6 Chapter 6: Deal-Breaker

He summoned Sevas as the restrainer of the two boys whom she kept by the side of the throne. She needn't wield her weapon her presence alone had fear crawling into the depths of their soul, obediently seated on the cold marble floors.

"Move an inch and I will cut off your ears and feed them to the Demon pigeons of the night." Sevas loved to torture little critters as she chuckled beneath her breath watching them squirming at the thought of their flesh being fed to a demon.

"Yes, ma'am."

Sevas was just a few feet away watching The Count amuse himself with a conversation of mercy and righteousness with the woman who piqued his interest. Her name had echoed back in his mind. Ambra Gathwé. An ebony-skinned woman - with enchanting violet eyes like the orchid, she was quite a beauty.

He was captivated by the way she spoke eloquently - as if entrapped in her emotions trying to find solutions for the children and every time her eyes locked with his scarlet ones, an odd emotion rose in her one of both fear and distant admiration.

"What of a pardon? The disclosure methods to prevent the outlying people of the town at bay- in turn, they issue a contract of service to the ruling body of the other region."

He stood up from his seat, taking strides towards her, she could see him better, her head adjusted slightly to match his gaze - he stood before her, taller than she. The contours of his face were imminent, and the softness of her face calm. They were opposites - his scarlet eyes were lifeless and void of emotions while hers were vibrant and filled with life as if devouring every ounce of joy and light in sight.

"You misunderstand me. I cannot grant them mercy by whim - your superiors expect results by the end of the day, it's next to impossible to negotiate a cease-fire and pardon. For this isn't the first, nigh, the second - alas the third time their inadequacy has led to a violation of the prior agreements with our neighboring regions. Sending a letter like a child who merely stole bread as an apology is an insult to their injury. The penalty is death."

"Nothing is impossible for you. Your Excellency - I beg of you. Please, they're only children." She stopped forward slightly uncomfortable with their proximity, but brace enough to emphasize her reasons.

"Children who have managed to not only smuggle criminals through the borders but aid and abet them in the crime of theft." It was as if he had been reading a script straight from a book, he held no empathy - the lack of humanity as he stared down at her.

"Is there anything we can do?" She looked to Sevas who had been quite quiet throughout the whole time she was in conversations.

"The verdict has been assumed- the ruling is in effect. To stop it is akin to trying to stop an all-out war of the two bordering nations." Sevas summarized once again, irate with the minuscule woman.

"Unless the conjoining of diplomatic measures by an offer from Town Elva to the immediate ruling count could be a coolant to the brewing fire, Madame Sevas. Due apologies for interrupting you." Ambra had inputted respectfully. The Count was excited for the first time to engage in a war of words and exchange deals, not with some boorish third-rate bastardized child of a royal but with actual people of the municipality with actual danger threatening their lives.

It gave him pleasure to play mouse and cat.

"Is it possible?" Ambra had a fire in her eyes that he quite liked. They wanted him to take the brunt of a war that was yet to happen, if worse came to be, since Elva was under his rule he knew he had the power necessary to keep it untouched and the capital to ruins- not that he cared much for the court anyway. But this little woman was quite a spectacle and he was willing to do just that for her by whim.

"It is a possibility. Fine, you will have it be, I shall grant them mercy under the sanctuary. However, they will be dealt with according. Now this diplomatic measure... What are you willing to give?" He knew what he was capable of but even for him, it would be quite a mess to make peace.

"What would you like from us?" His lips twisted up devilishly at the sound of her question.

"Not from them- but from you. I will ask again what are you willing to give?" Punctuality and clarity of speech were a necessity to him, especially when making an exchange.

She knew what he was asking and she also knew this had been the only chance to repay her debt to society. "Everything."

"How interesting. Perhaps betrothal?" There was a pregnant pause in the room, she hesitated not from fear but from her nerves that wouldn't settle down. He noticed the stiffness of her body from those words. He smiled to himself perhaps the little bird was waking up to reality.

"Are you willing to give everything now?" He spoke up once more.

"Yes." Ambra reaffirmed courageously- unbeknownst of the fate that is yet to unfold.

"You say you accept and your fate will be sealed."

"I," she looked up to his eyes once more before her gaze fell on her hands, "I accept, Count of Elva, Florian Romani, of House Romani. Please accept this measure of diplomacy in exchange for the lives of the Children."

"You accept what?" He needed a precise answer, one that could be recorded as thorough evidence in the Halls of Records.

"I accept betrothal to you."