Steel and Mana

Chapter 185 – Empress & Sovereign (2)

I expected many things to happen, even prepared mentally for a worst-case scenario, but to have the Empress of Ishillia plead for me to save someone? That was not something I would have put any bet on. Still, here we are… When they brought down the unconscious Milan, I began understanding the issue here. I knew from Kustov's letters that the Empress was very interested in his son, but I didn't expect it to be like this. One glance at my wife, I knew she was already sympathizing with Mirian Ishillia, and I was not someone who would be his own enemy. If this means I can guarantee my independence without worrying about the apocalypse… I will do so.

While we escorted them to the palace, Mirian didn't try to look around and ask questions; her sole focus was on Milan alone, and no matter how I looked at her, I could only see that she was genuine. I saw the same kind of light in her eyes that I saw in Sasha's eyes when I almost ended up dead.

When Mikan entered the room we placed Milan in, she had already been informed why she was needed so suddenly. Pion and Oleg helped Sasha escort the Duke and the Empress out after I told them that if they wanted it to work, then they had to leave us two alone with Milan. Did she trust me completely? Probably not, but she had no options to complain or try and haggle.

"They got him good…" I mumbled, checking the injuries and stitches on his body, "He has a high fever... He won't last long and probably has more internal injuries that the current level of medicine can't deal with."

"Don't worry, I will heal him!" Mikan smiled confidently, but before she could begin, I stopped her and looked into her eyes.

"Heal him, but don't regrow his hand."

"But…"

"Mikan, we are talking about the current Empress of the Ishillian Empire here. Do you trust that bloodline completely? Without doubts? Answer me honestly."

"No…"

"Same. I am not going to let you reveal to them that you are capable of such type of magic. Save his life and heal him, but let his arm be as it is. If it turns out we can truly work together and be amicable neighbors, we can still do it later on. For now, we are going to keep some cards close to our chest." I explained, patting her hands before gently kissing her lips.

"Okay… I'll do it as you ask."

"Thank you." After tucking her hair behind her ear, I left her to do her spell in silence, taking much longer than when she was healing Yuri.

It was midway through the 'surgery,' if I can call it that when Elena appeared. She was, in an understandable distraught state, biting her fingernails, unable to sit still for a second. After somewhat managing to calm her down and sending her to her father, I called on Merlin at once.

"Go, accompany Elena, the Empress, and our Duke for now."

"Should I keep a close eye on them? I also wanted to suggest it…"

"That too," I nodded, gently knocking on his head, "But it is also the perfect time to smooth things out between you and Elena!"

"Oh…"

"Yeah, oh indeed! Now go! I can't help you more than this, Merlin… If you screw it up, it is on you…"

When Mikan reappeared almost two hours later, she looked tired, requiring me to hold her up before she could tumble, escorting her back to our room. Of course, she succeeded in healing Milan, who was already up, looking surprisingly energetic and very much lost as to where he was. It took me a few minutes to explain everything, finally including him in all the things his father had yet to reveal to him properly. When I was sure he was clear in the head and understanding of the situation, I led him to the conference room, where I watched as Mirian jumped on him, kissing and hugging him everywhere before fainting.

"Really?" I asked out of reflex, watching her body go limp, held up by Milan with his intact left arm and the stump he now had for his right one.

"Help?" He asked, as his good arm was now missing, finally prompting his sister and father to step in, making us carry the unconscious Empress to a guest room.

"You were tempted." Yuri whispered to my ear, shadowing Sasha since returning, ready to protect her if Mirian would try anything.

"Tempted?" My first wife asked, looking at me questioningly.

"I saw it in his eyes!" Yuri nodded, looking towards the door of our temporary guests, "And I agree. Our husband thought about killing the Empress when she fainted. I can still do it if you want it."

"Hey!" Sasha protested, looking at us now even more angry than before. She expected something more of a perverted reason and not a bloodthirsty one.

"It did cross my mind." I acknowledged honestly, "But it wouldn't be the ideal move. For now, lock down the city. I already told Oleg nobody is going out! Touching that ship could result in it blowing up and wiping us out, or who knows! Father is keeping an eye on it, but we need a rotation to let him rest. So, for now, Yuri, go, try to sleep; you will be next to sit in your mech and guard it."

"Roger!"

"Luna and Mom will take care of the kids; they will move to the Castle for security's sake, and I assigned Pion to escort them. The rest of us will stay and entertain the CEO of Ishillia."

"CEO?" Sasha asked, chuckling, already knowing the term.

"Yeah, because I have a feeling that the old wizard below the capital city is the true shareholder in Ishillia and its stocks…"

…
….
……

The next day started early for us, but Duke Kustov joined us at the breakfast table, explaining all that happened and trying to prove he didn't want to betray me at all, not that I thought that anymore. When he finally believed me, he began constantly thanking us for saving his son's life as we saved his. He even explained how happy he was to see that his daughter seemingly found someone for herself who was my right-hand man… and a wizard at that. Geez. He took that hypnosis spell way too well that even I was beginning to feel embarrassed by his constant glorification of my palace, the city, the mechs, everything. He only stopped speaking when Mirian appeared around noon, accompanied by Milan, who, just like his dad, began thanking me so profusely that I immediately diverted everything toward Mikan. She had to be thanked, not me!

