[Lauchenoiria]

Jointly written with Eiria

Prince Kristofer of Zongongia was determined to use the Gabrielle Pierre affair to his advantage. He did not care one single iota about Camille or whatever bizarre custody affair was going on within the Pierre family, but he wanted Natasha (and, more to the point, the foetus inside Natasha) back in Zongongia as soon as possible. And if this would help him? Yes, yes he would use it to his advantage.

To that end, he had the Eirian ambassador summoned to the Royal Palace. With the election going on, the democratic leadership was too distracted to pay attention to the activities of the royals, and his father was too busy scheming to give him another sibling (disgustingly) in his bedroom to pay attention to Kristofer’s plots.

He waited in one of the grandest, most intimidating receiving rooms in the palace, with a table set out for a particular upper class variant of afternoon tea that required participants to understand arcane and mystical etiquette to correctly consume. Then he sat back and prepared for the ambassador to be shown in.

Ambassador Stefan Stadē, a tall man with striking blue eyes, examined the room as he was escorted towards the table. He gave a deep bow towards the prince, his light blonde hair becoming a little unkempt as he did so. "Thank you for inviting me for tea, your majesty. Especially here. This room is quite stunning."

“Why thank you,” Prince Kristofer said. “And it’s ‘your highness’; last I checked my father was still alive, unless you know something I don’t?” he chuckled. “Please, take a seat.”

"Ah, my apologies. Honorifics don't translate from Eirian very well. We tend to have one single word that can translate into a variety of words in English." Stadē studied the tea set, unwilling to touch anything until his host did so first. He knew that this was by no means a social call. "So, how may I assist you, your highness?"

“Well,” he said, reaching out for a sandwich, “it’s more like how I can assist you. I hear you’ve been having some trouble with Kerlians recently.”

"Define trouble, your highness." Stadē joked. "Sure, the Gabrielle Pierre affair wasn't the most pleasant, but any crisis that would result from it has since been mitigated. Certain people on the Council wanted a reason to push Eiria further away anyways, so it was only a matter of time before they blew something out of proportion." He raised his eyebrows. "I appreciate your concern, however. I'm curious, how would you be able to help us in this regard?"

“Well, I’m sure you don’t believe that Kerlile will just leave matters alone as it stands,” Kristofer shook his head. “They are only going to become more forceful. This time it was Gabrielle but next time it may well be Kerlian covert agents or even - rocks forbid - an Aurora.”

The Eirian glanced downward, taking a bite out of a sandwich. "While I hope that it doesn't come to that, we have experience dealing with Kerlian agents, including Auroras. And I can't imagine the international backlash that would occur if the world found out that the Council is still using Auroras to do their bidding. At the moment, we can only speculate, and I believe we will have to wait and see what, if anything, the Kerlian government will do in response."

Kristofer nodded, chewing his sandwich. “Indeed, indeed,” he mused. “Still, having such an important Kerlian family in Eiria opens you to all sorts of difficulties.”

"True, but that's just part of governance. Call it an occupational hazard, if you will." Ambassador Stadē gave an unassuming smile. "These sandwiches are delicious, by the way."

“I’ll make sure to pass your compliments on to the kitchen,” Kristofer said, smiling out of the corner of his mouth. “I only worry that these Kerlians are more trouble than you need right now, what with the Xiomeran threat and all. And Natasha, well, she was doing so well here in Zongongia. It’s a lot of upheaval for them, no?”

Stadē's face went neutral. "I do admire your compassion for the Robinson family. And while it may be a little rough for them right now, I have faith that they'll be able to get through it. Rest assured, your highness. Your cousins are safe in Eiria, I promise you."

“Ah, if only,” he sighed. “But I fear that it is only a matter of time before the Xiomerans take hostile action, as they continually threaten. I worry what will become of Natasha, and the baby, in such a scenario. It would be better for the baby, do you not think, if its father was also present?”

"What kind of hostile actions do you fear that Xiomera will undertake?" The ambassador sat back in his chair. "A war on Eirian soil is highly unlikely, given the current state of the Xiomeran navy. If a war would begin, I highly doubt that the Robinson family would be anywhere close to the line of fire." He paused. "And as of your last point, I'm not quite sure I understand. Could you elaborate, please?"

“In Zongongia, both parents’ rights are respected,'' Kristofer said, sipping his tea and staring icily at the Eirian. “The father’s as well as the mother’s. To only respect the mother is, well, very Kerlian, wouldn’t you agree? I wish to see my baby born here, in Zongongia. Natasha is attempting to deny me that right.”

Stadē's tone went frigid. "Even though family law is not my specialty, I know for a fact that Eiria also respects the rights of both parents. However, we also respect the rights of asylees to not be potentially blackmailed and practically imprisoned because of a pregnancy. And given that there is historical precedent for that very scenario, I'm not sure what you want me to do, your highness." He thought for a moment. "And if I make a recommendation? If you are going to try to compare us to Kerlile, try not to use a centuries-old law of your own to help justify it. The Eirian Republic does not take kindly to draconian policies."

“Draconian policies like allowing a homeowner to be dictator within their own home?” Kristofer responded idly. “But please, do go on. Tell me of how wonderful and safe it is to be Eirian. Unless you’re one of those Xiomeran athletes, who you failed to protect, perhaps.”

"Blaming us for Xiomeran cruelty? How twisted of a mindset, your highness. Perhaps that victim-blaming attitude is part of why Eiria gets more asylum seekers than Zongongia does. And as for the dictator remark, I never knew that you were so against property rights. When did the Zongongian royal family start expressing its support for the radical wing of the Milintican Communist Party?"

“Ah, I knew this would be a waste of time,” Kristofer sighed. “Eirians are borderline anarchists, no respect for the laws of other countries. You can go now.”

The ambassador stood, finishing his cup of tea. "There's the disdain for personal liberty. Thank you for taking your mask off, your highness, and showing me how autocratic you would be if you had actual power. Thank the angels for the Zongongian Parliament." As he walked towards the door, he turned on his heel, looking back at the Prince one last time. "Speaking of which, I'll give Prime Minister Kristensen your regards. Farewell, Prince Kristofer."

“If he’s still Prime Minister tomorrow,” Kristofer muttered, standing up and walking away to the other door without further word.