Chapter 526 — A Deal
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
The little maid Betty brought in tea and refreshments and began pouring for the guests. Seizing the opportunity, Victoria steered the conversation straight to the matter that concerned her: "Duke Cecil, what is your view of this civil war in Ansu?"
Gao Yang kept his smile and looked at Victoria, speaking unhurriedly. "I am grieved to see the descendants of old friends come to such a pass. But if you are asking whom I support in this civil war—then I can only say, I support no one."
This was more or less the expected answer. Victoria's expression did not change; she merely continued, "We did not start this war. No one in Silverhold wishes to see Ansu divided. From the moment the eastern border suddenly rebelled, we have been on the back foot throughout."
"Ah, 'he started it'—I hear from Hetty that Rebecca used to tattle exactly like that after getting into fights as a child," Gao Yang said, raising a hand. "Did you know, right up until winter set in, Rebecca was still being disciplined by me for getting into trouble. So you really ought to count yourselves lucky—lucky that Charlie Snow, Anthony, and Evans didn't come back with me, or you'd have more to fret over than just this civil war. Girl of the Wilder family, would you then have to explain to Snow Wilder that it was Anthony Loren and Charlie Morn's child who threw the first punch?"
Every explanation and negotiating script Victoria had prepared in advance was rendered useless.
It had been nearly twenty years since she had last conversed with anyone old enough to be her elder, and in this respect her experience could not even compare with Rebecca's—who got a beating twice a month.
Fortunately, her head was quicker than Rebecca's. After a brief moment of bewilderment she had her words in order again: "...I understand. You and the founders of the kingdom did not build this nation so that we might slaughter one another. This civil war must pain you deeply. But matters have already come to such a pass—a war cannot be stopped simply because one wishes it. We cannot hand the country over to a prince who murdered his father and usurped the throne, and to a grand duke who broke his oath; and the eastern border will hardly compromise so easily either. So the civil war will drag on, and Ansu's strength will bleed away ever more with the fighting. And all of us know—Typhon is waiting right beside us, waiting for the people of Ansu to drain the last drop of their blood."
Gao Yang looked into Victoria's eyes. "Very good—at least you can still recognize that there is a Typhon beside you. So, in order to end this war as quickly as possible—and in a manner that accords with your expectations—what plan have you devised?"
Victoria was silent for a moment, then said what Gao Yang had expected: "The throne cannot remain vacant any longer."
Gao Yang shifted his posture and leaned back against the sofa. "Welsh Morn?"
"...His Majesty Francis once named Edmund his heir and swore an oath before the ancestors, but now that oath must clearly be set aside. Ansu needs a king; it needs to become a whole again. Prince Welsh is at present the only candidate," Victoria paused, watching every flicker of expression on Gao Yang's face, then went on slowly, "We wish to enthrone Welsh Morn as the new king. This is the shared will of the Guardian Dukes of the North and the West."
She watched Gao Yang's expression closely, but it did not change in the slightest. The founding duke merely maintained that faint smile, listening like an outsider; and long after she had finished speaking, he still offered no opinion.
Gao Yang let the atmosphere freeze for a full two minutes before he suddenly broke the silence: "Victoria, how fares that mithril oath in Winterhold?"
The duchess's heart skipped a beat. Though her face still wore its usual expression, the tension in her eyes did not escape Gao Yang's notice.