While Idna was heroically fighting the bureaucracy she, herself, had created, autumn took reign over the world for good. Its stunningly beautiful sight spread from the Palace's highest balconies, over the nearby woods, and into the plains. Forests took on different shades of reds, golds, and browns while a few patches of green still persisted despite the much colder days and nights. The days were shorter but the autumn rain I watched for was very uncommon. That was a grim reminder of the locked ley lines of the world. Arcadia was relatively fine. I could easily regulate the amount of water we had thanks to the many Dungeons that simply powered the rivers. But only thanks to this, the vast plains of my Empire weren't scorched wastelands similar to the fields of Metaka. Fortunately, things were gradually improving for our neighbours as well.

Darius' Dam was still under construction but the first snow melting installations in Iceleon were already completed. The water had started flowing but it wasn't going to fill the lake yet due to the override channel that will be buried once the dam is ready. With each day, the volume of water increased, bringing much sought-after hope and relief. I helped by asking Aurora of the Sleeping Dungeon to build an additional lake in her domain that connected with the nearby dried-out river, bringing it back to life. While food supplies were still a problem, it turned out that Southern nobles hid unimaginable amounts of grain and other long-lasting foods. It became obvious they were trying to create a crisis in Metaka which only added to the list of their crimes. Metakans were, unquestionably, my strongest allies and they took responsibility for the entirety of our vast southern border. Thanks to their engagement, I still had the breathing room required to deal with Vestargo.

Iceleon was stable... Well, as stable as a country covered by nearly twenty metres of snow could be. Surprisingly enough, the Iceleonians fully embraced their new environment. Maybe it was caused by the relative comfort of living in the Dungeon City. It had been expanded from its initial underground bunker into a proper city on the opposite bank of the lake from the Arcadian winter resort. Or maybe it was the fact that they threw themselves into a vortex of innovation and research while quickly militarising their society. It was hard to say which but they were fine. Victor shamelessly used his connections within the Arcadian Empire and rapidly expanded Iceleon's shipbuilding capabilities by building fairly complex shipyards as close to Iceleon as it was possible. They began building their CB-90E variants and gaining experience in order to build bigger ships in the future. Their fleet consisted of two carriers, two frigates, and twelve decommissioned brigs I had sold them. Their militarisation grew out of necessity more than from aggressiveness. With their environment effectively stopped in winter, their people still had to earn a living. So most of them became adventurers while the rest joined the Navy or their reformed Army. Their strong presence in the north guaranteed peace even in Arcadia.

The kingdom of Ebrus opened itself for trade with other NATO nations, which Metaka utilised nearly instantly. Ebrus was rather poor in some resources but bountiful in other ways; their famous meads, fish, wild game, and meat from domesticated beasts started flowing south in amazing quantities. In return, Metaka sent goods of amazing quality which were sought after in the far less industrialised nation. The stagnating Kingdom of Ebrus was, once again, alive with commerce and, surprisingly, art. While the Metakans could provide a large quantity of daily-use items of very good quality, it was the Ebrusian artists who produced masterworks of art. Of note, their paintings and embroidery became incredibly popular in the NATO countries, including Arcadia. The Ebrusians themselves were impulsive but honest. However, led by the example of Prince Islur, they slowly but visibly toned down their explosive pride. The interactions between the four countries were slowly building new friendships and opportunities for something greater. The nations of the North Aderon Treaty Organisation grew and seemed to thrive.

But not everything went so smoothly...

The reformed Falcia was struggling. Roan Min Aston had kept his people in their golden cage for far too long. Maybe it shouldn't be me accusing, after all, I keep my people in a golden cage as well. However, I like to think that my people are thriving and developing instead of simply surviving and being protected. Falcians had not taken kindly to their liberation and the news that they had to start creating their own country. Simply put, they were afraid. They had lived in fear of the outside world for so long that it was ingrained in their very society. Their fear was something that had to be corrected but the damage was deep and the people were too unwilling to change anything. Change was going to take time which always runs short in situations like theirs. I implemented many policies through Roan Min Aston but, I fear, only the next generation will start to shape their future.

