Emperor Sovieshu's letter was quickly sent via carrier pigeon.
Heinley frowned at the letter, but acknowledged it with a bitter smile once he read it.
"I know that too."
Puzzled, McKenna asked,
"What does it say?"
"That I always covet what is his. His wife, his jewels, everything he owns."
While not 'everything', Emperor Sovieshu had much of what Heinley desired.
An army of mages, a system that attracted new mages through the magical academy, many talented people, a vast ocean, ports, geographical advantages, and even Navier, the perfect wife who was now by his side.
"Huh? Don't we have more jewels?"
McKenna asked in bewilderment, he didn't know about the 'Fairy Tear'. The Western Empire had more jewels than any other country. Emperor Sovieshu was in no position to talk about jewels.
"Emperor Sovieshu sent my wife a jewel as a gift. I wore it as a necklace at my birthday party to show it off to everyone. I guess he sent this letter because someone informed him."
McKenna opened his mouth in surprise, but Heinley's expression seemed so sad that he made no joke. Instead, he encouraged him,
"Your child with the empress will be very smart and brave. The Western Empire could have a port of its own in the next generation. No, I'm absolutely sure. Your child already has two ships before birth."
Heinley laughed at McKenna's words,
"It's true. I never received a ship as a gift."
"You see."
"I should read war stories to my baby as part of prenatal education."
"No, that's not prenatal education."
"This is how a brave child is born."
"I have heard that the Empress reads fairy tales full of dreams and hopes to the baby every day as prenatal education. Will the Empress allow you to read war stories to the baby?"
"I can do it while My Queen is asleep."
'He's likely to have another marital problem and ask me, a single man, for advice.'
McKenna, who guessed what would happen, clicked his tongue and suddenly changed the subject.
"This is not the time for this. Princess Charlotte of Whitemond is here to meet with you."
After Navier told Heinley about the conversation she had with Whitemond's special ambassador, and her opinion that it would not be wise to start a war because it had recently become an empire. Heinley discussed it with McKenna and his trusted men.
He then called Whitemond's special ambassador along with the rest of the delegation to his office and discussed the problem between the two countries for several hours.
In the end, Heinley proposed a rapprochement on the basis that both countries would sign a non-invasion pact.
And now, Princess Charlotte had come from Whitemond with the answer to that proposal.
Heinley was indifferent.
"Of course we agree, thank you. That will be the answer, what other choice does Whitemond have?"
"Even so, the King of Whitemond sent the princess as a member of the delegation. Since we have decided to maintain good relations between the two countries, we must be polite."
