The First Queen

22 - Just as Expected

I fiddled with the cups of rose water in my hands and kept glancing at the door. Athena should've brought them here by now.

"Are you having a stroke?" Serana questioned, her mouth wide open and her lip quirked up.

"...What was that?" I asked her and she rolled her eyes.

"Can you stop fiddling? It's irritating me." She grumbled, cleaning one of her daggers.

I took a deep breath and Serana's calmness had started to rub off on me.

The next couple of minutes passed in serene silence, but then the door opened and Liza entered, her head held high and a wolfish grin on her lips. Marcon was behind her with a friendly smile and Athena bowed to me.

"Good afternoon, Your Excellency!" Liza chuckled, sidling up against me and plucking the goblet from my hands, drinking its contents.

"Good afternoon, Lord Marcon, Liza." I regarded them and Marcon and I bowed to each other before I offered him the chalice.

Liza slung her arm over my shoulders and I didn't dare stop her, Athena though, visibly seethed at the interaction.

"Shall we talk business, My Lady?" Marcon asked and I nodded but Liza scoffed and traced a finger down my jawline.

"Why talk business when we can have fun, hmm?" She chuckled, her voice a whisper in my ear and I gulped.

Athena's grip on the table tightened and I thought she was going to burst.

"Elizabeth." Marcon snarled and Liza rolled her eyes before peeling herself off of me and leaning languidly on the table, "So, Your Highness, I believe you called us here to discuss a peace treaty?"

"Yes, I did. As you are... Well aware, Julius has been murdered." I discussed and Liza snickered to herself, "And the way Julius acted towards the two of you was disgraceful, so I want to apologise for his behaviour."

"There is no need to apologise for the actions of a coward... Especially a woman as fine as yourself." Liza grinned, her hand resting on mine.

Gods, she's more lecherous than usual.

"Nevertheless. I want there to be peace between our two nations, Azumond simply cannot afford a war and what good does war bring, anyway?" I asked them rhetorically but Liza 'clucked'.

"Power... Dominion... Fear..." She ticked them off and I had to force myself not to roll my eyes.

"I can see where you're coming from, Your Highness, and I agree, my daughter may not, but I do." Marcon agreed with me and I gave him my barmaid smile.

"Well, we could have an alliance, but..." Liza sighed, shifting to stand closer to me.

"But?" I asked her and she smirked.

"Maybe you'll have to marry me, in turn. Secure power and all." Liza grinned and Athena was about to punch a hole in the wall but she kept her face stoic.

"Elizabeth, aren't you betrothed to that Zora? From Eclacia?" Marcon growled and Liza rolled her eyes.

"Oh, yeah... Forgot about her..." Liza grumbled and I turned to my left to roll my eyes.

"What does Azumond offer Aurelia?" Marcon asked me and I shrugged.

"We can offer wood, minerals, stone... Weapons..." I offered and Liza rubbed her chin.

"We could use the wood, but... It just seems a little... Useless. Aurelia and Azumond have very similar geographical features so why would we need much from you? Other than land and power?" Liza grinned, bopping her finger on my nose and I jolted back.