Wow, Verendes was a big thing, huh?
Suppose they were the Spain of our timeline.
As for modernization aid, Yllendthyr could help. They already took their share of land from the other direction and working together with the once great aquatic empire which most of the people in power today heard in their youth from their father is a good motivation, too.
Under the current prime minister Yllendthyr is living the age of consolidation and diplomacy.
Granted, Yllendthyr still getting into regional conflicts time to time and if doesn't his nobles like to offer up their forces to other countries as mercenaries.