It's So Much More Than That (A Selection Story)

Chapter 29

Chapter 29:

The conference room is stuffy. It's making me feel nauseous already. When we entered, I saw that a video call had already been prepped, and now we were just waiting.

Maxon takes my hand as I nervously tap my foot. I have no idea what we're going to say to the Prime Minister. From the day I became queen, I had decided that I was not going to ship any of my daughters off to a foreign country. Heck, I'd do anything to make them happy, no matter what. Even if that meant pulling a country through war.

I knew Maxon was reading my thoughts, because he squeezes my hand gently. "Stay calm, love." He says.

I huff. "I'll be calm once I know that we're not going to pawn off our future daughter to New Asia.

"We don't even know the genders, Ames. And what if a girl is born first? There's so many factors we don't know yet, so we have nothing to worry about. When the time comes, you know I'd never give my daughter to New Asia, right?"

"I know Maxon, it's just, what if it's the only way to avoid war? Do you really think they'd give us an ultimatum?"

"I don't know, but we'll just have to see."

Stavros, who kindly woke up in the middle of the night to take the call too, says "they're calling, Your Majesties." I stare blankly at the large screen, holding my breath in anticipation. My other hand instinctively settles on my stomach. At last, Stavros answers the call, and the screen comes to life.

"Hello, Your Majesties." The man who appears on the screen is familiar from the various official letters we've received in the mail, and our previous video calls. Prime Minister Lee is a bit balder now, but his features are still the same: a close-shaven beard and a small pointed nose. It looked like it was the middle of the day over there, because there was a lot of light filtering in the ornate shade behind him. In the few instances that we've interacted with him, he's been quite reserved, but very determined.

"Hello Your Excellency." I say, my voice measured and even. I'm trying my best not to be to anxious or impulsive; both things could be very dangerous.

 "I hear a congratulations is in order." He says. "You two must be very happy."

 "We are." Maxon chimes in.

"I see, but we also have other matters to discuss. Matters, I'm afraid aren't going to wait that long." Maxon's hand tightens around mine. Something about this man tells me that he's not above manipulating others to get what he wants, and he definitely wanted to sway our opinions. "You see, there's something that I want, and it is in the best interest of both countries."

"The treaty is secure at the moment, Your Excellency. What else is there to bargain with? We've already made our compromises, and we're sticking to it." Maxon interjected. I could tell that he's getting impatient, something that is rare for Maxon. Over the past couple years we've had our fair share of encounters with the New Asian Prime Minister, and most of those ended up being much...tenser than we'd hoped.

"I'm interested in what else you have to offer, King Maxon. You've been withdrawing troops, no doubt, and while it may have a positive affect on your end of the scale, for us, there's still many regions that have been left to ruin. Our countries have been through a great war, and there's hardly anything we can do to recover. You, yourself, should surely know that Illea and New Asia will never be completely be at peace, at least as long as both nations are still recovering. What I'm suggesting is something that will mend the loose ends down the road."

I know where he's going with this. If he thinks that I'll willingly give over one of my children, then he's very mistaken.

He clears his throat. "Your Majesties. I propose that we do something to ensure close ties for future years to come. It would be wise for you to have one of your children – preferably a princess, create a union between New Asia and Illea. I'm certain it will create lasting ties that will help bring both countries together in a positive light, wouldn't you agree?"