☀️ Arselia and Akonia

- But why is everyone so tense?
Kilika, apparently, wasn't paying close attention to the details of the conversation and was instead occupied with reading the book recommended by Erefir.

"Kili, my child, I love you very much," said the commander with a warm look.

- What will happen if a woman becomes the Patriarch instead of Tentacle? A Matriarch? Or does it not work that way?

-- I think the previous head of the Church, Illia Seyran, was always called that. I'm not an expert on church affairs, but I haven't heard the word "matriarch" used in real life in relation to modern society. I don't think it's said, or it's said rarely, although in essence it's correct...

- Strange woman. Surely he didn't initially show feelings for her, so why did she agree to marry him?

- Why didn't she refuse? Strange.

-- Refusing a person in power can be dangerous. But yes, I would also try to preserve my freedom in those circumstances; I think it's a natural desire.

- In my opinion, the other queens were more attractive.

-- The concept of beauty is quite subjective; it changes from person to person. The monarch of Arros found her to be the best, and I'm sure that his passion and praise also shaped the opinion of all his contemporaries. Well, and... maybe she's not the most beautiful, but there's definitely something about her that appeals to women.

- What a lovely couple, it seems that everything is not as sad as some people try to say.

-- Yes, it doesn't seem that sad at all. This story could have developed in the same way as the story of Queen Lorenzia or Queen Lidika, but Emperor Sellun turned out to be wiser than His Majesty Flanaravi and not as cold-hearted as King Delsahid. It doesn't matter how their love began; what matters is that it became real love.

- Oh, he probably didn't love his wife enough, that's why she had to seek affection in the arms of other men... Although her weak character doesn't make her look good either!

-- It's hard to say whether he loved her or not, considering how much bad things have been written about Empress Shen... If the historical books are not lying, she could have been very loving regardless of how her husband treated her, simply because of her childishness and spoiled nature.

- Awesome, I think any girl dreams of such a fateful meeting.

-- An excellent choice. Yes, marriage through virtue is the best of all possible options.

- And who is the captive here, by the way? - Kilika asked innocently, remembering this part of the conversation. - And what does it mean that we could have prevented the Kridear? 🤔

The knight sighed.

-- Ha, do you really want to know? This story is not very pleasant," she said, pausing for a moment. Klin could have retired to his room if he wanted to, but on the other hand, Phyr saw that she couldn't protect her warriors from harmful information or from curiosity, so she had to satisfy it somehow.

-- Well, the answer is this: it wasn't us who could have prevented it, but he, Shen Shao, could have. He claims so, although if you look at it in detail, there was and is no reason to believe him. He issued an ultimatum, and I honestly tried to negotiate with him, but they resolutely and firmly reached a dead end, not least because the interlocutor from the very beginning defined himself as our enemy. I wonder, what was the ultimatum? Go ahead, he broke into my room in the middle of the night and said that he would solve our problem if Carneol betrayed Her Highness the Suzerain and went over to Mindjin's side. In connection with the absence of the First Princess, the matter could even have been given official status: if a certain document was signed by Milady and me, then that would be it.

-- On the one hand, considering everything: firstly, guaranteed malice, and secondly, a very likely lie; I don't think I had any other choice. On the other hand, I still want to apologize for being noticeably lower and more down-to-earth than the image that you have created around me. That I don't know everything and can't ensure a perfect future, and I can't save those whom I would like to save.

"In light of the tragedy that has occurred, however, I am ashamed of such self-flagellation, so I will be silent and will not continue. Let's just say that I will be the only 'white-auric' in hell."