MAEVE

SEEING HER colleagues slaughtered right before her very eyes traumatized Maeve. She considered herself lucky to be alive today. If she sat on the right part of the session hall, she could have been crushed by the debris, or she could have been one of the first to be killed by the assailants. If Renoux was not there to save her, she would have run out of breath and died in the ruins.

Yet, she could not be that thankful for being able to survive. She lost not just colleagues in the Senate, but also some of her friends. One of her fellow republican senators from Darsche was killed in the attack. Even the death of monarchist senators from her province saddened her. Red or blue—the colors they wore did not matter. In the eyes of death, everyone is equal.

The day after the attack, she locked herself in her room. She sat at the veranda and stared at the cityscape. The damaged Senate building was visible from that distance. Not even Patrische's kiss or warm embrace could snap her out of depression. Her partner had no choice but to leave her for a while and let her grieve.

The next day, she was miraculously back to her usual self—or at least, she was trying. One day was enough to grieve for her fallen colleagues. She got some work to do. The Senate might have been attacked and their way of life might have changed, but her commitment to the job remained the same.

"Alphonse wants to meet with the Senate President and the opposition leader," the blond, square-faced republican senator spoke before his colleagues. His circular spectacles reflected the light in the room. His name's Ranald, one of the two alive senators from Polarcus.

The nine republicans gathered around a circular wooden table. Out of fifteen, they left six seats vacant as a sign of respect to their dead colleagues. Instead of their traditional navy blue coat, they wore black today. Not only them, but almost everyone in the city was wearing the same color.

With all the rubbles and ruins around it, the Senate building was closed by the authorities to assess its condition. The session hall was mostly destroyed by the attack, with large debris and charred furniture everywhere. All sessions had to be suspended to mourn the dead.

In the meantime, the republicans met at the conference room of their headquarters. Its building was also on the hilltop district of the capital city, just one short ride away from the Senate.

"As you all know, Lord Frances Delavin died in the attack. Four other senior members of our faction were also killed. At present, we have no leader who can represent us in today's discussion."

"If we're not properly represented, then we'll be at a disadvantage!"

"We should elect one!"

"Obviously. The question is who?"

The tragedy was a devastating blow to the republican faction. Their casualty count was only six while the monarchist's was fourteen. Their deceased, however, were highly important members. They lost their mentors in this game called politics.

Maeve scanned the conference room. All nine faces, including hers, were relatively young, but not totally inexperienced. Only Ranald was around thirty years old, therefore the most senior in terms of age. The rest were in their mid- or late twenties.

"While the attack is a tragedy, it's also an opportunity. It's time for the new bloods to take control of this party," said Sumeria, a young female senator with bobcut hair from the province of Ruhbach. "Preferably someone who isn't from Polarcus."

"Do you have any problem with us who were born and raised in this majestic city?" Dasmond, the gentleman senator beside Ranald, almost raised his voice. "How is location even relevant in the selection of our new representative?"

"Because your politics is too outdated. You are moderates who refuse radical reforms in this country. You may be wearing blue like the rest of us, but some of your policies align with those who wear red."

"Are you saying that we're closeted monarchists? That's absurd!"

"Your words, not mine."

Maeve caught Ranald glancing sideways at Sumeria, his eyes squinting at their fellow senator. Even in the republican faction, there was division. They wanted the monarchy gone, but they differed on what to do next should it happen. Polarcus republicans preferred that the powers would remain centralized in the capital city. Others, like Maeve and Sumeria, wanted some powers to be devolved to the provinces.

"Debating will get us nowhere," Ranald spoke, silencing his seatmate. "Our first order of business must be choosing our next leader."

"Who do you suggest?"

"I nominate Maeve Flannigan of Darsche." Sumeria gestured to her fellow lady senator.

Maeve's jaw almost dropped to the floor as everyone in the room turned to her. She was too preoccupied, thinking on who among her colleagues would be best fit for the position. Being nominated was the least outcome that she expected. "M-Me? You're nominating me for the leadership?"

"You're a staunch republican. Your blood is bluer than anyone here," Sumeria explained. "You're also uncompromising when it comes to your principles. You won't let those monarchists pull one over you."

"Hear, hear!"

"She even had the guts to question Alphonse's threats during the confirmation hearing!"

Maeve had dreamt of holding a leadership role in the future, but not today! She felt flattered that some of her colleagues believed in her. Of course, she got some doubts if she could do it. But if her faction put their faith in her and her skills, she would not think twice of accepting the position.

"Isn't she too green to lead us?" Ranald interjected. Maeve flicked up her gaze at him. "She's relatively new to the Senate. She hasn't even finished her first term. Some of us here are in our second terms already. We're more seasoned and more experienced than her. You, Sumeria, will surely fare better. No offense, Maeve."

