Chapter 339 The Canaria-Ferguson Diplomatic Summit ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”The last time we met… I believe it was to offer my condolences after the passing of your parents,” King William said, his tone softening into something honeyed and nostalgic. “I apologize for not appearing sooner. My absence was… regrettable.”
”An epidemic was ravaging the land; there was little to be done,” Queen Cecile replied, her voice as thin and cold as ice. “I said as much then, and I believe I reiterated it in my subsequent correspondence.”
The delegation from the Kingdom of Ferguson, situated to the west, sat across from them. Despite the Queen’s frigid reception, King William remained undeterred, his gaze lingering on her.
”You still maintain that formal way of speaking, I see. It’s quite a shock,” William murmured. “To think, Cecile… that the lovely, delicate girl I once knew would become such a formidable monarch.”
”If that is your assessment, then I suggest you afford me the respect my crown demands, King William,” Cecile said.
It was the most commanding tone I had ever heard from Her Majesty. Her gaze was sharper than any blade. In that moment, her beauty seemed to eclipse even the fabled Duke’s daughter, Greiter Junia – though perhaps I was biased.
King William narrowed his eyes, his face a complex tapestry of sorrow, admiration, and perhaps a hint of remorse. The exact nature of his relationship with the late King and Queen remained a mystery, but it was clear that, for William at least, the bond had been significant.
However, the realization finally seemed to take hold: the ‘lovely’ girl of his memories was gone, replaced by the woman sitting before him. Silence stretched between them – a necessary bridge for him to cross from the past into the present.
”My apologies, Queen Cecile,” William said, his voice regaining its professional steel after a pause. “I allowed myself a moment of sentimentality. I trust you will forgive me.”
”Very well,” Cecile replied.
The tension in the room ratcheted up. William’s levity had vanished, replaced by a weight of purpose. Beside the Queen, Prince Roland’s shoulders trembled slightly, but he kept his chin high, his resemblance to his sister striking as he stared back at the foreign King. He was learning, putting advice into practice with a grit that spoke well of him.
The atmosphere was worlds apart from the meeting with Crown Princess Ierse of the Coalmine. This was the raw friction of two reigning sovereigns meeting eye-to-eye.
”First, you have my deepest gratitude,” William said, his voice deepening into a dignified, authoritative bass. “Had it not been for the counsel of Duke Badcage, whom you so graciously dispatched, Ferguson would have surely faced total ruin. Our lands have been severed east to west, yet our human casualties were kept remarkably low thanks to your intervention.”
”Next,” William continued, “I offer my sincerest apologies. The ‘Stampede’ began within our borders, yet we failed to contain it. We allowed the blight to spill into your kingdom, even forcing you to shoulder the burden of slaying two Great Dragons.”
A King does not bow lightly – especially when done before a foreign peer. William offered no flowery excuses, no redirection of blame. He stated the failure plainly.
Queen Cecile was often hailed as a Wise Ruler, but in this moment, William proved himself a formidable King in his own right. The gravity of the gesture was such that the scribe’s hand visibly shook as they recorded the exchange.
”Your gratitude and your apology are noted,” Cecile replied. “The Kingdom of Canaria accepts the sincerity of Ferguson.”
The first hurdle had been cleared. The stifling air in the room eased, if only by a fraction.
”Then, with your permission, may I ask for a detailed account of the situation in your territory following the outbreak?” Cecile asked. “I am particularly interested in the movements of Duke Badcage. I must determine an appropriate reward for his service.”
”Of course,” William nodded. “General Sachet, if you would.”
The plump man sitting on the far left – General Sachet – offered a dull-eyed bow and began to speak. Despite his uninspiring appearance, his voice was unexpectedly crisp.
”I am Sachet. I was tasked with the northern surveillance of the ‘Zil Meina.’ Following its southward migration, I tracked it through the Forest of Ur. I must echo His Majesty’s thanks regarding Duke Badcage; his assistance was invaluable,” the General said.
”I see,” Cecile muttered.
Sachet spoke with clinical objectivity, yet he carefully wove in the narrative of Ferguson’s efforts, ensuring it didn’t seem as though they had simply stood by. He described the first reports from the northern peaks in July, the restlessness of the monsters after the late thaw, and the grueling month of mountain combat that preceded the discovery of Zil Meina.
”The dragon didn’t just move,” Sachet explained, his eyes sharpening. “It treated the mountain range like a personal larder, picking off the smaller nests as it descended toward the foothills. It was Duke Badcage who provided the ‘prediction’ of its southward path, allowing us to evacuate the civilian populations in its wake.”
”And the subjugation attempt?” Cecile asked.
”We gathered the lords and launched our full strength,” Sachet admitted. “But the result… well, it is why we are here. We failed to bring it down. I was ordered to track the beast thereafter – not out of pride, but because I was one of the few left standing.”
He glanced at King William, who gave a solemn nod. Sachet then detailed the dragon’s path across the plains, the destruction of the towns it passed, and the eventual arrival at the Forest of Ur where it was joined by its mate.
”The Duke was instrumental in holding the line against the Lesser Dragons that swarmed from the forest,” Sachet added. “He fought in shifts, day and night, for days on end. His experience was the only thing that kept our perimeter from collapsing.”
Behind the delegation, Duke Badcage rubbed his cheek, looking uncharacteristically bashful.
”The dragons eventually turned east, burning everything in their path,” Sachet concluded. “Their movements became erratic, making it impossible to predict their final trajectory. When they crossed the border, we were forced to abandon the pursuit. For our inability to finish the task on our soil, I offer my deepest personal apologies.”
”I see,” Cecile said quietly.
To Sachet, who bowed his head again, the Queen gave a short reply. It was unnecessary given the King’s prior apology, but it seemed to be the man’s nature to be thorough.
The situation in Ferguson was now clear – both the scale of the damage and the desperation of their response. Now, it remained to be seen how Queen Cecile, having accepted Ferguson’s “feelings,” would choose to act.
”May I have the floor?” asked the Prime Minister of Canaria, Marquis Samoro Dan, as he raised his hand.
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Summary:
King William of Ferguson meets with Queen Cecile of Canaria to express formal gratitude and apology for the Great Dragon ‘Stampede.’ General Sachet provides a tactical report on the dragon Zil Meina’s path and Duke Badcage’s vital assistance. The chapter concludes as Canaria’s Prime Minister prepares to speak.
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Trivia:
- William and Cecile have a personal history involving her late parents.
- Cecile insists on being addressed as a ‘King’ rather than a Queen in a personal sense.
- The dragon Zil Meina was ‘snacking’ on other dragon nests to gain strength.
- Duke Badcage’s ‘prediction’ was the key factor in minimizing human casualties in Ferguson.
- King William physically bowed to Cecile, a rare and heavy political gesture
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Character Insight:
William struggles to reconcile the Cecile he once knew with the icy ruler she has become, while Roland shows growth by maintaining composure under diplomatic pressure.
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Behind the Scenes:
The term ‘Stampede’ refers to the sudden, chaotic migration of high-level monsters, usually led by a calamity-class creature like a Great Dragon.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Cecile – A queen in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• Ierse – The Crown Princess and wife of Gilliam, originally from a foreign land. She is described as lively and healthy with a unique charm. She wants to cheer up her husband. Has long haired hair.
• Sachet – A General of the Ferguson Kingdom. An old soldier who is deppuri (corpulent/fat) but possesses thick muscle beneath the fat.
• Samoro – A middle-aged Marquis and Prime Minister with a lot of white hair, a magnificent mustache, and luxurious attire. He is a key figure in the court who has supported the Queen since her enthronement.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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