“Yes, the map,” I said, annoyed. “This map is the bane of my existence, Eli. How do I even do this? I’m so lost.”
He rested his palm on my shoulder. “You need to give King Azarii something in exchange for breaking the marriage clause. In order to do that, you need to understandwhythe marriage worked in the first place.” He placed his finger on the border. “By marrying into Oreian royalty, Chalke gained Oreian influence, but also a foot in the door for resources and commerce. By not marrying Sameer, you’ve broken that bridge for him.”
“What if I just… redirected the bridge somehow?”
“Good,” he said, nodding. He pointed to another place. “You could suggest he marry someone else. Someone noble.”
My brow furrowed. “But that defeats the purpose of breaking the marriage. Doesn’t it?”
“The purpose is to free yourself, yes?”
“No, it’s—Well, yes. But don’t you think it’s only fair that Sam should be allowed to marry Agatha?”
A pause.
“Alright,” he said. “Agatha is of Chalke. She’s not royalty. She’s not noble. She’s coin. Her father is a merchant.”
“Her father advises the Crown in Chalke,” I said.
“Yes. A temporary position that could disappear once the Prince comes into power and appoints his own accountant,” he said.
“Sam would get rid of Aggy’s father?”
“It’s best not to assume he would or wouldn’t do anything,” Elías said. “Focus on what we know. And we know that her father’s importance is not guaranteed.”
“Alright. Fleeting, got it,” I said. I stared at the page.
He moved closer, directing me along the map as he spoke. “Let’s look at existing land divides. Your father was working on recommissioning Oreian territory and their boundaries. Therearesome unclaimed areas you could potentially gift to Chalke, if we can find something to entice His Majesty. You’ll want something that appeals to him the same way his son marrying you did. For instance, you’re not just Princess. With your coming of age, you inherited your mother’s title, Duchess of Dawne. By marrying Sameer, his son–his lineage, would’ve gained the title ‘Duke,’ yes?"
“Yes, but there are no other duchies, and therefore no Duchesses to offer Sameer,” I said.
“Not yet there isn’t,” Elías said. He pointed to the map, to an area near Farham, close to the Chalke border. “Here. Nikolai recently had this area surveyed. He has drafted a new boundary.” He lifted the map, then drew out another one, much smaller, more transparent, laying it over the first. It created a new area entirely for the region, splitting it into two pieces.
“He created a new place? He could do that?” I asked.
“Aye,” Elías said. “The Crown can do whatever it wants with its land and its titles. Your father envisioned this as a barony. What if you appointed someone here as Baron? Say… the Prince?”
My eyes widened. I looked up at him. “I could do that? He’s not Oreian?”
“No, he’s not. But he is ‘a friend of the Crown,’” he explained, like he was hinting at something more. “And friends of the Crown should be rewarded, yes? Just like Willem would be for his knighthood?”
I gasped, softly, and nodded quicker. “Yes. Oh, my god, Eli, that’s… that’s brilliant!”
He nodded. “But a barony is not a duchy. Baron is not Duke.”
“I need more then?” I asked. “Alright. I can do this.” I examined the map closer with a deeper understanding and near-excitment. “Sameer becomes Baron. And…Wait. What if…?” I plucked my father’s pen from its holder, bringing it to the overlain map. Hesitantly, I pressed to the design, and created a wider border.
“Larger?” he asked.
“What if… What if it’s not a barony?” I asked. “What if Sameer is not the friend of the Crown? What if… Agatha is?” I meet his eyes, seeking his approval.
“Agatha?” he asked. He half-shrugged, but didn’t take his eyes off the new idea. “And then you appoint her Duchess? A friend of Oreia? And you offer her hand instead of yours, in a large, border-lining, resource heavy section of land. That… That gives Chalke a lot of influence in that area. Are you okay with that?”
I checked my work, then nodded. “It’s minor in total area when compared to the rest of Oreia. Chalke gains that part of the mountain range. They get access to the minerals available there. Miss Agatha becomes Duchess Adeline. Mr. Adeline elevates as well, with his daughter’s new position in Oreian nobility. Chalke gains influence and power and resources. I offer Agatha’s hand in marriage, the Prince insists, if not begs his father. They gain land. Political position, and I gain freedom.”
Elías nodded. “Yes.”
“You think he would accept?” I asked.
