We anchored the yacht two miles offshore as they didn't have a port to handle this big of a ship, and my fleet anchored a mile behind me. The people of the port city could see the massive fleet of ships. It scared them, so I let the Princess, along with her maids and Duke Fredrick, disembark on a smaller motor boat to pull into the port city with an officer, as it would be rude if I, a ruler, stepped into the city first. Plus, the nobles would need a heads up that someone of greater status was coming so they could prepare their homes.
'Roselie, I shall see you again.' I said while hiding in a smaller hallway, kissing her as she put her tongue into my mouth. We enjoyed the taste of each other's mouths for a minute before pulling away, and she walked out onto the deck, mounting the motorboat with the others and speeding off.
At the port city, 'Count Jason, what should we do?' Asked a portly man with a handlebar mustache. A young man in his mid to late twenties looked out at the massive fleet of ships he had never seen before, flying a flag he had never heard of, as a smaller boat sped its way towards the docks. 'We will meet with the delegate party before we plan anything, if they want to take the city, they could. The fact that they aren't attacking right now would seem like they don't want war with us.' The brown haired Count said before turning, and the portly man followed behind him. The Count just couldn't catch a break, raids from Uma, and now a massive fleet. Why did his father have to kick the bucket last month?
As he stepped onto the dock, a boat that was amazing pulled up to the pier, and he saw two people he knew. 'Princess Roselie and Duke Fredrick? I thought you two were on your way to Noki Kingdom.' Count Jason said, looking confused. 'Big brother Jason, I have so much to talk to you about.' Roselie said, smiling. 'But first, we have someone who wants to enter the city. Emperor Roderick desires a meeting with my father.' She said, smiling as Count Jason nodded. 'I allow him to enter my domain.' He said, and Roselie walked over to my officer and nodded, letting the officer radio it in.
Fifteen minutes later, my guard unit and I, along with Aoi and Li, stepped onto the dock. 'Emperor Roderick, I am Count Jason. I am the governing nobility of this area.' The man before me said, bowing as I nodded and put out my hand. 'A pleasure to meet you, Count Jason, come, let's talk in a better area. After all, I have things I wish to discuss with you.' I said, making him nod. As he led the way, Duke Fredrick excused himself, as he could tell Princess Roselie didn't want him around. There has been a thick layer of hostility between them for the last couple of days.
I watched him leave as Roselie and Count Jason talked, but my look didn't escape the Count's eyes as he noticed I didn't like the Duke. 'Shall we head to my mansion? Jasimn has missed you, Roselie.' Count Jason said, making Roselie happy. She gets to see her friend after they had a teary goodbye, thinking they would never see each other again.
We got into a carriage and started to move towards the Count's mansion before he opened his mouth. 'Why isn't Duke Fredrick joining us?' He asked, trying to get an understanding of what's going on. 'He wanted to sell Princess Roselie to the Kingdom of Noki, for their backing to take over the kingdom of Avalon. You should know that the nobility is split over how the King is handling the whole Uma issue. But from my understanding, only a handful of nobles know why he is handling it this way, you being one of them. Which is why I picked your port city to land in, as Princess Roselie trusts you and from what I gathered from her talks, you are a strong Royalty loyalist.' I said, looking at him as he nodded.
'He wanted me to call off the deal I was planning to make with your King, which we will talk about later. But Princess Roseli overheard the talk, and now she distrusts the Duke.' I finished making him understand everything. The rest of the ride was silent as the Count was in deep thought over hearing the fact that the Duke wanted to overthrow the King. He would need to send a message to Duke William. Telling him what he had learned, the carriage stopped, and a knock came from the door, signalling that we had reached his mansion.
Roselie dismounted first as a woman yelled out, 'Roselie, your back.' The moment I dismounted, I saw a pregnant woman walking over to Roselie, and she hugged her, with two women behind her: one with a six-year-old boy and the other holding a baby. They all must be the Count's wives. 'Samantha, we have so much to talk about.' Roselie said, dragging her away as I spoke. 'Count, do you want to hear a deal I have for you? It will help your land greatly.' I said, pulling a pack of smokes out of my coat and lighting one. The Count looked at me for a moment and nodded, as I smiled.
We made our way to his study, and my guards stayed outside the room. Only Aoi, Li, and Kimberly stayed with me, bringing anything I needed in their baggage. As we entered and sat down, he spoke. 'Would you like some wine?' The Count offered, making me shake my head no, I had some before, and was a fan of it. 'I am more of a whisky drinker.' I said, making him tilt his head. 'What's whisky?' He asked, making me smile as I nodded to Aoi, and she opened a bag, pulling out a new bottle along with two glasses and some balled ice. 'It's an alcohol that my Empire makes.' I said as Aoi finished pouring them and handed one to the Count, who stole glances at Aoi, making me glare at him as he laughed nervously. 'Sorry, I was just admiring her beauty, please forgive me.' He said, bowing a little.
'Very well, just don't do it again. Aoi and Li, along with my other maids, belong to me and only me. I will butcher anyone who desires them in the cruelest ways you can think of.' I said, taking a sip as my words sent chills down the Count's spine. 'Noted, what is this deal you want to make, Emperor Roderick?' The Count asked, trying to change the subject as I looked over at Kimberly, and she handed me a folder as I slid it across the table. Letting him read it, after twenty minutes and another glass of whisky for both of us, he spoke. 'Why would you offer terms so much in my favor? What's your play?' He asked.
'I want that land for a port for two reasons, one to unload trade and the other if I need to use it to deploy soldiers into Avalon.' I said, looking at him as he sat forward, glaring at me. 'Do you plan to invade Avalon?' He asked with hostility as I waved my hand. 'No, it's for when the Duke acts. I do not think he will sit back and lose his chance to take the throne, along with the Noki Kingdom, who knows if other Kingdoms around here wouldn't back him if he offered some of Avalon's land to get the throne.' I said, hoping he would take the bait. I need to instill doubt that there is a darker play with the other Kingdoms, so I can invade them in the name of justice if I can get a Count for the Royal factions on my side and start whispering Fredrick's treason into the head of the factions' leader. The moment the Crown Prince is killed would give me a chance to start killing those loyal to Duke Fredrick.
'You will pay me a total of 1,000 tons of gold every three months just for this plot of land and also a higher tax than normal ports on your goods, as a front for the possibility of Duke Fredrick's betrayal.' He said, leaning back into his chair. 'You will also give me a no-interest loan to help rebuild the damage from Uma's raids and 10,000 tons of food to fix the growing food issue, and more if needed, up to 100,000 tons.' He said, pulling a pipe out and lighting it.
'Yes, I believe it's worth paying you for the trouble the Duke may bring up for me, having my own port city in your domain.' I said, pulling a smoke out as we looked at each other, smoking. We sat there trying to read one another for close to ten minutes before Count Jason stood up, and I did the same. 'Then we have a deal, Emperor Roderick.' He said, holding out a hand, and I shook it. Pulling out the paperwork to make it binding, as I stamped mine and he stamped his. 'I will have my men start unloading the food and gold for the year, as it will take a while for the equipment to get here from my Empire.' I said, making him nod.
'Now, as custom in Avalon, the ones who make deals with each other shall taste a woman together.' He said, clapping his hands, and a woman with long blonde hair in a tight dress walked in. Wait, what custom is this? I never heard of it! I screamed inside my head, but once I looked at her, I thought it wouldn't be so bad.