Chapter 12 - Aristia's Letter

Days go by at an alarming rate, Aristia's anxiety growing with each and every hour that passes. If all's gone according to plan, she should receive a reply from her sister any day now.

"Your Highness," Mari, one of her maids, enters the room. "His Majesty requested your presence in his bedchambers tonight."

"I see." Aristia nods.

"I will help get you ready. Would you like to wear one of the nightgowns the tailor brought last week?" Mari examines the garments but considering the day of the week and the late hour, Aristia has a hunch her husband doesn't want to bed her tonight.

"That won't be necessary." She dismisses the maid. "I will keep my clothes and have Changbin escort me, so you can go and rest."

"I understand." Mari bows and leaves the room.

Aristia rearranges her clothes and grabs a coat and her crown, then makes her way outside of her bedchambers and meets Changbin.

"Your Highness, good evening." He bows.

"Hello, Changbin. Is there a meeting tonight?"

"Yes." He replies shortly, and they make their way quietly towards Chan's room.

Much like last time, Lee Know is already there, and the four of them enter the secret passage together and move in silence until they reach the locked wooden door connected to the meeting room.

The table is already occupied, all the men she's seen at the previous meeting deep in talk about numerous issues regarding the nobility and the upcoming war.

As Aristia listens closely, she grows anxious once more, awaiting her sister's letter. She wonders if she would agree and put a stop to this war that was sure to not only ravage the Kingdom of the South, but also bring great losses to the Empire of the Sun, which Aristia wants to avoid at all costs.

My dearest sister,

Are you faring well?

I am writing to you in utmost secrecy, and I trust that you will regard my letter with the same consideration.

"We have set up four of our troops at the border, but after considering Her Majesty's report, I fear it wouldn't be enough. It would be wise to send some more reinforcements so we could be prepared for battle." Mr. Silverstone, the troops' commander, speaks, before looking at Lee Know and continuing. "What about moving some of the troops from the North?"

"I'm not so sure..." Lee Know shakes his head. "It's quite far away, it might take them too long to get to the border."

We have not been ideal siblings. To be completely honest, it's difficult for me to recall the way your voice sounds. I assume this would be a regret we'd both take to our graves, the fact that, despite being only 5 years apart, we don't know much about each other.

You are still young; however, I am aware of your cleverness, which is why I am writing this letter to you.

"It might be wise to send troops from the capital." Another man Aristia doesn't know the name of speaks.

"What about the nobles, though?" Chris asks, eyeing the table.

"They are growing restless, completely dissatisfied with the new taxes, as you are aware. I fear they might be planning a rebellion." Jisung sighs. "It wouldn't be wise to leave the Palace open to potential attacks."

Our dear father has been anything but a paternal figure towards me, and I fear that he has been much the same towards you the moment I stepped foot outside of the Kingdom. If my suspicions are true, you must've been relieved to learn that I did us both a favour and got rid of him for good.

However, I still fear for your safety, and for every innocent person in our Kingdom. With our brother being so young, he would be unable to rule, despite being the rightful heir.

"We can't send troops from the capital under these circumstances." Changbin immediately chimes in. "It would be too dangerous. Until the matter with the nobles is resolved, we should seek support elsewhere."

"What do you suggest, then?" Lee Know replies. "The North is out of the question. It's not only very far away, but there's been numerous fights at that border. Taking some of their troops might bring us more losses in the long run, even if we win the battle at the emerald mine with no casualties."

Knowing the rules of our Kingdom, you must've been temporarily placed on the throne, until our brother gets of age. However, I assume our dear mother is overviewing the Kingdom's matters in your stead, with the General's help. He is as much a reckless man as was the King, and so, we are expecting a war to break out any moment now.

"I am not entirely sure..." Changbin shakes his head. "We could maybe take the troops from the East border. Some of them, at least."

"It's unsafe to leave our borders open just for this war." Seungmin intervenes.

"But there might be so many casualties otherwise..." Changbin insists. "Silverstone said it himself, and he's fought countless battles. We need to send more troops."

There is a way to prevent it, if we both put our minds to it. However, it won't be easy, and it's a gamble on both sides. There is a price we both have to pay.

A peace treaty for at least 100 years would ensure that both of our homes are safe, and if the conditions are satisfying enough for our nations, they might just settle the people's hearts as well, despite the King's murder.

