Chapter 9: A Necessary Concession

"Bold words," Elincia replied to Duke Alm's demand. Instead of seating herself, she slowly walked down the length of the table, overseeing the assembled nobles with a contemptuous gaze. "Not long ago, you sounded rather different – you accepted the measures I took against Ludveck so readily, I almost thought you were afraid of me."

The unflinching stares of the nobles made Elincia regret her words as soon as she had spoken them. Yes, they were afraid of her – and had turned that fear into resolve.

"We do not believe that you have truly banished your friend Bastian," Alm said. "We believe that he will continue to advise you further from exile, and perhaps return one day in some sort of guise. He has always been a crafty bastard."

Such disrespectful language! Alm did not even bother to conceal his hostility – and he was speaking for all of his peers. She did not let it show, but Elincia felt worry creep up to her even as she walked around the table past Alm's back, who continued to talk without turning around to face her.

"We have seen through your plan, Your Majesty. Remove the nobles from power one by one, until you and your cabal of personal friends like Geoffrey and Bastian can rule Crimea alone. But we will not stand for that."

"You're speaking dangerous nonsense, Duke Alm," Elincia said coldly, still not looking at the man. If he wanted hostility, he could have it. "Even though none of you has ever justified your vaunted position at this court with even a single piece of constructive advice, I appreciate the balance of power provided by the aristocracy – at least in theory. I have no intention of becoming an absolute monarch who governs by whim. I want the rule of the law."

"Really, now," Alm said mockingly. "Like when you had Duke Felirae murdered without trial?"

You accepted that meekly less than an hour ago! But there was no use in saying that out loud: The nobles previous deference had turned into calculated hostility. They felt threatened, and they had found a weak spot in their queen's position, and now they attacked it with all their might.

I underestimated the effects of fear, Elincia realized. It is a two-edged sword, and it can easily be turned against the one who uses it. They have closed their ranks and are ready to fight tooth and nail for their authority... and, as they see it, their lives.

She almost regretted her hasty decision to execute Ludveck, but then the strange emotion that she had felt back then returned – hatred for the man who had robbed her of her best friend, and countless Crimeans of their lives! No, Ludveck was better off dead, no doubt about that – she would deal with the consequences now, and make some necessary concessions to the nobles.

"Is this about Count Arning and Duke Falnir?" Elincia asked. Her steps had led her around the conference table once, and now she did sit down in her chair, so signalize that she was willing to negotiate. "Do you wish to see them freed and restored to their positions?" The two had supported Ludveck, but that was something she might be able to overlook, as long as it satisfied the nobles. But Duke Alm was not so easily appeased.

"Those two fell for your cheap trick: They do not deserve a place in this assembly. As long as their lives and possessions remain untouched, you may deal with them as you wish."

"Then what do you want?" Elincia asked impatiently. She had no time for such games! She had to get back to Volke and make Izuka work on a cure for her uncle.

"The execution of Count Bastian," the duke said.

"No," Elincia said flatly. "Think of something else."

"You don't seem to understand the situation, Your Majesty," Alm said, speaking as calmly now as an adult to a child. "We concede that you are no longer soft and naive as you used to be – at least in that regard, Duke Ludveck's death was not in vain." Alm folded his bony hands under his chin and paused for a second, as if he was remembering Ludveck, and Elincia remembered that he had been a mentor of sorts for the failed usurper.

"But the good duke effected more change in you than he bargained for – or any one of us, for that matter," Alm continued. "Each and every one of us must fear for our lives now."

"I am not out to have any of you killed!" Elincia exclaimed. "This is ridiculous!" But Alm simply ignored her protest and continued elaborating his wild suspicions.

"This whole incident in Fayre was probably planned, too, to provide a pretext for Count Bastian's removal from court – no doubt for his own safety. Duke Renning's madness is, in all probability, also pretense. How easy for him to 'escape' his dungeon once again, and commit another massacre – perhaps among the court's nobles this time?"

"You people are utterly paranoid!" But even as Elincia hurled this accusation at the nobles, she wondered again if it had not been her fault to begin with – had her rash execution of Ludveck truly frightened them so?

Fine, I admit it: It was a mistake to have him killed without a trial. But I won't allow Bastian to pay for that mistake with his life!

"I think I see your concerns now," Elincia said, changing her tone to be gentle and understanding, as it had been in the years before the rebellion. "And I am willing to make far-reaching guarantees–"

"Please don't insult us, Your Highness," Alm interrupted her. "All present know exactly how much 'guarantees' are worth in politics."

"I told you three years ago I was going to change the way things are done!" Elincia said, raising her voice just a bit. She remembered her speech before the assembled nobles shortly after her coronation – how hopeful and optimistic she had been back then.

I liked that Elincia better...

"And it was a fine speech, Your Highness." Alm gave her a condescending smile. "I believe I even applauded. But words will not reassure any of us. Only actions will."

"Then tell me one thing, Duke Alm: What kind of actions will you take if I refuse your outrageous request?" I must take him head-on! He mustn't think I'm going to give in! "Another rebellion, perhaps? The Royal Knights would be interested to hear about that..."

Elincia's subtle threat failed to impress Alm, because the old duke only shook his head with an expression of disappointment. "You are digging yourself deeper and deeper, Your Highness. Your threats will not serve to intimidate us; instead, they will only strengthen our resolve." The other nobles nodded silently to show that Alm was truly speaking for all of them, and Elincia found herself assailed by self-doubts.

Is he speaking the truth? Did I make things even worse by trying to intimidate them?

