Chương 108: The Cocagne Affair (8)

A few days after Simon answered Remedia's questions, he received the supreme honor of being summoned to an emergency meeting of her council of ministers. He was invited to sit in a large hall with an equally long oaken table and ostentatious chairs carved in the shape of various eidolons. Remedia took the Phoenix throne herself, while behind her back loomed a massive golden effigy of a lion encrusted in a wall that glared down at the people present with emerald eyes.

Representatives of all branches of the government, from the Senate to the Magisterium to the Shadowguard and most major noble houses, were already present. Simon noted that two-thirds of the people present were women rather than men, which didn't surprise him all that much. The Queendom's laws of succession had influenced that of its society, making it so that women ended up more valued as heirs or leaders in Cocagne.

"What is he doing here?" Filip asked the moment he noticed Simon's presence.

"Prince Simon has earned my trust, and confirmed your intel on Balzam Magnos," Remedia replied upon inviting them to sit at her left and right; a supreme honor if there was ever one.

"Considering his unique position in Endymion's hierarchy and relative neutrality in the empire's internal affairs, I believe his insight will prove crucial." This is it, Simon thought as he sat, knowing this would be the moment where he would have to pick a side. The fact that she didn't invite Norbelle means she's still weighing her options. While Filip didn't look happy at Remedia's choice, he simply settled on glaring at Simon.

He had the feeling the Ranger was on thin ice as a consort and simply couldn't continue opposing his wife in public. Simon noticed that many ministers didn't seem all that eager to sit near him.

"You have all been gathered here to discuss a very important piece of information," Remedia took a deep breath.

"Balzam Magnos, the third Overlord, has been dead for weeks." The entire council erupted into gasps of disbelief, except for Simon and the royal couple itself.

"Balzam Magnos, dead?"

"Impossible!"

"If this is true, this is an opportunity we cannot let pass…"

"Pardon me, Your Majesty, but how can you be truly certain?" one of the ministers asked.

"If it is a mere rumor…"

"This information was confirmed by White Unicorn representatives and Prince Simon himself," Remedia said.

"Shadowguard agents informed me that Endymion has secretly begun hunting for the new Overlord."

"My father was slain in his bedroom with a concubine," Simon added. He didn't see any reason to lie on that front, knowing that Illusea had already shared the information with various nations' leadership.

"The killer remains unknown."

"Could it be Prince Louis?" one of the ministers correctly guessed, his tone growing fearful.

"If that maniac inherits the Crimson Throne and Prince Verdis remains engaged to Princess Norbelle, then–""But if Empress Euphemia were to ascend as Overlord, then Cocagne's future would be secure," another countered.

"It cannot be either of them," Filip said sharply, "Or else the Class would have passed on to them."

"The Overlord Class wasn't inherited by any of the Magnos, and instead went to a scalefolk warlord called Vouivre operating in Telluria claiming descent from Gargauth himself," Remedia said.

"However, we have received word from Illusea that this may be false information, as this warlord is not covered by Anathemic Secrecy … in which case, the Fourth Overlord remains unaccounted for." Simon scowled. Of course the first thing the Oracle would do when Patriate Malphas reported Balzam's murder was to check on the new Overlord named in the will. It would only take one advanced divination session at the target to unravel the deception.

Naming the heir as Laurent Linconnu rather than a single person might prove more beneficial than expected, since it would force the Oracle to waste days or weeks researching every single person with that name.

"I have gathered you all here today so we can discuss our next move as a nation," Remedia explained.

"As our biggest neighbor, Endymion's internal policies will directly affect Cocagne. There is a strong possibility that its War and Church Parties will come to blows in the near future, at which point we will need to pick a side."

"Prince Louis made no secret of his intentions to conquer Cocagne before we brokered Prince Verdis' marriage," a member of the Magisterium said.

"The army is loyal to him, and his supporters hold Magvolia… we could offer him the Princess Satine as a peace offering…"

"But the Phoenix picked Princess Norbelle as its summoner," a senator replied.

"Surely this is a sign we should align with the Church Party."

"My suggestion is to remain neutral," Filip argued.

"We should delay or cancel Verdis' betrothal to Norbelle, then let the imperial parties tear each other apart. Why should Cocagne bleed for those who would conquer or assimilate us?"

"But what if Euphemia wins?" another minister argued.

