Meeting the Emperor of Surya isn't exactly delightful after you had snapped at his dear wife.
I stood with Harriette in the middle of the Royale Court bowing to the Sun of Bahamut, The Emperor Theodor II.
"I am pleased to have the jewel of Sand as a delightful surprise," as usual Emperor did his best to ignore my presence at first.
"Your Majesty," Harriette bowed, "It's my honor to be in your presence."
The Emperor smiled or lifted his lips. It was hard seeing his face as his throne was atleast twenty five meters high from where we stood. The entirety of Royale Court was made of eyes blazing metals which would give anyone migraine. Unsurprisingly it was my least favorite place in the Lazar Palace.
"Son in law of mine," The Emperor said.
"Your Majesty?"
"Behave."
Two attendees came hurriedly and showed us to our seats. I knew where was mine. Each member of the Royale Family have their own section of seats in the court. So I was supposed to seat at Hira's section. Usually the middle seat there is occupied by Hira herself and the other two by Clara and Hira's personal Royale Guard Garreth Freefall. My seat was newly added behind Hira's after we got married. I sat at mine and sighed at the empty three seats.
Rita and Harriette had their own section of seats. I noticed even though Marcus showed up alright, the Empress was missing.
Usually there are far more participants in Royale Court but tonight it's only the Lazars, The Gupta Princess and the Hargreaves Prince and a couple of Bahan Nobles like the Southern and Eastern Duke. The Northern Earl, who has a comparatively smaller territory weren't invited.
"I see my daughter has not been able to make it in time," Emperor commented. His ruby red eyes boring into mine as if Hira's absence was somewhat my fault. Unlike the Empress, the Emperor had deep interest in Hira. He didn't love her, no. But he was somewhat obsessed with his daughter.
"Her Majesty the Duke tried her best," I made up, "But the weather of North hadn't been in her favour."
"I see," The Emperor said, openly disappointed.
He had bleached hair like Hira. However he went through cosmetic surgeries to have those perfect ruby eyes. Apparently, Gabriel Lazar, the first Emperor had red ruby eyes. Theodore II was fixed with looking like the second coming of his grandfather.
"Your Majesty, allow me to fulfill my dear sister's duty in her stead," Marcus the dutyfull son stood up from his seat, "I am sure you will not be disappointed."
Usually when a Royale is absent, his or her attendee or in Hira's case, her husband is to represent her in the Court. That was why I was here. But I let him play the knight in shining armour.
"Then I shall allow you to appease the flower of Surya," the Emperor said, "List your suggestions."
And the Court began.
This all started about seven months ago when the Emperor visited Eastern coastal area to check some old world structures which were discovered by some archaeologists. Before departing, he also announced he would check the eastern borders as they were very close to the Waste Land where currently the FFFs inhabited.
Even I, as an insider of the Lazar Family isn't aware exactly what happened there, but next day we received that there was set off of an anti matter bomb in the murman Sea, near the eastern coast of Bahamut. Although most of the territories around that area is inhabited but it definately looked like a anti matter weapon testing that had been accidentally discovered.
The World War III brought an end to all sort of nuclear weapons and researches related to that when all the countries having nuclear power started bombing eachother and ultimately wiped off most of human civilization. Two entire continents in the west were wiped off fully. It was during this time a large group of people evacuated to another planet and cut off their ties with those who survived the nuclear war. Even before World War IV started, the world leaders already abandoned the idea of even developing nuclear weapons. Not because they thought nuclear weapons were too harmful but because they found somethings far more terrifying. The biological warfare started which turned millions of people into rabbied animals using modified rabies virus. People bit eachother spreading the disease and destroying resources and properties. Almost the entire world became insane. Normal anti rabies virus ceased to have any effect on the bitten patients so nobody could do anything for a while. Those who were alive succumbed under the rulling of advanced humanoid technologies which demanded to be worshipped as a God if they wanted to be protected from infected humans.
This gave rise to the great apocalypse that lasted for nine centuries. At the beginning of the tenth centuries when the rabbies virus were nowhere to be seen, people started rebelling against the non humanoid rulling of artificial technologies. During this time destroying any sort of advanced technologies became a thing so the human civilization reversed back quite a bit. So came back ancient problems like people dying from normal curable diseases. It would have truly ended the human civilization for good but many wealthy families hidden for centuries emerged as saviours. They used to run major tech giants and industries in the old world. By building their own underworld cities or isolated bunkers they managed to brave through centuries. Their close employees and servants who served them increased in numbers.
After the end of the reign of the 'Artificial King', human rulers like Lazars and Guptas started emerging. However, territorial fueds began again which eventually led to World War IV. The First Emperor of Lazar Gabriel Lazar made the Peace Treaty happen.
He also made sure to restrict progress in the dangerous fields like nuclear weapons or artificial intelligence. So the anti matter bombs were never supposed to be developed. The last most powerful weapon developed by human beings had been hydrogen bomb.