I suppose I did. I just concluded five minutes ago that trying to rule by fear is a bad idea, and I already forgot about that. What's wrong with me?

She almost laughed out loud at her own thoughts. There's plenty wrong with me! The rebellion, Lucia's death, news of that stupid war, uncle Renning's terrible condition, and Bastian's exile... no man or woman could take all these things in stride!

But although this conclusion helped to preserve Elincia's self-esteem, it did nothing to solve the problem at hand: The nobles were united, out for blood, and feeling perfectly justified.

But I still can't sacrifice Bastian for my mistakes! I already allowed Lucia to be killed by not quelling Ludveck's rebellion early. This is exactly the same thing!

Exactly the same thing...

"Of course we understand your need to save face in front of this assembly." Duke Alm's unrelenting voice brought Elincia back from her thoughts to the unpleasant reality. "You already judged Bastian, and... revisiting that judgement, as I put it earlier, would spoil your new image of ruthlessness. But traveling abroad is always dangerous – bandits and cut-throats thrive in the border regions." He spoke more slowly now, carefully stressing each word. "If an unfortunate accident were to befall the former Count of Fayre on his way to Begnion, our worries would be greatly diminished... provided you present us with irrefutable proof that the accident did happen, and that it was indeed fatal."

"So you show your true colors, Duke Alm," Elincia shouted. "What about equally administering the law? What about precedence? You are out for Bastian's blood, and nothing else!"

"I am merely trying to make this easier for you, Your Highness," Alm replied, unimpressed by her outburst. "Please think about it. No one outside this room need ever know the truth."

"You are deluding yourself if you think I will have my friend murdered because of your irrational fears! So tell me again what you are planning to do if I don't follow your advice. Will you rebel against me as Ludveck did?"

"Duke Ludveck was a capable young man, but he was lacking in patience," Alm said. "The truth is, rebellion is only the most extreme means of opposing a power-hungry ruler... and far from the most effective one."

"So suddenly I'm power-hungry. Great." Elincia could only shake her head. Again, Alm paid her no heed.

"You are the queen, Your Majesty, but you cannot rule Crimea alone," he continued. "What would you do if the flow of taxes from the provinces suddenly trickled away? What if no more recruits for the Royal Knights were chosen from the nobles' personal forces? What if, Goddess forbid, some of the border provinces pledged their allegiance to the Begnion Empire and left the nation of Crimea?" The duke fell silent for a moment, allowing Elincia to imagine these scenarios. "If you are unwilling to oblige us in the matter of former Count Bastian, you might soon find out that it can be very lonely here in Melior," he concluded.

"You can't be serious!" Elincia protested. "Without taxes we cannot maintain our infrastructure. Without the Royal Knights, we cannot protect the people against bandits and foreign powers! Roads and bridges will fall into disrepair, schools will close down and thieves and swindlers will roam the countryside, if not worse!" She rose from her chair and planted her hands on the table, leaning forward toward the nobles. "Would you really do this to our country just to get back at me for killing one of your peers?" She looked up and down the table, first on the left side, then the right. She looked into the eyes of every single noble sitting with her, but none of them spoke up to contradict Alm, nor did they even show a hint of regret.

"It seems you are relapsing into your old, naive ways again, Your Majesty," Alm said, his voice brimming with condescension. "Each of us must think of ourselves first. The needs of Crimea are secondary."

Elincia had long suspected that selfishness was the guiding principle that most Crimean nobles adhered to, but she had never expected them to state it so boldly and unapologetically. "None of you are any different from Ludveck," she said icily.

"The late duke was a fine man, and would have made for a fine king indeed," Alm said. "You are complimenting us, Your Highness."

For a moment, Elincia seriously considered calling in the guards waiting beyond the door and have them arrest every single noble in this room. She could appoint royal governors to take over their duchies and counties, and Crimea would certainly be better off for it.

But the guards come from those duchies and counties, and they may not obey my orders, she realized. The resulting civil war would make Ludveck's rebellion look like a schoolyard brawl in comparison. I can't do this to my people.

But I can't allow Crimea to fall apart, either! Begnion or Daein would happily divide the kingdom between themselves, and neither are states that value their citizenry highly.

Oh Bastian, you fool! Why did you maneuver me into this predicament? You should be required to resolve it for me!

But he could resolve it, in a manner of speaking. She only had to–

Stop! Stop this thought right there, Elincia! This is not acceptable!

"Ah, what a concerned expression," Alm chuckled. "We have always admired your devotion to the people, Queen Elincia... perhaps because we cannot find it in ourselves to share it." He sounded as if he was taking pride in that fact. "You already condemned one of your dear friends to death for the sake of Crimea," he continued. "What difference does another one make?" Seething inside, Elincia stared at him with open disgust, unable to say a word.

"I suppose we should leave it at that," the Duke of Kantos said and rose from his chair all off a sudden, and as one man, the other nobles did the same. "It is not required that you agree. Merely that you act." He began to walk toward the door, and the other nobles fell in line behind him. Elincia wanted to yell at them to sit down, but she feared what would happen if they ignored her.

"We expect you to take the necessary measures to defuse this... crisis of confidence in the crown," Alm said when he had reached the door, his hand already resting on the handle. "But pray take them quickly, or Bastian will be out of your reach. Oh, and naturally, nothing that was spoken here will ever leave this room. That goes for all present." With that, Alm turned his back to Elincia, slowly opened the door and strode out of the conference room with his head held high and the other nobles in tow. Once the last of them had left, the door fell shut with a soft click, and Elincia was alone.

Utterly alone.