"She will not forgive the insult easily." Simon watched debates unfold, with the room appearing neatly divided between Militarists and Autonomists… though the latter seemed more numerous. He knew from experience they would have their way and convince the Queen should he not intervene, but he had wondered if his actions had changed things... Remedia, who had been listening to her ministers' arguments, turned to him.

"What would you say, Prince Simon? Do you have any suggestion to offer us?" Simon gathered his breath as many eyes turned his way, with one of the ministers immediately questioning the gesture, "You would trust his advice on the matter, Your Majesty?"

"The light megalith trusted him enough to empower him with prayer spells," Remedia replied with a faint smile, deflecting her responsibility to the divine.

"He was honest with me when I questioned him about his father, which will likely cause him trouble at home. I believe his insight may prove decisive."

"He may try to give us faulty advice," Filip countered.

"We will verify whatever information he provides," Remedia replied, "And I trust us to be wise enough to see through any lie." Simon gathered his breath. The moment he had prepared for had come. Patriate Malphas and his daughter had already been captured, with forces in place to capture his sisters too; however, Simon had delayed the rest of the operation against Magvolia's loyalist faction precisely so he could hedge his bets today. Simon considered his options.

With Louis chasing Vouivre in Telluria and thus being unavailable to lead a bombing campaign in Magvolia, he had a unique opportunity to ensure the Church Party successfully stormed the region and prevented all the war crimes that would usually follow. They could storm the Crestone production facility and destroy the airship fleet too, which would cripple Louis' ability to project force outside of key areas. This might end the civil war in months, or at least minimize the damage, and indebt Cocagne to him.

He could become the advisor and prophet who ensured the Queendom's continued prosperity. The only thing that gave Simon pause was the risk of endangering Lauriane, but he had had an idea to ensure her survival and already taken measures on that front with Norbelle prior to the meeting.

"There will be a civil war in Endymion for certain, one that will only end when either Louis or Euphemia slays the other, or should the new Overlord take the throne," Simon said.

"If your goal is to secure Cocagne's frontier and ensure the conflict does not reach your borders… then I would ally with Euphemia. She favors diplomacy over conquest, and Louis will never stop at the empire's current borders."

"But Louis' supporters control most of Magvolia next door," a Magisterium member pointed out.

"We will be exposing ourselves to retaliation."

"The people of Magvolia have no love for the War Party and will rebel if given the chance, especially if you broker an alliance with royalists still loyal to Princess Satine Renais," Simon pointed out. This ought to please the Militarists.

"However, if you want to secure your borders… then you must do two other things." Remedia raised an eyebrow.

"What would you suggest?"

"Since this will involve revealing state secrets, I will require certain…" Simon crossed his arms, " Concessions from your lot before I tell you anything." The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Ah, of course." One of the ministers in Filip's corner scoffed in disdain.

"You want a bribe."

"He is already risking much by attending this gathering," a senator replied.

"What's your price, Prince Simon?" Ironically enough, his demands for a bribe seemed to ease the assembly's skepticism. It was easier to believe a traitor would sell out his country for tangible gain rather than fight for a cause greater than himself.

"My first request is that you ensure the safety of Princess Lauriane Magnos, my half-sister," Simon said.

"I do not want her dead or harmed."

"Princess Lauriane serves the War Party," Remedia noted. Filip squinted with skepticism.

"Why would you care so much for an enemy's safety?"

"Because she alone was kind to me," Simon replied bluntly.

"Even though her loyalty to Louis is misplaced, I owe her a life debt and will repay it. I hence ask that you take her alive and treat her well if she ever comes to blows with Cocagne, or at least give her a diplomatic way out should she surrender."

"Ensuring her safety is one thing," Remedia said sharply.

"Letting her walk away with the Alchemist Noble Crestone will be another."

"That does not concern me," Simon replied. Well, he would rather keep the Alchemist Crestone for himself, but he knew Cocagne's leadership would never let him approach it anyway and his Lauriane's wellbeing came first.

"I will pick my sister's safety over any rock." He detected a very slight hint of awe and appreciation in the queen's gaze after his answer, and even the likes of Filip appeared grudgingly impressed with his rather selfless demand. That goodwill quickly ran out when Simon named the other half of his price.

