Gilmon leaned toward the carriage window as he rode alongside.
"Kayra! We’ll reach the Armand estate soon! I hope you’re ready!"
"Whaaaat!?" Kayra shouted back, her voice swallowed by the rush of wind and the rhythmic pounding of massive taloned feet.
"I said we’ll reach the Armand estate soon!"
Kayra glanced up at Gilmon, who was riding his Pekko with casual ease, and shook her head in confusion, still unable to hear properly.
Gilmon shook his head and chuckled, then glanced forward.
He saw Hesbeirn and a large group of Armand Elite Knights waiting in the road ahead.
Kayra was surprised when the carriage didn’t slow down, but Hesbeirn and the others simply fell in alongside them, matching their speed effortlessly. She peeked from the other side of the window, watching as the massive general rode up beside Gilmon.
"Who is it, Gilmon?" Hesbeirn shouted over the wind.
"Don’t tell you forgot already? It’s Kayra!"
"Huh!? The girl from the talkie before?"
"Yeah!!" Gilmon shouted back.
"So she’s your scandal?"
"Wha? Noooo!!! She’s Lady Kayra!!!"
"Lady Kayra who!?" Hesbeirn bellowed over the wind.
"Tybalt’s first wife!!!!" Gilmon shouted at Hesbeirn.
Hesbeirn shrugged, his Pekko keeping perfect stride. "Don’t know... don’t care. Anyway, about that drink..."
Gilmon facepald mid-stride.
"All you think about is drink! If I keep accompanying you to drink, I’ll be in trouble with King Garius later!"
"Hah!? It’s celebration month. Besides, Garius isn’t that strict!" Hesbeirn chuckled.
"Hah! I’m not like you, casually calling Our King by his na."
Kayra watched Hesbeirn and Gilmon chatting easily while the other Armand escorts, clad in the sa sleek tactical gear she’d seen during the rescue, rode alongside, perfectly at ease.
I wonder what they’re talking about?
She glanced down at her daughter, who had fallen asleep with a half-eaten piece of chocolate still clutched in her hand.
Kayra studied the treat.
They call this sweet "kokolat," right?
Bitter and sweet... and everyone here seems to love it.
I can’t believe a food considered a noble’s luxury, just because it’s sweet, is so easily bought by everyone here in Armand. When we stopped at the Armand border town, Gilmon just paid a few coins and bought several, then gave my daughter two.
This would sell so well if we could trade with Armand again.
I must et King Garius and plead for his help. Help chase the invaders from our land, let us continue trading. And maybe... maybe we can reclaim that stretch of land my useless husband gave away because Garka demanded it.
The main road. Our lifeline.
anwhile, in the throne hall.
Javier was already seated at the table near the throne, the polished oak table set to the side for official audiences.
He glanced around and saw most of the Armand Elite Knights were present, standing at attention along the walls.
"Is this really necessary, Alf?" Javier exhaled, seeing the formal display. "Since my puppet knight is here, I don’t think we need..." But before he could finish, Alf interjected.
"Prince Javier. Please rember that you are a prince, and this is an official matter. We must present the dignity and authority of the Armand crown. Lady Kayra is not just a noble, she is the rightful owner of Tybalt lands, and she cos seeking aid. How we receive her will shape how our nation is seen."
"Yes, yes... anyway, Alf." Javier started checking his portable mana computer.
"What is it, Prince Javier?" Alf stood beside him and asked.
"About this Tybalt region. I rember you ntioned sothing during the last night at the command center."
A faint smile touched Alf’s lips. "That they could beco potential allies, or at least a new trading partner."
"Right." Javier nodded, scanning another report Alf had prepared. "But still... you know the risks if we intervene directly, don’t you, Alf?"
"The risks are considerable, Prince Javier," Alf replied, his tone shifting to that of a seasoned advisor. "A direct military intervention, sending Armand troops into Tybalt territory would violate the sovereignty we ourselves now claim. It would set a precedent that Armand acts unilaterally, without invitation or treaty. Kimar would use it to paint us as expansionists. Even if we both know that Kimar would think twice to declare war on us."
He paused, adjusting his glasses.
"The Right of Arm was granted to us after we were attacked twice by the Human Kingdom and won both wars. It gives us legal and moral authority to defend ourselves and secure our borders, not to intervene in wars between other Human Kingdom nobles. Using it to enter Tybalt uninvited would twist that right into aggression."
Javier nodded slowly. "Right. Arjam was different. The land was lordless, refugees were flooding our borders, and Garka and Turka were about to seize it by force. We had cause and legal cover to intervened and annexed those lands with The Right of Arm. Now, we don’t, since Armand has already declared independence, and the previous law doesn’t give us the right to bear arms in another land unless they attack us first.
Javier rubbed his chin and leaned back into the chair.
"But if we don’t intervene, and Garka and Turka are fielding Kimar’s new weapons... Tybalt doesn’t have the strength, numbers, or equipnt to hold them off. Even if we know their cannons are useless in the rain, that’s a slim advantage against a full-scale invasion."
Alf stood behind him, a faint smile on his lips. "Indeed, Prince Javier."
Javier stared at the report on the table, then leaned back with both hands behind his head. "We have options to help them... but not without risk. Covert intervention, for example, arming them discreetly, maybe even sending a few ’advisors.’ But plausible deniability only works if the gear isn’t traceable. Since only Armand produces magic-tech, anything we give them would point straight back to us."
He leaned forward, took the coffee Liana had just poured for him, and sipped, then his eyes widened as he shot a glare toward her soft giggle from his side. Huffing, he turned back to Alf.
"We could try diplomatic pressure on Kimar... but I doubt it’ll work on a stubborn fool like him. Besides, Armand doesn’t even have an envoy in the Human Kingdom anymore, sending one now would just put our people at risk."
Javier sighed, his expression tightening. "Humanitarian aid is another option... but food and dicine won’t stop an army. It might ease the suffering, but it won’t save Tybalt."
( End Of Chapter )
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