Offer a Union

The next day you finally get your audience with the Duchess. You were told by your men that the Duchess originally met all her would-be suitors outside of the castle on a tall wooden platform where she addressed them all all at once. But here since it's just you and your diplomatic team, she meets you in her council chamber.

She makes you wait... for hours before she finally decides to show her face together with her own council and some translators and soldiers. As expected, she comes in dressed in the finest gowns tailored for a woman of her standing. It was sleeveless, showing off her arms tanned by the Toscan sun and her narrow waist. Her long black has these wonderful curls which catches your eye as they cascade down behind her back and over her perfectly concealed chest. But there was also another notable figure who enters with her. Her blonde hair, a rarity in the region, makes her stand out from the rest. She was a slender woman younger than the Duchess and with a cute face. Naturally, the sun had given her a tan as well. Both were beautiful and desirable women, of that there is no doubt.

"King of Ostgrenze," Eliza takes her seat and followed by everyone else. "I apologize for making you wait but I did postpone for your sake and made everyone else wait days ago." There was a hint of mockery in her voice.

"No need for apologies, Duchess. We all have our reasons for coming in late. Some better than others and more legitimate if I may add."

"Ah yes, Piero told me about that. How you made your men help out some old monks and priests in a monastery on the way here." The delicate amount of sarcasm in her voice was not lost to you. "A noble task I'm sure. But of course you know that I have dismissed all my suitors.

"Since you are late, allow me to explain." the blonde girl speaks, "And I apologize, I am baroness Mathilde di Lari, a cousin of Eliza and loyal friend. As I was saying, my dear cousin made her suitors undergo five trials to see if they were qualified to be her husband. As you can see, they all failed in one way or another. Are you willing to undergo the same trials, Almain King?"

"I wouldn't make such an exception but you did come a long way." Eliza offers with a smile coated in smug.

You return with a smug smile of your own, "There shall be no trials for me. I didn't come here to marry you." This shocks everyone in the chamber. From your translators to Eliza's council and Eliza herself. "Duchess, may I request that we speak privately. No soldiers, no translator, just you and me. Believe me, your Almain will be good enough." The confidence you emit astounds even you.

"Do you really think we would leave your Duchess undefended here with you?" snarls a guard. You signal to your men to leave the room. They hesitate at first but otherwise do as they are told.

Eliza narrows her eyes at you. "Leave us. I will hear what he has to say."

"But my lady-" goes the guard from before.

"Do as I command now!" She hisses. Her own translators and guards leave the room. Now it's just you, Eliza and her cousin. "Whatever you want to say to me, you can say to her." Eliza nudges her head at her cousin.

"If you say so."

Eliza crosses her arms over her covered yet abundant bosoms. "So what do you want?" All her fake pleasantry from before is gone. Her polite face and mannerism drops to show a cold and stern woman. Mathilde beside her was looking a little worried.

You respond, "A way to make you and me both happy."

Even with her eyes narrowed, the Duchess rolls her eyes. "Cut the crap and get to the point."

"Patience, dear Eliza." She grits her teeth. She definitely does not want to be called that. You stand up and slowly walk towards a window, "I will get to that. So here is what I propose. You will unite your lands with mine and we will join realms. You give me access and usage of your ports as well as your ships. You will remain a duchess and everything that belongs to you will remain with you but under my authority. You men will also be conscripted and will fight in any war that occurs." And trying to make it sound like an after thought, "You will also bear my child."

The response you get is laughter. It starts small and silent but it slowly and progressively get louder and louder until it fills the whole chamber. You don't bother turning around and you let the Duchess laugh. You don't here the other girl laugh though. Either way, this is one of the reactions we expected. She soon stops and the next sounds you hear are her loud footsteps coming towards you. With strength you did not know she had, she turns you around, pins you to the wall beside the window and holds a dagger to your neck.