Volume 2 Chapter 13 Peace Negotiations
"Your country already has only the bare minimum soldiers left. Meanwhile, we still keep reserves, more than you have. Both sides agree on this, yes?" Eleonora said calmly.
"...Regrettably>"
King Simeon said, nodding despite his trembling fist. He knew the truth. Six out of ten soldiers were already lost in war. From a purely military view, East Clanf's army was finished.
There were no troops left on the front line. Only rear officers remained. They could not punish traitors. The defeated general's only choice was to negotiate and sign a treaty, to stop more damage.
"And about the land," Eleonora continued.
"First, the eastern nobles who switched sides keep their lands safe. Also, we will cede Zasual Renuro," she said.
"But that will be a detached territory?"
"No, it will be handled separately. We will settle dark elves there and make it an independent dukedom."
The cession of Zasual Renuro, a buffer zone to be used as a gift for leaving the Ropsein Kingdom, was non-negotiable. Simeon felt pain at losing so much. On top of losing the war, the east would become half-independent and open a path to Parisess.
"...Then I will sign," Simeon said. Painful, but without military power to argue, any words were meaningless. Survive by accepting or die by refusing — the choice was clear.
"Very well. Then, Your Highness Elodia."
Eleonora's work was done once the papers were gathered. Royal duties would now be passed on.
"Brother..." Elodia whispered.
"No way, to be defeated by my own sister. Better to end without bowing to Charles' trading house," Simeon muttered. He signed the surrender document, scornfully calling the palace of Charles, the first heir and King of West Clanf, a mere trading house.
Princess Elodia dropped wax on the ring and pressed it onto the paper.
The Ropsein–Clanf war ended with the East Clanf military crushed and parts of their economy ruined. Alongside, the line of succession changed dramatically.
King Simeon, second in line, was out. Princess Elodia, once a name no one would remember, rose.
To use this situation to their advantage, Georges and François proposed the next plan: take Parisess, including the old western coastal region controlled by the Suno people.
Taking the capital city would make Princess Elodia known as the rightful heir to the old Loriengita nobles.
"What is the state of Parisess?"
"It is a land without an owner. The robe nobles and court knights once living there are scattered or dead. The rich have fled to safer places. Now only poor people with no place to go remain, quietly farming outside the city walls."
"...West Clanf kingdom did not try to take it?"
"They want it, as proof of the rightful throne. But the Suno people often raid, kidnap, and harm women. The risk and money lost before peace and trade return is huge."
Parisess had already fallen into chaos earlier than other areas. Though they wanted to reach out, the danger was too great.
"The first thing to solve is the Suno people."
"Are you crazy? If we send a messenger, only corpses will line the streets. If we go to war, those war-crazy barbarians will attack eagerly."
Eleonora agreed with King Simeon's warning but had ties with the Suno people.
"I will meet with Grand Chief Haral. After that, we will see."
Oddly, no one stopped her. There was something about Eleonora that made people trust her to handle it.
"We will go to the western coastal region. Princess Elodia will stay in Clanfurt. Georges and François, lead the old Loriengita soldiers as bodyguards. Viktor and Drahomir will take their troops. Wilhelm and Erika, lead the clans and clear out bandits near Parisess."
After giving the orders, Eleonora moved to the door. In her mind, King Simeon was already history.
"...Is that a ruler? Maybe even Charlemagne acted like that, from behind the scenes."
The western coast—Derenfran, Netoriaus, Nyubtarl—was fully occupied by Suno soldiers from Snowland. The original Loriengita and Clanfurt people were slaughtered.
New settlers from the homeland had replaced the old. The whole people were changed.
King Haral was approached by Eleonora's vassal Erik as a messenger. A fragile front against Loriengita formed. After Emperor Raimont died, the war ended unclear. The region was now independent.
"So, will Haral follow us?"
"We have met before. He was quite friendly."
Eleonora thought that, since they had worked together to conquer Parisess, Haral would listen.
But when they arrived at the western coast, with bodies hung everywhere, it was clear this was no longer Loriengita's Empire, but a colony of the Suno people.
"Do you really think such cruel people will listen?"
Drahomir frowned.
"If they don't, we'll beat them until they do."
"Hey, why didn't anyone say this woman is from the Suno people?"
Eleonora, who would take everything if defeated, was someone who spared lives as long as they survived the battle.
It was a hard choice, but Eleonora was probably the better option.
As crows flew from the corpses, Viktor shivered.
"That is a bad sign."
"No, it is good luck."
The Kamitafira family crest, Eleonora's, showed a two-headed raven. Her father, Lamberto, a former mercenary, chose it because ravens were found on all battlefields.
