Agreed With Dave
Ekatrarina and her eldest daughter Oksana accompanied the King into the back rooms of the Palace as it was time for their private face to face. It had been in Ekatarina's mind a long time coming, she'd expected the King to deal with one thing at a time not skip merrily from person to person or topic to topic, it just wasn't how things were done back home. Yet again that was the whole reason for being here, to get a toe into a new territory, to get the backing of someone with influence and maybe even more. To her it was vital that her company of luxury resorts expand beyong the crystal blue waters of the Lodjain islands or the sandy beaches of the Northern coastline, and here was Seleucid, a land of high temperatures and a welcoming nature, she'd just have to remind tourists to accept all hospitality save some poor unfortunate soul get a beating like Danyal. She had sat and watched the whole thing emotionless, as though it was something that she had seen a million times before, it however had taken Oksana by surprise and her mother wondered now whether she truly had heard her daughter gasp as the belt had struck and cracked loudly.
As the three entered the dining area the King had ordered prepared two women wearing long white dresses pulled out the guests chairs and gave small bows as they waited for the Lodjain's to take a seat. Ekatarina nodded her thanks as she scooched the chair closer to the table. The room was lined with hanging canopies of brightly coloured material and everything on the table seemed to be brand new, brilliant white china plates, each embossed with the Seleucid coat of arms, the cutlery twinkled in the light of the tented Palace, its silver colour reflecting onto some of the drapes. Two glasses sat in front of each of the three diners, the rim lined with gold. It was obvious the King wanted to make an equally good impression. "I'd like to thank Your Majesty for the hospitality you've shown us, it is way beyond what I had imagined" she had learnt quickly while here, flatterig the standard of the man's hospitality was sure to go over well.
"Dear, you are welcome here anytime. You and your daughters are like a flower in this desert." Akakois leaned forward and poured the women a glass of red wine, the clarity of the glasses enhansing the colour of the dark rich red liquid. "So, before our meal arrives I believe you had a propersition for me?" he leaned back in his chair crossing one leg over the other and resting his elbows on the leg as though contemplating what was to come.
"Indeed we do" Ekatarina picked up the glass of wine and took a sip, "Lovely" she smiled as she placed the glass delicately back on the table. "You see my family business is tourism, especially luxury resorts, something I believe Seleucid is lacking and judging by what I have seen here you have no issues being able to provide luxury, if anything we build had half the luxury of your Palace I'd be an extremely happy woman." she was keen to stroke the man's ego, she found that often worked well with men who held significant power. "But beyond that what I need are the right conditions for investing and of course permission, all this can take time, I was hoping at this festival to meet someone who could perhaps be that friend." she left no doubt she was speaking about the King.
"And my dear what would this....friend...be getting in return for smoothing your way." The King grinned as he watched Ekatarina think for a moment, he noticed Oksana had said very little and was probably just here because of her mother not wishing to let the child be alone, it was fair enough, he was protective over his own daughters and would never leave them unaccompanied in a strange place.
"I was hoping my new friend would accept the fact that I can offer incentives in Lodja, you see back home only those who are Lodjain nobles or who have the permission of one may invest, or own companies, now I would be willing for certain tit for tat returns be willing to allow my Stasiuk name to be used by my new friend." she had inherited her father's title several years ago now, meaning she'd given up a lucrative position as a Lady in Waiting, she still had friends at court and knew that would be useful to any foreign investor.
"So, your friend would arrange for you to invest here, with no barriers, and in return they would get to invest in Lodja with no barriers?" the King enquired.
"Indeed, up to the value of my investment here I wouldn't even take a fee, so if I was allowed to invest say $400 million then I'd allow them to invest the same amount without taking a single penny in return, but if they invest more than that then I believe a 2% share of all profits in Lodja should come to me, the more each of us invest the better for us both right?" she posed the question as the food arrived, a Gespatchio soup, bright red in colour the taste fresh and soothing on the hot day.
"It sounds a good offer, but is rather reliant on you" he took a sip of his soup, a fient drop spilling into his beard, he knew he always made a mess eating the stuff but he loved it. He dabbed at his grey beard with a thick white napkin before resuming. "I think any friend may wish more." He watched the women begin eating their own, taking much greater care than he had. "It is acceptable....the soup I mean." he asked
"Of course, isn't it Oksana" Ekatarina nudged her daughter gently.
"Its wonderful Your Majesty" the blonde haired girl replied as she continued eating.
"My apologies" Ekatarina figured it was time to stop playing games and get things out in the open, "I would need to know who my friend was." she put her spoon down and leaned in, "Then I can make sure he is very satisfied with what is on offer, and then I get what I want." she watched the King lean back in his chair clearly enjoying the semantics of the conversation.
"Lady Ekatarina....may I call you Ekatarina." he posed the question but didn't wait for the answer, "I would very much like to be your friend." he placed a hand on hers, Oksana felt awkward but clearly this was not at all something new to her mother who simply placed her right elbow on the table and rested her cheek on her fist as she moved even further forward.
