[Democratic Republic Of Eiria]

(A Joint Post with Xiomera)

Day One: Evening Reception

Minister Alice Lancaster looked down at the glass of wine in her hand, staring at the glass with an unreadable expression. Making small talk and smiling at political leaders was oddly more tiring than usual. Maybe it was the fact that she was in an oppressive state. Maybe it was because she had to leave Adrian behind again. But whatever it was, she despised it with a burning passion.

One of her Solar Guards tapped her on the shoulder, causing Alice to break her glare and glance at her. "Minister, are you alright?" Alice nodded in response, quickly reapplying her diplomatic mask. Oh, well. Let's get the rest of this over with. She glanced around the crowd, looking for anyone she hadn't greeted yet.

A short distance away, the Empress of Xiomera stood with her own security detail. In the past, Xiomeran leaders had traveled with security agents in suits, trying to downplay the militaristic nature of Xiomera. Calhualyana had decided to break with that tradition. Surrounding her were multiple Xiomeran women, all clad in the same formal jet black uniforms. Golden buttons with red inlay gleamed in the light whenever one of them moved; gold and red piping formed intricate loops in a stylized sunburst and falcon pattern on the front of their uniforms. On their shoulders, the new rising sun flag of the Empire gleamed proudly, in gold, orange and black radiance. Black berets, trimmed in red and gold like the uniform, finished off the sharp and rather ominous package. These were the Imperial Guard, the new protectors of the Empress. None of them showed any expression on their faces; all of them were clearly muscular and athletic. One of them, bearing the insignia of the troop commander, leaned over to the Empress and pointed out Lancaster. Calhualyana smirked in response.

Alice Lancaster locked eyes with the Xiomeran Empress, before examining her ornate security detail carefully. Lancaster's security detail wasn't as flashy, in Simple purple uniforms inlaid with golden thread and the insignia of the Solar Guard. But they were just as strong and expressionless as the Xiomerans, well trained and determined. The Eirian women scanned every angle of the party carefully, noting every potential threat.

Lancaster briefly considered shotgunning her drink, but decided against it, beginning the short walk towards the empress. She donned a determined expression, slightly smirking at the thought of interacting with the Empress. Now, this will be fun. "Your Majesty. It's a pleasure to see you again." Alice said, maintaining eye contact.

”Ah, Minister Lancaster. A pleasure to see you as well,” Calhualyana said in a polite tone of voice underlain with the most subtle hint of sarcasm - just enough to be noticeable without being able to be called out. “How are things in Eiria?”

"Things are excellent. We're prosperous, civil, and united. I really can't complain. I personally consider myself lucky to be Eirian." Alice poured every ounce of fake sweetness into her voice. "How is Xiomera? Congratulations on your engagement, by the way."

”Things could not be going better in Xiomera. We are quite pleased with the current state of affairs,” Calhualyana replied. “We are recovering quite quickly from the civil conflict, and once again growing and trading with other countries. We see ourselves emerging even stronger over the next year. And thank you for your congratulations. I am quite excited about the marriage - Xiyāōtl has proven to be a wonderful partner. How are things personally for you? Adrian is doing well, I trust.”

Alice's expression hardened slightly, the smile edging towards a grimace. This... woman thinks she can use Adrian against me? She clearly underestimates me. "Of course, he's doing well. Enjoying a lot of time off. Although it's hard not seeing him all the time." She gave a dry chuckle, acting as if she actually felt humor in the situation. "But I can't complain. A marriage built on love, and trust... It's perfect. It's everyone's dream, really."

”I couldn’t agree more. I am so glad the two of you are back together. Xiyāōtl and I started off slowly, I must admit. But the two of us have so much in common and have grown so close. It will be nice to have someone I can trust by my side as I guide Xiomera’s future.” Calhualyana smiled more broadly. “Speaking of people and sides….how is Queen Sophie doing? I can only sympathize with her plight, it is always awful for a ruler when they are sidelined.” The Empress glanced meaningfully at Yauhmi, who was at the other end of the room chatting with a group of Kerlians, before looking at Alice again.

"She's doing quite well. I'm sure she appreciates your concern." Alice followed the glance, letting her words take whatever interpretation they could. "She's a noble, kind ruler, and a hell of a speaker. It's too bad that her vacation will be so short, we quite enjoy her company."