For Eleonora, the crows on the battlefield were a sign of her family's luck and fortune.
"Well, it must be good luck."
Eleonora stared ahead. Five mounted Suno soldiers patrolled nearby.
She signaled Linker and rode fast to charge them from the side.
"Hey! Boss! You got this!?"
At the crossing, she caught one soldier by the arm with her strong grip, pulled off his reins, and punched him.
She hugged the struggling young soldier and urged Linker to speed up.
The angry Suno soldiers chased her, but stopped at the line of dwarf heavy infantry shields.
"Let's talk."
"This land is wonderful."
Haral, the great chief, spoke in the northern tongue. He poured stolen wine into a big cup and drank with a rough sound. No elegance, just crude strength, but no one minded.
His guards and three sons held similar cups, differing only in size.
"Eating good food, drinking fine wine, holding women, cutting men's necks and spilling blood... is there any life more human than this?"
"No! No! No!" his aides shouted cheerfully.
Haral smiled, then snapped as the door opened. He grabbed his big axe.
"Hey, you're in my way."
A tall woman walked slowly forward. She picked up spilled wine, pulled out the cork with her fingers, and started drinking straight from the bottle.
"...Eleonora!"
"Did you remember me?"
Haral laughed loudly, then shouted to his men.
"Bring meat!"
"—We don't want to fight you. Understand?"
"Sure, but I won't bow."
Since they met in Parisess, Haral had improved his common language. They explained their journey and talked about stopping raids on Parisess, and that he would formally submit.
In return, the western coast would unite and be renamed Mardynno. Haral would be made duke and given full authority.
As allies, Haral would protect his honor and help with food and economic stability.
"You don't need to bow. If you don't attack, we are happy. In return, provide crops and cattle. But if war comes, you must send soldiers."
"War! I love war! When?"
"No plans yet. If it happens, we'll call you. Train until then."
Eleonora finished the wine and tore at the meat, then stood up.
She raised her hand to two dwarves watching in disbelief by the door.
"Let's go to Parisess! If Erika and the others didn't finish cleaning, we'll do it!"
Notes:
• Simeon - The ruler of the East Clanf Kingdom. His appearance is not described, but he is portrayed as a strategic leader. He judges the benefits of expanding into the Magelun region as sufficient. His relationship with Elodia is one of opposition, as he seeks to capture her to justify his territorial ambitions.
• Zasual Renuro - A disputed territory in the border area between East Clanf and West Clanf. It is a buffer zone with unclear ownership, causing tension among nobles.
• Ropsein Kingdom - A budding military power located in Naroppa, known for restructuring Kotche territory and functioning as a production base for weapons and armor. It has protected the lives of soldiers from the Holy Maro Empire.
• Elodia - The second princess of Loriengita. She has shown favor to Georges, who aims to marry her by achieving military merit.
• François - The fourth son of Baron Lanramoncie of the Loriengita Empire. The one who join the tournament before.
• Georges - A rugged-faced knight and the only lower noble among the Twelve Sacred Blades. He volunteers to lead the cavalry, seeking promotion and recognition. He harbors ambitions to marry Princess Elodia.
• Haral - The Chief of the Suno people, a tall and imposing figure. He values strength and generosity, prioritizing land, gold, and resources for his people.
• Drahomir - A member of the royal palace warrior group, the Steel Breakers. He is short in stature (around 150 cm tall) but fierce and protective of his clan. His appearance includes miner attire, and he is quick to anger, especially when it comes to Victor's decisions. He challenges Eleonora to a duel to test her strength.
• Viktor - Viktor Kinshield Novak. A dwarf from the Kinshield Clan. His appearance is described as short, with a long beard and a stout, barrel-like body. He is charismatic and jovial, though his behavior becomes erratic when drunk.
• Erika - A dark elf (forest person) with exceptional agility and magical abilities, including silencing and invisibility magic. Her appearance is characterized by dark brown skin, ash-blond hair cut in a short bob, long ears, and red-black eyes resembling dried blood. She has a detached and playful personality, often showing amusement or indifference to conflicts. Her relationship with others is distant, though she seems to have a tribal connection with men like Klaus and Franz.
• Erik - Son of the fallen warrior Danruhav, seeking revenge and a new land, eager to prove his strength in battle.
• Derenfran - Region located near the border of Rune Delant, in the north. It is a strategic location where the East Clanf Suno countermeasure army is deployed.
• Raimont - The ruler of Loriengita.
• Lamberto - Eleonora's father, the previous knight of Kamitafira, who died in battle against the Suno people.
• Linker - A large gray horse won by Eleonora in a tournament. He is friendly, enjoys apples, and is named by Eleonora. He will be kept at the academy for riding lessons.
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