The Romantic Trials Of A Transmigrated Empress-Chapter 352: Failed peace negotiatons.

Crown princess Sigrid, regal in green and gold, met her husband’s eyes. She did not speak but her lips curled into a curious smile. How did he intend to respond?

Roland tapped Sigrid’s hand and inclined his head to the right a little. "You take this one."

"Coward." She whispered to him, laughed and then looked at the Nithercott sisters. Her next words were meant for everyone in the hall, not just them. "Eldoria is a very blessed empire. Every female divine messenger seems to be very interested in our crown prince. Isn’t this wonderful?"

Duke Thorin clapped his hands. Because of him, others clapped and applauded vigorously like this was the best news they had heard all week.

Sigrid raised her hand and the applause died down.

"While it is flattering, we will not be taking you up on your kind offer. There is no room for a third party in this marriage. Even if the god of the sky came down and decreed it, I would still reject it."

There were some murmurs on the hall.

"The crown princess is very dominant."

"Who should be making this decision between the crown prince and the crown princess?"

"She asked for a royal decree to stop the crown prince from marrying a secondary consort. Is it surprising that she is saying no?"

"If my family had given up what the Thorin family gave up for her to be the only wife of the crown prince. I would reject her too."

As others were whispering about this, Akia breathed in an out as quickly as she could. If she did not calm down, she would unleash a torrent of magic so powerful on Sigrid that she would die right where she sat.

Anita stepped up to carry on from where her sister had stopped. "With all due respect crown princess, this decision does not lay in your hands. The crown prince should be the one to decide on whether...."

"My wife is my equal. Her words are my words." Roland cut in rudely. He took Sigrid’s hand, interlocking their fingers. "We are as united as our empire is. Even if your emperor had come here in person and offered me his daughter in marriage in return for peace, I would turn him down. Women are people, independent beings and not possessions. They cannot be traded on a whim to establish a relationship between two nations."

"Well spoken." Someone shouted.

Roland was not finished educating the Nithercott sisters. "Peace that is dependent on a marriage often falls apart when the marriage is in trouble."

"Death is also a factor that plays a role in this." Sigrid added to Roland’s words. "If you die, it is possible that the peace treaty will die as well."

Anita scowled. "Crown prince, did you not marry off your own sister Princess Thalassa to a prince of Solandor to the sake of establishing a relationship between your two empires? I see no difference in what I want and what you did."

"Your information is missing a few facts." Roland answered confidently. "My sister and the prince fell in love. The prince proposed to her after courtship and only after asking for my consent did the two marry."

Anita frowned. Had there been a courtship? She had not heard about this

Sigrid trailed her eyes over the sisters and said coldly, "Eldoria and Medoris are not capable of establishing ties today. I advice that you to return to your empire and come back when you have a proper king. Then and only then can we talk peace. Proper peace at that, not a forced marriage."

Roland stood up and he invited Sigrid to stand. "Let us end this here. The Lord mage and Queen consort will see to the care of our guests during their stay here."

The royal couple left and others started to follow. Finally, the only people left in the hall were the Nithercott sisters, the Lord mage and the Queen consort.

"If you would follow us please." The queen consort said.

Akia and Anita followed. Both knew deep down in their hearts that this was far from over. They would get what they came for, one way or another.

***

The moment they reached the drawing room, Sigrid pinched Roland’s ear. This was done in the full view of some of their closest servants.

"Why are you always attracting flies?"

Roland liberated his ear, twisting his face because the tip of his ear felt warm and it hurt. Sigrid’s ear pinches were more painful than those of his grandmother. "What flies are you talking about?"

"Women you rake." She threw herself into a chair.

"But I...." He started his defense and broke off when they received unexpected company.

Galen’s children run into the drawing room, laughing childishly and screaming. The boy jumped on Roland while the girls went to Sigrid.

"Aunt Siggy...aunt Siggy..." they shouted.

Sigrid caught them both and she hugged them. They had leaves in their hair, dirt smudges on their cheeks and they smelled like caramel apple tarts.

"What have you little hell cats been up to?" She asked them.

Both girls giggled first. ƒгeewebnovёl_com

"We were playing near the pond. We want to go swimming but Lady Mauve said we mustent." One answered.

"Mustn’t." Sigrid corrected her.

"Can you swim with us in the pond aunt Siggy?" The oldest request.

"And catch some frogs." The boy added.

Sigrid could not imagine herself catching real frogs, so she shook her head. She smiled warmly at them and said, "Go and find Lady Mauve. Tell her that the crown princess is ordering her to have fun with you."

All three children scrambled out of the drawing room, screaming at the tops of their voices. Their brief visit left behind twigs and leaves in the room.

"Now you know why they are named Storm, Lightning and Tornado." Roland muttered.

Sigrid did not attempt to correct him. Never had she heard him call the children by their correct names. It seemed to be a game, something between him and the children.

"Will you be hunting the snake queen tonight?" He asked her.

Her eyes gleamed with ruthlessness. "No, she will be hunting us. I am sure that after all the antagonizing I have done, she will not be able to hold back. I have never fought a snake before so I am looking forward to this very much."

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