A Bright and Shiny Life

What was Princep Talia trying to say, and why was she trying to say it? The crux of her claim was that the empire had access to methods that would have cut short the Caethlain conflict but chose not to use them. Moreover, they chose not to use them for calculated reasons rather than emotional ones. Which means that the empress thought that the insurgency was a benefit.

It's a bit overwhelming to think that the three years I thought I spent hurting the empire might result in a net positive for them. But a positive for whom exactly? I can handle it if the Empress thought it benefited her personally, even if it hurt the empire as a whole. That perhaps she used the insurgency to politically manoeuvre dissident nobles and solidify her power. After all, despite seeming absolute in her power to the masses, there are a handful of nobles like the Talhals who view her more as a first among equals.

Except, those nobles seem to be a weak minority, and I've seen no evidence that her power was crumbling before the war. In fact, the opposite. The eighty years of her rule have seen prosperity, growth and expansion that have endeared her to the hearts of peasant and noble alike. It's not like she needed some gambit to cement loyalty. Moreover, if anything, the resistance weakened her power base as more and more nobles began to sympathize with us as the fighting went on.

So, as much as it wounds my pride, I can only conclude that Empress Celeste Hallenhal viewed the resistance as boon rather than harm to the empire as a whole.

But how? We killed thousands of imperial soldiers, destroyed the chimeric masters and devastated the land, reducing their income from it for years to come. What could be worth those costs? I can think of a few potential reasons, but none of them make sense when combined with everything else I know.

…Back away then. What else do I know? … I know they're preparing for another Caethlon. All those tests in the entrance exam that were selecting for people who do well in such situations. But why would they care if they were holding themselves back? If they could have stopped us before we reached full momentum? Unless…

…Unless I've been looking at it backwards. Instead of looking for people who can defend against rebellions, they were looking for people who can lead them.

Once again, it's all about Hyclion. They were studying us to figure out how to start and sustain rebellions. All our tricks we learned fighting them, they learned too. Like Arkothia, Hyclion is an empire that has conquered dozens of smaller kingdoms. Having to fight one major rebellion would be worth it if they could figure out how to replicate it at will. As much as we hurt Arkothia, we were never going to cause its destruction. But if Arkothia could spark a half dozen revolts across Hyclion at the same time? That might be enough turn a war to Arkothia's favour.

But even if that wasn't feasible, the knowledge would still be invaluable. Figuring out how rebellions start so they can prevent them and occasionally starting them against their primary enemy will eventually create an advantage.

…I'm struggling to keep calm. To think that all my struggles might have aided my enemy? I have to look at it differently, if only to avoid breaking down with so many people around. Our goal wasn't to hurt the empire but to free Caethlon. We need to hurt the empire to do so, but it may not matter if the empire is stronger for it. I still believe that what we did will make future rebellions more likely to succeed, even if it might aid the empire as a whole.

Still, to think that the only reason we lasted as long as we did was because they were going easy on us… Or were they? Surely they needed to make a serious effort to stop us or else risk invalidating the information they gained? To see how we would innovate in response to their pressures. Certainly, it never felt like they weren't trying to destroy us. Perhaps the empress withdrew Talia not to prolong the resistance per se, but because her presence wouldn't be replicable? It would be a sort of unfair advantage which would jeopardize the exercise.

I suppose that salves my pride a little… but, if this is true, why would Talia hint at it in public?

"Noble Monhal? If you would follow me, please?" a servant says, jolting me from my thoughts.

How am I going to do this? I didn't really expect her to give me some sort of personal audience. Allan gave me a number of plans that might get her attention, but they all seemed rather vague and none of them extended this far.

… I performed badly with Vincent. Part of that was just him being so… forceful. But whatever happens, I cannot afford to have Talia see me the same way. But there's a needle to be threaded between boldness and deference. One that I failed to do with Vincent. I need to adjust my approach, but which way?

If I'm more deferent, she's likely to dismiss me entirely, but if I'm too bold, she could kill me. Or, probably not, but at the very least, expel me from her presence. Especially since, unlike Vincent, she hasn't done anything to me yet to warrant disrespect.

