Chapter 890 Pursuit of Peace from the Shadows of War
Theron's suggestion hung in the air, the weight of its implications sinking in for everyone. The mysterious circumstances surrounding the conflict between Irason and Elais had been a source of tension for decades, fueled by accusations and grievances. If they could uncover the truth of what transpired two decades ago, it could be the key to unlocking a path to peace.
Reign, pondering the idea, spoke up, "So, we need to investigate the events of twenty years ago, find evidence, and bring it to light. But how do we approach this without alerting the kings or the nobles? If they catch wind of our investigation, it could jeopardize any chance we have at brokering peace."
Theron nodded, "Exactly. We need to operate discreetly, gather information from both sides and piece together the puzzle. Our goal is to uncover the truth, not to take sides. If we can present irrefutable evidence, it might force the kings to reconsider their positions."
Nayle, the scythe-wielding leader, interjected, "But where do we start? The events of that time are shrouded in secrecy, and accessing historical records or witnesses may not be easy. Moreover, any information that contradicts the narratives of the kings might be suppressed."
Seraphina, who had been silent until now, spoke up, "We need someone who was close to the situation but wasn't directly involved in the conflict. Someone with knowledge of the royal courts, the politics, and the events leading up to the war. It's a long shot, but if we can find such a person, they might hold the key to the truth."
The group fell into contemplative silence, and each member absorbed in their thoughts. Mia was the one to finally break the silence, "There might be someone who fits that description, someone who served in the court of Elais at the time. A diplomat who had connections on both sides but wasn't directly involved in the military conflicts."
"He served in the court of Elais when the king of Irason was accused of forcing himself on the princess, and as the one that was supposed to be protecting the princess, he definitely knows more."
Reign's eyes lit up with realization, "The diplomat… Elyndor, I think I heard about him when we were in the palace. He was known for his skills in negotiation and had ties to both kingdoms. If anyone can shed light on what happened, it would be him. The challenge is finding him and convincing him to talk."
Nayle raised an eyebrow, "Elyndor disappeared after the war started. There were rumors that he went into self-imposed exile, unwilling to be part of the conflict, as well as to repent for allowing such a thing to happen when he was tasked with being the princess's caretaker. If he's still alive, he might be hiding somewhere, away from the prying eyes of both kingdoms."
Theron, always analytical, added, "We need a plan to locate Elyndor and convince him to cooperate. It won't be easy, and time is of the essence. While the kings are locked in a stalemate, both sides continue to suffer the consequences of this war."
"That's good, but we need more." Reign said as he placed a hand on his chin.
"We need more people, we need to find out more information about the events that occurred twenty years ago, the only thing we know is that the king of Elais is saying that the king of Irason had snuck in and forced himself on the princess while the king of Irason denies the claim and says he wasn't even near the capital of Elais back then."
"We also know that something was given to the princess, something that seems to only come from this kingdom and that the child looks incredibly similar to the king of Irason and has the bloodline of both royal families."
"So, you want us to gather more information, but from whom, I don't think that anyone other than important ministers and generals know more information about that specific event," Theron said as Reign nodded his head before smiling.
"There are some other people that know, the members of the royal family, both of the royal families." Reign said as he sat down.
"The king of Irason has 2 sons and a daughter, while the king of Elais has two daughters, one son, and one grandson, who is suspected to be the third son of the king of Irason."
"They're younger, they're not as experienced as the ministers and the generals, and I believe they are the key to our mission, we need to get at least one from each royal family to work with us, that might be the only way we can find out exactly what occurred and how to broker peace."
"That will be a dangerous gamble, Reign," Mia said as Reign sighed and nodded his head.
"I know, and yet, I can't say any other way."
The group continued their discussion, weighing the risks and potential rewards of their plan. The idea of involving members of the royal families was indeed a risky move, considering the secrecy and sensitivity surrounding the events of twenty years ago. Reign, however, believed that approaching the younger members might yield information that had been shielded from the public eye.
Nayle voiced her concerns, "Approaching the royal heirs is a risky move. They might be reluctant to divulge information, and if the kings catch wind of our investigation, it could escalate tensions further. We need a careful strategy and perhaps some leverage to ensure their cooperation."
Reign nodded in agreement, "You're right. We can't simply approach them and expect them to spill everything. We need to gain their trust, find common ground, and convince them that working together is in everyone's best interest. Leverage, however, is a delicate matter. We don't want to manipulate or coerce them into cooperation."
Seraphina, thoughtful as always, added, "Perhaps we can appeal to their shared desire for peace. If we can convey that our goal is to end the war and bring about a resolution that benefits both kingdoms, they might be more inclined to help. It's essential to emphasize that we're not taking sides."
"After all, the two kings only want to find out what happened back then, if we can make them believe that that is our goal as well, their children might very well help us, after all, they were quite young back then, I doubt any of them were involved in what happened."
Mia, considering the diplomatic angle, spoke, "I agree with Seraphina. Diplomacy involves building trust and finding common ground. If we present ourselves as neutral parties working towards a shared goal, it might be easier to get them on board. We must tread carefully, though."
"Of course, we will only let them know that we are working together when we are certain that they trust us, we cannot let anyone know our two teams are working together before the time is right."
Theron, analyzing the situation, offered a practical suggestion, "We should gather more information about the royal heirs. Learn about their personalities, interests, and any vulnerabilities they might have. Understanding them on a personal level will help us approach them in a way that resonates with them."
With the plan taking shape, the group focused on the details. Theron and Venica, the mages, could use their magical abilities to discreetly communicate with one another, making sure the two teams knew what the other was doing at all times and what clues they had managed to pick up.
As they prepared to set their plan in motion, a system notification interrupted their discussion.
[ Mission Update: Broker a Peace Deal ]
[ Sub-Mission Added: Royal Insight ]
[ Gather information about the royal heirs of both kingdoms. Understand their perspectives, interests, and potential motivations. ]
[ Completing this sub-mission will provide valuable insights and improve your chances of successfully brokering a peace deal. ]
Reign looked at the notification and shared it with the group. "It seems the system is guiding us in the right direction. Let's consider this Royal Insight sub-mission as part of our overall strategy. Theron and Venica, you two will be very important to our mission, we need to be in communication, exchanging information, and working together will be the most important part of this mission."
Theron nodded, "Of course, we will all start gathering information, but it might take some time to gather comprehensive insights. Patience will be crucial."
"You guys seem to be forgetting something important, however." Nayle suddenly spoke out as she sighed.
"We are currently enrolled in battle, my team has been given the task to take the base with the rest of the Elais forces, and you guys are holding it with the Irason forces, without first taking care of this, we won't be able to start with the mission."
"I don't mind giving the base back, but it's impossible, the Irason kingdom will definitely notice that something is up if we simply let you have it and act weak after our previous two battles." Reign stated as Nayle nodded her head.
"Then, we need to make a plan, one that can bring this battle to its end."
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