dress swirled dramatically as she marched straight toward Francisca. “An abrupt visit and an outrageous proposal. Have you lost your minds?!”
“The Campbell girl, is it?” Francisca showed no sign of discomposure at Cecily’s entrance. She merely cast an indifferent gaze in her direction.
Cecily stopped in front of her, eyes blazing with fury. “This is nothing but a threat! I’ve always thought the Empire was rotten, but how much further can you sink?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea, Campbell.”
In stark contrast to Cecily’s fury, Francisca remained unshaken, her voice cool and measured.
“You’re nothing more than an outsider here. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that you’re here as a representative of the Independent Trade City. That would be all the more reason to remain neutral. This is a negotiation between the Imperial Federation and the Military Nation, a discussion of strategies for the upcoming Valbanill Campaign. Taking sides would undermine the neutral position of the Independent Trade City. Leave at once.”
As Francisca said, Cecily should be staying out of this matter. She had no formal right to intervene.
But still, you have the audacity to say that?
They were in no position to speak like that when they were the ones who manipulated the Continental Law Commission and outmaneuvered the Militant Nation. It felt like nothing more than a vicious taunt.
Cecily had once felt some sense of gratitude toward Francisca. After all, she helped the Knight Guard capture a death-row convict who entered the city last month. Even though it was the Empire’s negligence that caused the incident, Cecily thought it wrong to hold it against Francisca personally.
But now, she realized she was wrong. This woman was also one of the Empire’s—one of Siegfried’s people.
“Cecily, stand down!”
Unable to just stand back and watch any longer, Harvey entered and grabbed Cecily’s arm from behind. She instinctively jerked away.
“Stop it. Cecily Campbell.”
A firm, commanding voice stopped her in her tracks. Cecily spun around, her eyes landing on Zenobia. The words she wanted to shout caught in her throat.
“Lady Zenobia.”
The Girl King’s face was twisted bitterly. With her youthful appearance, the weight of her distress seemed to show more clearly than it should.
“Commissioner Albright. What is the position of the Continental Law Commission?”
“Your Majesty is likely aware from the last Tri-Nation-One-City Conference that progress on dealing with Valbanil has been at a standstill, with every nation focused on protecting its own interests,” Justina answered smoothly, as if she had been rehearsing the response. In all likelihood, she had. “We’re running out of time. While the Imperial Federation’s proposal might seem forceful, the Commission believes it effectively clarifies the countermeasures. Of course, if war breaks out, the Federation will have to withdraw from the Commission.”
Was there even any drawback in leaving a Commission that had already lost its purpose?
Either way, choices had been presented. A small-scale skirmish, or a full-scale war. Either way, conflict was coming. But was it even a choice anymore?
Cecily recalled Siegfried’s words. He said that the nations feared war due to the memories of the Valbanill War. If his words held any truth, this was an utterly unreasonable dilemma.
There was only one way forward.
“I request time for further deliberation. I cannot give an immediate answer.”
“Very well,” Francisca said with a calm grace.
The female warrior must have known that a deliberation was pointless.
The next morning, after discussions with her senior staff, the Girl King announced their acceptance of the melee combat.
The battle for the right to lead the Valbanill Campaign would take place in one week.
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