The fourteenth day of the tenth month, in the year six-hundred-twenty-four.
King Kilvas:
Your presence at the Mainal Cathedral in Siene is required in one week by Her Imperial Majesty Misaha, thirty-sixth empress of Begnion.
The king of Kilvas strode into the Mainal Cathedral, his confident smirk announcing to the world (or at least, to a nearby cluster of giggling maids) that worshipping the ground he walked on was not only expected, but required. Awaiting him in her throne room, the apostle Misaha viewed his swagger with slight distaste.
"Apostle Misaha," he greeted her as he arrived, bowing mockingly.
She ignored the bow, knowing full well that any signs of respect he might give her were not genuine in the slightest, and responded flatly, "King Naesala of Kilvas."
"You remembered my name? I'm flattered." Naesala's smirk widened further. "So what gives me the pleasure of your company?"
"Several months ago, I declared the laguz slave trade illegal. You have chosen to completely ignore this and continue your unsavory dealings – some with Begnion's dukes, no less!" Misaha glared at him. "Do you have any excuse for your actions?"
"It seemed like a good idea at the time?" he offered, unfazed. "And it's scarcely my fault if your dukes ignore your laws and beg for my services."
"If you did not offer your 'services'," she countered, "they would not disobey. Every last one of them claims that you approached them."
"Really, apostle. You believe them over me?" At Misaha's dubious look, he added sullenly, "Never mind."
She sighed. "You're too greedy for your own good. No other slave trader is bold enough to deal with the senate."
Naesala chuckled. "You flatter me too much, your imperial majesty."
"You are also," Misaha continued evenly, as if there had been no interruption, "the most shameless, power-hungry, unlikable individual I have ever had the profound displeasure of meeting. Honestly, Naesala, what am I going to do with you?"
"I seem to recall hearing those words before…" he mused.
She twitched. "This is the fifth time we've had this discussion. None of them have had any success at all."
"So it is." Naesala smirk grew even more lopsided, and he added, "You know, I'm starting to think that it's all just an excuse to have me visit. Isn't it?"
The particularly frosty glare Misaha gave him was all he needed to know that he was right.