Chapter 77 - Peace Treaty III

The meeting room was nothing but filled with silence. The council members of the Redodel Empire all felt inferior to Elliot's existence. The aura he was omitting looked as if he could kill anyone in this meeting room at any moment.

As minutes pass in the council room, not a single word had broken the silence. Elliot sighed out loud, feeling disappointed. He thought there would be at least one to try and break the icy atmosphere. But they were all cowards.

"And you all call yourselves as council members of the Redodel Empire? Everyone in this room is a leader, and none of you nobles decided to speak up. I've read the contents of the peace treaty and still cannot sign this," Elliot threw the important papers on the table.

Two days had passed since then, and yet nothing in the peace treaty had changed. If it was money, Elliot didn't have any problems paying, but then the benefits were important. The peace treaty should be neutral and not biased on one side. And so why does the Redodel Empire want too many things from them?

"The peace treaty will not be signed. This revision is poorly done," Elliot looks at the chancellor, who avoids his eyes. "Resources is still understandable with a few amount. But then land? Why should I give this Empire a piece of our land? As a sign that peace was formed?"

"That is what we had intended. Isn't this a great way to show the other Empires that our alliance is strong? " Chancellor Ford asked Elliot only to jump back when Elliot slammed his fist on the table that echoed in the meeting room. 

"Then let me ask where your Emperor is? Why isn't he here discussing this important matter? Unless he is neglecting his duties as the Emperor," Asked Elliot while the council members felt angered by him. After all, Elliot had just insulted their leader.

"His Majesty is feeling unwell, and so he is currently resting as the doctor had suggested His Majesty to do so. He is just listening to the words of the doctor," Answered Chancellor Ford.

"Are excuses the only things you can say? I clearly saw Emperor Henry eating sweets this morning, and he looked fine," laughed Elliot as he continued, "Why do I need to sacrifice a piece of my land just for peace treaty purposes? If I give you a piece of my land, it will become your responsibility to keep that place safe and well. But then, as I ventured into the main town the other day, it was nothing but rubbish. The people looked as if they were suffering."

"T-that His Majesty is doing something about it. Since Your Imperial Majesty knows we're still recovering from the great war," Chancellor Ford lowered his head. The stutter didn't convince Elliot at all. It was another excuse. Then what makes his Empire? They were also recovering from the losses of the war.

"Are you trying to make us the bad guys? As I've said earlier, this is a peace treaty—an agreement for peace and not anything else. I can compensate with money, but the land is impossible. Fix your own towns first before asking for more," Elliot stood up to be followed by Air and Enoch, who walked out of the meeting room.

The anger and frustration burning up in Elliot kept growing. He gave them a chance to rewrite the peace treaty. But nothing changed. What's worst. Their leader is missing in action. It felt like an insult that they continued making excuses that won't work. Elliot brushed his hair backward and sighed out loud once more.

"They ask for land when they cannot develop their own. The main town should be the Empire's pride, yet it looked as if a typhoon had destroyed their buildings. Do they not care about the people's lives?" Elliot's brows furrowed, walking at a faster pace. 

The rant continues, "They have the time to let the nobles enjoy their lives while the people working for the empire are the ones suffering," Elliot huffed. 

"As you said. But then those nobles are nothing but corrupted who only loves power for themselves. They don't care about the lives of the people," Said Air, who placed a hand on Elliot's shoulder, stopping him from walking.

"Air, you could have spoken so that you could have embarrassed them," Elliot said while Air removed his hand off his shoulder only to laugh.

"I didn't have the space to interfere, and so I decided to keep my mouth shut," Lied Air. The truth was everything he wanted to say Elliot had said them. There was no point in joining in a conversation when everything had been said.

They walked to Elliot's room, and on the way to their room, they saw Tanya entering another room with a smile. Seeing the smile on her face made Elliot jealous because he knew what was going inside of that room.

It was a good choice to let Tanya sneak into the palace and become a palace maid. Not to mention they were lucky that Tanya had become Emelia's favorite maid. He would have asked Ayfara to become the palace maid, but then Chief Malazan and Henry knew how she looked like. It was a good choice to keep Tanya in the dark.

"Tanya will be reporting in the room this evening. Still, hearing her speak shocks me," Reminded Air as he looks at Elliot.

"I thought she would never speak again because of her trauma, but then it's a miracle that she's cured," Agreed Elliot as he enters his room when Enoch opens the door.

"I think when the princess went missing, it was a big shock for her. I think she forced herself to be able to speak again," Thought Air as he removes Elliot's coat.

"But she still stutters," Muttered Enoch sitting by the glass pane, earning a slap on the shoulders from Air.

"Tanya's still a small child. She deserves to be complimented, not insulted," Air scolded Enoch, who covered his ears with his fingers, feeling his mother scolding him. "We should be glad she's gradually overcoming her trauma. That is why don't say anything mean. I think this is why Tanya dislikes you the most out of all of us."

"Hey! What do you mean? She likes my cooking more than yours. You can't even crack a single egg without a shell getting into the pan," Argued Enoch as he stood closer to Air, who argues back.

"But in terms of overall wellness, I score a higher point. Don't compare me with you," Air hangs Elliot's coat by the door.

"What makes you say so? When it comes to the ladies, I score better," Enoch pointed his fingers at Air, who later on regrets when Air twisted his fingers. Enoch screams in pain, and when Air releases his fingers, he stood beside Elliot, who was laughing at them.

"What are you guys? Kids?" I think Tanya would be much mature than you, Enoch," Said Elliot while Air cackled at Enoch's expression.

"Your Imperial Majesty, how can you do this to me? Just because Air had been by your side, the longest doesn't mean you can take sides. This is biased," Mumbled Enoch as he faced the wall, acting pitiful.

"That doesn't work anymore. Either way, you know I'm going along the flow," Answered Elliot, laughing softly after when he saw Enoch, leaning his forehead on the wall.

"Life is unfair. It's sad when your master gangs up with his friends. It's unfair," Mumbles Enoch.

A knock from the door came, and Air went to check who it was. Air slightly closes the door and looks at Elliot with a serious expression. Judging from his expression, it looks like someone has come to ask for him. Elliot nodded his head, signaling Air to allow the person to enter.

The man reveals his face, which was unexpected. Why would the head butler come and look for him? When he clearly had told the other servants and the head butler to relay their messages to Air and not him.

"Is there a problem head butler, Jason?" Asked Elliot while Jason stood by the door.

"There is no problem; however, I have a favor to ask His Imperial Majesty," Jason bowed his head. His right hand on placed flat on his chest while his other hand behind his back.

"A favor? And why do you think I should listen to your favor?" Asked Elliot, tilting his head to the side.

"I think His Imperial Majesty would rather be interested in this. After all, the information is very valuable," Answered Jason as he kept his head low. "I know that His Imperial Majesty has no intentions in signing the peace treaty, and I know there is something that could destroy His Majesty, Henry."

"And where did you get this valuable information, and how could I trust you?" Elliot stood up, walking towards Jason, observing him.

"That's because my master is not His Majesty, Henry, but rather the Princess of the Redodel Empire, Emelia Beaumont."