You learn something new everyday Serenity thought, still it made sense the Knights Hospitalier had to originate from somewhere and the timing would actually fit now she thought about it, yeah likely finish in east Ardia, go across the Shaw, end up Marseilles and journey north to Vanora with the Knights, made complete logical sense. Still the historical curiosity quickly gave way to first frustration and then irritation, Serenity was no stranger to having to drag Rokkenjima, whether it be in Beatrice's reign, Evanthe's reign or now Asuna's reign, to a reasonable position - kicking and screaming if necessary. Closing her eyes for a moment, she took a deep breath to figure out quite how she was going to word this.

"Leaving legalities out of the equation for the moment." Serenity said "After this meeting is over my first phone call is to Sakura, right now she's in Marseilles waiting to meet with Sauzee, she's going to start that meeting by relaying what I tell her, which is going to be one of three things - either that Seaforth has agreed to the ASDN roadmap, or that Seaforth has reasonable terms under which it will relinquish it's hold on the city or that Seaforth intends to be noncompliant and that this needs to go to the next stage. Which of those I say is up to you. We're here to offer you a way to extricate Seaforth out of this mess with your head held high, we can't make you you take it, but we hope you will. I have no problem with relaying your conditions but while I can see the sense in the tariff arrangement because I suspect there are a lot of Seaforthian companies based in Troyes these days, I wouldn't be holding out for keeping control of the base as that ultimately forms the root of the issue itself and I can't imagine that flying in more troops is going to help persuade him that such a thing is a good idea. Point eight of the post war settlement in Marseilles states 'Once the constitution has been established all CTOMM forces to leave upon the request of the President.' that's all as in every soldier, sailor and airman from every nation involved even the Rokkenjimans that never turned up. It doesn't mean everyone except Seaforth, you've overstayed by getting on for close to a decade, you have no document signed by the Marseilles Government that constitutes handing over sovereignty of Troyes, everyone else involved left when asked, everyone else involved on the ground shed blood for Marseilles freedom, everyone else involved put a lot of money into rebuilding Marseilles, and none of them sought to leverage it in the manner you have and I really doubt that you want to set that precedent lest the chickens come home to roost. Your nations stated reasoning for the Protectorate being created was the return of Alys Arsenault, she's been arrested and extradicted to Marseilles as has everyone else from the Deck of fifty two that we've captured. So no legal foundation to begin with and your stated reasoning from the time no longer applies."

Taking a moment Serenity ran a hand through her hair before continuing "The ASDN roadmap which you've seen proposes a referendum of the people of Troyes on this matter a straight up choice - Seaforthian Protectorate or Marseilles city. That's a fifty fifty chance that Seaforth gets the place which is honestly better odds than you have right now. It also has the added bonus of Seaforth would have recognised sovereignty if the people choose the protectorate, win and you keep it, lose and you can walk away respecting the will of the people. The ASDN is prepared to monitor the referendum to ensure it's free and fair and personally I'm more than happy to get David on the phone and ask if the referendum aficionado that is Alex Redfern can be made available to help with that. Do be aware that the sovereignty issue means that Sauzee can call for the referendum independently of you, we'd like both of you agreeing to it because that gives us the best possible chance of resolving the matter peacefully."

Serenity walked over behind where Evanthe was sat "I remember a time when Seaforth, rather creatively, protested Rokkenjima's military base and presence in the Illumic. And I remember what came out of the diplomacy that followed." she put her hands gently on Evanthe's shoulders "I'm just about as straight a shooter as you'll find in international diplomacy which considering I'm probably the most experienced woman in the field these days is quite something. I don't like the position I've been put in, I don't want to have to make the decisions that I may have to make, but that doesn't mean I won't if it comes to it. Andrew either take the referendum or commit to a mediation with Marseilles about Troyes, but... ,and this will be the first and only time I ever seriously invoke my Rokkenjiman title, don't put us in the position where we have to take this to the next stage. You ran Seaforth's intelligence apparatus you know what that means, it means further steps. We don't want to go there, don't force us to go there. Take the chance and settle this diplomatically now before it escalates."