"Well friend what would you like" she watched him look amused, "I'm sure if the deal is right we can conclude it quick enough, deals between friends are always good."
"Not always" The King leaned forward now looking Ekatarina in he eye, "Sometimes a friend can be cruel to be kind, but friendship is friendship and something said in love can not cause harm." he waited a moment or two, "You have two things I want.....one you offer, one you may not do so, but I shall purpose it....The first thing I want is oppurtunity, you offer that and I am more than satisfied. The second thing well....I shall be straight to the point, my people wish me to take a fourth wife, to have more children. It is a sign of a good king if he is strong and virial, and what better way to show them than taking another wife. I have three fine ones of course, and they have bore me many wonderful children, but I must be greedy, I always want more. I also want to begin Seleucid gaining some influence overseas, a Lodjain noblewoman would be useful in my family." Ekatarina was surprised at where this was going but did her best not to show any reaction.
"So you want me to find you a Lodjain noble woman to marry?" she asked not fully sure what was being requested.
"No my dear, I have a woman in mind, you" he said plainly clearly used to getting his own way, "A beautiful woman, intelligent, I get two wonderful step daughters too, expanding my loving family." Ekatarina blushed, this hadn't been what she expected at all. "You'd be a Queen, a Duchess and the mother of not just a future Duchess, but a Prince or Princess. The Kings other hand touched her knee and instintcively she moved back, "I am sorry, I am an old man after all and you a beautiful younger woman" the King removed his hand and placed it back on the table.
"I am flattered Your Majesty, its an honour" she was racing through what could be done, "However I think there may be a barrier, perhaps I'm wrong" she wasn't sure whether she wanted that barrier to be removed or not but had to be honest, "In Lodja women can have many husbands, I already have two, you would be my third, I'd be delighted to take you, but is this a problem." She wondered if she would regret how she worded it but she could always extracate herself later if the need arrived, her answer came rather quickly as the King eased back his chair and let go of her hand.
"That is a shame.....they are lucky men" he stood and mopped his brow, "I would have enjoyed having a wife such as you" he pondered what he could do next, "This does not have to be a deal breaker" he looked at Ekatarina, "Children is more I crave, but your company until I leave Mundus would be wonderful too. Youth of today say there is no issue having children out of wedlock, I don't neccessarily agree, but perhaps having a Mistress and a child would work, help me get the youth on my side hey." he teased her. "But perhaps then it would be best to find me another Lodjain noble woman." he resigned himself to not getting Ekatarina and sat down again as the main course of some lamb tagine arrived.
Ekatarina had been thinking, the title of Queen was useful, it could open all manner of doors, "Perhaps I need not look too long." She placed a hand now on her daughters knee. "Oksana here has no husband, is my heir so will one day be a Duchess, currently holds the title of Mayor, a very influential young woman in Lodja aren't you."
The younger girl must have looked like a deer in headlights, there must have been a good fifty year if not sixty year age gap between her and Akakois and now her Mother was apparently offering her to a King like a bargaining chip. "I....We....I guess so" Going against her Mother would be a big no no and after all the purpose of marriage wasn't just love and procreation, Sessifet herself had used her feminine ways to get her own way and Oksana knew one day her mother would likely marry her off.
"Really" Akakois stood once more walking to Oksana's side of the table and looking at her, she was a pretty young girl with fine blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, much different to the women of Lodja. She was quiet young looking for her age too, at first the King had thought her in the late teenage years but had been surprised she was 23. "She is a beautiful woman, gets it from her mother no doubt" it was rather sleazy for Oksana and she felt herself feeling sick. "Very well, if your daughter will take this silly old man I will make her a Queen."
Before Oksana could reply Ekatarina responded, "Oh, she'll be so excited won't you." she squeezed her daughters hand until it felt like the bones were rubbing together.
"Of course" Oksana looked at the floor, imagining herself now becoming part of this man's hareem of sorts. She felt the King take hold of her hand and kiss it.
"I look forward to it more than anything" the King motioned for a seat to be placed and sat next to his bride to be, suddenly he burst out laughing, "Now my darling" he mockingly whispered to Oskana, "We must say nothing about the fact I just tried to seduce my Mother-In-Law okay? It would not look very diplomatic" Ekatarina chuckled despite not really finding it funny. "My son will be rather jealous, I think he believed that I would marry him to some beautiful foreigner, but when a diamond is offered you then you don't pass it on" he kissed Oksana's cheek "We shall make him feel better though, we shall name our first of many son's after him." The King was clearly pleased with how things turned out, as was Ekatarina, she had her added influence of being able to call herself a "Queen's Mother" she wondered if such a title was used here as it was back home, and furthermore she had her business partner of great influence, and all it had cost her was one of her daughters, she still had a spare.