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Salt and Blood - Chapter 158
🕑 Added 2025-04-30 12:51:51 +0000 UTC<< Chapter 157 | Table of Contents | Chapter 159 >>
2.64 - The Duchess of Derridas
It takes a person of great charisma to stir the winds of change. Often, the circumstances are ripe for years before that person comes along. When they do, chaos ensues.
-Excerpt from ‘Silversea Saga’ by Norris Howell
“Duchess Windvayne, pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the woman replied with a casual smile.
Commander Axel and Prince Everyn froze at her declaration, while Rose was unbothered. Knowing someone’s name only changed how you addressed them, in her view.
“It is an honour to meet you, Duchess. I have long heard your esteemed name from my father. He often told me of your political and academic prowess,” Everyn said.
At his brother’s declaration, the second prince stiffened up and gave the duchess a polite nod. Clearly some of his education had sunk in, if not the most important parts.
“There’s no need for such formalities, we’re all here as friends. I simply wanted to meet the heroes who were able to deal such a devastating blow to Minenblum. Your attack on Eastfel Bay gives those of us who wish to throw off their chains a great deal of hope,” she said, taking another sip from her cup of tea.
“What the duchess says is correct. Despite your lack of manners, what you have accomplished is a great feat,” General Vagor added.
“Thank you for your kind words,” Commander Axel replied. “All of the soldiers fought bravely, but most of the credit must go to young Rose here. It was her plan and she was the one who fought off a Rear Admiral, allowing us to escape with our lives.”
“Surely not,” Vagor scoffed, looking down at Rose as he’d done since she entered the room. “She’s just a girl.”
“As always you’re such a foolish old man,” the duchess retorted. “How many times have I embarrassed you in battle and the field of politics? Was I ‘just a girl’?”
“You! Devilish woman. That’s different. She’s still a child!”
“Are you saying that all of us are liars, General Vagor? If this is the attitude you are bringing to these talks then we will be on our way home,” Prince Everyn said coldly.
“Right. I won’t get mad about what you said because your core is scary, but I don’t appreciate your tone,” Rose added before taking another bite of shortbread.
“Excuse me, young lady? Don’t you know it’s terribly poor manners to talk about another’s core like that?” the old man replied with wide eyes.
“It is? My bad,” she replied with a shrug, already on another biscuit.
“Also, leave a few of those damn biscuits for us, Rose. It’s not a race,” Everyn chuckled.
“Enough of this nonsense. Let us talk about why we’re really gathered here. Minenblum has always been a thorn in all of our sides. By that I mean the nations of the Bluestone Sea—Zoria, Derridas, and the Emerlan Isle. We believed it impossible to truly bring them down, but your attack gives us all hope and inspiration. We wish to enter into a formal alliance. This talk is to discuss the terms of our cooperation and our goals,” Duchess Windvayne said, clearing the irritable atmosphere.
To be honest she was just as shocked as the old geezer Vagor that the young girl had seen through their cores like that, but she was a far more shrewd person and didn’t show it openly. Instead, she wished to get the meeting over with.
“That’s perfect. I was hoping that we might be able to form an alliance with at least Derridas, but if Zoria is on board too then even better. The more the merrier, right?” Rose said, letting out a sigh of relief.
Given that the others had stated the idea first, she wouldn’t have to dance around the topic herself. She knew it would’ve been an uphill battle if she had to lead things.
It was lucky that Commander Axel was there with them. If it was just down to her and Everyn it would have been quite a struggle.
The duchess smiled at her words. Despite the lackadaisical tone and the carefree attitude she showed, the fact that the Emerlan Isle was open to their alliance was a wonderful start.
“Amazing. Not to disrespect you, young lady, but I would ask the crown prince if that is also the opinion of His Majesty?” she said to Everyn.
Everyn nodded and the duchess smiled before clapping her hands together.
“Wonderful! Then let’s get straight to business. Our goal is the total destruction of the oppressive nation of Minenblum, allowing us to operate freely between the Bluestone and Sunblessed Seas. Do you have any opposition to that goal?” she announced.
“Not at all. I don’t think that the innocent citizens deserve death, but I would gladly kill King Malthax myself if I get the opportunity,” Rose answered with a cruel smirk.
“Wonderful. You have the right attitude, young lady. Then let us begin,” the duchess said with an equally vicious smile.
***
In the end, the talks took the better part of the morning. However, the outcome was even better than Rose had expected. Apparently the representatives of Zoria and Derridas had already discussed their plans before the meeting.
All that needed to happen was to confirm that the Emerlan Isle were on board with the strategy they had discussed. Finding out that Rose and the prince seemed even more hellbent on the annihilation of Minenblum than even they were, Duchess Windvayne and General Vagor had no need to dance around the subject anymore.
In the end it was agreed that there would be another meeting between the Duchess, the General, and a representative of the Emerlan Isle to lay down the foundations of an alliance; The Bluestone Union.
The express purpose of said alliance would be to destroy Minenblum and its navy, allowing the three weaker countries to operate freely in their own waters without fear of the military giant. Whether that friendship and cooperation would continue after the war was over depended on how it went.
As Rose had suspected from the beginning, they were only able to tentatively discuss plans without a more senior official present. The Duchess explained her strategy, which had been surprisingly similar to Rose’s original plan. The alliance would launch flash attacks on the various cities and fleets of Minenblum in order to constantly take them by surprise and ensure they could never rest easily.
Rose managed to finish the entire plate of shortbread biscuits by herself. Luckily the house staff had brought a fresh plate out, to ensure that the others had an opportunity to snack.
Following the meeting, they were served a fantastic lunch which amounted to a buffet of every kind of meat, fish, and vegetable Rose had ever heard of. She made sure to sample a bit of everything. Diplomacy was hungry work.
“You have a rather voracious appetite, dear. I suppose it’s to be expected with such a marvellous core. Not to be rude, but I’m surprised that someone so young from a rather undeveloped nation reached such a level,” Duchess Windvayne had remarked during the meal.
“Well, I had a great teacher,” Rose replied with misty eyes.
The duchess was excellent at reading social cues and didn’t press further. However, her curiosity about the young girl had been stoked. She would keep a close eye on her as the alliance developed.
Once lunch was over, there wasn’t much keeping them in Derridas anymore. After saying farewell and taking a letter addressed to Everyn’s father, the king, they made their way back to the ship.
They were greeted by an enthusiastic Jason, who told Rose that he had adamantly refused to allow any of the Derridas soldiers near the ship, in case they stole its secrets. She chuckled at his enthusiasm, hoping he hadn’t offended any of their future allies.
“Well done. I hope you weren’t too brutal,” she replied.
“He’s a gentle giant. He talks a big game but in reality he was stuttering when he told them to back off,” Daniel snorted, earning himself a jab in the arm from the tall boy.
Rose and Everyn burst into laughter at that. Afterwards they all settled back into the ship. “Let’s go home,” she shouted to the crew, to a chorus of cheers.
The duchess and the general waved them off from the harbour. Rose hoped she would meet the old woman again. She was exactly what she was aiming to become, albeit on a slightly different path.
Once they were on their way, Rose sat down with a determined expression. She wanted to complete her damned occupation once and for all. Even if it took her a month of drawing and writing to do so.
Taking out her sketchbook and pencils, she thought about what she wanted to start with. An image appeared in her mind. Perfect, she chuckled to herself and began drawing.
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