It was early to go to Polis. I was expecting to cross that road years in the future. And with different intentions.

The camp surrounded Polis from every side on the ground, while a few ships took guard out of the harbour. There wasn't a single way out of town without our army's permission.

Polis had survived so long because they have a water source somewhere in the mountains and their fast ships manage to run away from Ethiro's fleet. Sometimes, the ships were caught. In truth, the income of food never stopped.

Even more when they started stealing our food and burning our weapon supplies. It was a mystery how they managed to find it every time, but knowing my Queen relocating everything would have been a waste.

The spies would have spotted the movement. Trampling the food wasn't an option either. What if my Queen ate some of it and had a stomach ache?

If there was a way to win without making everyone sick, I would have found it.

«What is the situation?»

«It's been static for years, your highness. We didn't gain an inch, and they didn't step back for a moment.»

«The siege lasted years without breaks, right?»

«We stopped attacking for three days when their queen dowager died. We retreated over that hill and observed without interfering. His majesty sent an order not to let them breathe just because of mourning. Unfortunately, the missive arrived late...»

I rolled my eyes, wondering if the messenger had really been late. Or just ignored. The general made the right choice, regardless. The international practice was to let the other party live during national big festivities or mournings.

However, if they followed the Emperor's order, Ambassador Zolokis wouldn't have had a chance to approach my Queen and build a bond.

«Also, tomorrow we'll be holding a meeting for negotiations. Our orders were to propose peace up to a few days ago. We haven't cancelled it yet,» the general continued.

«And we won't,» I replied. «We're going to meet Polis's delegation and talk.»

There wasn't a fast way of making Polis fall without too many victims.

«I want to see the people that have made fools out of our army for years.»

«Are we going to reject any of their offers?» the general asks, confused.

«No, we'll make an offer. Safety for every citizen in exchange for their surrender.»

«They won't accept,» the general chuckled. «We haven't made any progress. What makes us think we can state conditions?»

«Oh, it's just the beginning. If we raise the stakes, they'll start considering letting it go. They'll eventually accept, just to end this torture once and for all.»

After instructing the higher officers about how we were going to proceed, I retired for the day. I was sure that the war would have taken me months, and I was damn right.

The first meeting was silent and brief. Our leading general voiced our offer, and my Queen refused.

She was wearing a dark green gown, and her hair was tied on a braid on the back. Her shoulders and back were straight, and her expression solemn. Her usually coloured eyes had a thin black line on the lids, and her lips were pink like roses.

It was the first time after twenty-four years. I've waited for my whole life just to see her, and it was worth the wait. I lost myself in contemplation, gazing at her like a wild beast in front of a delicious bite of meat.

When her eyes passed on me, I waited for any sign of recognition.

Still, her gaze moved away, not even noticing me if not for the weird expression I wasn't capable of controlling.

When her eyes passed on me, uninterested, I confirmed that she indeed didn't remember. A part of me was offended. How could she forget what we meant for each other?

Yet, I couldn't blame her for something she hadn't done. If I was in the past, then what I dreamt about never happened. It was easier to understand: I had dreams about the future, which meant I could still change the events.

It was so damn easier than making sense of the fact that I was born for the second time. There weren't books on that; no one even knew that it was a thing, not even in fantasy novels. I was alone in the world with a story that I didn't know how to tell.

Though, I couldn't interpret my dreams as visions. They were too painful or sweet, too precise. My body had lived through all those events. My soul had resonated with another soul in the middle of the southern lands.

My Queen didn't know who I was, which meant I had to work hard to get her affection. Also, she was younger than when I first met her.

Her eyes had the same firmness, the same unbending light in them. Her lips were as inviting as always while curled in that solemn frown.

Her curves were well-hidden by the dress, and I suspected that she hadn't yet reached the perfect shape of her twentieth year of life.

I was analysing her figure like a jackal, not even listening to the exchange between the delegations. I couldn't help it.

I haven't touched her in so long. From the moment I saw her again, my wild need to stay at her side resurfaced with a strength that was difficult to bear.

I clenched my fists, not to run to her and just hug her, causing my immediate death. It would have been worth it if only I was sure I could actually reach her and not die a step away from my goal.

History would have remembered me as the man that tried to assault a Queen during peace negotiations.

Calling those negotiations was an over-statement.

Our generals offered so little in exchange for surrender.

My Queen didn't even reply. She just lifted her chin, observed the general's eyes for a moment and turned her back to us, and left.

Her offended expression was so cute on her young face. She came there, sincerely hoping to reach an agreement, and we trampled on her hope without reserves.

It would have been hard to make her forgive me, once she was safe and sound. I would have accepted that.

As long as she was out of danger, I would have accepted her hate.

The only issue was how to have our son, but I had four years to come up with a plan. If anything, I could just beg her.

«They just left,» the general sighed. «As you expected.»

«Of course,» I chuckled. «We have to raise our offer, but now we start from a very low point. We have room for negotiation.»

«That woman is as stubborn as a rock. She won't be easy to convince.»

«They're tired of being under siege. Just have some patience, general. We just have to increase our surveillance of food resources. Also, move the ships away from the harbour. I will draw the path they use to get to Polis. It's useless to keep them there, as it isn't giving you enough results.»

«Their allies have been sending them food for years. It would be easier if we could cut the supply...»

«Allies?» I chuckled. «Those ships are merchants. Loyal merchants.»

«Merchants?»

«Not soldiers. They buy food with the city's resources and bring it there.»

«Why do they accept such a risk? They could lose their ships and lives...»

«It's easy to be loyal to a person like the Queen,» I explained. After all, I've seen it by myself. «There aren't places where merchants have as many possibilities as in Polis. They're accepted at the court as friends, sometimes as part of it. No one looks down on them, and that is enough for their loyalty.»

«I don't buy it. Merchants are rational people.»

«They're just as human as every one of us.»

«It's a pity that woman is our enemy. It would have been a great asset as an ally...»

«I agree,» I sighed. «But this is reality. We have to win, and we can't do it with roughness. If it hasn't worked for years, it won't work now.»

«You're planning to pressure them with peace offers? What more?»

«It's early to talk about it, general.»

Also, it was early to cut the water. It would have just added discomfort and potentially made those people even more stubborn.

First, we had to tire them.

«For now, bring food supplies to many different places. Even if they manage to snatch a carriage, it won't be much damage for us. Nor any gain for them. Their efforts will be overly high for a small reward.»

«Your highness is merciless,» the general chuckled. «But I hope we'll soon get it over with. If this lasts much longer, it will be impossible to reconcile our peoples.»

«I agree,» I sighed.

No favour treatment would have made them forget how cruel we were during the war. A senseless war, at that.