Gideon Louise Graham Lavender, King of Cadia's Kingdom, feeling uncomfortable because he has to breathe in the same room with the Atrazal's representatives.
They were in meeting room which located in the southeast part of his palace. Surrounded with royal knights who wear a heavy and shining silver armor.
Armano only comes with Doctor Hambbel, and he didn't even bring any knight as guardian. As if they certain that the discussion will be going smoothly without any incident. They are in the enemy den after all.
The king surely know about the rumor that Emperor of Atrazal has a plan to conquer this kingdom.
Gideon once heard about Armano's reputation as The Grim Reaper of Wars. But, he doesn't think it was the truth. For him, this Duke was just a normal person with calm charisma. He didn't bother to say anything in this meeting. He was just listening their conversation while casually sip his cup of tea.
Being Grim Reaper, shouldn't he has dark vibe and scary impression?
Gideon's hand combed his blonde hair. He narrowed his dark golden's brows and carefully read a paper which is being held by his other hand. 'Health Institution of Atrtazal' was the first thing caught on his green eyes,
"I see." Gideon can't find another word to express his mixed feeling.
The unknown pandemic surely took this kingdom into chaos. So many people die meanwhile medication research was met a dead end. But, why does he felt insulted by receiving this offer?
"According to those papers," Doctor Hambbel fixing his glasses before continue,"Atrazal's Institution already found a way to cure this disease. However, due to minimizing the spreading of this pandemic, Your Majesty should move the patients to Blackthorn Town. It's small town located to the border of Cadia and Atrazal. Your Majesty can rest assure, because we already prepare everything."
Gideon eyes glued at Hambbel's, "Why did you do this? Meddling into other's business and arbitrarily make such a ruckus here."
Hambbel's jaw dropped. "Ru-ruckus? Due to all the respect, Your Majesty. We, as a doctor, can't keep a silent when seeing someone dying. Let alone a pandemic that already kill a fifth of your citizen! It is our task to make sure that everyone safe and healthy!"
"Don't beat around the bushes, Doc. What is your emperor schemed? He must be pursuing one of my gold mines!"
"Your Majesty!" Hambbel's voice rise a bit. Then, he realized that every knight were listening and ready to draw their sword. He cleared his throat before saying, "This is a humanitarian crisis which need to get supported by so many people as possible."
"I do know that Atrazal have so many talented persons. However, Cadia has the best doctor and scholars too. We still managed to find a way without your interruption!"
Hambbel bit his lip and trying his best to not flip the oval wooden table between them. He stole a glance to Armano who seem to enjoying himself. Why don't you say something, Duke? He asked to himself.
Gideon then tidying the paper as a sign that this conversation was over. He glanced at the nearest knight who guarded the door and gave him a sign to open it.
Hambbel's look terrified, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of Atrazal doesn't ask you to pay anything. All you have to do just send the patients to our care."
Gideon shook his head. "Like I said before, the research still underway. We just need a little of time. I don't want to trade my people to satisfying your emperor's greed. Surely, no one will be offering help without hoping something in exchange."
"What… did you say?"
Gideon smirked. His handsome face look menacing now, "Tell me, honestly, what is your truly intention? To make me feel indebted, so I can give you one of our mines to that Empire as a token of appreciation? Or just to mocking me because for you, we look so incompetence? Please leave. I'm busy right now."
"This tea was so delicious," Duke Lancia put his cup back on the table. He crossed his arm and directly look at Gideon's eyes. "The golden leaves from Hukarat. Am I right? Even I have trouble to imported it. However, Your Majesty generously serve this rare beverages to the guests."
Gideon clap his hand while a bright smile beaming on his face, "That's correct, Duke Lancia. I'm glad you enjoyed it. The prices were gotten higher these days. So, I will give you some as a gift."
"You are so kind, Your Majesty. But, I shoul refuse it, since a half ounce of it have a same amount with the annual salary of ten commoners in this kingdom."
Gideon's smile fading, "What are you implying?"
"That's mean, one commoner have to work for ten years just to drink this tea. Meanwhile, your Majesty fancily sitting here, enjoying the most expensive tea in this world and let the people fighting their disease. I'm not surprised if someday, the citizen will plot a rebellion."
"DUKE LANCIA!" Gideon shouted and Hambbel look like drowning in his own chair.
But Armano still calm and composed like usual, "Two hundred thousand people died on this past five years due this pandemic and Your Majesty coldly said that research still underway. But, why does the cases seems increasing? Is there anyone supervises it?"
BRAKK!
Gideon hit the table with his right palm. A muscle twitched on his forehead, "HOW DARE YOU BEING SO IMPRUDENT! GUARDS, TAKE THOSE TWO TO THE DUNGEON!"
Hambbel shivering in the fear when he heard that.
But, Duke Lancia raised his hand and instinctively, the knights stop their movement. "Homburas District."
Gideon narrowed his brows when he heard the name of district which have the highest pandemic cases on the kingdom.
Currently, it was closed down from public and indirectly, the King just leave them die by themselves. "What?"
"I've been there before I reached here. No one guard that place. So, I assume that it is safe for me to make an investigation there."
The King rose from his chair and tremble, "Yo-you what? Impossible…,"
Armano gray eyes looking at his own hand in admiration, "I met the chief who seem unwell and shook hand with him. Well, actually I met everyone and my hand touch everything for investigation needs. They gave me some tasty biscuits and warm tea. I bring the remaining biscuit here. Do you want some?"
Gideon jaw's dropped when he saw Armano pull out a small blue pouch from his pocket. It was wheat biscuits with murky color. That can be only made in this kingdom.
He can tell because their wheat were different from the other places due the bad quality soils which polluted by the mining waste.
"Wh-why? Why did you do that?"
Now, not only the king, but the knights, slowly walked back to distance themselves with Duke Lancia.
Armano gave two biscuits to Hambbel. Now, both of them eat those infected biscuits without slight of worry, "I'm not afraid with this disease since we already found the cures. However, it is different for you. Your Majesty still have to wait until they finished their research."
"YOU! GUARDS, TAKE HIM DOWN!"
But no one dared to move. All of them were afraid to be infected.
"Sign the papers and we will peacefully get out from this room without any commotion. But, you do have the rights to refuse this agreement. Both of them were okay for us. No hard feeling, please."
Gideon palms tighten and he watched his guest with eyes filled with fury.
Armano smirked and ate another biscuits. "Now, Your Majesty, the choice is in your hands."