"My other request concerns Duchess Justine Eligos. She will likely soon come to you, asking for political asylum, and you will give it to her. You will assist her in her endeavors and confirm her as Duchess of the Eligos territories, even once Magvolia is retaken." Filip glared at him with pure scorn.

"You want us to shelter your mistress, Prince Simon?"

"A fair price to pay for peace and victory, you would agree," Simon replied calmly, not denying the 'mistress' part. He had the sneaking suspicion he would receive fewer questions this way. Remedia herself looked rather displeased with the request for some reason, but she was pragmatic enough to go along with it.

"Those are fair conditions," she said, floating runes swirling around her hand.

"Everyone in agreement, raise your hand." There was little to no opposition. Even Filip reluctantly raised his hand, because those conditions were relatively easy to fulfill and he was wise enough to go along with the flow. Runes flared above each councilor, Simon included, which he sensed as confirmation they had agreed to a magical contract of some kind.

"We are now bound by a Geass spell to fulfill our bargain under the threat of harm," Remedia informed Simon.

"What are these two conditions we must fulfill to preserve in Cocagne, in your opinion?" Let's see if this plan works.

"First, you must take the Goetia Research Facility from my sister, or else the War Party will eventually win the battle of attrition thanks to being able to produce a constant flow of Vassal Classes," he explained, "I suggest allying with Magvolian royalists if you want the siege to succeed. I'm sure Euphemia and the Church Party will recognize Satine's claim to the throne or grant the region autonomy if it helps take out Louis in the long run."

"We could have figured that out ourselves," Filip replied icily.

"The other thing you must do," Simon said, hiding his smile, "Is to take out the War Party's secret airship fleet in Magvolia before it becomes operational." Now that took everyone by storm, Remedia first and foremost.

"A secret airship fleet?" she asked.

"My late father originally planned for me to obtain the Oracle Noble Class to complete House Magnos' collection of them," Simon lied, knowing this both sounded plausible and unverifiable.

"My sister Lauriane informed me that he had a plan to bomb Illusea with airships in a surprise attack. Those currently sit unused in a secret base in Magvolia, under Louis' control."

"How many airships are we talking about?" a minister asked.

"At least thirty," Simon replied, to the shock of his audience.

"Thirty?!" a senator choked.

"That would be enough to overwhelm Cocagne and wipe it off the map!"

"Do you have any proof of this wild claim?" Filip asked with skepticism.

"I can tell you the base's location," Simon replied calmly.

"Simply send a spy to confirm it or scry it." Remedia scowled, put on her Mage outfit, and then materialized a crystal ball.

"Tell me where the base is, Prince Simon." Simon proceeded to give the information, with Remedia casting divination spells far beyond anything Cassandra could use. Her crystal ball showed highly detailed images of the Magvolian coast… only to suddenly drown in darkness.

"What do you see?" Filip asked warily.

"Nothing," Remedia replied.

"The area is protected by anti-divination wards strong enough to repel my spells. That already is highly suspicious in itself."

"I will send agents to confirm Prince Simon's words," a Shadowguard agent said.

"If this fleet does exist, then we should destroy it at the earliest opportunity."

"Agreed," another minister added.

"Allying with the War Party would be a mistake, since they would retain the air power to threaten us with in the future." Remedia nodded and folded her hands.

"Should this information be confirmed, I believe Prince Simon's strategy would be the most sound. My son's marriage to Princess Norbelle would let us secure an alliance and concessions from the Church Party, and Filip has already established contact with the White Unicorn. We could assemble a grand coalition against Prince Louis, and restore Magvolia as an allied buffer state."

A good hour of debate followed, with Simon occasionally answering questions or offering his input on how to besiege the Goetia Research Facility. It became very clear to him that Cocagne would align with his strategy the moment they confirmed the airship base's existence, since it would satisfy both the Militarists and Autonomists. He had the suspicion he would be named an official advisor to the queen herself, to Filip's dismay.

Simon would then approach Norbelle and Euphemia with an offer: he would use his position to secure Cocagne's support for the Church Party in return for safety guarantees for Lauriane and Justine. There was no better feeling than getting paid for something he would have done for free.

"This meeting is adjourned for now," Remedia concluded once they reached the session's end.