"Casualties are inevitable in any war." Mr. Silverstone begins. "However, with each passing spring, I'm finding myself growing more and more reluctant. Our Empire has been at war for far too long, and families are losing their young men one by one."

"It is certainly an issue." Seungmin agrees.

Our kingdoms' decades-long dispute based around the emerald mine is one of the nails in the coffin. I trust that you know what to do with this information.

In return for the mine and for the peace treaty, I give you my word that the Empire will provide the Kingdom with necessary supplies, and we will arrange training camps for the knights, as well as support you unconditionally in any future invasions the Kingdom might be faced with.

Of course, these terms apply to the Kingdom as well. You must vow to give us the same support in need.

"What do you think we should do, Aristia?" Chris asks her, taking her completely off guard.

Her eyes widen in shock. and she thinks it through.

The only thing she needs is time, and with no one around the table knowing anything about her plan, this is what she suggests.

"I think we should stall things a bit. I feel that we are still unprepared, and stalling might end up bringing us fewer casualties. The General is a calculated man, and despite the tensions between our nations, he wouldn't start the battle so hastily without being provoked, especially considering that we are the ones who declared war on the Kingdom." She looks carefully around the table.

"They might still attack us in the meantime, Your Highness." Mr. Silverstone replies in thought.

"They might, that's true. But it wouldn't be a gamble if you knew you were going to win, would it? We can summon one troop from each border, and by the time they get to the mine, even if the war were to break out, we would still be able to withstand the enemy's army." Aristia continues.

If my proposal interests you, I prepared everything you need to take down the General. You will find an herbal mix of poisonous flowers that you must brew tea with. All the plants in it are native to the Empire, so the General has no way of recognising any of them, or their smell.

The tea tastes nice, leaves no tracks, and he would pass away quietly in his sleep.

My informant will tell you everything else you might need to know.

I am hoping to see you soon.

Until then, stay healthy.

Your sister.

"I see where you're coming from." Chris nods. "However, I fear this gamble would be too much to take on."

"If Her Highness is certain the General wouldn't hasten..." Mr. Silverstone contemplates, addressing Chris directly. "I think it might be worth a shot to stall the beginning of this war, Your Highness."

~

Aristia finds it hard to breathe as Chris informs her that she is free to go and wait for him back in his room, but still, this is for the best. It's exactly the opportunity she's been waiting for.

She doesn't know how much time she has to rummage through Chris' desk, so she hurries and searches for his seal and a paper with his signature.

She makes sure to skim through each and every document passing through her hands, until she finds the least useful one, packing it neatly and hiding it under her garments.

Then, she takes out a spare piece of paper and stamps his steal, folding it in half and trying to conceal it as well without crumbling the paper too much.

Thankfully, she moves quickly enough to be able to rearrange everything in its rightful place by the time Chris returns to his chambers.

"What a night!" He exclaims, then comes closer to her and presses his lips against hers firmly.

"What a night indeed." She chuckles. "I was surprised you wanted me to join the meeting tonight."

"I am trying to honour my promise of giving you power, but... it's difficult when the others are still wary of you." He smiles apologetically.

"I am aware that a spot at that table must be earned, not simply received. Don't worry." Aristia brushes a hair out of Chan's forehead, her hand then settling to rest on his right cheek.

"You seem pale, are you alright?" His gaze flickers, becoming slightly worried.

"Mhm. Just very tired. I've been studying accounting books for the past few days and only had late nights in the library. I think I'd better go to my room and rest."

"That would be for the best. I will escort you myself." He presses his lips against her again, then grabs her hand.

"Thank you."

"You know, we should move your room closer to mine." He contemplates as they walk alongside each other towards Aristia's bedchambers.

"I'd love that." She smiles sincerely, and not too much time passes before they end up in front of her door and kiss each other goodbye, parting.

~

"Your Highness, thank God you're back!" Alice stands up from the sofa with haste, and Aristia notices that she must've waited for some time, with how on edge the girl is being.

"What's wrong?" the Empress frowns.

"A letter has just arrived for you..." The younger maid says.

"Let me see." Aristia hurries towards her and grabs the paper, opening it up to read it.

I have received your letter and will meet you at the time and place suggested.

Reading her sister's words, Aristia lets out a tense exhale.

"Thank you, Alice. This will be all for tonight. You may go to sleep."

~

(A/N) Now we know her plan

oop

Love,

Storm