Chapter 271 - 12: Rare Treasures Worth Living For
The somewhat arrogant laughter was particularly grating in Katya’s ears, as it was evident that the speaker aimed to incite her anger. However, it seemed he had forgotten who she was; such petty tricks were hardly worth mentioning. Yet Katya had to admit that his words indeed struck a chord with the kingdom’s sore points. She could not be certain how her father would react if he heard them. But the one facing him now was known for her composure. Komer’s expectations may need adjustment.
"Your baron, the kingdom is not a small territory and must consider many more problems from all aspects. It can’t act as arbitrarily as you imagine. True, the relationship between Homer and the Central Kingdom is tense, and the kingdom really does want to resolve this issue. But it’s certainly not as simple as you think. We need your help, and the kingdom will not spare anything for those who are loyal to it. However, what you propose about making Caucasus a direct territory of the kingdom might just give Homer an excuse to create problems for us, so I can’t promise anything on that matter. Everything will have to wait until I report back to Lord Tez and Marshal Mathew, and they will decide together with my father. But I believe while we may not resolve this issue immediately, we can certainly have fruitful discussions about other substantial matters. I’m sure we will find more common ground in these areas," Katya finally steered the conversation towards meaningful negotiations. The opponent’s wild demands needed consideration, but even if the kingdom agreed, they could not be realized overnight. What was more pressing now was to discuss more substantial, immediate issues.
"Very well, it seems Princess Katya does not have full authority from the kingdom. Perhaps I have been too eager. However, as Your Highness says, we can reach more agreement on substantive issues," Komer of course, knew such matters couldn’t be resolved instantly. Earning the psychological accord of the other party was in itself a considerable victory. At least Katya no longer dismissed his demands as fanciful and unworthy of attention. As for the kingdom’s decision, Komer believed that Tez and Mathew could see further and make a wise choice without difficulty.
Negotiating with intelligent people is always the easiest. Having clarified each other’s bottom lines, the second round of talks proceeded much more smoothly and easily. The kingdom promised to continue fully supporting Caucasus with food. Despite Homer seizing Odessa, Komer suspected that, before Homer completely fell out with the kingdom, Philip would not dare to intercept ships that had permits issued by the Kingdom’s Ministry of the Interior. Maybe the kingdom wanted to use this to force Homer into a blunder and start the dispute first, at which point it could seize the opportunity to deal with the Homer issue legitimately. But would Philip fall for this?
Of course, Caucasus will make its greatest efforts to help those rebel forces in Leon sustain the status quo, possibly building a floating bridge over the Nissai River to the north bank. That way, the rebels in Leon could directly threaten the north side. Only this would maximize the role of the Leon rebels, imposing a check on Homer’s power. On this point, Komer and Katya shockingly shared the same view. The kingdom hoped Homer would be restrained by Leon, while Komer hoped the overly large rebel force in Leon could spread north across the Nissai River. This too-powerful source of chaos residing in Leon was a potential danger; when supplies could not meet their needs, they would lose control, and even he would be unable to harness them. The only solution was to direct this calamity northwards, to let Homer People’s power and these Leon rebels exhaust each other.
Having concluded the negotiations cleanly, Katya reverted back to the graceful and composed woman she once was in Versailles. Her beauty and charm always held an upper hand in men’s hearts, a detail men perhaps subconsciously refuse to admit, but it indeed holds true. Komer never wanted to mask his fondness for Katya, and it seemed she rather appreciated this sentiment. It would be a good starting point for garnering more assistance from various quarters, especially as Caucasus’s importance in the kingdom’s eventual political shifts became increasingly prominent. Katya dared not hope to make Caucasus a pawn for herself, but at the very least, she could expect them to stand by her and cheer for her in any future political situation. For a noble from the outskirts, that was already considerable support.