Chapter 964

After Rafael ate some of the hot food, they discussed the day's negotiations. Carissa sat beside him, clearly using her proximity to advantage. She felt emboldened to speak out of turn or disagree with Everett without fear of rebuff, given her position next to Rafael.

"Has the king heard their terms? What did he say?" Jacob asked.

"Davis reported to him. Upon returning to the Diplomatic Affairs Department, he relayed the king's stance: the border is non-negotiable, but everything else is open. We're not bound by their proposed conditions; we can offer alternative compensation. That's the king's directive," Everett explained.

Everett paused. "Not yielding on the border means forcing Westhaven to acknowledge Aurora's treaty. If they deem the treaty invalid, the border reverts to the previous one. But the border dispute has lasted for years. Considering their opportunistic invasion during Starhaven's chaos, this is complicated."

Rafael nodded. "Tonight's discussion at the Diplomatic Affairs Department centered on the border. We know getting Westhaven to recognize Aurora's treaty is impossible, and frankly, we're not keen on it either. But pushing the border back risks rebellion and turning Aurora into a hero. How can someone so culpable be considered a hero?"

"It's a thorny issue," Everett agreed. He had no perfect solution, and realistically, what perfect solution exists for such problems?

"We've compiled ancestral border maps and the original agreements between our kingdoms. We hope to convince Westhaven to accept those, instead of Aurora's treaty. We never agreed to their invasion, so there was never a new border agreement," Rafael said.

"That won't be easy," Carissa commented.

"Of course not," Everett replied flatly. "If it were, would the king have sent me? He'd have taken the credit himself."

Carissa fell silent, realizing her comment elicited a stronger response than anticipated. She had no further insights to offer.

Jacob frowned, clearly troubled. "We can't fight, we can't retreat, and we're in the wrong. This is already difficult, and we still have to manage it. How do we find a breakthrough?"

+25 BONUS

Chapter 964

Everett glanced at Rafael, who looked weary. "Go rest. Tomorrow's negotiations are crucial."

Carissa immediately stood. "Yes, take a hot bath. You'll sleep better."

"Everyone should rest," Rafael said, rising and bowing respectfully to Everett before taking Carissa's hand and leaving.

The next day's negotiations yielded no breakthroughs. Both sides remained entrenched in their positions, unwilling to compromise. Leroy was mostly silent, clearly reprimanded by Lisandra the previous evening. Garrick, however, was more vocal, though he never mentioned Dominic, prompting Rafael to observe without jumping to conclusions.

On the third day, Garrick's demeanor remained unchanged. He still didn't mention Dominic, and the deadlock persisted. However, that afternoon, Lisandra suddenly fell ill. A wave of nausea swept over her; her face paled, and she was drenched in cold sweat.

Despite having a royal physician and supplies, Rafael asked, "Should we call a physician from Starhaven?"

Lisandra declined. "This headache is chronic. My physician understands my condition better."

However, a postponement seemed likely.

Rafael nodded. "Then we'll delay until Her Highness recovers."

Michael, responsible for Concord Lodge's security, had been leading the guards (the Capital Guard was under Alistair's command). Exhausted after days of work, Carissa relieved him that evening. Alistair could have handled it, but Carissa distrusted his loose tongue, especially with the Westhaven envoys present. Violet, unable to teach, kept Carissa company.

Concord Lodge's exits were guarded. While they didn't impede Westhaven's comings and goings, the guards remained vigilant against assassination attempts. The Capital Guard only entered for specific reasons. Westhaven had their own guards and resided within the lodge, effectively making it theirs for the duration.