"You summoned me, father?" A strong-looking handsome young man, much like Geirhart, said.

The young man was holding a guitar as he had just been playing it near one of the fountains whilst being crowded by young noblewomen who were just fawning over him.

"Yes." Geirhart said "But first, don't be disrespectful. Introduce yourself to their majesties here."

"Of course." The young man said with charming confidence "I am Albert Josephus Heinrich von Coburg, Crown Prince of Germania. It is my honour to personally meet your majesties. It is not everyday one gets to see this many royals gathered in one place on amicable terms."

"Some on less than amicable terms." Jan said

"Don't mind him, he's always like that." Valasaire said as he examined the young man "Hmmm... strong, well mannered, and very handsome. I must say, this is quite the decent suitor we have here. Leagues over the others."

"Thank you, your majesty." Albert said as he bowed

"The question remains, though... can you hold your own in a fight?"

"I can protect myself decently enough to not be a bother, your majesty."

"That's very modest of you, young prince. Your father has been singing your praises all day over here about how strong you are."

"He loves to exaggerate, your majesty. Sometimes it really is unnecessary." Albert said as he looked to his father a bit

"Your son seems to have much humility, Geirhart, I'm impressed. You do know what it takes to get my daughter's hand in marriage, don't you?"

"I believe a trial of combat is in order."

"And how do you think you would fare?"

"God willing, I may be able to hold my own against her."

"Let's hope He wills it then... But tell me, how old are you, Albert?"

"I had only recently celebrated my twenty-first birthday, your majesty."

"Ah... Then tell me, why do you seek the hand of my youngest daughter yet not my eldest? The Princess Vera is closer in age to you..."

"If I'm not mistaken, Princess Vera is a commander in a Rumasilian military order. I do not believe it right for me to take her away from her station and her loyalties to the order."

"A well thought out answer. Are you sure it's not because she's adopted and not my 'blood' and therefore unworthy of you?"

"Definitely not, my lord. I have no such thoughts. The fact that you recognise her as one of your children is reason enough to acknowledge her as royalty. But even without that, it is to my understanding that she is still high nobility. The other reason is I prefer smaller-... I much prefer Princess Valerie's physique, your majesty. At least from the paintings I was provided."

"Well, considering you've already turned down a queen for this, I do hope you're ready, boy. Because if you lose, well... I hope you don't."

"Thank you, your majesty." Albert said

"Well... I guess this is the time I call my daughter, isn't it?" Valasaire said as he looked at Valaron "Brother, can you call her?"

"Why do I have to do it?" Valaron said

"You know how much she loves her uncle Valaron."

"She finds me just as annoying as you, brother. You just don't want to get shouted on by her..."

"Trust me you are much more subtle than me."

"If I wasn't, I would be a very rubbish spymaster. Alright, gentlemen. If I don't return, it means the she-wolf has gotten me and Rumasil will need a new spymaster."

The others laughed as Valaron had left the seat to go and fetch his niece.

"Well, don't be so stiff, boy!" Valasaire said to Albert

"Oh, I am completely fine, your majesty..." Albert said

"I see you're holding a guitar there. Do you play it or are you just posturing?"

"Oh, I'm decent enough, Majesty. I usually play when I'm in the mood. The beauty of your gardens inspired me very much and I just decided to play it. Soon, people just started to gather around and I enjoyed their reactions."

"Interesting. Those people were mostly the young ladies. You are quite the charmer."

"Music is something everyone can enjoy."

"All my children are musically gifted and I see no reason for their talents to be wasted." Geirhart said "Why don't you try to play a song for the people here."

"Yes, that actually sounds like a splendid idea!"

"Well, if your majesties insist..." Albert said as he prepared his guitar playing and asked for a chair to sit on which Valasaire provided

Albert then started to play his guitar for the royals there. It was a beautiful melody and was skillfully played by him. The royals clapped as he started to play the song. The melody was slow but the prince's skill made it sound far more complicated than it is.

Valasaire was concentrating on the melody very deeply. He felt like he knew the song very well as it sounded so familiar to him. Soon enough, he began to sing to himself,

"Tu joloM o Debatangku... sai use do rohangkon~ (At Thy feet, I come to thee, as my soul still wells in grief)." Valasaire sang as he felt an aching in his chest "~ sai pasiat tangiangku... dohot iluilungkon... (Hear my endless prayers to you, Lord. Hear my cries, I beckon thee."

