As expected, the entire eting went a lot more smoothly once Regina and Aliekin had worked out a basic agreent. They now had an outline they could negotiate with, and so of the tension seed to have eased. The atmosphere was a lot more cordial, in her opinion, which seed to help.
Despite the gnos effectively agreeing to surrender their sovereignty. Clearly, so of them didn’t like it. But she suspected Aliekin had expected it, had probably even considered and made plans for the possibility of joining the Empire. Maybe they were just putting on a front now, trying to get the best deal and build so goodwill. In the end, Regina didn’t really care about the details of their reasoning or how they felt about it as long as they worked out a good agreent for everyone.
Personally, Regina still had so misgivings. She had been serious about not wanting to conquer any more countries. The Empire would already be seen as an expansionist state. But the longer the war against the gnos raged, the less she could have settled for any other outco.
And besides, they already had enemies — the Esen and the Western Confederation were clearly preparing to fight her, at least. Any diplomatic attempts she’d made to try and smooth things over with the Western Confederation had been stonewalled. Under the circumstances, passing up the opportunity to get the gnos on her side would be eminently stupid.
Regina was fairly sure the rest of her closest companions agreed with her. Janis was perhaps the most conflicted, from what she could tell, but she was also willing to leave the decision to Regina. Kiara would see any increase in the Empire’s power as a good thing and was optimistic about the benefits it could bring to the gnos, too, so she was supportive of the plans. June didn’t seem to care too much either way and was more concerned with her newly-expanded psychic abilities, although Regina suspected she had more thoughts on it than she seed to and was simply choosing not to voice them. As for her drones, or at least the senior ones in leadership positions in the hive, she knew so of them thought she’d gone far too easy on the gnos. They might have a point, but they also didn’t feel strongly about the matter and were willing to accept her reasoning, and Regina was wary of playing into the more … monster-y parts of their people.
This wasn’t to say Regina didn’t feel any conquest urge. She’d always had it in the back of her mind, the desire to strengthen her hive and expand her territory, which sotis manifested in the desire to bring more land, more people under her rule — although she suspected that part was influenced by her human side.
So small inner part of her was curling up in satisfaction at the idea of Aliekin submitting to her, bringing his people under her rule. She was at least self-aware enough to know she probably couldn’t simply bla it on the Hivekind instincts. It was probably so kind of mix, partly influenced by her personality; but it was a bit of a aningless question anyway. Regina didn’t know what she’d been like before her transformation. She had no way to tell whether her feelings and attitudes were new or not. For all she knew she’d been an entirely different person, or she hadn’t changed at all.
Beyond what the amnesia would do, anyway.
She liked to think she’d mostly co to terms with it, though.
“We appreciate the rcy you have shown us, Your Imperial Majesty,” one of the gnomish delegates told her.
Regina wasn’t sure if he was being honest or not. This particular man had a good poker face and good ntal defenses, built on good self-control. She didn’t try to look into it more deeply. Instead, she just smiled, nodded and murmured sothing vaguely pleasant. (What did you even say to that? ‘You’re welco’ seed a bit weird.)
“I am glad we could all co to a beneficial resolution,” Kiara said.
Mutters of agreent filled the room. It had taken so hard hours of negotiation, but Regina could tell she wasn’t the only one pleased that they had finally reached an agreent. Or at least hamred out the agreent she’d made with Aliekin, and adjusted so details.
Whether the Gnomish Confederation would officially be a Protectorate of the Empire had been a heavily debated issue. Surprisingly, just as much among the Imperial side as the gnos. So drones, as well as Kiara of all people, had been in support of it. She’d argued that the people and soldiers of the Empire needed this as a tangible prize of their victory. That if they weren’t going to receive heavy reparations, they needed to gain power, and future taxes, from the Gnomish Confederation. Letting the gnos go with nothing but so complicated treaties and the prospect of further negotiations would engender discontent, making it seem like they’d fought for nothing.