Or at least not to Malichi. I've been avoiding thinking about it, but how do I feel about her role in the Caethlian conquest? I've heard so many curses of her name by my comrades, but has that resentment seeped into me too? I think maybe not. It always seemed silly to focus so much on one Arkothan when our enemy is the entire empire. I don't know which way I've been moved after having met her though. She's boastful about the battle, but surprisingly respectful of her enemy.

I don't know, so at least I can be ambivalent about it, and I can disguise ambivalence.

The servant takes me to the front entrance, where a trio of very ornate white and purple carriages await. He takes me to the middle one and opens the door – gesturing for me to enter.

Inside is empty, allowing me time to examine the multitude of golden symbols inscribed on the interior. There are the standard sets for comfort and privacy, plus some for protection that surpasses most knight armour. General resilience and specific resistances. Interestingly, it has an air filtration sequence, though I don't know if that's for attacks via toxic vapours or just unpleasant odours. Finally, there's a shield spell effect which seems like it would cover the entire carriage and horses when activated. However, I would guess it to be rather weak, and it seems like activating it would disable most of the other enchantments.

Which is fairly expected. Active effects like that are hard/expensive to produce with items, but if anything would have one, it would be a Princep's carriage. The only reason why the team tests could have so many shield spells is because the entire cavern was enchanted to produce the effect rather than it being something portable.

A few minutes after I get in, the door opens again to admit Princep Talia. I stand as best I can and make a shallow bow while trying not to get in her way. She sits legs crossed on her knee with a smile and gestures for me to do the same. The moment I do, the carriage begins to move.

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"Now," she says, her smile amused and smug with expectation, "I believe you had something to ask me?"

"Yes, your highness…" I start, pushing aside the fact that she's taking me someplace unknown, "why did you hint that the Caethlian conflict was prolonged to learn how to replicate it against Hyclion?"

She exhales a surprised, windy, laugh. "Weren't you going to ask me to help with Vincent?"

"I was, but what you said intrigued me."

"Hmm… But why assume I was trying to hint at anything? Perhaps it was just a slip of the tongue. I certainly don't see how you could deduce that from what I said."

"No, but when combined with other information it became apparent. For instance, the Academy's interest in Caethlian style fighting only makes sense in combination with your hint if you assume a desire for replication."

She nods in admittance. "I suppose you are somewhat clever then. Enough to be mildly interesting at least."

"But I still don't understand why you would hint about it, your highness. Surely you would have expected at least a few in the crowd to realize the implication? It almost seemed like you were disagreeing with the Empress."

She shakes her head sadly. "Well, let's just say that while I love mother as a good parent, and am fully confident in her ability as a ruler, I often disagree with some of the advisors she's been surrounding herself with as of late. Blakerhal and his group." She almost spits in disgust.

"…You don't think they're competent, your highness?"

She shakes no. "Oh, they're very competent. The problem is that they figured out how to create an illusion of brilliance."

"An illusion… what do you mean?"

She rolls her eyes. "Yes, I know, so neat of me to accuse the grand illusionist of being an illusion. But I'm not talking about his magic. Everyone knows about his handful of stunning manoeuvres, but they don't see the cost. He's constantly studying everyone, but not with the passive observation of his predecessors. No, he pokes and prods everything, just to see how it reacts. This occasionally leads to stunning results, but just as often, the reaction is far more violent than prepared for.

"He may have won us Caethlon, but I believe he also needlessly sparked the rebellion after, and he certainly prolonged it. But isolated incidents don't concern me. What I do fear is that the resentment caused by his methods will build on itself, and that eventually things will spiral out of control."

"I see," I say, not sure what to. I did ask, but why is she telling me all this? Perhaps she's doing the same poking and prodding she accused Adrian's father of? That she's taking the opportunity of this one-on-one conversation to spread her side of things and study how I react to it? Deciding if I'm a potential ally or someone to be dealt with?

"Yes, I'm sure you do," she says, I think deciding I'm at least not going to be immediately against her, "but enough about that. Let's talk about why you approached me. You want my help with Vincent, yes?"

"Yes."

"And what sort of help did you have in mind?"

"…As you know, Vincent has invited me to attend the Imperial Equinoctial ceremony. This event is reputed to be socially dangerous, so it seems obvious that Vincent invited me vindictively, as it is something I dare not refuse. As such, it seems that the safest course would be for me to attend in the entourage of another. Therefore, I respectfully request to attend in your group."

"But why not just attend with Vincent? He invited you after all. It's assumed that you would go with him."