After sharing the existence of the Imperial Pup on Instagram reports have been circulating that the Empress' Kai Ken has been an issue with some visiting the Imperial Palace. Sources close to Grand Marshall Rowe recounted how Akira responded to him on a recent visit to the Imperial Palace, noting that "Akira became noticeably defensive of the Empress, placing himself between the Empress and the Grand Marshall while growling, it escalated to Akira baring his teeth when the Grand Marshall insisted upon a continued to approach toward the Empress regardless. After the Grand Marshall was removed from the room the Empress calmed Akira down and elected to speak with the Grand Marshall, along with Imperial Liaison McKenna, in an adjacent room."

It has also been claimed by Lucius Stanley, former Attorney for the Crown, that Akira would "make clear he was watching me from the moment I walked in the room, I distinctly recall Akira snapping at me but, thankfully, the Empress was able to calm and remove him before something more unfortunate could occur. Mind you this is the pup I would always have a treat in my pocket for, I don't understand what changed," he recalled in an interview late last year.

The stories don't seem to be a universal affair, however. Former High Commander of the Anauša, Lucinda Hadley, challenged the narriatives painted by her estranged husband and the Grand Marshall by calling Akira "just simply sweet, he nearly tackles me when the Empress brings him over for a visit, tail wagging a thousand miles an hour as he kisses my face. Usually if I sit down in a chair and let him in my lap he calms down after a moment, I think it's just his way of saying "hello, I haven't seen you in a hundred years even though I was here just the other day and clearly saw you then, but I missed you," so as he can't speak, that's how he says hello. He's certainly more charming than Mr. Stanley in that regard."

"I can only suspect that Akira is a good judge of character, he's always been well behaved and has only had issues with a select few. I do recall he was apprehensive of Tamaki Kado (Director of the Imperial Naval Intelligence Service) at first, and while Mr. Tamaki kept his distance as he'd had some unfortunate events involving dogs in the past I hear Akira wore down his resistance and these days has roped him into taking him on walks to the Pyrettania Dog Park when the Empress is otherwise occupied. So, while I'm no longer in any official capacity I can say, speaking with the staff at Pyrena and various individuals who check in on Empress Saisei, Akira's near universally considered a good boy. If there's issues, it lays within those Akira doesn't trust, at least that's my opinion."

"I believe I should start with saying that there are those in the Imperial Palace who find themselves quite vexed with the situation, after all, the approach we've seen involving Real Marseilles and Aosta has placed Rokkenjima in a position it does not wish to be in. It was not the intention of the Empress, when signing the Joint Statement regarding Troyes, that such measures would lay on the horizon; she was expecting something much more nuanced and rooted in a diplomacy-first understanding. I personally find the actions which have led us to this point to be most reckless, abandoning the sorts of norms and standards through which this could have otherwise been settled, especially to anyone who knows the character of Seaforth, yet now we're sat here talking when diplomacy could have yielded much greater results with less risk prior to them essentially forcing the issue. Personally, as I speak here essentially amongst family, Rokkenjima is frustrated that the actions of Aosta and Abertone have placed us in this present position, and while I might not have been born a Rhodes I too have shed blood and bled myself for Seaforth."

"This is a situation none of us asked for," she continued, "yet it's my hope we may ultimately make the best of it." After she had spoke Evanthe reflected within herself, a part of her was resentful that this business had been laid in her lap, and it was likely that Andrew, with an intellect she'd come to know amongst the Rhodes, would pick up upon the fact that she wasn't supportive of the present status of things, that while Rokkenjima had made clear that it would honour the Pyrettania-Eventide Accord, they were all walking a tight rope to support the nascent ADSN and, personally, she would find it difficult to recommend that the Empress turn her back on those Accords as prescribed by the discussions within the ADSN.

