– Kashion –
Kashion was on his way to the small meeting room with his advisors. It was only a few doors down.
"You handled that well earlier," Professor Nara said, walking beside him.
Kashion nodded with a smile. He would have liked to give the credit to Prior, but he knew he couldn't do that now.
When they entered the room, they took their seats.
"What do you think?" Pil asked Professor Nara.
She nodded. "Everything Prince Kashion said is correct. However, we conducted tests on explosiveness yesterday, and everything is still unstable. But I believe we can resolve that within the next few weeks."
A few weeks were acceptable. Kashion trusted the laboratories.
"Professor Wan?" he asked, turning to him.
"Yes, I agree with everything as well. Once we receive the data from Laboratory 1, we can adjust the materials and machines. That might take a few months, but since we would then be able to save a large amount of Aethereleum, it is a reasonable timeframe."
"You really don't want to reconsider?" Tendol asked, somewhat agitated, addressing Kashion.
All eyes turned to Kashion.
He took a deep breath. "I don't want to be pressured by this alliance. And what are those 30 million, really?"
Tendol shook his head. "It's not just about the 30 million—although we could certainly use them."
Here, Tendol received agreement from everyone.
"But with the Saturn princess at your side, it would be legitimate for us to receive larger deliveries in the coming years. And beyond that, everything would be secured for many years."
Again, Kashion saw everyone nodding in agreement.
"I see," he began. "So my advisory team believes that Tingdao cannot stand on its own? That we need someone from the outside? Do you have so little faith in yourselves?"
He stood up but gestured for the others to remain seated. He was slightly agitated and needed to steady himself.
"Have my ancestors and I invested so much money and energy into your research just so that we would have to place ourselves under someone else's protection?"
Now the advisors were no longer nodding. They looked down at the table.
Tendol spoke again. "With the necessary resources, Tingdao could truly become great and independent. Right now, we are too dependent on Terland and Ostrand. We could truly flourish."
Kashion shook his head. "But not by our own strength. We would only be shifting our dependency!"
Professor Nara cleared her throat. "He is right," she said. "And I believe in our science. I spend hours in that laboratory every day. Aethereleum is an important resource, but we can control it. It is like a wild animal—but we are the ones who can tame it. That is what will make us indispensable in the long run."
Now there was more agreement again.
"But then we need to think more carefully about how we proceed. Whether we regulate it through licenses or patents. We cannot simply give away our knowledge."
Kashion nodded. "Very good. That will be our focus for this session. Which patent or licensing system suits us best? And Professor Wan—what is realistic in production? We need to review that again as well."
Kashion sat down again.
He saw that Tendol was looking at him with anything but friendliness or satisfaction. But to Kashion, it felt like a small victory that the others were on his side.
– Prior –
They had just arrived in Evlina's room. Prior hadn't been able to rest or calm down at all.
Evlina sat comfortably in a chair, drinking tea.
The others—Talina, Prior, and Keron—sat across from her.
"I don't quite understand, Princess," Prior said. "Didn't you make it clear yesterday that you no longer intended to pursue the alliance?"
Prior was afraid of the answer, but she needed to know.
Evlina didn't respond immediately. She took a sip of tea and smiled.
"Yes. I hadn't actually planned to bring it up today. But…" She paused briefly and smiled. "I wanted to try again. When I heard Prince Kashion speak today, I was certain once more that this is what I want."
Prior grew nervous, feeling both hot and cold at the same time. She also felt a little dizzy.
She thought of Kashion's words—that she should trust him. But now she looked at Evlina… and she felt sorry for her.
"You know me well by now." Evlina glanced at Professor Keron. "Professor, you may not know me quite as well. I ask you to treat what I'm about to say as confidential."
The professor nodded.
Evlina sighed.
"I wanted to pressure him. Prince Kashion. Over the past few days, he has been so distant toward me. I could feel that he no longer sought the connection. At first, I thought—very well. I must accept it. But do you know what awaits me?"
She fell silent for a moment and looked around.
"If there is no wedding, my father will send me back home. I will lose another year in the spaceship. And then? Then he will marry me off to someone who benefits Tangyan. I am the third child. I will never have much say. But here on Earth, I could be someone. I could be the wife of a ruler. My opinion would matter. And that Prince Kashion has everything one could wish for—that hardly needs to be explained."