"Prince Simon, please stay a bit longer." The fact that she did not extend that invitation to the King-Consort wasn't lost on anyone present. Filip scowled and reluctantly left, his jaw clenching so hard Simon could hear his teeth grinding from across the room. A certainty settled in Simon's mind when he watched the Ranger leave the room with his supporters. Filip would soon try to kill him again, probably personally. He was being steadily sidelined by a Magnos of all people, who had the ear of his wife.

His strategy had been denied, and he had accumulated embarrassment after embarrassment. He had to strike and get Simon out of the picture to avoid challenges to his position. It was just a question of when and where. Remedia sensed it as well.

"I will send him away to Valne to arrange our alliance with the White Unicorn and the Magvolians exiled there," she reassured Simon once they were alone.

"I will not allow another fight between you."

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I fear you are only delaying the inevitable." Simon turned to the Lion effigy behind her throne.

"Is it there?" Remedia nodded sharply.

"Did you sense anything?"

"No," Simon conceded. The miasma crystal had to be sealed in a chamber behind it, right in the castle's heart.

"Your wards still hold strong. I cannot hear its voice."

"You find me pleased then." Remedia clasped her hands.

"There is another matter that has reached my ears, and which I believe you should be informed of." Simon raised an eyebrow.

"Which one?"

"There was a robbery at the grand library last night," Remedia replied.

"Books on seals, archfiends, and the Kish Empire were stolen. This matter would be usually beneath my notice, but the thieves managed to break rather potent spells to obtain those seemingly mundane grimoires. I wondered if you knew anything about it." Simon blinked in surprise. No, he didn't know anything about it… but his heart sank when he realized only two parties had a strong interest in investigating both the Zodiac Fiends and the kish: the Cobweb, and Vouivre.

It had to be one of them, or the former acting on the latter's behalf. Eole's disappearance meant the dragon warlord had no kish to help her break the Two-Tailed Fish's seal while Louis kept pressuring her. She probably hoped to find an alternative way to obtain her doomsday weapon. Would she succeed?

She hadn't in previous reigns, but it was the first reign where Vouivre was Louis' direct target rather than a secondary one he followed up on after Casval was dealt with, and the Oracle learning about her not being the Overlord could have caused a ripple effect. It was too soon to tell, but Simon should monitor the situation closely.

"I have my suspicions, but nothing concrete," Simon said.

"Does the name 'Cobweb' mean anything to you?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Remedia conceded.

"They are an underground criminal syndicate at the center of Cocagne's drug trade and slave trafficking. They enjoy the secret patronage of a handful of noble houses, so I had to tread carefully with them." Of course the spider's reach would extend to Cocagne. Was there any place on this planet they didn't have a branch in?

"You shouldn't," Simon warned her.

"They are extremely dangerous and hunting for Zodiac Fiend crystals. I've heard from a trustworthy source that they have at least secured the Crab." Remedia pondered his words a moment before answering.

"Have you ever visited Lafontaine?"

"Cocagne's main port?" Simon raised an eyebrow.

"No, I haven't. Why?"

"It is a beautiful city that happens to be the unfortunate center of the Cobweb's activities. I would be delighted to be your guide… under a disguise, of course."

"I would be interested," Simon confirmed. He wouldn't throw away any chance to screw with the Prince of Spiders' activities.

"We might find the lost books there."

"Good." Remedia's expression harshened slightly.

"This Duchess Eligos… it is not mere lust that motivates you to protect her, is it?" Was that reproach Simon sensed in her voice? Either way he didn't see any reason to lie.

"Do you know why Norbelle was born with a third eye in spite of her father being the Overlord?" Now Remedia looked curious.

"Please, do tell."

"My father had our physician cast spells on her while she was in the womb to ensure she received powers from both sides of the family." Simon sat on the table's edge.

"I happen to know of those spells, and Justine is a foremost expert on the matter. I suspect she can help me unlock my own latent potential if we pool our knowledge."

"Fascinating…" Remedia stroked her chin, her eyes alight with the Mage's native curiosity.

"Could you teach me those spells, perchance? If we could ensure the birth of a Visionary capable of binding the Phoenix…"

"It wouldn't do much for you," Simon pointed out.

"Any target would need to be of Darkblood and Visionary descent, which only covers House Magnos as far as I know."

"Yes, I see the issue…" Remedia stared at Simon for a second, and covered her mouth as she suppressed a chuckle.

"Your Majesty?" Simon inquired.

"Nothing," she replied while struggling to contain her laughter.

"A stupid idea just crossed my mind."