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Lisandra spoke next, also in Westic, leaving the interpretation to the translator.
“Her Majesty, the queen of Orivenia, has invited Prince Faelan to bear witness to the negotiations between our two kingdoms, in the hope that both sides may reach an agreement that benefits all and spares our people from further war,” the translator announced to the room.
A witness.
The word was carefully chosen, neutral enough to avoid revealing their true stance. But what did it mean? Were they here to mediate and broker peace, or to back Orivenia up? It was hard to say.
“Starhaven welcomes Prince Faelan as a witness to our negotiations. We will strive for a peace agreement that is faband just, one that safeguards the interests of both kingdoms and spares our people from unnecessary suffering, Davis responded, his voice steady.
After the translator relayed this to the hall, Faelan smiled and said, “Since both kingdoms share the same goal, the negotiations should not be difficult. I represent Nerathia in this matter and hope for a resolution that will be satisfying for atp.”
That single statement weighed heavily on the Starhaven delegation.
He was not here in a personal capacity, but was representing Nerathia. That meant the kingdom had a vested interest in this conflict. If they truly sided with Orivenia, Starhaven would have to make further concessions to avoid offending Nerathia.
Before leaving Starhaven, Salvador had set clear expectations-seek peace where possible, but do not surrender to unreasonable terms. There was room for negotiation, but Starhaven could not simply yield to Orivenia’s demands.
Now that Nerathia was involved, it seemed like that step alone might not be enough to settle things.
Orivenia had gone to great lengths to bring Faelan and Elysia here. Clearly, they anticipated that Starhaven might only offer a modest concession, and they wouldn’t be satisfied with that.
Sophie noticed that the nobles and officials of Orivenia seemed unaware of Nerathia’s intention to intervene in the negotiations.
Their faces betrayed confusion, but after a moment, they revealed expressions of joy and confidence. It seemed they also believed that Nerathia’s involvement would provide Orivenia with solid backing.
Seeing this, Sophie felt a slight sense of reassurance. If that were really the case, Lisandra would have informed them beforehand. Or at least, she would have let the negotiating officials know.
But why hadn’t she?
It seemed there was only one explanation. Lisandra was also hoping for mutual concessions. Few at court supported her, so she had brought in Faelan from Nerathia??omeone whom everyone would trust.
This made sense of the conversation from the previous night, when Lisandra had invited Sophie and Violet to the palace. The remarks about unmet wishes were clear now. The example of the women taking part in the civil service examinations was just that, an example.
What Lisandra had truly wanted to say was that many decisions were difficult to implement.
After thinking this through, Sophie felt more optimistic.
Following the palace banquet, the Nerathia delegation took their leave. Aside from their meal, they hadn’t voiced many opinions, engaging in only light conversation. As they departed, the Starhaven envoys also rose to bid their farewells. Everyone had to prepare, for as per Liam’s schedule, the negotiations would begin the day after tomorrow.
Back at their residence in the palace, Davis gathered everyone for a discussion. It was essentially the same discussion as before. If they were to make further concessions, they would need to review the map closely.
However, Salvador had already set a limit on how far they could yield. Any further compromise would make it difficult for them to explain upon their return, and it would stain their legacy.
So, no one spoke first. They simply stared at the map, each of them silently weighing the situation in their minds.
The Nerathia delegation had taken up residence at an inn in the capital, as per their request. Liam had secured the entire building for them, and at any time, they could simply give a command for food or late-night snacks to be provided.
Now, spread out on the table before them was a map, one that differed from the maps of the two other kingdoms. This one had been drawn by their own hands, and was far more accurate than either of the others.
Faelan pointed to a mountain range, tapping it lightly with his finger. “This mountain range here divides the two kingdoms’ border cities. It’s the very area of their dispute. Orivenia claims it as theirs, as does Starhaven.
“I’ve reviewed the old maps of Starhaven, and this territory was indeed part of their land, though Orivenia took over it later and has governed it for many years. Now, Starhaven wants to reclaim it through negotiation, but Orivenia will never agree to that. Yet, for Starhaven to simply give up… that won’t happen either.”