As Albert finished his playing, he saw King Valasaire looked as if he had finished crying.

"Your majesty... are you...?" He said

"That song..." Valasaire muttered

"It's a personal favourite of my grandmother, Your Majesty. It's called 'Auf dem lamm ruht meine seele', a very old tune in Germania."

"Ah yes... it did originate in Germania. Forgive me, it's just, that song was a personal favourite of my father's... well, the Rumasilian version of it, at least. I get emotional when I hear it, though I don't usually cry... you are gifted! If you weren't the heir of a nation, I would immediately hire you as a court musician!"

"I am very flattered, your majesty!" Albert said as he bowed once again to which the other royals smiled

As Albert was about to play another song, he noticed Lord Valaron had returned with a beautiful petite young lady with long dark brown hair. She looked far better than he had expected from the portrait he was given.

"Did you call for me, father?" Valerie said as she arrived at the scene

"Now don't be rude, greet these fine gentlemen first, young lady." Valasaire said to his youngest child

"Oh but of course, father." She said with a smile though with a hint of annoyance in her tone as she curtsied "Grandfather, uncle Manuel, uncle John, Sovereign Antonio, King Jan, King Geirhart and..."

Valerie was greeting all the royals there when finally her eyes met with the German Prince's. She blushed slightly as she saw the young man was looking at her with a slightly dazzled expression.

"This here is Prince Albert of Germania. King Geirhart's eldest son." Valasaire explained to his blushing daughter "Most charming isn't he..."

"Charming... yes..." Valerie mumbled as she saw the strong prince, still lost in her trance as Albert also just kept on string

"Boy, quit your staring. You're making the princess uncomfortable." Geirhart said as he smacked the back of his son's head "Introduce yourself properly."

"O-Oh!! Of course! Where are my manners." Albert said as he looked like he just snapped out of a trance "Forgive me, milady."

"Oh no, it's fine..." Valerie said as she regained her composure.

Valasaire smiled at what he saw. It was clear from what he had witnessed that she had shown an attraction towards the young prince.

"So what is it you want, father?" Valerie asked again to her father "It seemed like it was an important matter."

"It is actually... It is a matter of a suitor. It seems like a new offer has appeared before me."

Valerie only rolled her eyes at her father's suggestion. She thought it was something important, yet again it was one of these silly requests. She had already forgotten how many suitors she had turned down. All were the sons of snobbish minor noblemen and lordlings looking for her hand in marriage to raise their prestige instead of any real attraction to her. Most had already been rejected by her elder sister beforehand.

"Who is it this time, father?" Valerie said with a little annoyance, believing it to be another minor lord "You should tell him not to bother. It's probably another one of Kak Vera's rejects..."

"No it is not. And you shouldn't just assume, Valerie." Her father said "In fact he straight up asked for you by name, bypassing your elder sister."

"Then who is it, father?"

"It's him." Valasaire said as he pointed towards the young German prince

"H-h-him...?!" Valerie said with a little surprise and in disbelieve

"Yes. King Geirhart here personally came here to plan a betrothal for you and his son Albert. You should feel honored. They turned down a queen for you."

"Really now..." She said as she blushed a bit "I don't know what to say..."

"Don't worry, your majesty." Albert said as he spoke up to the princess "I know full well the requirements for being your suitor. I am prepared for a duel."

"Ah, you don't really have to..." Valerie said as she tried to rethink her situation. This man in front of her might not be too bad.

"What's this? You don't consider the Prince worthy enough for your hand?" Valasaire teased his daughter who was beginning to worry for her future's sake

"Please, give me the chance. I have prepared myself for this, Your Highness!" Albert said "I will do as honor dictates and fight a round with you."

"Are you sure about this?" Valerie said, masking her worry with a smile "Dozens have tried and dozens have failed. I will not go easy on you even if you are a prince."

"I am well aware of that, milady. In fact, I would be most disappointed if you didn't take this seriously enough. Whatever happens, I will accept the outcome even if it means going back to Germania empty handed."

Seeing Albert's resolve, Valerie couldn't help but blush slightly. Never has she seen sincerity like that. Although, doubt also came across her mind as she thought of an outcome where he would lose. She was considering to hold back slightly.

"Well, then that's a settled matter." Valasaire said "Your match will begin in about... what time is it now?"

"It's a little over seven..." Antonio answered as he checked his watch

"Ah, then your match will begin after we prepare the room for it. So about eight thirty. That would also give you enough time to prepare, I hope?"

