Considering the Offer

Aine and Marcus wait until they regroup with the others and are in the privacy of their guest appartments before discussing anything they'd heard.

The appartment they'd been given was a sizable area in the guest wing of the palace. It featured a central dining and living area with rooms branching off for each of them. Here the decay of dwarven society was seen more clearly. Unlike stone, gold and gems, fabrics aged and the furniture here showed signs of having served long past their intended length. It's luxurious sure, but needs repairs.

They gather around the dining table which, thankfully, is human sized. Marcus and Aine report all the details of the meeting. Hopeful nods are exchanged at the promise of support, uneasy glances at the mention of rebellion and, after the surprise passed, very mixed reactions to the marriage offer.

"Well... A very productive meeting. She's certainly ambitious..." Augusta says with a smirk, her eyes betraying the deep thoughts racing through her head. "So, are congratulations in order..?"

Marcus sighs and shrugs, an uneasy smile playing on his lips. "She offers a lot but it comes with so much risk. It's only a great deal in the best circumstances, otherwise it'd ruin us."

"Y-you s-should do it!" Livia says quietly. Her family, used to her gentle voice, quiet down to let her speak freely. "You should u-use the o-orcs."

The whole table looks at Livia as though she'd grown a second head. All we're completely baffled by the suggestion.

"Livvy..." Marcus says with a sigh. "Orcs can't be controlled and I won't send them into the empire."

"B-but they can!" Livia says more urgently. "I-isn't that why were here? S-something is c-controling them. You can too!"

"Madness!" Aine proclaims in horror. "We want to stop them, not move them along! They're murderers and rapists."

"They're trainable." Livia insists, despite her discomfort at being center of attention, and the pushback she's getting she holds her ground. Marcus couldn't help but feel proud of her. "T-think about it. T-they're forming a war camp. T-that needs planning, workers, respect for a l-leader. I-if they c-can do that, they're smart enough to train."

Marcus wants to argue against it but Augusta speaks first. "I struggle to believe it myself but... it might be worth considering. Darling, I love you, I want the best for you." She says to Marcus. "I also want what's best for the empire. The young queen is perhaps too eager but... I like her dream. If... you can bring the orcs to heel, you might just pull this off. The gods are with us Marcus, I truly believe that." She says, hinting at the blessing without making it obvious to Aine who still doesn't know. "They'll give you the tools you need."

"I don't believe this..." Aine says bitterly. "What is the point of this if you disregard our original mission for this new ambition?"

Marcus places a hand on hers. "Relax, Aine. I've no intention of doing anything but crushing the orcs."

She lets out a sigh of relief. Livia just lowers her head in defeat.

"So with that in mind, what do you all think of Kozzala's proposal?" He asks.

"Do it, darling." Augusta says. "This is the path the gods have laid out for you. And, selfishly, its about time one of you gave me grandkids. Especially adorable little half-dwarves!"

Marcus couldn't help but laugh at his mother's reasoning.

Livia nods. "I a-agree. W-without orcs it'll b-be hard b-but if anyone can do t-this it's you, brother." She smiles shyly.

"Not sure I get a vote but if you were to ask me, do it you idiot! We win, things get better, so so much better. We lose and nothing really changes. We already knew we might die, and sure this increases those risks... a lot, but its nothing we weren't prepared for." Aine pitches in.

"So you want to see it through with me?" Marcus asks.

"Damn right I do! Consider me your first vassal, just promise you will stop stiffling my family with the imposed stewards."

"Of course. Thank you Aine." He says, affectionately. "I will do my best to earn the trust you've placed in me."

She blushed lightly and looked away. "Yeah yeah. Just don't get us killed eh?" She mutters.

Marcus turns to Julia, who'd so far been quiet. She looked pale and clearly wasn't listening.

"What about you, Julia?" He asks, causing her to snap out of her thoughts.

"Hmm?" She hums questioningly.

"What're your thoughts on her offer?"

"Oh... right. Do what you want." She says, trying to give an passive impression. He could tell something was bothering her.

"Julia, what's wrong?" He asks.

"She's just... She's..." She tries to think of how to finish her sentence before tutting. "You just don't know her. What if she's not good enough for you..?" She finally mutters.

He shouldn't be surprised his sister had a problem with the marriage. She'd always been protective of him and, while he had a secret attraction to her that he suspected or maybe just hoped she shared, it couldn't happen.

"She seems good and honest. She laid out a lot before us, including the possibility she was guided by an angel. She's also open to me having... other agreements."

Julia looked at him with a small sliver of hope.

"Other agreements..?"

"Mistresses. Maybe other wives." He explained.

Julia's face almost lit up in a smile before she restrained herself. Still trying to maintain a passive facade.

"Hmm. If you like her, maybe she's not so bad." She says. From the corner of his eyes, Marcus noticed Augusta and Livia sharing a knowing smirk. "Her plan is crazy but you'd be a much better emperor anyway. If you do it, I'm in."

Having recieved the blessing of his family, suddenly the insane plan became real. The thought terrified Marcus but something, a deep burried ambition that he'd long since surpressed, rose its head. Maybe, just maybe, he could take it all.

"May the gods forgive us." He mutters. "Then... I guess I'm getting married." He announces.

His mother is the first to rise and hug him. She leans close to whisper in his ear. "You are my greatest achievement, darling. No matter what, we'll be with you. You're both chosen by gods. I'm certain this is their path for you."