”Interesting. I was under the impression that it was up to the people of Auria to decide how long her stay with you would be.” Calhualyana calmly sipped her drink, which had already been tested by one of her guards.

"If it was up to the people of Auria, she and the Aurian Parliament wouldn't be in Eiria right now. It just goes to show how a few opportunists can ruin everything." Alice sipped her own wine, a strong red that probably cost more than most Kerlians make in a week. "Hmm, not bad. You know, this reception's better than I expected."

”The reception has been quite lovely. Our hosts have been most gracious.” Calhualyana, having finished her drink, took another glass that had been handed to her by one of her guards after a discreet check. “I would respectfully disagree that the new leadership in Auria are opportunists, however. Some would call them patriotic Aurians who acted out of love for their country. I can certainly sympathize, having been forced to do the same in Xiomera.”

"Ah, right. But, to be fair, if they acted out of love for their country, was committing high treason against a democratic government really the way to do it? That's disrespectful to the Aurians who voted in the government, which is to say, most Aurians. I guess we have different definitions of patriotic obligation." Lancaster said, glancing down at her almost-empty wine glass. She glanced at the Xiomeran guard contingent, acting impressed. "Very elegant uniforms, by the way. Very flashy."

”Thank you. Our military is undergoing a bit of a reorganization and expansion in the wake of the war. It revealed some weaknesses in our defenses that I am correcting. I am confident that soon, we will be in a much better position.” The Empress looked at her guards approvingly, before turning back to Lancaster. “Even if we agreed on the legitimacy of the current Aurian government, I do have to ask if the blockade you intend to put in place will hinder the free flow of commerce between sovereign nations. This is a matter of great concern to Xiomera as a trading nation.”

A slight glint of amusement came to Alice's eyes. "My apologies for causing any concern. It's not our intention to hinder the free flow of commerce. Far from it, in fact. Trade is essential to Caxcanan regional prosperity. Once Auria is reinstated as a sovereign nation, and the unrest is settled, our blockade will withdraw. You have nothing to worry about. After all, the Aurian Coup plotters don't even have a government in place. You won't have any reason to trade with them, and our operations shouldn't hurt Xiomera in the slightest."

”I must have missed something, or perhaps you have. Didn’t a new king get crowned today? I would say that establishes a government, leading a sovereign nation,” Calhualyana replied. “As for who we might have reason to trade with, or not, that is ultimately up to Xiomera as another sovereign nation to decide. A blockade will not change the course of events. It will only hurt everyday people in Auria. We believe they should be allowed to decide their future without other nations strangling Aurians economically because foreign leaders disagree with their choices.”

Alice began to smirk, the irony almost making her laugh. "You know, I never thought of that. Huh, it's a tricky situation. You know what would be great? If there was a form of government that allowed people to choose their own government, without a bloody coup or treason needed! Oh, oh wait...."

”Aurians did choose their own government, in what you have chosen to label a coup. Others would call it a revolution, and who are we to disagree with them? Do their aspirations not matter just because you don’t like their beliefs or their methods? Instead of hostility in the form of a blockade, you could have chosen to engage with this new government as we are doing. Your actions will only ensure their complete refusal to cooperate with you. That is the definition of counterproductive foreign relations,” Calhualyana said. “The new government in Auria, I am sure, feels like you are attacking them. And by seeking to cut off their trade, that is exactly what you are doing. All politics or agendas aside, it just won’t work.” Calhualyana’s voice took on a firmer tone. “What is even more troubling is that you have no authority under international law to engage in such a hostile act.”

Lancaster's tone hardened to match the Empress, any trace of a smile vanishing. "Some Aurians did. But they already had a choice to choose their government. They chose to use what power they had to commit treason. You talking about how authoritarian governments are 'People choosing their own governments' is incredibly absurd and hypocritical. And, according to the Lapointe Agreement, we have all the authority we could ever possibly need. You lecture me on "counterproductive foreign relations" while you withdraw from the WA? Incredible. You're quite lucky Queen Sophie didn't attend this conference. She'd be much less eloquent and patient than I am." She turned around to leave, before turning back. Her guards stepped forward, concerned about potential escalation. "Oh, and one last thing. I have a message, from Queen Sophie and pretty much every democratic ruler." She leaned in closer, lowering her voice to almost a whisper. "Keep your damn guns to yourself."