"I believe that's enough." Albert said "What would our equipment be? I have prepared my arms and armor..."

"That won't be necessary. This will be a test of our physical skill and so we would be wearing simple equipment and protection." Valerie said "However, we will be using real swords. I hope that doesn't bother you too much? Don't worry, I'll try to draw as little blood as I can."

"Dear me, princess..." Geirhart said "Those are fighting words right there! Perfect for a future German queen."

"That is if I can defeat her." Albert said "I expect a good match whatever be the case."

"As do I. Now father, if you would excuse me." Valerie said as she bowed and motioned to leave

"I would also like to prepare myself." Albert said as he too left the table as Valasaire had permitted them both

"This will be interesting..." Alexios said

"The party was starting to bore and disinterest me." Jan added

"What the hell did you teach your daughters?" John asked "They seem just as battle mongering as you."

"Tell that to your wife." Valasaire said with a chuckle "At least my daughter isn't sadistic. Honestly, John, when you said you wanted to marry my sister, I thought you had lost parts of your brain. A woman as brutish as that, Lord God help me!"

"Hey! You take that back! That's my wife you're talking about!"

"She was our sister before she was your wife." Valaron added "Have you ever seen a girl gleefully behead the bodies of screaming and crying people? I have, and Valasya was fifteen when she did it. All twenty of them."

"They were criminals and rapists."

"It still gave me nightmares when I was here." Antonio added in as well

"Well, on the bright side, at least it's true what they say about everyone having some special person out there meant for them." Valaron said dryly

"Even psychopaths who enjoy tormenting the lives of others." Valasaire replied

"That's awfully mean of you." Manuel said

"Hey, we love our sister and we will smack anyone who says otherwise, but she's insane..."

"Alright that's enough." John said "You two never cease to annoy me."

"And that's why you love us."

"Bleh..." John made a puking gesture at the sight of Valasaire and Valaron grinning at him "It is very regretful that such a beautiful creature as my wife is related to you."

"Even if she weren't your wife, you'd still be related." Manuel said

"Anyways, gentlemen." Valasaire said as he clasped his hands together "I can not hope to think of a better opportunity to bring this topic up to your majesties here."

"And what might that be?" Jan asked

"Since our nations have amicable relations, I can not think of a better reason for a grand alliance between us."

"I have no problems with this plan." Alexios said "But if I may ask, nephew, what in the world could've possibly happened for you to bring this up?"

"Uncertainty." Valasaire said plainly as his tone turned serious

"What do you mean?" John asked "Our nations seem to be doing just fine right now. Aerland is engaging in prosperous trade with most of the world. We had just recently defeated the Famonese and morale had never been so high."

"Signing a treaty does not mean defeating." Valaron said nonchalantly

"I had gains from that... stop ruining my joy."

"Actually... that's one of the reasons I came here as well." Geirhart said "to establish good relations with not just Rumasil, but its allies as well. The situation in Northern Ayros is worrying. The Parisians and Wesjermanians have started making worrying moves against Germania ever since our treaty ended while my Orcish allies worry over the dominion of the Kyushans."

"The Miyazu Clan I've heard is more powerful than ever." Antonio added "I hear even the people of the Yin are weary of them and have become all but openly subservient to the will of the Kyushans."

"That does sound worrying." Manuel said "Our Raemusian allies have also been talking about the rise in power of Kyusho as well as the Parisians and Wesjermanians. A bloc has started to form in the east it may appear."

"My father-in-law also tells me of the threat to his north." Antonio said

"That's nothing compared to the threat of the moslems in the south." Jan joined in "Day by day the new Caliph is garnering more and more strength to his army and his ambitions. Vara is in a perilous situation while the Crusader states bicker amogst themselves... Help is always needed on that front."

"...fine. Maybe the Goramarians and the Taberonians have proven to be more of a problem in recent years..." John finally said "And the Elves of Andariil are beginning to posture as well."

"The moment I'm done with the Razyan, I'll be quick to deal with them. Pointy eared pagan bastards." Manuel said "I agree with your plan, Valasaire... but perhaps discussions should not be held at the current moment."

"Of course not. The party's not over... And the Provarians need to be dealt with as well." Valasaire said as he poured in wine to his goblet "But at least for now, we have an understanding. To Glory!"

Valasaire raised his goblet for a toast.

"To glory!" The other's answered with varying degrees of enthusiasm