No offense taken. Maeve would be first to admit that she lacked experience. But she also believed that having decades of service in the government would not equate to becoming an effective, transformational leader. No matter how young or old a politician, as long as they had strong political will, they could start the change that they had always wanted.

"It's funny how they want to exclude Polarcusian senators from this race, yet they're willing to settle for a senator from Darsche?" Dasmond chuckled, shaking his head. "Ruhbach and Magam are still in the gutter because of Darscheans who dominated the trade system in this country! What has she done? Nothing. So much for your radical reforms!"

"It's true that the Darscheans have taken advantage of the trade system. And that's one reason why I sought a seat in the Senate—to change it." Maeve could not keep her silence anymore, not when she was being maligned. "Current and former senators from Polarcus, Darsche and even Pach have built the system that enriched their areas and kept the other provinces—"

"We're not here to debate about the economy," Ranald cut her words short. "Save your arguments for the Senate floor."

Maeve sank back in her seat. She wanted to argue ferociously about it, but she realized that this might not be the time. It was out of topic. If she aspired to be their faction's leader, she must know when to open her mouth and when to keep it shut. Not every battle was worth fighting for.

"Who else wants to nominate a candidate for the leadership?" Sumeria asked. "Ranald, are you going to nominate yourself? Or will your loyal lapdog do it for you?"

"What did you just say, woman—"

"If we'll base it on seniority, I should be the first in line to the leadership." Ranald's voice drowned his seatmate's. He casted a glance at every senator in the room. "I bring experience to the party and to the table that I'd be sharing with the monarchists."

"In these trying times, we need a strong leader!" Dasmond seconded. "And that is Ranald."

Fair point. Maeve voted for the late minority leader because he was the most senior in the faction. Seniority came with experience. That was debatable, of course, but trusting someone who had been in the game for far too long was a bet with low risk. If that reasoning were to be followed, Ranald should be their next leader. No questions asked.

But republicans believed that power should not be transferred from one person to another on the basis of blood, age or other factors. That's why they wanted to do away with the monarchy in the first place. Titles must be earned, not inherited.

"Let's do it the democratic way," Sumeria began, "All those in favor of Maeve, make it known."

Five hands shot up in the air. Maeve glanced at the faces of her voters. Despite her being green as argued by Ranald, they still chose to trust her. They all looked young, and they were all from the provinces.

"All those in favor of Ranald, make it known."

Only two hands were up in the air this time. One was from Polarcus while the other was from the province of Pach.

"Five votes for Maeve and two votes for Ranald." Smiling, Sumeria turned to the lady senator from Darsche. "Congratulations! You are now the leader of the republican faction."

Her colleagues clapped—even the defeated nominee Ranald—and congratulated her. Maeve could not believe it. While the minority leader held few and limited power in the Senate, she would serve as the leading voice of the republican agenda in the hallowed chamber.

When the applause died down, Maeve rose from her seat. Looking dignified as always, she took a pause to appreciate this small victory. Everyone was looking at her, waiting for the words that would escape her lips. "I thank you all for the trust that you've bestowed on me. As your new leader, I vow that our united voices will be heard on the Senate floor."

"Hear, hear!"

"I will not let the monarchists drown our voices, no matter how small our number is," she added after a dramatic pause. "Should I be forced to make compromises, I guarantee you that we will gain something from them. There is a long, winding road ahead of us, and I hope that you will walk with me and make the changes that we have always wanted to see."

The room erupted in applause again as Maeve took her seat.

"You, Victor, and Alphonse have a lot to discuss today," Sumeria told her. "Your carriage is waiting outside. You better get going. You know how much those monarchists hate to wait."

Maeve nodded. Her fellow senators stood and escorted her out of their headquarters. The newly appointed leader boarded the carriage waiting for her outside. The griffin insignia was engraved in gold on its door. Her colleagues bade her the best of luck. With one crack of a whip, her ride went on its way to her destination.

This would be her first time to set foot in the Royal Palace. When she was a student at the Arcerean Academy—which was just a stone throw away—she always marveled at the grand structure that had been the symbol of power and prestige in the Kingdom. She thought she would never see the day that she would be inside, wandering the marble corridors and staring at the portraits of previous monarchs.

Well, if she were still a monarchist, she would be freaking out already! She might even pass out because of the excitement brought by this chance. But she had already outgrown that phase, and she was dreading this opportunity. If only she had a choice, she would not be here anyway. But she's now the minority leader, the head of the republican faction. She needed to step up to the role.

The carriage drove past the devastated Senate. Maeve averted her gaze from the damaged structure. Tragic images of the attack came across her mind. The sight of crimson blood, the crushed and burnt corpses of senators, and the screams that filled the air of the session hall—she could remember every bit of them. She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists.

