Chapter 123 - Alliance

|Raina Lazuli POV|

My father and I walk inside the meeting room, followed by five of our personal guards, where we will discuss the alliance between the Lionheart Duchy and us. I'm really glad that Lord Isaac is a direct person and prefers talking with us first before a feast.

"I prefer to have a celebration feast rather than have a feast and only have bad news. It will leave a bad taste inside my mouth."

That is what he said, and I must agree. I prefer my guest to be direct and go to the main point rather than prolong it.

Anyway, we sit down on the chair that has been prepared and served a cup of tea by the butler. After a minute of pleasant silence, Lord Isaac started the conversation by saying.

"Let us right to the business, shall we? What is the reason the king of the Lazuli kingdom comes here?"

My father put down the cup of tea and said.

"I come here in hope the Lionheart Duchy willing to make an alliance with our kingdom."

"I see. Then let me hear what you can offer to us, and then we will talk about what kind of thing I can do for you."

"Very well. Let me be honest with you, my lord. We, the Lazuli Kingdom, cannot give you much. We can only give you our unique timber. The Blue Timber. It was not a really unique piece of woods like the woods coming from the Tree of Life, but these woods are good enough to be used for a durable ship."

"I see. Anything else?"

"We also can give you a military alliance."

"Not asking a military alliance?"

"No. I am giving you a military alliance."

Military alliance. If my father asks for a military alliance, both parties need to send their army if the other asks for help. However, by giving a military alliance, my father declares that Lord Isaac did not have a duty to help them in a military case. Still, if Lord Isaac needs help, my father has a duty sending our troops helping the Lionheart Duchy.

"I see. Is there anything else?"

".... Fish. Our kingdom's sea is full of fish ready to be fished. We are willing to sell those fish at a lower price."

I hold my mouth to stop my father, who becomes more and more desperate. Even though the sea around Lazuli king is full of fish, it is also filled with aquatic monsters.

"We also have…."

"Stop. I understand. You don't need to force yourself to offer something impossible to obtain."

"I-I…"

"I understand and agree with your offering. We will accept the Blue Timber and Military ALLIANCE not offering. Now let us talk about what we can give to you—we, the Lionheart Duchy, willing to give you a food trade at a lower price. We will give you one ton worth of food as a gift for this alliance. They consist of wheat and rice that you can store for a long time. We are also willing to give you the secret of growing crops in the winter environment. However, we want your solemn oath that you will never tell ANYONE about this secret."

My father and I look at Lord Isaac with a mouth wide open. Is this a dream? Please tell me it was not a dream.

God, please, do not let this be a bad joke or a dream. Please….

"Lord Isaac… Are you sure?"

"Of course. We are willing to forge an alliance with the Lazuli kingdom, and we will do an emergency food to your kingdom as well."

"I-I… W-Why? I know this is rude of me but why? We cannot offer you anything, but you offer us something big."

"Because there is nothing wrong with helping people in need."

What?

"I know what you are facing right now. I know the feeling of hunger because there is no food in the storage. I know the feeling of anger for not being able to help your people. I know the feeling of helplessness for not being able to help the people that are dying in the street because of hunger. We know that feeling."

"I-I… I don't know what to say. I thank you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If there is something you need us to do, we try… No! We will do our best to help you."

"You don't need to do that. We want a loyal friend, not a forced ally."

After saying that, Lord Isaac gives both of us a kind smile. I couldn't help but blush at his smile. I guess I'm wrong regarding him. He is not a judge. He is a Lord. He judges us because we are technically a stranger, but after knowing about us and declaring we are friends, he becomes a loyal friend who will help his friend in need.

Yes. He is worthy of his title as a lord.

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After the alliance meeting, I ordered a feast for our new ally. The feast is already happening for an hour. Wine, Whiskey, and Vodka have already been served to the other. The dishes from noodles to salads are served on the table.

I smile a little when I see Johannes eat the food with a big smile on his face.

"My lord"

I snap from my thoughts when I see Raina walk toward me with a bottle of whiskey in her hand.

"Yes?"

"Let me serve you some drinks, to my lord."

"Errr. Sure."

I don't know why she wants to serve a drink, and I can see the servant serving the drink has the same confusion as me.

"Let this drink be a blessing to you, my lord. Let this drink be the declaration that I, Raina Lazuli, will serve you as my lord and friend. Let this declaration be heard by the gods, and let this declaration be eternal."

"What?"

"This is an old tradition of the Lazuli royal family. This declaration is our oath to the gods. By this oath, I will continue to serve you as my lord and friend. I will follow your order, and if I denied your order, I would be cursed for eternity. If you want my body, I will gladly give it to you."

"Woah Woah Woah, slow down. I know you are grateful but remember that we banned slavery."

"Ah! I don't mean like that, my lord. I declare myself as your sworn friend. I will obey your order, but I can still deny it. As long as your order is not intended to harm my family and me, I will obey it. As for my body… Well… I don't mind it…."

Urgh. What with these people? Offering their body as if it was something that insignificant.

"Look, Lady Raina…"

"Call me Raina, my lord."

"Look, Raina. You shouldn't offer your body to me as if it was something insignificant. Your body is sacred. It was something gods give to you. Something that you should guard with all your being. It was something that should not be tainted. The only one you can give those sacred ground is to men you love. To someone you love with all your beings. To someone that is willing to give his life to you because he loves you."

Raina looked at me with a surprised expression, but after a few seconds, I finished my speech, she smiled at me.

"I know it is the right thing to do. I know you will never want my body. Not because I'm ugly but rather because it is your righteousness that makes you deny me. You are a true lord. A king without a crown."

"Me? A king? Nahhhh. It is too troublesome for me."

"Pfft. Hahahahaha"

Raina released an un-lady snort before laughing at what I said. She laughed for a few seconds before she slowly stopped and wiped a tear from her eyes.

"It is the first time I hear someone saying that becoming a king is too troublesome."

"What? Do you know how much paperwork I need to do right now? I begin to think that that paperwork is cursed. Every time I blink, I can see the stack get higher."

"What about the power? You will have a high power if you become a king."

"Power? Nahhh. It is too troublesome. A wise man once said that 'The bigger power you have, the bigger your responsibility becomes' or something like that. I don't want more responsibility than what I already have."

"However, if you get those responsibilities, you still do it, right?"

"Of course! It is my duty, after all."

"Then my word stands true. You are a king without a throne. If you want to become a king, you will be a great king."

"Meh"

I ignore Raina, who laughs once again at my word. I will make sure that I will not become a king. There is too much responsibility for my comfort. Even as a Duke, there is too much responsibility. Me, a king? Nahhh.. I can't see that.