However... I knew that we didn't have much time. Certainly not enough for me to finish the conquest of the Ancient Forest. The rise of Arcadia sent ripples through the continent. The invisible cracks and lines that severed the connections between the nations and ruined a delicate balance. The status quo that kept major conflicts at bay, vanished. The Kingdom of Cridia and the Holy Kingdom of Berna, major empires and regents for smaller but ambitious nations disappeared in what seemed to be a moment. Swift victories were often met with shock and disbelief. They were oftentimes questioned by the keepers of the old establishment or ambitious but short-sighted leaders who sought expansion of their domains. I knew they were watching me and collected every rumour from Arcadia.

Yet, I wasn't going to just sit and watch the world burn. I wasn't going to show any weakness either. To make sure I sent a proper message to everyone, I chose an envoy who could be naturally arrogant...

•••

Hector Breonia read the reports with growing anger. A few trusted advisers and the six most important generals were standing near his large war table. They all had grim and worried faces.

"How is it possible that they gathered such a vast army under our noses?!" Hector angrily slammed his fist on the table which caused his wine cup to spill.

"The Kingdom of Vetulia was supposed to monitor their activities." One of his generals replied.

"Derek..." Hector growled with hate.

"I'm afraid so, my Liege." The same general nodded. "We have evidence that he underestimated the threat from Nar'verna and focused on his plot to take over the alliance."

"It's a shame I can't kill him twice." The King of the Southern Alliance covered his face with his hand and pulled at the bridge of his nose.

"You shan't think of it anymore, my Dear." The soft voice of D'ester calmed him down.

She was sitting on the couch near the fireplace where she could listen to the reports. Kirinalli was sitting with her thoughtfully looking through the window.

"You are right, my Love..." He smiled faintly. Her voice was so calming in these trying times. "But our forces are in disarray and we are vulnerable because of h-"

"AIRSHIPS! AIRSHIPS INCOMING!" The panicked screams of the guards coming from the outside made Hector pale.

Before he could react, the doors to his throneroom opened and a silence consumed the room. His eyes widened and he felt fear like never before. His generals and advisors stood up and fell back towards the wall but he paid no attention to them.

"Lady Morrigan, I wasn't aware of your planned visit." He deeply bowed, shocking everyone except his wives. He had told them about her...

"It came as a surprise to me as well." She replied with just a slight inclination of her head, which was barely noticeable. "However, my Lord's orders are absolute, so here I am."

He glanced at his wives who stood up as well. Brave Kirinalli was even trying to shield D'ester behind herself.

"I... I see." He swallowed and desperately tried to recall any incident that might have angered the Arcadian Emperor but couldn't. "What brings you here, if I may ask?"

"Orders of my Emperor, of course. Don't think I would waste my time just to pay you a visit to ensure you are behaving..." She answered with an amused smile, and he forced a polite chuckle. "However... This time, my arrival is not as a warning or executioner but as a... hmmm... Let's call it a friend."

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She wasn't wearing her full armour, as previously, but adorned a black and gold dress uniform with a long cape that bore the Arcadian crest. Her golden blonde hair flowed behind her swaying with every graceful move. Uninvited, she walked towards the table, sat down, and looked at Hector's chair expectantly. He quickly joined her and tried to relax as much as possible in the presence of certain death. If she declared that she came as a friend, he was going to hold on to that promise desperately. With a charming smile that still sent chills down his spine while also revealing she was a Vampire to the unaware, she tapped the secret documents left forgotten in front of her.