She sucked in a deep breath, opened her eyes, and stared at the place that she had considered her second home in Polarcus. She could not look away forever. She must muster the courage. Flowers of mourning flooded the front steps of the Senate. Some passersby also offered prayers.

The trip to the Palace did not take that long. In three minutes, Maeve found herself being driven past the iron gates. The security in the perimeter had tightened since the death of the king, and the number of men patrolling the vicinity probably quadrupled since the Senate attack. As Maeve got off the carriage, she was greeted by an escort.

Maeve had lost count of how many times they turned in the maze-like layout of the Palace. She did not roam her gaze that much. She only looked straight ahead the moment she went inside. The majesty of this historic building no longer interested her. After all, it was one of the symbols that she wished to disappear someday.

"This way, ma'am!" the escort said, halting before a double door. He opened it and stepped aside, giving way to the guest.

Maeve shielded her eyes from the sunlight as the doors swung open. She thought the meeting place was the study or an extravagant room in the Palace. She did not expect it to be in the garden.

She turned to her escort. "Are you sure this is the place?"

The escort nodded, gesturing to the turret-shaped structure meters ahead of them. "His Highness and His Excellency are waiting at the pavilion."

"Thank you."

Maeve stepped outside, the escort closing the door behind her. She had heard of the Evergreen Gardens before. One of the late queens had it created so there would be an open space at the heart of the Palace grounds. She walked past the hedges, fighting off the temptation to pluck the red roses along the way.

Two men clad in ornate armors stood at the entrance of the pavilion. Maeve kept on walking straight. She was followed by serious gazes until she made it inside. They had nothing to be afraid of her. She was harmless and weaponless. She even surrendered her antiarcanium blade when she underwent security check at the Palace entrance. The only thing that she could use to harm the crown prince were her nails.

The young prince in his royal garments and a middle-aged man in deep red coat gathered around the glass table. They both held teacups delicately, blowing the steam off. Crown Prince Alphonse and Senate President Victor Sorensen were waiting for her. For how long? Not sure.

A tea party, huh? When Maeve got close enough, their eyes flicked up at her. Confusion etched on their faces. They must not be expecting her to come all the way here.

"Maeve!" the Senate President called her. He got some bandages wrapped around his head. "What a pleasant surprise!"

"In case you gentlemen are wondering, I've been elected as the new leader of the republican faction," Maeve introduced herself, taking a few steps forward. Since this meeting was not a formal session, she found no reason to pretend and extend the courtesies befitting the prince. "I've been told that you want to see me to discuss some matters?"

"Take a seat . . . Maeve, right?" Prince Alphonse motioned to the only remaining vacant chair at the table. He raised his hand, summoning one of his servants. She placed an empty teacup on a saucer and filled it with tea.

Maeve only stared at the drink hastily prepared for her. She watched as the steam went up.

"We will feel more comfortable if you would sit with us." The Senate President forced a smile as the teacup was halfway to his lips. "Don't worry, the chair is not booby-trapped."

Not wanting to appear rude, Maeve pulled the chair and sat on it. She stared again at the teacup in front of her for seconds. If she had magical abilities, she could have turned the tea into coffee or wine—whichever suited her taste.

"The tea's not poisoned, if that's what you're worried about." Prince Alphonse smiled at her, placing his own cup on the table. "We won't summon you all the way here just to have you killed. We could have sent assassins after you."

I know. She carefully held the teacup and blew off some air. The aroma calmed her. Still, she was reluctant to take a sip. The tea might not be poisoned, but they could have put something in her drink, like a potion that would make her say yes to everything they would ask for.

Still, Maeve drank the tea. She trusted that the men would not violate her right as a guest in the Palace.

"You didn't summon me here just to have tea with you, did you?" Maeve placed her cup back on the saucer as she raised her gaze at the two. "What do you want to discuss?"

"Straightforward as always. That's what I like about you." The Senate President reclined in his seat, his eyes not averting their gaze from Maeve. "We called you here to discuss some pressing political issues. I'd like us to come to an agreement before the session resumes."

Maeve had already expected the topic, but she thought of playing the moral ascendancy card. "We haven't buried our dead, yet here we are, talking about politics."

"We don't stop running the kingdom just because one, two or several people die," Prince Alphonse replied. "My father, the most important figure in Arcerea, passed away a few days ago, but the world didn't stop for him. We may slow down, but we will still run. That's how it is. That's how it has always been."

Fair point. She could not argue with that simple fact.

"Let's talk about the vacancies," the Senate President spoke. "We plan to hold emergency elections in Polarcus and the five provinces in the next two weeks. It's important that we fill all fifty seats. Do you have any objections?"

Maeve shook her head. The conduct of special elections was something that she had already anticipated. The monarchists would surely want to retain or win more seats and widen the gap between them and the republicans. If the red coats were lucky, they could win thirty-five seats or more.

