She tests you with questions

"So, the King of Danubia himself offers me a joint rulership, eh?" Said Olga, her eyes keenly watching you, "Why do this now, when you could simply **** me with secretly planted spies and assassins, take the throne of Ganadonia for yourself?"

Matilda grits her teeth at the thinly-veiled threat, but she nonetheless restrains herself.

"While that is entirely possible, it would not be in our best interests," You said calmly, "None of us have forgotten how badly Danubia's armies were burnt at the hands of Ganadonia's."

"Neither have we forgotten how badly ours were burnt at your armies' hands either, but I get your point," Said Olga, "The real question I'd like to ask you is: What do you hope to gain from entrusting royal power in Danubia to me? Other than solving a long-standing land dispute, of course."

"Why, the strengthening of both our Kingdoms, of course," You said, "In anticipation of what may well be the largest-scale conflict the land has ever seen."

"Oh?" Said Olga, "What could you mean by that?"

"I believe you know how we've been invaded many times during my father Gabriel's era?" You said, "How our neighbours have always desired our rich mineral mines and fertile lands, our strategical proximity to the Continental Highway as a rich and bountiful trade route?"

"Not a day goes by we forget about it, King Xarric," Said Olga.

"And have you not been similarly invaded by the Desert Sultanates, who seem to have a greedy desire for plundering your lands and people to fuel the **** trade?" You said, "I mean no offense, but..."

"No, as much as I hate to admit it, I've never been able to retaliate against the Desert Sultinates due to our lacking numbers," Said Olga, "And while our past wars are to primarily blame, I think we've come to the point we can no longer afford to be enemies."

"So I take it you agree?" You asked.

"Not so fast, King Xarric," Said Olga, "I have conditions of my own if I'm to agree to your offer."

"Name them," You said.

"Firstly, I will not stand for any instances of my kinsmen being abused by yours; you keep a tight leash on your nobles, or I will interfere," Said Olga, "Of course, I will handle similar instances on my end by my own."

"That, I can promise you," You said.

"Very good. Secondly, you will help us reclaim our ancestral homeland of Ashalim from the Desert Sultanates," Said Olga, "This is non-negotiable, and if this condition is not fulfilled within your lifetime, I have full right to consider this Alliance null and void."

Matilda and your entourage are visibly shocked at this, and you felt a drop of cold sweat across your eyebrow.

She's dead set on this, You thought, Organising this sort of long-distance campaign to the Desert Sultanates will consume an insane amount of resources and manpower, and we have to watch our water supply as well; any miscalculation and it'll end in failure.

"My King, she's asking too much of us...!" Matilda whispered to you.

"Quiet," You said.

Matilda shut her mouth.

"If you truly wish for this, it won't be a quick and easy affair," You said, "We'd easily need years to get to that point."

"Are you saying it's impossible?" Asked Olga.

"It is possible, just very time and resource-intensive," You said, "I can agree to it, but I have a condition of my own for this."

"Name it," Said Olga.

"That both our armies submit to a centralised High Command answerable to us," You said, "If we're to increase the chances of success, this is absolutely crucial to ensure smooth communication of commands and military policies. If not, the campaign will certainly fail."

Olga studies you carefully, and you take great care to betray nothing through your body language.

Maybe 'certainly fail' is an exaggeration, You thought, But if we're to truly work together and strengthen our alliance, the merging of our military, combined with our political and economic systems, is absolutely necessary to ensuring long-term unity. Even then, enemy agents could easily disrupt relations if we're not careful.

"I suppose it's to be expected," Said Olga, "Very well, but I will also have a say in who forms that High Command."

"Perfectly acceptable," You said, "Anymore conditions?"

"One more," Said Olga, "I want the Kingdom of Frindia wiped off the map."

The Kingdom of Frindia to the northeast of your border was a Kingdom you had bitter relations with; long before your father's time, Danubia and Frindia had fought many wars over border disputes and other things, and many times their assassins have come close to wreaking absolute havoc among the courtiers and nobility. Yet because of their longstanding alliance with your other Euronian neighbours, any coalition they formed would barely be repelled by Danubia's armies. Not that they've attempted such a similar undertaking in decades, but the possibility was there.

And over the **** of Olga's predecessor Alundia, there exists an irredeemable hatred that Ganadonia holds for Frindia.

But it was also a good opportunity to get rid of them once and for all.

"That, I will gladly accept," You said.

"Very good," Said Olga smilingly, "Then I hereby accept your offer of marriage."