In contrast to Lancaster’s guards, the Imperial Guards around Calhualyana didn’t react. They remained impassively in place, as the Empress looked at Lancaster for a dramatically long moment. And then, Calhualyana laughed.

“Your ‘Lapointe Agreement’ is something you crafted out of thin air to suit your agenda concerning Auria. We may have withdrawn from the WA, but we still know about international law. And that ‘agreement’ you cobbled together is not law, and has no authority over the Xiomeran Empire or any other nation,” Calhualyana said, openly allowing her amusement to show now. “We are not bound to follow it, and we do not answer to the former Queen of Auria, or any other self-proclaimed ‘democratic ruler’. As I stated before, Xiomera is a sovereign nation, and we will trade whatever goods we wish with whoever we wish. Including Auria. And you have no authority to tell us otherwise.”

"Oh, according to the Aurian government, they won't be trading with you. So we have full authority, according to international law and the Aurian Government, to protect Auria from dangerous powers." Lancaster's smirk returned. "It's quite fitting, actually. Your pathetic attempt to gain an ally in the region pushed Lauchenoiria away, and united democracies against a common enemy. So I guess we should thank you. Your ineffective power grab had united the democracies of the world against you. And no matter what you'd like to think, against us, you are outgunned and outmanned. It just goes to show, in your desperate lust for power, you've alienated any potential allies."

”According to an Aurian government, to be accurate. Not the one that currently holds power in Lumiere. We do not recognize either that government, nor any ‘agreements’ it may make. So literally everything else you said about your self-appointed authority on this matter is a moot point, as far as we are concerned,” the Empress replied with disdain. “As for nations being allied against us….the nations you speak of already were. So, again, a moot point as far as we are concerned. It will not change either the course of our actions or the course of our destiny. If you have not figured it out yet, Minister, let me explain it more simply: neither rhetoric nor threats impress or deter us.”

"Oh, Lauchenoiria was already allied against you? Really? Huh. Face it, you drove them away. And, regardless of who you recognize as legitimate, who's side will the world take in this situation? The dictatorship with imperialistic tendencies and a history of oppressing the populace? Or the group of democracies? And, even if they don't pick a side, they won't care who you recognize. Claim whatever you want. But at the end of the day, not a single ship is getting through to Auria without our authorization."

”Lauchenoiria under Alvarez has always been hostile to Xiomera, even as far back as Topilpopoca’s time as Emperor. If you knew anything about our history with them, you would not be so quick to label my belief concerning them as erroneous. As for your blockade….” Calhualyana paused, then laughed again. “You have yet to see just how inventive we Xiomerans can be when faced with a challenge. But you will. The oceans are vast, and your fleets not as grand as you suppose. We will find a way. We always do.”

"Ah, overconfidence. It always comes back to bite you in the ass. I personally look forward to when it does." Alice sipped her new glass of wine, not breaking eye contact. "And you underestimate the Eirian navy. It's how our military shines, after all. And, with multiple nations holding the line, firing on the blockade would be an incredibly stupid decision, even for you." She paused. "And you're not stupid. Foolish, cocky, hypocritical, selfish. But not stupid."

Calhualyana smirked cockily in response, on cue. The smile did not reach her eyes.

“No navy, no matter how adept, can block off the entire ocean. We don’t intend to fire on anyone. I doubt we will have to. Perhaps you are the ones overconfident in your abilities, thinking you can wall off an entire nation from the outside world. But we shall see. Because nothing whatsoever you have said changes my mind one bit.”

Before Lancaster could respond, Calhualyana put her glass down, raising her hand. “As entertaining as this chat has been, I can only find so many ways to tell someone how wrong they are. Have a pleasant evening, Minister.” Favoring Lancaster with another cold smirk, the Empress turned and left, her entourage following her.

Alice watched Calhualyana leave, feeling both angry and vindicated. Overconfidence is going to catch up with her one day. She took another sip of her wine and looked around the room, feeling much more energized. "So..." She muttered to herself, scanning the reception. "Who's next?"