For some reason, no matter what Wesley did, Igeyorhm had a counter for every attack. It didn’t matter if Wesley went in for a thrust or a charging thrust, the speed at the Martyr’s disposal outclassed WEsley’s own. Even if Wesley was impressive on his own, it seemed he was lacking today for some reason. Maybe it was his emotional state or perhaps he was still fatigued from the night before. 

[color=sienna][i]Calm down, Wesley. You need to keep your cool.[/i][/color] Hashmal advised him, [color=sienna][i]he wants you to get overtly emotional; that is how Igeyorhm operates.[/i][/color]

Yeah, Wesley knew that, but it didn’t help his case that he was flaunting his dominance like premium steel. Not to mention how he had a counter for everything the two did. However, Wesley would not let that psyche him out. He was Fandaniel, the Protector, but most of all, he was Wesley of House Alexander, and King of Dalmasca. If there was a way to win, he would find it.

With his resolve sound in his devotion to protect, Wesley looked on as Igeyorhm had Grant in his grasp. He would do the same to his sword, pushing forth his mist, and gathered what mist he could into his body and expelled it outward, aligning it with his natural speed, and he zipped through the air. As he had his sword in reverse grip, he would do what the Martyr did to Grant not too long ago: he would ram the backside of his hilt into the Scion’s back.
[hr]
[color=mediumpurple]"Not since you hosted the Royal Family the day before [i]these guys[/i] brought the Archadian general to your doorstep. I never did properly thank you for that. Maybe I can soon.."[/color] Cassandra, much like she always had, moved on from one man to the other. Her hand was gently stroking Roman’s leg and eyes flirtatiously gazing upon Roman’s attractive features.

Jaakuna couldn’t believe how quickly Cassandra moved on from centering all of her efforts on him to his brother. He was actually insulted by how she was now cozying up to his less-handsome brother. He saw her stroking Roman’s leg in the same intimate way that she had done to him and her eyes were practically glued to his brother’s entire form. She really had no shame, did she?

[color=ed1c24]“Can you believe her?”[/color] Jaakuna whispered to Emiri. [color=ed1c24]“Not even five minutes and she’s already fixated on him. It’s almost as though I meant nothing to...her…”[/color] And in finishing that thought, Jaakuna realized what he had just said, though he could not reverse time, and take back those words - that was Emiri’s thing. [color=ed1c24]“What I meant to say is that good, she’s Roman’s problem,”[/color] he corrected himself, but he felt her scathing gaze pierce through any notions he had.

“[color=pink]Oh really?[/color]” Emiri asked him quietly, completely unconvinced. “[color=pink]Hmph, maybe you really should have gone through with her proposal if that’s how you feel![/color]”

“[color=indianred]Simply having your gratitude is enough, Princess,[/color]” Roman informed Cassandra, taking her hand and kissing it. She gave an approving smile. Reia had to hold back the urge to throw up, though at the very least, as much as Cassandra wanted to handle Roman, the man was just as good at turning on the charm.

Jaakuna was going to retort back at Emiri, but as he caught Reia’s glance, perhaps it was better to just quit while he was ahead. Besides, knowing her, he knew that she wanted to quit the petty squabbling and get onto the task that all of them were present for: the treaty. This prompted Jaakuna to, as he had done back in Dalmasca, go into his Jackson Darcone persona, though it would be less formal and more grounded. 

[color=ed1c24]“Reia, do you happen to have the treaty that I wrote?”[/color]  Jaakuna asked her.

Emiri gave him a scowl, crossing her arms as Reia would nod, bringing with her a small stack organized very neatly. “[color=turquoise]Do your best not to scatter this one to the winds,[/color]” She cautioned him as she would hand over the documents. “[color=turquoise]As I mentioned before, there were a few unclear parts and some redundant, I made sure to fix them all for today.[/color]”

“[color=indianred]Ah, yes...the treaty,[/color]” Roman would recall. “[color=indianred]And you drafted this yourself, my brother?[/color]”

[color=ed1c24]”Of course. It [i]was[/i] my idea, after all.”[/color] Jaakuna stated proudly, though he heard Reia cough. He looked at her and boy did she have that subtle glare of death. [color=ed1c24]”I mean, that is to say, Reia contributed to it a little bit.”[/color] Jaakuna corrected himself, looking at Reia as he returned a gaze to Roman.

“[color=turquoise]It was a mess diplomatically and contradicted itself more than the elder texts of Giruvegan,[/color]” Reia would lay it out there, deciding that if Jaakuna was gonna be smart about it she may as well speak the truth. “[color=turquoise]You’ll find this version much easier to comprehend.[/color]”

Roman chuckled, slightly biting his lower lip as he would lean back. “[color=indianred]I can promise you, he has the heart of a leader, he is simply missing the details.[/color]” He assured her, earning him a scowl from Jaakuna.

[color=ed1c24]“Man fuck you guys, my treaty was bitchin’.”[/color] Jaakuna stubbornly argued.

