I walk into the Arrian throne room. I have been here multiple times but each time the eerie atmosphere leaves me shaking in fear. The buildings are all majestic and powerful but seem to lack the Allonian charm. They seem... empty.

I look up to see the Arrian flag. A foreboding symbol of Arrian military might and sovereignty. Instead of Michael De Arria it is his wife sitting in the seat. She is a cold beauty, much like snow. She is probably just here as a figure head, most likely it will take some time before the emperor either refuses or accepts my proposal.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, your majesty.”

I say bowing in a sign of respect. I have found that following traditions and showing respect are the most important part of dealing with Arrians. Without these it is impossible to even get to diplomacy. The Arrian Emperor once told me that ‘the rules of politeness must be followed at all times. Even during a declaration of war.’ I, however, have a feeling his empress will not care much for any offers I will make. “Your reputation as a beauty precedes you.”

“Thank you, I see that you are doing well here in Arria Reynard Hamond De Mitham.” Her intonation doesn’t hint at her opinion of this meeting. Her faces is complete neutral. My intuition from dealing with these Arrians does give me a hint. “Shall we get on to the matter of the day?”

“Of course. By the powers vesting in me by the Emperor of Allonia, William Asherton, I request Arria sign a treaty of white peace. Further hostilities shall cease and all land shall be set back to before the war.” I am beginning to sweat more and more as each word comes out of my mouth. The guard behind the empress, his name being Luca, begins to glare at me.

“Luca, cut his tongue.” She spits out the command. I should have listened to my intuition. She is definitely scarier than the emperor, he is much more reasonable. I begin to retreat but before I could sprint away, I notice that Luca doesn’t move.

“My lord, the Emperor has stated that he finds killing the messenger to be distasteful.”

“Very well, we shall allow him to keep his tongue.” My knees feel as if they are about to defect and collapse at any moment. Her eyes still look down upon me, she wouldn’t even flinch watching violence. Remind me too much of the Goldwell family. A bunch of heartless people. Hell, the Goldwell family has silver hair just like these damn Arrians.

I dismiss myself before walking out of the throne room. This meeting has taken a couple years off of my life. I look out the window trying to get my baring and gather my thoughts. Arria is a beautiful. A pity the nation is a bunch of fanatics. Military? We have to be the best! Religion? Ours is naturally the best! Land? It is the most resource rich! Do we actually use the darn resources? Nope. Though one could argue if they were really the most resource rich country the fact of the matter is they are fairly resource rich.

Instead of tapping into their vast resources they just leave them and farm. The wasted industrial potential makes me sad but I am not about to tell them. Well... they are at least better than the Yanzhou. They absolutely refuse to do any sort of diplomacy, Arrians may look down on us but they seem to treat us with a baseline of respect. Besides the Yanzhou aren't even native.

Perhaps I shall go to the tavern tonight, might find myself a lady to spend the night with. Today just isn’t looking like my day. I walk back to my lodging and begin writing a letter for the Emperor. He will have to bring Arria to its knees before it is even willing to talk to us.

This means a headache within my future. If I don’t kill myself first the Arrians will probably do it for me. Each person I had passed within the halls looked at me suspiciously. The collar of my clothes had begun to stick onto my neck due to sweat.

I just want to get back to the great plains and farmlands of Allonia. To see the rivers and coastlines of my homeland. Living with these Arrians have affected me.