Prior could understand Evlina. She knew all too well the pressure parents could exert—and if she had once had an escape route, she would have taken it too.
She wished the princess freedom. She deserved it.
"So… today I thought this might be my last chance to make him change his mind."
Talina and Keron nodded.
"And what if Prince Kashion likes someone else?" Prior asked quietly.
She felt everyone looking at her.
She looked down at her lap, then raised her gaze to Evlina.
Evlina studied her intently. Then she smiled.
"If that is the case, I still won't give up so easily. Nothing has been decided yet."
Prior thought again of Kashion's words.
I will not marry the princess.
Trust me.
It calmed her. At the same time, it made her a rival to the princess—which hurt.
But no one could decide for Kashion.
And Prior was different from Evlina. She wouldn't fight over someone. She had decided long ago: if someone did not choose her, she would never fight for that person.
Yet she felt as though she were standing between two realms. Was she blocking the way? Should she step aside?
But then she wouldn't be trusting Kashion. And she wanted to—
even though trust was one of the hardest things for her.
Before she could follow that thought further, Evlina continued:
"Before the next negotiation, we should meet with Terland and Ostrand. The total delivery volume remains unchanged. However, I will no longer give Prince Kashion preferential treatment—unless he chooses me or can convince us further with his science."
"I already find the science here impressive," Prior said. "In the long run, I think we benefit more from this than from focusing only on oil."
"If we can save Aethereleum and obtain better engines, machines, or generators tailored to it, that would be a major advantage."
Evlina sighed. "I know. But that alone isn't enough for me."
"Whom should we speak to first? Terland or Ostrand?" Professor Keron asked.
Evlina thought for a moment. "Let's speak with Terland first. Count Kashk Rutz is unpleasant—but then we'll have it out of the way. Prior, please go to them and ask when it suits them to meet us. Immediately, if possible."
Oh no, Prior thought.
But she simply nodded and stood up. She checked the updated schedule on her tablet, located where Terland was staying, found Advisor Rosh's room not far from her own, and set off.
– Kashion –
During the meeting, Kashion had received a message. From his father.
"Your mother and I are waiting for you—and your explanation."
Just what he needed right now. This was surely Tendol's doing. Now the pressure would also come from his parents.
Kashion slapped his hands against his thighs and straightened up, ready to stand.
"You may continue your discussion. I'll review your results later," he said.
Then he briefly looked at Tendol. "My parents are expecting me."
Tendol nodded knowingly and looked slightly triumphant.
Kashion stood up and left the room.
– Prior –
Prior had reached Rosh's door and knocked. She waited. No one answered.
She checked the schedule again and searched for Count Kashk Rutz's room. She had to change floors for that.
She had hoped she could avoid an encounter with the count—for now.
Finally, she arrived at Kashk Rutz's door and knocked.
An unfamiliar person opened it.
"Oh?" said a young man. "You are?"
"Prior, servant and advisor to Princess Evlina," she replied.
"Let her come in," she heard Kashk Rutz's voice from inside.
The young man opened the door wider, and Prior stepped into the room.
Besides Kashk Rutz, Rosh, and the young man, she saw two more unfamiliar faces. They were all seated, but no one offered her a seat—so she remained standing.
Count Kashk Rutz smiled. "Ah, the little scientist from Saturn. What does she want from us?"
He looked at her mockingly, and although he was seated, it felt as though he were looking down on her.
Prior tried to remain calm. Tried. But she noticed her voice tremble slightly as she said:
"The princess wishes to consult with you and asks when it would suit you."
Kashk Rutz looked at her curiously, then said, "I'll have to think about that."
Prior grew uneasy.
"And what is your field, little scientist?"
She would have preferred to say that it was irrelevant, but she could not be impolite to a ruler.
"I don't have a specific field anymore. I used to work in Aethereleum research. Here, I have been studying condensation, concentration, and oil synthesis."
"Impressive," Kashk Rutz said.
Prior briefly considered whether she could help Kashion and added:
"Count Kashk Rutz, the research here is truly advanced, and I am convinced that Terland—"
"Tell your princess she may come to me in half an hour," Kashk Rutz interrupted.
Prior nodded, turned, and left.
"A remarkable woman," she heard Kashk Rutz say as she walked out.
She didn't know whether he meant Evlina or herself—and was simply relieved to be out of the room.
She gave a small shiver, as if to shake off the arrogant looks, and returned to Evlina.