In Sickness And In Health (Yandere M. Genius x F. Reader x Yandere M. Prince)

Chapter 37: Leverage

A press conference had been arranged the moment Mica got word of what happened. He organized for the press to come to the ballroom and for Haru and Kazuya to speak. It was an international concern that the son of an ambassador - let alone the president's son - had been severely harmed in such a way. The guards had done nothing to stop the attack nor control the protest. That was another issue.

Before, Vethela had the upper hand in negotiations solely because of their military strength. It wouldn't matter if Echal started a war with Umayena because they could easily defend it. And because they had that military advantage, other countries would find it difficult to jump into the war as well. They had neither the influence nor the economic power that Echal did, so they wouldn't even try. However, it was another story when Vethela ruined its public image.

Perhaps, if Haru was the only one harmed, it wouldn't have been such a concern to Mica, but Kazuya had given up his own eye to restore his son's full visibility. The move was used to put further pressure on Vethela. Kazuya had made an announcement to Echal, showing off his eyepatch and explaining the lack of respect the country had for him or his family. And, when Echal was a country so concerned with its sons and daughters, the image was strong. A president who had gone off in hopes of stopping child labor and corruption in Umayena chose to surrender his own eye because his own child had lost one in Vethela's negligence and bias. The country, despite some people's views on Haru, suddenly rallied around him. Now Echal had the upper hand; a hand Vethela was crumbling under the weight of.

Mica tried. He tried to do whatever he could to salvage their relationship. Besides the press conference, he tried to send the embassy all kinds of doctors, invited them to meals, and even sent gifts. Every single gesture was rejected. The kind Kazuya he knew refused to speak with him. That alone went to show how much he valued his son and how truly pissed he was. And other countries had a reason to feel the same.

The ballroom was not decorated nor were any chairs provided to the press. It was standing room only, a countless amount of people packed into the massive room. They all readied themselves to receive answers, people practicing their questions and trying to push to the front. Ironically, this time, the palace guards controlled them, making sure there would be no more injuries.

Mica waited impatiently as any of the ambassadors had yet to arrive. He knew why. They were all probably taking the opportunity to discuss their discontent against Vethela. Perhaps they were planning not to show up at all; to show the entire world that Vethela's golden age was over. And, he, as a regent, had ruined it all. Though Rei had shown up, he was not officially king, meaning that he could make no large statements or promises to rectify the situation. All of the pressure was on Mica and Mica alone. How his sister would cringe.

In the end, Kazuya did show up, but he did so with countless bodyguards, shielding his son and (Y/n). The cameras pointed to them, many reporters pointing out the show of distrust. The other ambassadors came in right behind them, insinuating they stood with Echal on the issue. Haru was still terrified, gripping onto the younger girl's hand, even as they sat. He would occasionally bring his hand up to his right eye, still entirely unused to the brown eye. The male also glanced up at his father on the brink of tears, unable to stop staring at the eye patch.

Rei hated the entire situation. Not only had his close friend been harmed by nobodies and forced to go into surgery, but his country had been shown in a negative light because of it. He was not of the opinion that it was Haru's fault, since all he had done was defend himself and his android. Rather, he couldn't help but blame both the protest group and the guards, particularly because one was responsible for drawing the media's attention and the other was responsible for negligence. But, perhaps what he was most pissed at was the sudden knowledge that (Y/n) was with Haru the entire time.