The gnos, for their part, had seed to follow Aliekin’s stance of preferring it to the burden of reparations, but she could tell so of their pride was hurt at the prospect of vassalization to the Empire. Even if it would only be for a few years before they could join the Empire fully.
Eventually, it had been decided they would stick to it, although they were careful with the language used in the official peace treaty and those that would follow. The gnos were primarily their allies now. The Empire took on the solemn responsibility of protecting the Gnomish Confederation. References to it as a sovereign state had been omitted, however.
In the end, the deal was hopefully complicated and balanced enough that they could spin it as whatever they needed to whoever they talked to, depending on the situation.
“I will be glad to fight on your side instead of against you in any future wars, may they hopefully be long in coming,” Janis said.
That comnt earned an even more positive response, although Regina could tell that several people weren’t exactly comfortable at the ntion of future wars. They weren’t idiots, clearly. Still, it was an interesting insight into the people Aliekin had brought to this eting; as expected, his supporters were primarily from the military. Regina would have to see about introducing them to Ben and her other commanders and setting up the groundwork for future cooperation. Hopefully they could at least prepare joint training exercises after a bit of ti passed. There was no point letting the experience everyone gained in the war go to waste, and they had to do sothing to work at overcoming hate and resentnt.
"Will you be visiting the Confederation … My Empress?” Tikimaken asked her hesitantly. There was a noticeable pause before the title, but he did decide to use it so she wouldn’t complain.
Regina shook her head. “I wish I could,” she said honestly. “Unfortunately, I’m afraid it won’t be possible. Security concerns aside, it is too far from the center of the Empire for now.”
Aliekin’s eyes narrowed slightly and she wondered if he realized what she actually ant, if he put the pieces together regarding the psychic link. What did they know about it or her psychic abilities? One more question to add to the list of what she should ask once imdiate matters were settled.
The Confederation would take her too far from the center of her power, and it would leave drones on the far side of the Empire without access to the psychic link. It was a sha, though. If it wouldn’t expose their border to the Western Confederation, Regina would have loved to see the gnos’ land with her own eyes, at least once things cald down. She supposed she’d see it through her drones, so of them would certainly visit, and she’d just have to pay attention to them and make sure mories were stored in the psychic link.
“Then what about you, Princess Janis?” the general asked. “We would love to host you.”
Janis smiled weakly. “Thank you for the sentint. I think I would like to take you up on it at so point. For now, there are matters the war has kept from tending to. I’ve fallen behind on my studies and I’m looking forward to honing my magic.”
“Of course,” he nodded graciously and started asking about her spells. For soone who didn’t use magic himself, Aliekin was fairly knowledgeable.
Regina tuned out that conversation, though, and instead glanced at the rest of the people present. After the tentative end of the negotiations, at least for now, the strict gathering had loosened a bit and people were drifting into groups, talking to each other. Even across race or nation boundaries, she noted. We were at war only a few days ago. This is a really good sign.
They were not planning on a grand ceremony to celebrate their new ‘alliance’, although there would be one later with the gathered delegates and so Imperial troops. Maybe they should organize a few events where people could mingle with each other, though. Regina shook her head lightly and pulled her thoughts back to the present, shelving such ideas for the future. She shouldn’t get overly enthusiastic; many people in the Gnomish Confederation might react much worse to their peace settlent.
You don’t seem as happy as I thought you would be, Max silently comnted to her.
Regina turned her head slightly to look at him and raised an eyebrow. Don’t I? I’d say I feel quite satisfied.
Maybe. He was quiet for a mont. Personally, I’ll feel better once I see those who were involved in Bea and the others’ deaths et their well-deserved fate.
Who would have thought you’d be so vindictive, she teased him.
Max only shrugged in response. She could feel his mood, quietly contemplative, even if he was also satisfied to see this outco.
She shook it off and instead turned to the gnos, attempting so small talk. They were cautious, and it felt rather stilted, but at least she did get the answers to a few questions she’d been wondering about. Mostly about their culture and geography. She even sensed them relax a little as the conversation went on.
