Unexpected

Chapter Seventeen

A/N: Alrighty guys, time to get into politics!

CINDER

Great. That moment you want to eat your breakfast in peace but someone's royal adviser starts talking on how the Peace Treaty of Bremen has been secured and-

Oh, delicious eggs. Cinder bit down on the yolk, letting the orange liquid seep over her tongue. She plucked up a piece of sausage-as daintily as possible, mind you-and chucked it into her mouth. Kai, however, who was sitting at the head of the table looked distracted.

Thinking, his brows furrowed. Cinder swallowed her mouthful, downed her glass of water and turned to the royal adviser, holding a palm up. The adviser immediately stopped talking. Cinder gave him a grateful nod then turned to Kai.

"Okay, what's up with you?" she demanded.

Kai looked up, startled. "Nothing," he said. "I'm fine."

"You were fine last night," Cinder sighed and raised an eyebrow. "So something must've happened to make you like this."

"No, I just didn't get enough sleep," Kai explained. He glanced at the royal adviser. "Please, go on. Does President Vargas accept the conditions on these premises?" he asked, placing a spoonful of beans in his mouth. Cinder sat back, deciding to focus on the adviser as well.

Kai would tell her when he was ready, Cinder convinced herself, and sighed. "Not only President Vargas," Cinder added. "Prime Minister Kamin doesn't seem so lenient on this agreement between us."

The adviser nodded, folding his hands behind his back. His back straightened, as if pleased that they were paying attention to his report now. "As I was saying, all the world leaders are currently distributing the cure for Letumosis-also rounding up some rogue wolf mutants, but other than that, the Peace Treaty of Bremen is set to be established three days from now."

"On what grounds?" Kai asked, leaning forward.

"That every single world leader-save for President Vargas and Prime Minister Kamin have accepted the rules and conditions to ensure safety among Lunar and Earthen society, and the encouragement of travel between Luna and Earth."

"Both of them outright refused?" Cinder arched her eyebrows in surprise. "If I recall correctly, all the world leaders seemed to be overjoyed at the prospect of a peace treaty. Not to mention the end of Levana's sovereign."

"No, but they gave the vibe they were slightly unhappy with the proceedings. Well theoretically speaking," the adviser paused. "Yes. They were glad Luna has a new ruler. But I don't think President Vargas and Prime Minister Kamin wholly agree to your conditions, Your Majesty."

Cinder frowned. "The Cyborg Protection Act or the travel sequence between Luna and Earth?" she inquired. 

"The trade they are willing to do as it benefits the Earthen society as well as Lunar, and their worries have slackened since the patent of Linh Adri's customary device was exploited," the adviser quickly leafed through a manila folder, after consulting a piece of text he looked back up at Cinder. "but it was the Cyborg Protection Act they were unsure about."

Cinder glanced down at her own metal hand, curling the fingers so they rested against the metal plating of her palm. "Oh," she finally said. A pang of disappointment tried to burrow into her chest but the walls she'd thrown up did their job, and the feeling trickled away. "I see."

"I'll talk to them."

Cinder glanced at Kai, who set his jaw. "Konn Torin and I have already prepared the official documents to lease the Cyborg Protection Act in New Beijing. Cyborgs have been very misunderstood these past few decades and I think it's time we gave them a normal-a more fair life." he gave her a dry smile. "they deserve their own share of enjoying their life as well," he said with a soft shimmer in his dark brown eyes.