Ch11 The Emperor's Decision

A hushed silence filled the Imperial Chambers, the grand room where only the highest affairs of state were discussed. Princess Asahi and Captain Aesuki sat across from Emperor Arthur Paulus Wallonia and Chancellor Erich, their expressions guarded yet expectant.

Arthur leaned back in his chair, exhaling before breaking into a relaxed smile.

"Well," he began, his tone far more casual than before. "That was quite the formal display, wasn't it?"

Erich smirked beside him, shaking his head. "You looked like you were about to fall asleep during half of it."

Asahi and Aesuki exchanged glances. This was a stark contrast to the rigid decorum of the previous meeting.

Arthur turned to Asahi, waving a hand. "Forgive the theatrics earlier. I had to sound all regal and imperial—it's what people expect. But honestly? I hate it." He let out a chuckle. "I've only been emperor for a short while, and it still feels like I'm pretending to be someone else."

Erich laughed, nudging his friend. "He's still learning how to sit on that throne without looking stiff as a board."

Asahi, caught off guard by their informality, hesitated before responding. "I… see. Then I assume we are free to speak more openly?"

Arthur nodded. "That's the idea. No need for excessive bowing, titles, or rigid formalities here."

Aesuki, still wary, observed the two men carefully. This was not the behavior of rulers he was accustomed to. Could it be a deliberate tactic, or were they truly this different?

The Weight of Nagata's Plea

Arthur leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "Let's get straight to it. Why would you risk your lives—hell, even the life of your Princess—to come all the way here?"

Asahi took a breath before speaking, her voice steady but heavy with emotion. "Because we had no other choice."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."

She continued, "Nagata is dying. The wars have left us shattered, our lands ravaged, our people starving. Our enemies surround us, and we lack the resources to fight back. If we didn't reach out to you, then soon… there would be nothing left to save."

Arthur and Erich exchanged glances, their previous levity fading.

"Desperation makes people do daring things," Erich mused. "But that also means you believe we can actually save you."

Aesuki interjected, his voice firm. "You already have. If your fleet hadn't intervened, we would be nothing more than wreckage at the bottom of the sea."

Arthur nodded slowly. "And yet, you still don't know whether we'll truly help you beyond that."

Asahi met his gaze. "That is why we're here now."

A Private Conversation Between Brothers

As the conversation continued, Arthur and Erich whispered back and forth in hushed voices, almost like two children scheming over a game.

"What do you think, Erich?" Arthur murmured. "Should we take this risk?"

Erich chuckled. "Risk? More like an opportunity."

Arthur tilted his head. "Oh?"

Erich smirked. "Think about it. If we help Nagata, we gain loyal allies in a region that's otherwise hostile to us. Not to mention, if Osteria is already throwing a tantrum over this, imagine how much more we can mess with them."

Arthur grinned. "I do like pissing off Osteria."

Erich leaned in. "And let's be real. If we don't help them, they'll fall. And if they fall, guess who benefits? Our enemies."

Arthur exhaled. "So, we make our move first."

Erich nodded. "Exactly."

Arthur sat back up, turning his attention back to Asahi and Aesuki.

The Emperor's Decision

Arthur clapped his hands together. "Alright, here's what's going to happen."

Asahi and Aesuki straightened in their seats, anticipation thick in the air.

"We'll start by supplying Nagata with weapons, food, and transportation," Arthur declared. "Your people need to eat, your soldiers need to fight, and your leaders need to move quickly. We'll make sure you have what you need."

A long silence followed. Asahi's lips parted slightly, struggling to comprehend how quickly—how effortlessly—he had agreed.

"You mean…" she started, her voice barely above a whisper, "you're willing to help us?"

Arthur smirked. "Did I stutter?"

Aesuki's hands clenched into fists. "Why?" he asked bluntly. "Why so quickly? What's in it for you?"

Arthur met his gaze evenly. "Because it benefits us just as much as it benefits you."

Erich nodded in agreement. "Nagata's survival is in our best interest. And besides…" He chuckled, crossing his arms. "I'd rather be known as the man who saved a kingdom than the one who let it fall."

Asahi lowered her head, overwhelmed by emotion. "You have no idea what this means to us."

Arthur leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face. "I think I have a pretty good idea."

Alright, let's crank up the diabolical scheming to the next level. Expect absurd levels of plotting, political chess games, and villainous laughter from Arthur and Erich as they play their own private game of world domination—while their allies remain blissfully unaware.

The Moment of Truth

Princess Asahi and Captain Aesuki sat in tense silence as the golden imperial seal pressed into the treaty parchment, marking the official alliance between Wallonia and the Nagata Regency.