“Does that mean it’s impossible to resolve?” Elysia asked.
Faelan chuckled. “Not necessarily. The fact that both sides are willing to sit down and talk means they’re open to concessions. I suspect they’re considering dividing the mountain range, but the key will where they draw the new boundary line And beyond the border dispute, there are many shared interests between the two kingdoms. If they open up border trade, it would benefit both parties.”
Elysia nodded thoughtfully. “I see. So, as you said before, when negotiating, it’s not enough to focus on one issue. One must consider the bigger picture and the broader benefits.”
Faelan gently tapped the map again, letting out a soft sigh. “Sandoria, Orivenia, and Starhaven have fought for decades. Continuing the conflict will only lead to more suffering for the people. The situation is unstable, and for us in Nerathia, who are striving to develop border trade, it’s becoming increasingly difficult. It’s time to end the bloodshed.”
They were here to mediate, but they had their own interests to protect as well. Nerathia was a powerful kingdom and strategically positioned, but to ensure its merchants could travel and trade safely between kingdoms, securing peace was essential.
The negotiations would take place in Griffin Hall, the main hall of the Orivenian palace. A long table had been set, with chairs arranged on either side. Once the negotiators from both kingdoms took their seats, Faelan entered and settled into his place in the center.
The position Faelan took at the table represented Nerathia’s stance in the negotiations.
They were neutral!
Sophie couldn’t help but marvel once more at the power of a strong kingdom.
The initial stages of the talks were tedious, with the same points being repeated over and over. The translators were busy, their voices echoing with historical debates. This was inevitable, as conceding too early would only lead to further compromises.
As such, the first round of negotiations yielded no agreement. It was simply a test of boundaries.
The second round began the following day. Again, they emphasized the same points.
But after the second repetition, Faelan spoke up, saying, “There is no point in prolonging this. The dispute over the border has lasted for decades. It will not be resolved in a day. Let us set the border issue aside for now. What I wish to know is whether both sides are committed to establishing peace and mutual non- aggression between your kingdoms.”
The answer was unanimous. Both parties expressed their desire for a peaceful resolution and hoped to avoid further conflict.
Faelan then presented a stack of papers. On them were detailed lists of goods from both kingdoms-grain, livestock, silk, textiles, handcrafted items, tea, furs, porcelain, paper, and herbs and spices unique to their lands, as well as larger commodities such as rock salt, iron ore, and emerald.
Both sides picked up the lists, their initial tense expressions gradually easing.
When there were significant mutual benefits, some issues could be negotiated, and those that couldn’t could always be set aside for now.
With years of war having drained their treasuries, both kingdoms needed to recover. Based on Nerathia’s own experience, they knew that focusing solely on agriculture while neglecting commerce was outdated. A balance of both was the true path to prosperity. After all, taxes on commerce were steep.
With Faelan’s list in hand, both kingdoms agreed to temporarily halt the border discussions and return to their respective courts for further deliberations.
In truth, it was clear to everyone that this was a strategic distraction. Yet, they understood its purpose. Nerathia, with its thriving maritime trade, also sought to secure access to both kingdoms’ goods.
This was Faelan’s open maneuver, but all involved willingly stepped into it. Everyone stood to gain, and both kingdoms desperately needed what was being offered. The continued trade interests between the two kingdoms made it possible to resolve many of the issues with ease.
When negotiations resumed the following day, the topics had shifted.
Faelan spoke first, saying, “Disputes between neighboring kingdoms are inevitable, especially over border lines. Every kingdom faces the same challenge. But if this issue keeps dragging both of you into war, the losses far outweigh the gains.”
Both sides nodded in agreement, recognizing the truth in his words.
From that moment, the tone of the negotiations changed. Gone were the endless repetitions of the past, and the discussions shifted to more substantive matters, focusing on where each side could make concessions.