The day ended with everyone in high spirits, and Regina turned in early, eager to get a full night’s sleep for once. The next day, they’d do the formal signing of the treaties.
As planned, Regina wore her proper, heavy crown for this one. There were no photographers, but she still felt she should look the part. She paired it with sothing that vaguely resembled an old, showy military dress uniform. It might be a bit weird since she hadn’t actually fought in this war, unlike Janis and others, but she did prefer the style to local fashions.
They made a bit of a production out of signing the treaty, and Regina discreetly squinted at Aliekin’s signature on the paper. At least she didn’t seem to have missed sothing about gnomish family nas. For her part, she signed with her first and last na, preceded by ‘Dr.’, after a mont of consideration. The title might not an much to the gnos, but it ant sothing to her, and it was technically supposed to be sothing like part of her na, in the old world. Janis, as one of the victorious commanders and the Imperial heir, signed as well, as did Kiara as a witness with high standing in the Empire. They didn’t have a high-ranking representative from Nerlia present and she also didn’t want to give the impression that she needed their permission to sign treaties with foreign powers, so that was all. Janis signed as ‘Janis Starlit von Woltan’, she noted.
“It is done now,” Aliekin muttered as they went to the reception afterward. “There is no going back now, I suppose.”
“For better or worse,” Regina agreed. She glanced at the sky, where dark clouds were starting to gather, and exhaled. “I only wish we could have done it sooner.”
He glanced up to et her gaze, staring intently. After a mont, he nodded and looked away again.
“I will expect you in Cera in a few months’ ti at the latest, General,” she said, ignoring it.
“I am looking forward to the visit, Your Majesty,” he agreed.
Regina took one of the glasses the servants — mostly locals, though they’d brought a few from Cernlia’s palace — had set out, making sure to grab juice instead of alcohol, and swirled it in her hand. “We will also need your help in opening the trade route to the south,” she said.
Aliekin nodded, clearly unsurprised. “I’ll see if I can gather so people who have experience with it,” he said. “They might have died or gotten lost in the war, however, so it might take a while and I can make no promises about results.”
“That’s fine.” Regina sipped on her drink, glancing around, then back at the general. “By the way, have you gathered further information on the dark elves?”
The delegation they’d sent to the Empire had dutifully made connections and arranged a few trades, as well as they could given the large distance, but had been rather quiet overall. Regina supposed it made sense they wouldn’t have much to do. But given Madris was also a dark elf, and that they had gone to the trouble of sending an envoy, she ought not to ignore them anyway.
“We have had so trade contact with them,” Aliekin said. He hesitated for a mont, then shrugged slightly. “From what I hear, they were not best pleased about the war. I am sure we will receive official congratulations regarding its end any day now.”
Regina nodded. That wasn’t a particularly surprising assessnt. “Have you had contact with the Esen?” she asked casually.
Aliekin still froze for a mont. “The Executive Council did,” he answered after a second. “They did not send a permanent ambassador, at least not at the end of the war. I am afraid I won’t be of much help in this matter.”
“I see.”
“I assu you want us to cut all contact with them, Empress Regina?”
She considered the question for a mont. “If you make contact with them, or they with you, you don’t need to cut if off entirely,” she finally said. “I would simply like to be inford of any such thing.”
The general frowned. “I hope you don’t want us to play double agent for you, Your Imperial Majesty.”
Regina shook her head. “It’s still my hope we can solve the conflict diplomatically, having a channel between an Imperial ally and the Esen may be very helpful.”
He grunted sothing and moved to get another glass of wine. Regina resisted the urge to scowl or tug on her mandible.
She hadn’t been lying, although she didn’t think the chances of just negotiating a good relationship with the Esen were particularly high, to put it mildly. Contact between the gnos and them might still be helpful, though, if in other ways.
Regina took a mont to close her eyes and take in the energy of the room, the emotional states of the gathered people.
Minor issues aside, it had turned out rather well.
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