"Princep Vincent was forcibly rude to me. I have no intention of ever interacting with him again."

"But why let a little rudeness ruin something beneficial to everyone? Vincent has a good chance of being named the heir apparent. Surely you see the benefit of being close to him?"

"First, that's far from certain, and choosing him would alienate me from the other candidates. Second, even if he were declared, I fear I would lose more in a relationship than I would gain. Third, I just find him unpleasant."

"Now who's being rude?" She laughs. "But I guess I understand your motives. Now, help me understand mine. I'm rather fond of my little half-brother, despite some of his personality defects. Why should I help you slight him publicly?"

"Well, from my servant's report, you did exacerbate tensions between us. I thought you might find it amusing to remedy a problem you caused."

She laughs. "You're right, I do find it amusing, which is why I'm not throwing you out of my carriage. Lucky you. Unluckily for you, though, is that I stopped performing political actions just because they amused me after Caethlon. So, you'll have to do better than that."

I nod. "All right. Then you should do it because my alternative is to approach Princep Cecilia, and the perceived slight will be far greater if I do."

She lets out a chortle and turns her attention to Reimbach, who seems to be half asleep on her shoulder, purring contentedly as she feeds it a grape produced from somewhere and scratches its chin. "And you think Cecelia will be better than Vincent?"

I shrug. "At the very least, she hasn't been aggressively rude to me yet."

"If you say so. But why even bother going to me then? Surely, she'll be an easier sell."

"I may not have any desire to see Princep Vincent again, but I have no desire to escalate matters. However, I will if I need to."

"Fine, fine," she yawns, "you've made your point. I'm the best compromise for everyone's sake. I shall agree to let you tag along, but you'll have to do something for me."

I tense, knowing whatever she's about to ask will likely be something I can ill afford. "What do you wish for, your highness?"

"Oh, wipe that worried look off your face. It's nothing much, and you may even benefit from it. I want you to befriend one of my other brothers: Princep Theodore. Shouldn't be too difficult. He's in the same year as you after all, and he's not exactly picky in the company he keeps."

"Ah… That may be a problem, actually. Princep Cecelia has already instructed me not to approach Theodore."

She raises an eyebrow. "Has she now? Well, I guess you'll just have to decide which one of us is more valuable to please, now won't you?"

"I see," I say. "May I ask why you wish for me to befriend Princep Theodore, your highness?"

"You may not. It's family business."

"I see… Though I don't ask for idle curiosity, but because understanding your purpose will inform my approach. Princep Theodore happens to share a class with me in which he's surrounded by sycophants. I'm certain I could join them if that's all you want."

"I see what you mean. But no, a mere hanger-on isn't what I want. I need you to be an actual friend to him. One that will help him out when he needs it, and maybe be helped as well. You may even tell him I suggested it, which might help you. But don't worry about doing it before the Equinoctial. Just agree to do it now, and I'll trust you'll give a reasonable effort."

She looks at me expectantly and I bite my lip. Cecelia will be angry, and I don't know what she'll do about it. In fact, it may be disastrous for me even if she doesn't get designated as heir. Still, it's not like Talia doesn't have influence of her own. I look at her studying me with her indifferent stare as she continues to pet her chimeric companion. Cecelia's ire would probably cancel out Talia's favour, but then I'd also gain favour from Theodore. So, it will probably be worth it. Though I don't really think of Theodore as being a great benefit given his general lack of seriousness, but he has surprised me before.

"…You'll protect me from Princep Cecelia if I agree?" I ask.

"…Yes.

"Then I agree."

"Excellent. Now get out." She opens the carriage door and motions for me to jump from the speedily moving carriage.

She looks a little bit surprised as I comply without comment. She likely meant it as a joke, assumed I would baulk and intended to stop with an exaggerated exasperation at me delaying her, but didn't realize just how enhanced my acrobatic ability is. I jump and land on my feet, only needing to take a couple of hopping steps to steady myself.

I sigh as I watch the royal procession continue without me. In some ways that went far better than I could reasonably hope, yet I still feel like it opened up as many problems as it solved. Least of which is that I don't know where I am.

No matter. I contact the bird left with my driver and have her come find me. It doesn't take too long to be picked up, and then I'm headed back home to do all the other little tasks I've let build up.