{MIHO'S POV}
The food and supplies crisis is getting exponentially worse everyday. We've expanded our territory, but it hasn't helped against the flood of refugees.

Aoi still refuses to turn any away, so we're forced to grab at straws. There's one straw he hasn't pulled for my sake, but these are desperate times.

I slam my hands down on the table, making Takeshi, Torako, and Hajime all jump.

"Clarines." I say it like an expletive. I wanted to keep my family and motherland out of this, but I see no other option. I will end this war.

East and West Zoral are still locked in a trade stalemate with our surrounding kingdoms. We have public support. We just need one to support us, and the others will jump on the bandwagon.

Just one kingdom to take the brunt of Kenji's anger. Clarines is far enough west that Kenji would need to conquer a few kingdoms in between before he could retaliate, should we lose.

Aoi shoots me a pained expression. "You sure?"

That's rhetorical. He knows I wouldn't suggest this if I didn't mean it. Our backs are against the wall, and there will only be more cases like Tervuren and Laekenois if I hesitate for selfish reasons.

Hearing no complaints, Aoi says, "Kazuma will use his best hawk to deliver a letter to Izana-heika. We'll invite him to send someone over for negotiations."

"Will he listen?" Hajime asks. The generals all look to me simultaneously.

I'm not narcissistic enough to think he'd send a vassal running over for my sake.

I shrug. "Word must've spread... that I'm here... but... whether Uncle Izana chooses... to send a vassal into... a war zone is up... to his own... curiosity."

*a few days later—in Clarines*
{IZANA'S POV}
A peculiar letter arrived today, carried to the castle entrance by a hawk. It pestered the gate guards until one of them noticed a paper tied to its leg. The hawk flew east as soon as the letter was removed.

The letter was addressed to me.

Given the unknown sender, I would've ignored it, except for the unique method of delivery. Zen is visiting right now, and perhaps his impulsiveness is rubbing off on me again.

When I unroll it, I'm taken aback by what I read. I've heard of the civil war in Zoral. No ruler in Fortissia hasn't. This letter has been sent to me by the rebel leader, former imperial prince Aoi Fujimiya.

I want to laugh out loud. He's asking me for help? Why? There are plenty of closer kingdoms who have significantly more to lose than Clarines.

I've never met the boy or his father. Yet something convinced Aoi Fujimiya that I'm the one to ask for an alliance. I'm curious as to what that something is.

"Will you accept?" Zen asks. He's drinking with me late this evening. "What if—"

"—the envoy dies?" I finish my glass, leaning on the railing of the balcony and admiring the night sky above. "Then Aoi Fujimiya and the rebel army will have an enemy on both sides."

"It'll take months to get there and back. Who'd make such a journey when they may die?" Zen leans against the railing next to me, his face flushed.

"Marquis Haruka has already accepted."

Zen raises more logical arguments as to why this is an awful idea. I calmly shoot down all of his complaints, one after another.

"Fine." Zen finally huffs. Then his voice takes on a raw edge. "Will he look for Miho while he's out?"

I nod. It's been three years since my younger niece disappeared into the night. We still have no clues as to her whereabouts. Zen refuses to believe that she's dead, but the trail has long gone cold.

I wish I could tell him we'll find Miho, but I don't make empty promises. Honestly, you can't find someone who doesn't want to be found.

I send a message ahead of the envoy, affirming that I received the letter and Clarines will negotiate.

Marquis Haruka spends a few days in the castle preparing for his journey, before he sets off for Zoral. In those few days, I research the rebel army as much as I can. The figurehead of the revolution, Aoi Fujimiya, is eleven months older than Miho.

That would make him sixteen now. I can't imagine becoming the king of Clarines at sixteen. Unlike me, Aoi Fujimiya has no family left to lean on.

The other figurehead of the revolution is someone only ever referred to as Commander in my reports.

All I can confirm about the second-in-command of the rebel army of Zoral is that she's female and she's the same age as Aoi, if not younger.

I think of my own daughters and shudder. Youth should be a carefree and happy time. Two preteens forced to start a war against a corrupt regime is a failure of the adults in the world.

Aoi Fujimiya, Clarines will hear you and this Commander out. Let's see how war has shaped you.