The trip here had more of an impact upon her than she had initially anticipated it would, her mind finding itself reflecting on the day that Joshua had informed everyone on that day that Andrew, not himself, would be King. It was hard not to recall her embrace with Joshua on that day and how Josiah had wedged himself between them after being initially, albeit unintentionally, left out; it was a moment that was instantly refreshed in her memory. Understandably she'd likely have an irritated Serenity now to deal with, but there would also be the matter of what Andrew did from this point as well. Certainly she was happy with where fate had positioned her and, while naturally there were events she could have done without going through, there remained something in the air and the surroundings which tugged her away from the game plan which she had just gone over with Serenity prior to entering the room, circumstances which she would have recognized in a subordinate which would have led her to removing them from any member of a team under her purview involved in such discussions, yet it was far too late to remove herself from the proceedings before them.

"If we may speak personally when official matters are concluded," Evanthe again spoke, "I would be most appreciative of your time. Naturally I wish to arrange for some time for Josiah to spend some time with you all, to know more of the family and land that is equally an important part of him and his heritage, amongst other matters that I've sought to reconcile for some time that perhaps can only find an answer here, at home so to say. I never intended to re-enter Rokkenjiman politics following my reign, but when your niece asks you to do something for her that carries some weight, as such a request like that isn't easily denied, I'm sure you can understand. With that being said," Evanthe paused, "let us return to the matter at hand and do what we can to unfoul the business before us, yes?"

Andrew had been woken up almost 24 hours earlier when news of this broke, he'd spent much of the day in and out of briefings, dealing with various calls from ambassadors, Lt-Col Freddie McCaul and the guys down on the HMS Red Crown. He had been rather annoyed reading the statements from Rokkenjima and Achkaerin who he considered to be among the strongest of his allies, meanwhile he understood David was busy in Lodja no doubt busying himself with "dynastic business" and the Morelanders had, at least so far been rather quiet on the matter. He had though been pleased that the Cenneg had issued a statement of report and he fully intended to talk to King Finley later to offer his thanks in person. It was set to be a few difficult days and now he'd actually got Serenity and Evanthe here in person, had they not heard of Zoom? He had his aide show the guests in.

"Please take a seat" Andrew said while still busying himself tidying away some documents into the folder as he stood behind it. He made very little eye contact with them as he seemingly focused on the documents making sure they were in the correct order. "You'll have to forgive me" Andrew began, "This is not exactly a meeting that we had been planning for and as you can appreciate I have quiet a lot of matters on my plate at the moment" he gestured to the glass top of the desk before him. He was still stood as he continued. "I've heard your nations have released statements saying that Troyes in part of Marseille. Straight away I can tell you that this will not be as straight forward as you releasing statements and Aosta parking some boats. I've ordered my officer in charge of the base there to hold it and we've no intention of handing it over. In addition Troyes has a long history of its connection to Seaforth through the story of St. Jocelyn and while its never been as big as it is today there has always been, since the saints lifetime, an involvement of Seaforth in that city. Be that supporting monastries, churches or just pilgrimage. Even though the Seaforth Catholic Church no longer enjoys the favour that it once did the saint still has lots of respect in our nation. Now in regards to the city the ungrateful there need to realise we didn't invest billions just to have the place slip from our fingers. At the end of the day there will be a presence of Seaforth there. Now I could perhaps conceed the city itself going back to the Republic of Marseille but on two conditions, the first would be that we retain the base and the port we have built there and all the rights that brings, the second would be that we are given tariff free trade with Albion through the port. These rights would be eternal. That way we at least get compensation for the time. We though prefer to go back to the way the city was before these Real Marseille rabble rousers and your ASDN buddy Empress Serena began causing trouble. Now I will also warn you that I intend to fly aircraft into Troyes to reinforce the garrison there, take supplies in and bring home the families of the soldiers who are there. You though placed me in a rather tight spot as to do so I will be, according to you, violating the air space of Marseille as I will not be asking Sauzee's or any other politicans permission."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs would exchange a warm smile at King David, before being pushed away by Jim Cobalt's bodyguard. Jim would grin at David, extending his arm out for a handshake.
"Nice to finally meet you, Your Majesty."