FOURTEEN: Which Woman?

"Ah."

The messenger from Mevani flinched at the emperor's words. He quickly regained his composure, however, and continued rattling off about a personal guarantee that the princess was the only woman with golden hair on the entire continent.

"Fine. That's enough," Calix silenced Dashien. "There's still the most important aspect of this  so-called deal that we've yet to discuss."

"I think we've already covered what's in this for you," Dashien responded bluntly.

"Yes, yes. A bargaining chip as you say," the emperor smirked. "But the most important aspect of this all is not what's in it for me, but what's in it for you?"

Rising from his seat, Calix stepped closer to the Mevanian man until they were within arm's reach of one another. 

"In other words, Dashien," he hissed, "who sent you, and what do they hope to gain from this?"