Chapter 266: Banquet (I): Deals

The tension in the air was so thick it wouldn't be too farfetched to say that you could cut it with a blade, the disagreement between Rezar and the snow elf Queen could be looked at from a number of different angles and be judged in different manners. But ultimately the bottom line of their conflict would be that Rezar had never gone after her niece or her people of his own volition. Every action he had taken, no matter how brutal and merciless had been because they had gone after him first. This was no different from stirring a hornet's nest. He has been repeatedly provoked by snow elves, he would be a fool if he didn't retaliate.

And there in lies the problem, it didn't look like the snow elf queen was the kind of person to appreciate being on the loosing end of a fight, even if it was just an argument. But ultimately if this matter was to be judged, Rezar was well within his right to take any action to protect himself, and even more so he had more right hand she did to demand reparations for the attacked and schemes. Obviously the snow elf queen underestimated the King of Morte Bianca, whether she felt superior or she looked down on him due to his young age didn't matter. She never saw him as an opponent and now it has cost her.

"I don't want to go to war with the snow elves, or with any other Kingdom indigenous to Elysium. I just want to have good relationships with them and mind my own business while building up my Kingdom. But then again it seems what I want doesn't really matter to any one in the long run, you all just want to either take from me, or put me under your heel.

And even if it's not me, honestly speaking there's no one alive in this world that would continuously swallow shit like that. So I would like for us to have a very amicable relationship, but if that's impossible in the long run, then spit it out and let's be enemies rather than taking a self righteous position over a matter you know you wouldn't have handle differently or better. I scarcely have time for hypocrites and stupid political maneuverings. Can we have an amicable relationship or is Morte Bianca enemies with Sillomere?" Rezar asked as he leaned back, taking notice of the please smirk on the edge of Lenore's lips.

The snow elf queen was at loss for words, in the presence of her guards, both hidden and exposed she had been backed into the corner, and quite frankly she didn't like it. She wanted to protect her image, it wouldn't do for her to be the one being pushed back as it wouldn't do wonders for her soldiers or her people's morale. But also if she chose to harbor conflict with the Biancans, it would make her seem pretty, and definitely being seen as weak would be the least of her worries, it would be worse if the benevolent and just image she's built during her time as a ruler was stripped away by petty revenge for a family member she's never met, or have any substantial connection with.

"I understand that you have been treated unfairly by this world because of what or who you are. Elysium does not look favorably on death classes, not even now after the Rejuvenation. Never the less a war between our two kingdoms would be bad for business and us in more ways than one. And I can agree that between us both that we stand to gain more from aligning ourselves to each other than fighting. My niece's choices are her own, and the consequences of it are her's to hear alone. But it doesn't change the fact that we are family, and at least some sort of explanation or remuneration has to be given. I owe her that much for letting her grow up with those Savages! Those…..Orcs!"

Rezar raised an eyebrow at her, it seems she was trying to find a middle ground. A way for them to come to a proper agreement without turning it to an all out conflict. The thing about politics was that the ruler was no more important than his or her subjects. To truly grow and move forward, you had to have the support of your people behind you. Because quite frankly they built their cities, they fought their wars and they generated the ruler's wealth. In tune the leader had to look good, uneatable, wise, just, and faithful their kingdom. For a ruler, image is important, and sometimes things like this could pretty much make or break a kingdom's regime.

"What do you propose we do then, I'd rather not fight, my soldiers are tired and I'm in shirt supply of undead. Of course a war with you would replenish their ranks, but I don't think that's what you want. Because let's just face it, and I don't mean this as a threat, but choosing to war with me, even with help from other Kingdoms would end badly for you all, even if I lose. So let's just have an amicable settlement about this, I'm sure you also find thee bride situation bothersome." Rezar said as he crossed his legs and took a sip of a cup of ice tea.

"A trade deal perhaps? Your Kingdom has built roads across it's entire territory and are still doing so, not to mention your advancements with technology is advancing at a rate that's unprecedented. What you have now, would take the rest of us at least 2 to 5 years to get, and that's just what we know, who's to say what you'll have made once that time has elapsed. So I believe we can work out a deal based on an alliance between our two kingdoms. Build a road that connects Morte Bianca to Sillomere, my Kingdom will pay you for the job, and we can use that opportunity to sign a public peace treaty.

We can discuss other deals at a later date, but for now let's just start with that. Do we have a deal?" Rezar took one last sip of his ice tea and then smiled happily.

"We have a deal."