Chapter 19: You are Cordially Invited

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Note: This is rose. We're trying to return to a weekly release, but it's been difficult, since the rewrite is also ongoing. There's essentially two chapters per week, but the rewritten chapters will be released much later. Have a rose ✿

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Cent. Calendar 21/06/1639, north of Jin-Hark, 10:00

"What a hot day..."

Third Foreign Affairs Dept. Representative Raita, for now the Parpaldian Empire's representative as a whole, commented in exasperation while endlessly waving a scarlet fan that matched the color of her extravagant gown. It was indeed a hot day, for it was the middle of summer, and out in the open seas, the only shades that she could reliably take comfort behind are the occasional cloud and the rigging of the Parpaldian Navy vessel she was on. With her side and arm leaning on the wooden taffrails, she looked out across the gleaming, dark blue waters. Beyond the pitiful, simpler sail ships that dotted the harbor of the city of Jin-Hark were the sandy clay buildings that made up the austere and modest skyline of the former Lourian capital.

"Now we really are in the sticks..."

Biting her glaring, red lipstick-glossed lips, Raita basked in the mild winds provided by her fan as she looked down on the uninteresting city of a peripheral nation. Perhaps there was little salvation to these "barbarians," even with their generous financial and military support, she thought. As her eyes followed the contour of the mild Jin-Hark skyline, they inevitably ended up on the multi-tiered, multi-layered fortification that stuck out of the endless rows of minor buildings. Reaching the apex of the fortification, the top of the hill, she expected to find an impressive fortification, akin to that of the great castles of old, a universally-understood symbol of power and autocratic rule. However, in place of an intimidating stronghold, all that she saw were the pathetic ruins of something that once was, it's still standing vestiges doomed to scavenging looters and the sands of time.

"So that is what they're capable of..."

Raita felt a slight unease well up all over her body, her fingers shaking ever so slightly.

Almost two weeks ago, the entire course of the periphery and the Third Civilized Area changed dramatically with the utter destruction of the royal castle at Jin-Hark. Not only did it signal the abrupt end to the Lourian dynasty and its hopes of a united Rodenius, but it heralded the enigmatic entrance of something more sinister–a threat to the long-established hegemony that Parpaldia enjoys. Like many in the department, Raita was quick to assume that it was the Altarans, but she too was soon convinced that a new power was at play. Backed by reports of peripheral nations and some Third Civilized Area players welcoming the new power, the imperial crown had mobilized the complex, bureaucratic gears of the empire to turn its attention to this newcomer.

This was why Raita was here.

After having decided with unanimity that this new country was to be treated with leveled respect, the imperial government sent her to invite them to the Proclamation Day celebrations to be held in the capital, Esthirant; a momentous occasion celebrating the empire's founding and reserved for the great powers.

"Now, what was their name again?"

"Japan, madam."

The deep, manly voice of Imperial Army officer Marcus rang out from Raita's other side as he walked towards the taffrails to bask in the view of the city.

"Ah, of course. How could I have forgotten the name of the nation that's about to steal Parpaldia's thunder?"

Revolting at the idea of their broken hegemony, she scoffed with plenty of disdain. Marcus's expression, however, begged to differ.

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