The tense silence stretched on for several minutes, a palpable weight in the air.
Just as the atmosphere seemed almost unbearable, the door swung open and a staff member entered the room carrying a tray of refreshments.
The clinking of glasses and the aroma of the beverages seemed to defuse the tension that had been building.
The timing was perfect.
Riz offered a small, almost imperceptible smile, a subtle gesture inviting Alexander to partake in the offered respite. "Please, enjoy the refreshments," he said, his tone carrying a hint of diplomacy, a temporary pause in their confrontation.
Alexander's fingers gracefully curled around a glass, the cool crystal meeting his touch as he raised it to his lips.
The tinkling sound of glass against glass resonated in the room, intertwining with the weight of their conversation.
In that quiet moment, a palpable ease settled in the air, as if the room itself exhaled a sigh of relief. The tension that had charged the atmosphere seemed to dissipate, even if temporarily.
As Alexander lowered the glass, his gaze met Riz's with a nod, a gesture of gratitude for the moment of reprieve.
However, the tranquillity was soon pierced by Alexander's next question, "What about our prince, Kaelio? Is he safe?"
"Yes, he is safe for now."
Alexander's curiosity didn't waver. "May I meet him?" he inquired, a glimmer of urgency in his tone.
Riz's response was measured, "I regret to inform you that Prince Kaelio is not currently in the capital. He has been relocated to an island."
"An island?" Alexander's brows furrowed in confusion, clearly caught off guard by the revelation.
"Yes, a small and remote island where prisoners are detained," Riz explained.
The diplomat's eyes widened with disbelief, and a flicker of anger danced within them.
"What! You detained him! He's an imperial prince, and you detain him on some remote island?" His voice carried a blend of shock and anger, though he still maintained the thread of respect in addressing the king.
Riz's expression remained composed, his gaze steady as he met Alexander's incredulous eyes. "Please understand, Alexander. Prince Kaelio is a war prisoner and he deserved to be treated like one."
"But, he is..." Alexander's voice held a mixture of frustration and concern.
Riz interjected firmly, "No 'buts.' If you wish to secure his release, you will need to pay a price."
Alexander's brows knitted together as he questioned, "And how much would that be?"
Riz leaned back slightly in his chair, a contemplative expression on his face.
Truth be told, he hadn't yet solidified the specifics of how war prisoners should be ransomed, but he recognized the opportunity that lay before him.
An idea bloomed within his mind, a spark that caused a slow smile to spread across his lips. He turned his gaze toward Alexander, his eyes gleaming with a newfound resolve.
"The price for Prince Kaelio's release," Riz began, his voice carrying the weight of his proposition, "is the weight of gold that is equivalent to the weight of his body. As for the rest of the Inverloch soldiers, their ransom shall be determined by the weight of grain equivalent to the average weight of an adult in your empire."
Riz's response hung in the air, the tension palpable as Alexander's expression shifted from surprise to incredulity.
"That's too much!" Alexander protested, his voice reflecting the astonishment he felt at the extravagant terms.
Riz leaned back, his posture relaxed but his gaze steady. "I've set the price based on his status and worth, Alexander. If you believe it's too much, then it seems you're not valuing or caring for him as much as you claimed."
Alexander's brows furrowed, his internal struggle evident in the furrowed lines on his forehead.
He sighed, a mixture of frustration and reluctant understanding painting his features. "I don't agree with your terms," he admitted, "until I see His Highness with my own eyes."
Riz nodded, acknowledging the diplomat's stance. "Very well," he said, a note of acquiescence in his tone. "I will arrange for my admiral to escort you to the prison island. You can verify Prince Kaelio's condition firsthand."
The room seemed to exhale as the tension lifted slightly and the weight of negotiation momentarily eased.
However, the fragile peace was shattered by a sudden commotion that erupted just beyond the confines of Riz's office.
Voices rose in a cacophony of urgent tones, the sound of people arguing just outside of the room. The clatter of footsteps mixed with muffled exclamations, created an atmosphere of chaos that seemed at odds with the refined decor of the office.
"What's going on out there?" Riz's inquiry cut through the disarray.
Alexander followed Riz's eyes and turn around toward the door.
Baam!—
Then, a sudden and loud noise echoed through the room as the door was brutally forced open, revealing a familiar figure who stumbled into the office.
His presence and the force of his entrance caused a collective hush to fall over the turmoil.
"Bain?!" Riz's voice held a mixture of astonishment and confusion as he addressed the unexpected arrival.
"I'm sorry for barging into your office, Your Majesty," Bain said apologetically, his voice slightly breathless from what seemed like a swift entrance.
"Yeah... you really should," Riz replied half-heartedly, the surprise on his face mingling with a touch of exasperation. "Where have you been disappearing all this time?"
Alexander observed from the side, his presence an almost forgotten backdrop to the unfolding conversation.
With a steadying breath, Bain launched into an explanation of his journey and all things that has transpired, from the ambush in Norish to their arduous journey through Inver territory.
"Did you hear that?" Riz asked, his gaze shifting toward Alexander, who stood as a silent observer of the unfolding narrative.
Alexander nodded in affirmation, his expression a mixture of intrigue and concern as he absorbed the details of Bain's account.
The room seemed to hold its breath as the story unravelled. It appear to them that the incident has become more complicated than they're all initially thought.
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