The weight of history hung over them, yet Emperor Arthur Paulus Wallonia only let out a bored sigh, tossing the ceremonial stamp to the side like a discarded toy.

"Well," Arthur said, leaning back with a wolfish grin, "That's done. Shall we drink?"

Chancellor Erich, ever the scheming gremlin beside him, tapped his fingers together dramatically. "Are you sure, Your Majesty? Shouldn't we spend more time painstakingly discussing trade logistics, military coordination, and supply routes?"

Arthur gave him a deadpan look. "We both know we already planned that last week."

Erich smirked. "True. I just wanted to watch the Nagata delegation panic."

Princess Asahi blinked, completely thrown off guard.

"…You already decided everything?"

Arthur shrugged. "Yep."

Aesuki, the ever-dutiful captain, narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "And you're just… agreeing to help us, just like that?"

Arthur leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, his smile widening into something borderline terrifying.

"Oh, Captain, my dear Captain. You still don't get it, do you?"

He gestured at the treaty on the table.

"This? This is nothing more than a piece of paper. The real deal is already happening—your weapons are already being loaded, your food shipments are being arranged, and your enemies?"

He snapped his fingers.

"They don't even realize they've already lost."

Aesuki felt a chill crawl down his spine.

What kind of empire was this?

Meanwhile – Private War Talks

As soon as the formalities ended, Arthur and Erich dragged Asahi and Aesuki away from the main hall and into a dimly lit strategy chamber, a massive map of Altaires stretching across the table.

"Alright, let's skip the dumb pleasantries," Arthur said, grabbing a marker and circling Osteria with an almost sadistic glee. "We need to discuss how to handle these bastards."

Aesuki, still struggling to keep up, shook his head. "You've already beaten them once. You sank their fleet."

"Exactly." Erich leaned in, his glasses gleaming like an evil mastermind. "And now they're seething. Osteria doesn't like being humiliated—especially by a newcomer like us."

Arthur grinned. "So the question is… how do we make them suffer even more?"

Princess Asahi choked on her tea. "Excuse me—what?!"

Arthur ignored her shock and turned to Erich.

"Alright, lay it on me. What's the current Osterian situation?"

Erich pulled out a document and began reading.

"After we obliterated their fleet, Osteria started reinforcing their western defenses. They're probably expecting us to launch another attack."

Arthur tutted. "Poor fools. They think we play by the rules."

Aesuki crossed his arms. "And what exactly is your plan, Emperor?"

Arthur leaned in, eyes sharp with barely restrained excitement.

"We let them build up. Let them think they have a fighting chance. Then, right when they're at their peak confidence, we shatter them in ways they never even imagined."

A long silence followed.

"…You're terrifying," Asahi finally muttered.

Arthur beamed. "Why thank you."

Erich sighed dramatically. "See, Asahi, this is what I have to deal with every day. He gets like this every time we talk strategy."

Logistics & The Wallonian War Machine

After some time, they finally moved to the real details of their alliance.

Erich, ever the meticulous planner, started listing their initial contributions:

500,000 metric tons of food would be shipped to Nagata.

50,000 rifles, 2,000 artillery pieces, and a large cache of ammunition would be delivered in waves.

Naval transport ships would be sent to ensure the supplies arrived safely.

Princess Asahi and Aesuki sat there, stunned.

"You… you already had all this prepared?" Aesuki stammered.

Arthur waved a hand. "What, you think we just sat around twiddling our thumbs after arriving in this world? We anticipated this."

Erich nodded. "Wallonia isn't just reacting to events, Captain. We are shaping them."

Arthur smirked. "Or, as I like to call it—"

He spread his hands wide.

"Phase One: Complete."

---

Final Scene – The True Pact is Sealed

After the long strategy session, the four of them returned to the Imperial Chamber's main hall, where the official pact was to be signed.

Asahi, having fully accepted her fate of dealing with these madmen, took the ceremonial pen and signed her name.

Arthur, grinning like a devil, followed suit.

Erich, always the opportunist, added a little extra clause at the bottom.

"Nagata must send Wallonia its best chefs."

Princess Asahi paused. "...You're joking."

Arthur gave her a completely serious look. "I never joke about food."

Aesuki looked at Erich, expecting him to correct the nonsense.

Instead, Erich nodded sagely. "It's a very important matter, Princess."

Asahi sighed. "Fine. You'll get your damn chefs."

Arthur and Erich exchanged evil grins.

"Phase Two: In Progress."