Chapter 196: No Tantrums
Lowering the tariffs wouldn’t be a significant blow to the kingdom. If anything, it would smooth relations and invite prosperity. Trade would flourish if done right, and that was what he kept reminding himself. Repeatedly. Because the real sting wasn’t in the deal. It was in losing. Publicly. Badly.
When he entered the main hall, the atmosphere was thick with expectation.
Sahira, the diplomat from the Black Panther Tribe, sat gracefully on one of the long cushioned benches, sipping a cup of tea. Her golden eyes sparkled with amusement the moment she saw him. Leon didn’t return the smile, but he nodded curtly, acknowledging her with dignity.
The Dowager Queen sat at the head of the long table, fingers interlaced, hiding her inner concern beneath a composed expression. She was worried. Of course she was.
She’d heard about the crushing defeat he’d suffered at Sahira’s hands during the chess match, and she likely expected him to lash out, or storm in with that temper of his. Sahira probably expected the same. They both knew he hated being humiliated.
And yet—Leon gave them neither.
He approached the table, and his gaze fell on the rolled parchment laid out in front of his mother. The contract. Everything was already in place. The documents were ready. All that was left was the ceremonial approval—the stamp of the King.
Which was him, unfortunately only for today, that is, until Riven finally lets him off.
Leon reached for the scroll, and opened it with calm precision. He read the document once again, this time with a cooler head. No traps. Just a straightforward agreement to reduce the tariffs on three major imports from the Black Panther Tribe.
A sensible move. Strategic, even. That didn’t make the sting of defeat any lighter, but he wasn’t about to make a fool of himself all over again.
Sahira watched him with an expression that hovered between curiosity and smugness. She said nothing, simply sipped her tea. She expected theatrics. Perhaps a condescending comment. A demand to renegotiate.