“[color=turquoise]If ‘bitchin’ means ‘a disaster waiting to happen’, then yes. I agree wholeheartedly,[/color]” Reia retorted sarcastically.

He let out a sigh. There was obviously no winning when it came to Reia, especially when she seemed to have the support of even his own family. [color=ed1c24]“Whatever. Let’s just do this.”[/color]

[color=gold]“Would you show a little more tact, Jackson?”[/color] Isaiah scolded Jaakuna for his lack of formality regarding the treaty.

[color=ed1c24]“What?”[/color]

[color=gold]“This is not some adventurous decision you’re making on the fly. For heaven’s sake, this is a treaty that could decide the fate of our way of life as we know it.”[/color] He informed him rather bluntly.

[color=ed1c24]“Oh..” [/color]

How the hell was Jaakuna supposed to know how to act? He’s not Roman. He had the idea, but no way of knowing what to do in regards to it or how to get it done in the [i]right[/i] way. Frankly, Isaiah was starting to remind Jaakuna of how Hamut used to be on his ass.

Isaiah also reminded Emiri of someone else from a time she really didn’t want to think about. She closed her eyes for a moment, but she decided that it was about time she stepped up to the plate, too. Opening her eyes, she would sit up properly. After all, this was exactly what she had essentially been raised to do. May as well put it to use. “[color=pink]What Jaakuna means is that despite not having the wording down, the gist of it is here,[/color]” She informed the group at large, gesturing to the treaty. “[color=pink]It’s clear that it was written with the intention of unifying the three nations. While there were several dispersions, this very meeting is to not only bring them to light, but to discuss and assuage any concerns there could be. Reia’s refinement was necessary, of course, but you can hardly compare her--an Empress who thrives on law and specializes in writings such as these--and Jackson--who was second in line and whose work would have been relegated to his own territory as opposed to his entire country.[/color]”

Reia seemed to have been reminded of exactly why Justine had pushed Emiri to marry Grant. So the woman clearly knew what she was talking about. “[color=turquoise]My apologies,[/color]” Reia said. “[color=turquoise]I suppose I wasn’t helping things.[/color]”

“[color=indianred]Well said,[/color]” Roman chuckled once more.

Emiri smiled at Jaakuna. “[color=pink]I’ve got your back,[/color]” She told him quietly, encouraging him. 

He felt a sense of warmth overtake him. Or maybe it was that bad cockatice that he had earlier. Either way, Jaakuna felt pride in Emiri, especially the way Isaiah seemed to let out a sigh in defeat. Even he was no match for someone who was raised by the political machine. [color=ed1c24]“Then, let us address the treaty now. Roman,”[/color] Jaakuna looked to his brother, “this treaty heavily relies on your cooperation. In fact, one of the first things I want to address specifically mentions you.”[/color]

Roman nodded, making sure to give Jaakuna his full attention. “[color=indianred]Please, continue,[/color]” He urged Jaakuna.

[color=ed1c24]“I fear that, in order for this treaty to go swimmingly, not to mention our own council is just as troublesome as the one that’s constantly on Reia’s back, they will need to see some sort of strength on my part. Despite the obvious troubles that beckon us from Levi and the False Zodiark, Venat, they need to see that Archadia will stand strong when it’s all said and done. So, even if just temporarily, I’ll be overseeing Archadia as Emperor.”[/color] Jaakuna announced, no doubt shocking all of those in the room.

“[color=indianred]Sounds reasonable,[/color]” Roman was the first to agree.

“[color=turquoise]Wh-I’m sorry, how is that reasonable?[/color]” Reia couldn’t help but ask. “[color=turquoise]It would certainly smooth out the process, I would say ‘convenient’, but ‘reasonable’?[/color]”

“[color=indianred]You must understand, just as Rozarria has had its succession crisis for some time, so has Archadia,[/color]” Roman admitted. “[color=indianred]Vincent has, unfortunately, lost the faith of the people, with my grandfather’s recent actions being the nail in the coffin. Although, I must warn you, Jackson...Bhujerba has also asked for my return, considering that I am only half Darcone,[/color]” He explained with a slight frown. “[color=indianred]I only implore you to think this through very carefully.[/color]”

[color=ed1c24]“I am well aware of what this means, Roman. I wouldn’t have made this decision lightly, but as you’ve just said,  Archadia is in a crisis. The people need solidarity. They need to know that House Darcone hasn’t forsaken them.”[/color] Jaakuna stated, “[color=ed1c24]as you know, I am quite popular with the common folk. Not to mention, Lannit is one of our Five Judge Magisters now and he’s one of the most respected citizens that live--I mean lived--in Old Archades.”[/color] He let out a sigh, crossing his legs[color=ed1c24], “there is no other person who can do this. It has to be me.”[/color]

“[color=turquoise]It helps to have the title,[/color]” Reia mused out loud. 

Emiri nodded silently, though she admittedly couldn’t quite get the bitter taste out. “[color=pink]That being said, everyone is in agreement, yes?[/color]”

“[color=turquoise]Indeed.[/color]”

“[color=indianred]Of course,[/color]” Roman agreed.