The upcoming elections, however, could be a double-edged sword. If the republican faction could field winnable candidates, they would be the ones taking more seats in the Senate. Now that she's the minority leader, Maeve had to think strategically. Her faction could also benefit from this election.

"While waiting for the vacant seats to be filled, we have to work with what we have right now," the Senate President went on. "Thirty senators have survived the attack. Twenty-one are monarchists while nine are republicans. The rules of the Senate dictate that we need a simple majority of all fifty seats for a measure to pass. Twenty-six votes."

"Which means . . ." Maeve eyed him. "You need five republicans to vote with you to approve a bill."

The Senate President nodded. "Perhaps it's time for our two factions to set aside our differences and work together in the time of crisis."

Maeve tried to suppress her smile. In a rare moment, she felt like her faction—despite its small number—held some degree of power. Nothing would pass in the Senate without their help. "It depends on the proposals. Even in these trying times, we can't blindly throw our support on measures we don't sincerely believe in."

"Let's run them down, shall we? First, the Kingdom needs a King. We need to rally behind someone. Someone who can bring us the hope that we desperately need."

"The Crown Prince." Maeve tossed a glance at Alphonse. "You want us to vote in favor of his accession of the throne?"

"If the Senate wasn't attacked, His Highness would have been confirmed by now. Let us not deny him of the inevitable."

"But we can deny him, if we deem him unworthy of the title. No offense meant." Maeve looked sideways at the prince. "We don't want a king, so naturally we'll vote no. But this is an extraordinary time, so maybe we can meet halfway. If you don't want to, you can wait until all fifty seats in the Senate are occupied. I'm sure you're expecting to retain the majority. You just have to wait for two weeks. Can the Kingdom wait that long?"

"You want something in exchange for your support?"

Maeve smiled. She had to play her cards right, which was exactly what she was doing. She promised her colleagues that they would gain something if she had to make compromises. The situation, no matter how tragic it was, gave them the perfect opportunity to negotiate. "We want three committee chairmanships: finance, appropriations, and foreign relations."

"I can only give you two. But not any of those committees. Only the ruling faction must chair them."

Of course, they won't easily give up those committees. "Fine. Give us agrarian reform and social welfare with the condition that we won't be stripped away of our chairmanships until the next regular election. Fair enough?"

The Senate President glanced at the Crown Prince, who gave him a slow nod. He looked at the republican again. "Your faction shall have chairmanships of those two committees until the next election."

"And five of my colleagues shall vote in favor of the accession," Maeve answered. "The nine of us can't all vote in favor, for it may be seen as betrayal of our principles. I hope you understand."

"Next, the budget for the bastards' tournament. We want to hold it this year."

"Despite everything?" Maeve squinted her eyes at them. She thought that the games would be cancelled following the two tragedies that struck the Kingdom. "People have died, and you still want to push for that unnecessary extravagance?"

"That's the reason why we need it right now," Prince Alphonse spoke. "The citizens of Polarcus and the nearby provinces have become afraid because of my father's death and the attack on the Senate. Holding the tournament can distract them from the things that scare them. It can be their escape from this fearsome reality."

Maeve reclined in her seat. She understood how entertainment could play a big role in making the citizens happy. The tournament's popularity was undeniable. People had been looking forward to it every year since its inception. She recalled her first time watching the games. She was still a student back then. The colosseum was fully occupied.

"We need to fund the tournament," the Senate President added. "And we need your support to make it happen. Just five republican votes to make our people forget about the tragedies that struck the capital."

Maeve tried to think of how she could take advantage of it. Some might see the tournament as a blatant display of insensitivity amidst the recent tragedies. The republicans could use this opportunity as an attack on the monarchists. They could make it appear that the other faction had misplaced priorities.

But she had to make it happen first. And she did not want to make it easy for them.

"We will only agree to the funding if you will slash the budget by fifteen percent," she proposed. "You know that we've been against the huge amount of spending for this tournament way before the Senate attack. That is still our position today."

"Fifteen percent! That will affect the quality of the tournament!"

"It's fifteen percent cut or nothing at all," Maeve insisted with conviction. "The monarchists proposed to spend 1.43 million mercs for the games. Imagine if we allot just fifteen percent of that amount to social welfare programs. It will definitely go a long way."

For the second time, the Senate President looked at the Crown Prince as if he was asking for approval. That did not escape Maeve's eyes. He's the leader of the Senate, but Victor was merely a puppet of the king and the royal family. If they wanted him to sing, he would surely sing.

"Our priority is to hold the tournament," Prince Alphonse said. "That's what matters to us right now."

"So do we have a deal or not?" Maeve asked, smiling.

The Senate President let out a long sigh, staring at the new republican leader.

"Deal."

For those who read the first version in 2021-2022, the language of the entire chapter has been translated to English.

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