"I will be blunt, King Hector. The situation in the south is unfavourable for your Alliance and our Alliance, however, not everything is lost." She began while D'ester and Kirinalli joined him on each side. The stupefied generals looked as if they wanted to scold her but he silenced them with a single, cold glance. "Your crisis, which might get out of hand and disturb the northern nations, was artificially engineered by the Ibrevell Kingdom. It's an act of indirect war against the Empire of Arcadia which won't stay unanswered. I was sent by my Lord to thwart their plans."

A sudden brief hope allowed Hector to take a deeper breath. If the Empire of Arcadia was going to support him in this war, he had a chance to not only win it but also secure a lasting peace.

"I'm grateful for the kindness of Arcadia, Lady Morrigan." He tried to smile.

"Your gratitude is welcome, but frankly... Irrelevant. We act only upon our common interest, you see." She sighed, and before she put her hands together on the table, she moved aside the secret plans and reports with a mocking and dismissive smile. "We won't offer you direct help and might even decline that I ever was here in the first place if someone mentions it. However, what we can offer is equally important."

"I'm all ears." He nodded and saw the confused faces of his most grizzled commanders twist in indignation. She acted as arrogantly as one could imagine, but Hector would lick her boots if she ordered him to do so if that meant securing the support of Arcadia.

"First of all, I can promise you a non-aggression pact, and when I say it, I mean it absolutely. You can withdraw every single soldier from the border with Metaka and Arcadia and no harm will fall upon your people. Neither Arcadia nor Metaka is interested in your lands." He blinked in shock and disbelief hearing her proposal. "Next, even as we are speaking, my soldiers are killing every single Nar'vernan spy in your capital. You have been fed lies and deception long enough and, at this point, even your life and the life of your family were in jeopardy. The evidence of those killed being spies or dangerous traitors will be attached to their bodies so you can do whatever you want with their co-conspirators. The spies' death was necessary to keep my visit here low profile. I don't believe it will be a secret for long, even still."

That stirred a shocked murmur among his advisors and commanders. He also felt disturbed by the revelation that Arcadians not only knew who spied for Nar'verna but also could execute them, undoubtedly avoiding his guards patrolling the streets. Such a brazen action would be considered hostile if not for the hard situation he was in. He straightened and smiled.

"I wish it could be dealt with differently."

"You will be deeply saddened once you discover who is among the traitors that wanted to destroy the nations of your Alliance, King Hector. Your law works against your Kingdom..." She said ominously and he hesitated. She didn't seem happy to reveal those flaws or take such actions. "In a few days, when new spies of Nar'verna, inevitably, infiltrate your stronghold, an official envoy from Arcadia will arrive and ask for permission to travel to Aclium through your country on an official diplomatic visit to establish relationships. Unofficially, my Emperor wants to learn the truth about whether they are engaged in a war against you or not. As you see, the result of that visit is important for you as well."

The hushed murmurs intensified, and Hector only hoped they wouldn't anger the Vampiress.

"If I may ask, what merit does Arcadia see in knowledge to determine if Aclium is preparing for war or not?" D'ester asked and Hector nervously looked at her.

"The Kingdom of Ibrevell's influence spread across Aderon and they have tried to infiltrate Arcadia many times. They audaciously demanded that my Lady return to the lands with which she had severed all ties. We know that once they gather forces large enough to wage war against the Empire, they will attack us in an attempt to kidnap my Empress. If Aclium actively supports them, we will join the war effort against Nar'verna and Aclium immediately as your allies, Hector Breonia. The Southern Alliance, under your reign, could be a friendly rival and predictable neighbour for the North Aderon Treaty Organisation, instead of an enemy looking for active conflict like any coalition led by Ibrevell."

The generals looked in shock at Morrigan, who ostentatiously ignored them. Even Hector realised that he was staring at the Vampiress with his jaw dropped.

"And what if Aclium does not work with the Elves?" Kirinalli asked quietly.

"In that case, we will mediate a non-aggression pact between your nations. That alone will free up considerable resources and manpower required to crush Nar'verna. We don't see any diplomatic solutions to deal with Nar'verna." She shrugged but Kirinalli smiled with relief. "However..."