"Can we talk?" The young Empress asked in the end, and I knew it was no longer about Milan but about what was going on here.

"Of course." I nodded, "Let's get into the proper place for it then." Leading everyone into the throne room this time, I sat down at the same table my ministers were using, facing the current ruler of the Empire that I had officially cut off. There was no going back on that. "I'm all ears."

"Who are you, really?"

"Well, my name is Leon. I was born as the son of Kalash and Louise, inheriting the Frontier and being named its Viscount by your predecessor. But I thought you knew that."

"I don't believe you." She shook her head, looking at me first before turning to my wife, then scanning the rest who were present. The Kustov family, Merlin, Yuri, Mikan, Oleg, and the present guards, everyone was scrutinized silently by her before her eyes returned to me. "I am untrained in recognizing the ancients, but I read enough to realize when I face one. I saw a few people who were born with the red hair of the Vasas but lacked their mythical powers. Until today…"

"Huh." I hummed as I looked at my wife, "It is the first time when I have been stumped by a word."

"Then you finally know what it feels like." She whispered in a low chuckle before Merlin interrupted us, snapping his fingers.

"Oh! I know that name! They were exterminated by the Ishillians when the Empire was established. If I recall correctly, they left a warning that they would return and reclaim what was theirs."

"Aaaand you think it's us?" I asked, half-seriously, pointing at Sasha and me.

"It looks like it from my position." She responded calmly, making me shrug.

"Damn prejudice… I'm a ginger, so is my wife, not some ancient spooky bloodline."

"Yet your hair color is rare throughout the world." She countered, making me moan as I rubbed my temple.

"Because you genocided them… duh…"

"You are opposing us. Another proof." She pushed on, making my wife chuckle, and I gave up on trying to say otherwise. So be it if they wanted us to be the returning mythical enemy of yore.

"I am only opposing those who would be trying to trip me up. Are you thinking about it, Empress Mirian?"

"Mhmmm… Not anymore." Okay, I did not expect her to be so malleable right from the get-go. "But there is someone who would." She added that, and I knew this was where the real talks would begin.

"The old guy living in your basement, yes?"

"You know about Pascal? Well, he did come forward after my predecessor died…"

"I met him, too. I guessed back then that it was him who was really in charge."

"He is a tumor on the Empire." She answered in such a serious tone it made me lean forward, watching her eyes as she spoke, "For centuries, he has been holding the bloodline in his hand, almost as if he is designing us, breeding us selectively to be his little puppets. I don't know his powers nor the depth of his influence and resources, but there have to be plenty of little secrets he can call upon. But... I see where the winds are blowing." She smiled, her eyes moving a bit up, looking at my hair before refocusing on my eyes. "You want the Empire, no?"

"Nah." I answered at once, making her reel backward, blinking her eyes as if she were trying to reconfigure her brain. "Too much hassle. I'm fine with directing my Avalon alone. It lets me have a fun-filled life. Look at yourself, Empress Mirian! You have to worry about a multitude of things! I don't need that; I don't need early creases under my eyes nor early white streaks in my hair!" I couldn't help but grin when I saw her touch her face, running her fingers through her hair before she forced her hand back to the table.

"You… really don't?"

"Nope."

"Then help me get rid of that old monster. It is in both of our interests. Help me reform the Empire, and you can be independent. I will not interfere with your territory at all! The Gods, you would be safe as the Empire would surround you as a massive shield!"

"Err… you do know that my Uncle also wants to follow in my footsteps?"

"Now I do. Done. Help me do this, and he can go with you."

"Um…" I mumbled, shifting my posture as I wasn't expecting such an easy and positive conference between us. "This is a bit quick, Empress Mirian. We need to work this out in detail, but… I am not against the idea. If we can come and trust each other, that is."

"Agreed." She nodded, forming a smile, "I also don't expect it to be like walking into the capital city and slitting the throat of that old monster. I don't know how many nobles he has in his pocket in secret. Are there hidden mages that I don't know about? Old bastards like him… We are unaware of many variables, and if I move against him, I am sure there will be a civil war. And…”

"And?" Sasha asked, watching her fall silent.

"We could work together. You could do whatever you want with my support, while I also collect my own allies… Then, operating jointly, we can reform the Empire and free it from this sickness, rotting it from within!"

"…" It was tempting and one of the best offers. I was sure that we would butt heads sooner or later but with this… "Haaaah!" With a long sigh, I leaned back, closed my eyes, thinking for a prolonged minute before speaking again, "I need to think everything through. Give me a day, Empress Mirian. Until then, you are free to tour the city under my soldiers' protection."

"Understandable." She nodded, not throwing a tantrum that she would be closely surveilled. "And I'd like that. Coming in, I had little time to enjoy your creation. Who knows… If we can work together, maybe I will also invite you to my ship and let you see how it is."

That… was tempting. Very much so.

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