But the one set off in Murmun Sea had been far more powerful. The coastal areas of Xia and Surya, though as much abandoned as that of Bahamut's were still effected dearly. The world suspects Bahamut is building antimatter bombs secretly while it's hypocrite establisher Gabriel Lazar had forbidden even the studies related to advanced nuclear science. Xia, the newly formed nation , being heavily debted to Bahamut could never question it's authority. Also, Xia's first Emperor happens to Empress' brother. So her presence itself was supposed to serve as the presence of Xia. But Surya didn't owe anything to Bahamut. Also, it was probably the only country which is able to stand on equal footing with Bahamut.
In this conference the Bahamut must prove itself to be innocent if it doesn't want the world to form association against it.
I watched as Marcus produced scientists and engineers to prove how the bomb wasn't nearly as deadly as even old world nuclear weapons and how it was only accidentally set off when the Emperor and he himself had tried to unearth some underwater bunkers they newly discovered there.
Ritaishi threw papers at his face which showed the massive tsunami it had caused and the scale of earthquake which clearly suggested it to be none other than an antimatter weapon.
The Murmun Sea being a neutral territory, could welcome both investigators of Surya and Bahamut but none of the parties suggested that. Because both knew it was fruitless. At the end of the day both countries only wanted an upper hand over the other.
It took almost an hour before the Bahan Emperor suggested that a collaborated investigation to be launched in the Murmun Sea in near future after it is safe to travel there. Meanwhile Ritaishi Gupta was asked what the Bahamut should do to appease Surya.
The point of whole conference was this. A bargain of price. I could see Ritaishi's eyes glinting for the final battle. Her attendees brought out a set a suggestions most of which were far more expensive for Bahamut. Such as repairing the abandoned eastern coast of Surya, bearing the entire cost of water pollution of Murmun Sea Region, giving free work and tour permits to Suryans for five decades etc etc. Out of all her suggestions one stood out the most. The Surya wanted to convert few open lands into major solar plants. I sat up on my seat. I knew it was Surya's actual demand.
As expected the Emperor asked Ritaishi to elaborate on the building of solar plant project .
"Our Emperor the Sun of Surya wishes to turn the entirety of Duni Desert into a massive solar energy producer," said Ritaishi, "We don't need resources but we demand you compensate us by labour."
Basically Surya wanted Bahan people to work in the Duni Desert for who knows how many years to slowly convert it wholly into a solar plant.
"That amount of energy could run the entire world," the Emperor laughed amused.
"Yes, and?" Ritaishi stood in her ground.
"And I know you told us not to worry about the resources but it'll need massive production ?"
"The Sun of Surya would be delighted to strike a trade deal with the Bahamut and establish new Solar Power Industries near Duni."
"What about us?" Harriette suddenly spoke, "All of your plans will dearly effect our economy. We're currently the largest producer of solar power and the only country which had managed to turn a portion of the Greatest Desert Hamada into a solar plant. All countries buy solar equipments from us! Why isn't Surya considering trade deal with us."
"Because the distance between Duni and Hamada Desert is far more than Duni and Bahamut," said Ritaishi simply, "Your solar industries are near Hamada and not in your eastern regions."
It was an excuse. In reality, because of Bahamut's situation it would be compelled to give away the industrial equipments to Surya at a far more cheaper price than Hargreaves would agree to do. Now I understood why Hira invited Harriette. If not for Harriette, Surya would have walked out of this Conference with all the benefits.
"Once you build your solar plant in Duni, our country will definately have less buyers," Harriette continued, "I beg you to solve this dispute by other means."
"The what if Surya refuses to do that?" Ritaishi asked.
"Then Hargreaves will initiate a trade ban on our Solar Equipments. It'll not supply any technology, machinery or anything to both Bahamut and Surya from here on and out."
"Calm down, Prince Harriette," said Emperor but he seemed very pleased with the atmosphere, "My daughter a dear friend of your Sultan had thought about this way before than others, didn't she? Lazars will never do anything that will effect their friends in a negative manner. Princess Gupta please find us another suitable solution."
Ritaishi looked distressed. "Then we must assess and investigate the damages.."
"Then we must wait," Emperor cut in smoothly, "Till it's safe to venture in the Murmun Sea. Before that we must not make any hasty decision."
''We must all operate in a way that everyone comes out victorious don't you think?" Emperor stood up, "Your father must be proud to have a dutyfull daughter like you Princess Gupta."
Just like that the peace conference ended, instead of seven days, within a few hours.
As I entered the restroom provided for Suryan Delegates I found Ritaishi grabbing Harriette's collar and hissing, "Did the Sultan forget about the secret deal that both countries gonna benefit from the Duni Project , huh ??''
"Hira, she said the Murmun Sea had to be investigated!" Harriette squeaked.
"You! Explain!" Ritaishi lunged at me when she spotted me entering the restroom. "First of all I didn't know about any deal between YOU TWO!" I said, "Secondly what I'm supposed to explain! Hira talks to you more than she does with me so just resolve it with her!"
As I busily pulled at my ties and took off my coat Ritaishi impatiently demanded, "But you're going to North soon, if you leave now, you can enquire her about this by tomorrow morning!"
"I can't take any air shuttle without any Royale's permission, It'll take me some days to reach there," I finally admitted, ''And although I'm going North, I'm not planning to drop by the military bunkers she's at."
"What is the meaning of this?" asked Harriette.
"You guys aren't the only ones who have secrets," I said, "But if you plan to be honest with me, I'll be with you as well."