Everyone focused on her stern expression. She finally sighed and it was evident that she didn't want to do what she was about to do.

"However, if we have to intervene, the armies of Aclium will be turned to ash and you will witness what fate you were spared by the choice made by your wise King." Hector noticed that Lady Morrigan looked at one particular general whose loyalty was in question. Seeing her gaze, Hector promised himself to take a better look at the man. "My Emperor also wants to extend his hand in a gesture of friendship between our alliances. While we won't help you directly, we have forged circumstances to help you gain the upper hand in the incoming war."

He looked at his wives in confusion. He tried and failed to come up with any response, so he just nodded. The Vampiress smirked and raised her arm with an open palm as if she was pointing at something behind her.

"The four decommissioned brigs that arrived with me have been officially sold to your Alliance. To avoid internal tensions, each one of them, officially, belongs to a different member country." Morrigan said which immediately silenced everyone. Hector was afraid to take a deeper breath in case he was hallucinating what she implied.

"You said they were sold to us..." Kirinalli asked with a grateful and polite voice but also slightly shaking from uncertainty. "What price did we pay for them?"

"They are fully equipped with decommissioned Metakan guns." That statement made everyone blink in shock. "As you can see, the Northern nations are willing to help you. However, you must know that both guns and ships are relics of the bygone era for us. And as such, we agreed to sell you them for a measly fifty tons of steel and four hundred thousand gold coins."

Hector's eyes shone from shock. It was expensive, but it wasn't as expensive as they were willing to pay. For the Heavens! They offered millions for a single working ship's core! Now they were gifted with not one but four airships. It was a miracle...

"That will change everything, my Lord..." The older commander whispered with a shaking voice. "We didn't know you successfully negotiated the purchase of the ships!"

"The deal was secret." Lady Morrigan lied without blinking and Hector only nodded. Thankfully, he was nervous from the beginning of their conversation so no one would check her bluff. "But there is one caveat to the deal. We want to draw a new line on the never-ending chronicle of life and set foundations for a new beginning. We, the nations of the North, want peace. As long as you are our friends, we will treat you kindly. What do you say, King Hector of the Southern Alliance? Do you want peace with us, or will you seek war once you have better circumstances? We want to forget the past and look into the peaceful and prosperous future."

"We wish peace with Arcadia and every entity led by it." Hector stood up without hesitation and, for the first time in weeks, smiled with sincerity and honesty.

"Very well." She stood up and summoned a scroll she put on the table. "This is the ship's sale and Treaty. You may si-"

He greedily grabbed the papers and, spilling ink on the table, pulled his pen from the ink flask. He signed the ship sale deal without even reading the details. He briefly read the treaty and signed it as well suppressing his happy laughter. "Thank you, Lady Morrigan! You might have just turned our fate..."

"Your fate is in your hands, Hector Breonia." She slightly bowed to him with a soft smile. "I will inform my Master that friendship is possible between our nations."

Then, she just left. No one stopped her, no one dared to say a word. The large doors closed behind her and Hector dropped to his chair. He was laughing hysterically as he held, with trembling hands, papers that were like a ray of hope for his people.

"Who was that?!" The only general who was addressed indirectly by Lady Morrigan demanded. "The way that audacious bitch treated you, my Lord demands-"

"Shut the fuck up..." Hector focused his gaze on the man immediately. "The Arcadian Emperor is somehow controlling at least one Dungeon. She is his envoy and the Vampire Scion, you idiot. If Lady Morrigan offers friendship you take it! Do you want to fight with a Dungeon?!"

The man shrank under the gaze of his King who traced his every move. "N-no..."

"Very good... Now. All soldiers from the Arcadian and Metakan borders are immediately recalled and tasked to join the preparations to fight Nar'verna," Hector ordered with a smile. Most of his armies were stationed there. Not out of necessity but out of fear...

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