A/N: I would like to make it clear that I normally try to avoid OCs but there are times when they are necessary. Please don't let any of my OCs scare you away. I promise that they will have small parts in the story and they will not be paired up with any of the real characters.
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Chapter 1
Flashback – 3 months ago
"Your Excellency, we have arrived at the harbor." The carriage driver said, opening the door. "Shall the soldiers and I escort you to the ship?"
"No, that will not be necessary," Wolfram answered, stepping down from the carriage. The driver seemed crestfallen when Wolfram refused to accept his extended hand as an aid. He climbed back into his seat and picked up the reins.
"We will see you in two weeks, Your Excellency."
The ship was a large, private vessel called the Rov Eh Cou. She looked brand new, but was in fact older than Wolfram. This was because the ship was only utilized for short trips to Shin Makoku. Otherwise, it sat unused.
The ship was owned by a woman named Mariette Kaliope. She was the wife of Jean Kaliope, easily one of the richest traders in Shin Makoku. However, it was well known that their marriage had been arranged and that they absolutely hated one another. As a result, they lived separately, each with their own estates as far as possible from each other. It also happened to be that this woman was Wolfram's godmother.
In Shin Makoku politics, godparents meant almost nothing. It was just an excuse to tac on another title to your name and it was more like an endorsement than anything else. And in the case of royalty, it was common for children to have numerous sets of godparents, all just wanting to steal a bit of fame and not even bothering to see the child at all. This, however, was not the case with Wolfram.
When Wolfram had been approaching sixty years of age, a letter had arrived asking him to visit the home of his godmother. Being prince at the time, he could have easily refused, but Gwendal had insisted that he go, saying that if he gained her favor, he could possibly inherit her land.
Pff….Gwendal. Always wanting what's best for the state.
So Wolfram had gone, about once every few years, to the Kaliope estate which was located on her private island. It was there that he learned that Lady Kaliope was not your average noble woman.
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Wolfram entered onto the topmost deck of the ship. He looked around and found Lady Kaliope standing with her arms on the railing of the ship and a glass of fine wine resting in one of her hands.
"I see you've made it," She said, not bothering to turn around. Her voice was smooth and calm, but at the same time made the hairs on the back of Wolfram's neck prickle. She swirled the wine around in the glass and brought it up to her lips. "Come with me below deck, there are things that I wish to discuss with you."
Wolfram followed her down the staircase, feeling the ship lurch beneath him and the wave of nausea that came with it. They entered a comfortable cabin with a few arm chairs and shelves of books. Lady Kaliope sat down gracefully and crossed her legs. She stared at him with her hard, grey eyes.
"You've certainly grown into a fine young man, my godson. His majesty sure is lucky to have such an exceptional fiancée," She commented. Wolfram said nothing, waiting for her to get to the point. He sat stiffly in his chair. Lady Kaliope held a sort of uncomfortable atmosphere that always kept him on edge. She was an older woman, but not exactly old enough to be called old. She was perhaps only a decade older than his mother. She was beautiful, but in a strange, dangerous way that any normal man would pass on.
"Listen," She said, becoming serious. "As of now, I have quite a few guests at my house." No surprises there, thought Wolfram. It seemed that she was always entertaining guests or having some kind of gathering. "And some of them are quite eager to meet you. They want me to introduce you to them."
Wolfram raised an eyebrow. Why now? All the other times he visited he was forbidden to speak to any of her guests at all, save for this one time when she made him serve all of them drinks in a skin-tight costume. He'd learned some things that night.
The ship rocked again and Wolfram brought his hand up to his mouth. "I am not in the mood to meet any prissy dignitaries tonight. Please leave me out of your little party." He answered coldly.
She seemed a bit taken aback by his rude tone. Her eyes flashed angrily.
"You're an intelligent boy, Wolfram, so I am going to let you in on a few things. You know, so you wont be drawing any wrong conclusions." Her lips curled into a twisted smile.
"I am a member of STOPPE. I wont tell you all of what it means, but the first letter stands for 'Secret'. We of STOPPE have a common goal: To make money. That's it. And we have been very successful at it."
"So the people at your house are members too? And what does STOPPE want with me?" Wolfram wondered aloud.
"Of that, I am not sure."
"And if I refuse?" questioned Wolfram.
Lady Kaliope laughed. It was a chilling sound. "Besides making money, STOPPE is also good at other things, namely getting rid of obstacles that stand in our way." She refilled her glass. "And you'd be surprised at how much that Maou is a thorn in our side."
Wolfram narrowed his eyes. "So you're saying that if I don't cooperate, you'll kill Yuri?"
Her smile became even more twisted. "Let's just say that it's in your best interests to do whatever we ask of you."
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Upon arriving at the mansion, Wolfram was led immediately into one of lady Kaliope's "forbidden" rooms. The room was enormous. Wolfram could tell from the sounds of his footsteps echoing. It was pitch black. He felt Lady Kaliope put her hand on his shoulder and push him down some stairs.
When he reached the bottom, Wolfram stopped and looked upward. Immediately lanterns were lit all around the dark chamber and Wolfram realized that he and Lady Kaliope were standing in the center of some sort of circular stage. Around them were numerous private boxes that one would see in a theatre. There were shadows of people in each of them. It was impossible to make out any faces in the dim light.
Suddenly a voice boomed overhead, "Lady Mariette Kaliope. For what purpose have you gathered us here today? You understand that it is against policy to meet more than once in a six month period." The voice was male and deep. It echoed around the room, making it extremely difficult for Wolfram to pinpoint which box it came from.
"I greatly apologize for my…abruptness, but I do believe that this boy may be able to help us with one of our more pressing issues." Lady Kaliope answered. Mutterings in low voices broke out all around.
Finally the same voice as before spoke again "I assume the issue you are referring to is the one concerning the countries of Shin Makoku and Big Shimaraon. And you think that he has what it takes to do the job we have in mind?"
"I do," Lady Kaliope replied.
"Very well. Septa?"
A woman in one of the other boxes spoke briefly with someone seated farther back in the box, then addressed the room. "Our client has no objections with letting the boy do the task."
"Excellent," the male voice said again. "Let's start a war."
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Sorry this one's kinda short. Please review