☀️ Arselia and Akonia

<blockquote("- This is... a serious dilemma. - Upon learning of the situation, Princess Naera decided to set aside thoughts regarding the unwanted spying of the northern senator. - Erephir, such a decision can only be made by my sister or you; I have almost no connection to the 'Carneole.' If you deem it necessary, I am ready to put my signature here.")

-- Milady... -- Fyr shook her head. -- I ask for your forgiveness in advance, but I cannot agree to this. You are a full deputy to the Suzerain, and although you have worked with us for a short time, it happened during an unprecedented crisis. And I have come to you at such a late hour not for a signature, but for a whole series of mutual reasons. I understand you completely; what is happening is indeed a catastrophe, and grasping at any straw may seem like the right decision, but still, you know politics and the political situation far better than I do. You are certainly acquainted with the senator, his level of ambition, and other deeds that have entered history—who else should I ask for advice? And if all this seems insignificant now in light of the looming threat, then allow me to express my doubts... I personally witnessed how, because of a hasty decision that seemed lifesaving, an entire state was simply destroyed, becoming a shadow of its former self, and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, perished. That which seems insignificant at first glance is, in fact, part of the overall picture, and by forgetting this, one can make things much worse.

-- Therefore, if you allow, I will take the liberty of reformulating the information received from Shen Shao, whose conversation I have just recounted. Senator Shen knows that we are hunting the dragon. Let us assume it is not surprising, given whom we serve, but he also knows that we have quite a good chance of victory, -- and that is more interesting. Aside from you, the patriarch, the members of the Carneole, Kalina Mellis, and the servants, no one should know the details of the quest to find the blessings. In other words, Shen Tao has a spy, or he conducted an independent investigation and tracked where we were flying on wyverns.

-- Shao called the dragon Hopeless. This name did not appear anywhere either, meaning he and his father clearly know about the apostles. How much? Clearly enough to gain some interest in the hunt; you don't think they would save the city just to gain some unfortunate combat squad into their ranks, no matter how good of recruits we are? The stakes are clearly much higher here.

-- The desire to gain glory for victory over the dragon is almost a lie; this goal is so insignificant that it is not a subject for bargaining. The desire to use our squad is "interesting" only on the condition that it happens in absolute secrecy from the previous Suzerain, with no "joint management" -- I am sure this is not merely a result of grudges.

-- In summary, the bare minimum I expect from this game of the senator's is the desire to obtain the Akonia stone along with our squad as a bargaining chip for something far more serious, thereby delivering a painful blow and improving his own position. But this minimalist scenario, I must admit, does not explain everything. Tell me, Milady, in my counter-proposal to Shao, did it not seem to you that far more was hidden than what I actually offered? Would the glory of being the "slayer of the dragon and savior of Kridear" not make Shen Tao the most influential among the senators? And he is even figuratively given a chance to try on one imperial slipper, since the Carneole is a very personal object for the family; we don't care whose coat of arms and seal it bears. In other words, the position of third after His Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Heiress Shen is not satisfactory.

-- And here a fairly large field of opportunities opens up, not just to portray himself in a good light, but the Emperor in a bad one. What comes next? An increase in the power of the senate with Shen effectively at the head as a more positive scenario, or the initiation of a civil war as a completely negative one? In reality, of course, I do not know, and there are far more options, and perhaps I generally think too poorly of other persons, but... I don't believe it, forgive me ) I simply don't believe that on the other side of the board they aren't planning a checkmate for us right now, but simply decided to wait until we finish another chess game ) Especially considering the past conflicts between the Suzerain and the senator.

-- On the other hand, of course, one should not forget that the senator may try to get what he is owed even in the event of a refusal. If, for example, he finds interest in the Akonia stone... Then Shen Shao might try to intercept it from us, for example. They might even try to plant explosives on our transport so that the dragon continues to devastate Welfern for now, -- although that, of course, would be a dangerous game for the senator...

-- In short, Milady, -- a bow. -- I apologize. If I am wrong about everything, or if you know how we can reach an agreement and avoid further negative scenarios, then our squad is in your hands. Of course, I would not wish to leave the Suzerain's side. To be honest, shortly after such an act, I would most likely be unmade for treason, and that would be entirely justified, since the senator will surely direct us against Her Highness. On the other hand, I greatly desire to save Kridear; that is an act that would surely enter the annals. I would have nothing to be ashamed of then, even if it does not last long. But only -- if this salvation does not lead to something worse, and even so, my loyalty to the Suzerain comes first, so I should think of what She would want. Such is my opinion, Milady, -- a very deep bow.