Bittersweet | l.fx au

Chapter 9

"You dare to fight me on this matter?" The King questions.

Felix nods. "I do. Besides, what would her family have to offer us?"

"He has allies that are learning all about water warfare."

"Is that so?" Felix replies. "Are they recent allies or has he known them for quite awhile? With all due respect, your majesty, but I say we make our own allies. This is new territory for everyone and I think it's best if we do it ourselves."

In your mind, you think he makes a good point. You're clueless about political affairs and wars but this is a whole new task for everyone and everyone is testing the water - literally and figuratively.

The King regards his statement for a moment. "You have a good reason," You can see how Felix looks mildly surprised at the praise. "I'll cut you a deal. I want you to handle getting allies for ourselves and if you don't succeed within a year, you'll have to accept their proposal. Does that sound fair?"

Felix's eyes widened in surprise. "I would have to make the deals?"

Now this took a turn. You've hardly seen Felix studying any matters; usually just training if you could call that studying. This is going to be a difficult hurdle, you assume.

"Yes," The King continues. "Try to gather allies for us. It's time you take one of the kingdom's concerns into your hands."

It's quiet for a moment. The tension has left slightly and then Felix opens his mouth to speak. "Though if I manage to gather at least a couple of allies, will you deny all proposals for me?"

"It depends if you can accomplish this task."

"I can." Is Felix's confident response.

The King nods with satisfaction. "I expect wonderful results." The Prince bows respectfully and turns to leave. You three follow him all the way to his room and he collapses on a chair. "I think I may have messed up." He says.

Lia and Yeji reassure him with praise and so do you too. "But you did so well." You encouraged him. "I feared that he wouldn't listen." You admit.

He laughs. "Thank you for the support, but I guess I have to start studying. Could everyone gather all the information we have and all the kingdoms looking to get into the idea?"

All three of you hurried off to collect any books or documents regarding this whole new idea. It was time for all of you to support the Prince in this. "This is all we have?" Yeji asks, picking up the single book regarding the idea of warfare on water.

"It seems so." You hold up your five pieces of paper of the kingdoms who are looking into warfare.

"Well, let's just get this to the Prince," Lia picks up her own pieces of paper of the people (basically researchers) about the benefits, disadvantages, and how to get warfare into the water. "Perhaps he'll send us to the bookstore in town to see if there's anything else." Then all of you headed back and placed the items on the table.

Felix looks at it, in mild disbelief. "This is all we have?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Lia says. "If you want, we can send a request to other kingdoms for more information or go to the bookstore in town."

He contemplates for a moment, shifting through the books and papers. "Yes, please. But you can do that tomorrow since it's getting late." He glances over at the window where the evening sun softly filters in the light. "I'm going to try my best with this and I ask for all of your support!"

All three of you smile at his infectious positive energy. "We will."

Yeji leaves the room and now you're stuck here with Felix. You've been patient and waiting for any of his orders. Lia left earlier this morning to town to see what the bookstore offers and Yeji is preparing to mail some letters for the kingdom. She had to go get stamps from who knows where and then find the messenger who delivers official mail.