Chapter 78 - Terms of Forgiveness

Chapter 78: 78 - Terms of Forgiveness

Aurelian answered instead. "We’re dealing with that problem at its root. Arquenay was only the beginning, and the Crown is already investigating other houses whose behavior has gone too far. I understand why that isn’t enough to restore your trust immediately."

Laurent gave a small nod, though his expression remained serious. "It appears we’re at least in agreement on that. What happened here cannot simply be blamed on one man and forgotten because Gaspard is dead."

He shifted his attention across the room before continuing. "Our border begins beyond the magical forest lying between Clairmont and Edevane territory. What happened there means I won’t accept returning to the same arrangement we had before and pretending the problem disappeared with Arquenay."

Aurelian remained quiet and allowed him to continue.

"First, Sylvamir will have access to everything discovered regarding this network. Gaspard’s testimony, financial records, routes, names, contacts and anything recovered in the future that relates to the operation." Laurent’s tone stayed calm, but there was nothing negotiable about the way he said it. "If someone was willing to spend millions of crowns trying to create a war between us, then this concerns both kingdoms."

Aurelian considered the condition for only a moment. "I agree. Information about an attempt to provoke conflict between Valebrand and Sylvamir shouldn’t remain on one side of the border. Anything directly connected to that network can be shared."

Laurent nodded. "Then the investigation also remains open. If another route, camp or person connected to the organization is discovered, Sylvamir is informed immediately. I don’t want to hear about it weeks later because somebody decided the matter was internal."

Vael spoke from beside him. "Edevane receives the same information when it concerns the forest, the border or my territory. I have no interest in discovering another camp because one of my people happens to stumble across it."

Aurelian looked toward him and nodded. "That’s reasonable. Anything related to Edevane territory will be shared with you as well."

The first condition passed more easily than Adrien had expected. Nobody on the human side could really argue against it without making themselves look as though they wanted to hide something.

Laurent moved on. "Second, I don’t want compensation paid to me."

That finally drew a visible reaction from Osric. He had clearly expected money to become part of the negotiation, just not in that form.

Laurent continued before anyone could interrupt him. "The assets confiscated from House Arquenay should be used to compensate the people who were actually harmed. Former captives, families of those who died, and those who lost years of their lives because this operation was allowed to continue."

Vael leaned back slightly in his chair. "The same applies to Edevane. Money given to me doesn’t return anything to the people who were taken. If compensation is being offered, it goes to them."

For once, Osric didn’t object.

Aurelian glanced toward his father, then answered. "We can establish a fund from the remaining Arquenay assets. Sylvamir and Edevane can provide records of those affected, and the Crown will handle the distribution with representatives from both sides involved."

Laurent gave another small nod. "That will be acceptable, provided the process can be reviewed."

"It can."

Adrien had expected the difficult part to be money, but apparently Laurent wasn’t interested in using what happened to fill Sylvamir’s treasury. That probably made the demand harder to criticize, not easier.

The elven king rested one hand against the table. "There is one final condition."

His eyes moved away from Aurelian.

They settled on Adrien.

Adrien noticed the shift immediately, and then everyone else around the table followed Laurent’s gaze. Margaret turned first, followed by Vael and Amelia. Lucien looked toward him a moment later, while even Osric finally stopped watching Laurent and focused on Adrien instead.

Laurent spoke carefully. "I don’t trust the Valleroy Crown enough yet to make it the only channel through which information passes."

Osric’s expression darkened at once.

This time, even Aurelian looked affected by the statement. He had spent most of the meeting keeping control of the conversation, correcting his father’s mistakes and presenting the Crown as the side trying to repair what had happened.

Laurent still wasn’t willing to place complete trust in him.

"However," Laurent continued, "there is one human house directly involved in all of this whose actions I have considerably more reason to trust."

Adrien already knew where this was going.

"House Clairmont discovered the operation. Adrien Clairmont freed my daughter, exposed what was happening and now controls the human territory bordering the forest where this began." Laurent kept his eyes on him. "That gives House Clairmont a position neither the Crown nor Sylvamir currently has."

Aurelian’s expression became more guarded.

Laurent continued. "I want House Clairmont to serve as one of the official links between Sylvamir and Valebrand regarding this investigation and future matters concerning that border. Information from the Crown can still come through the Crown, but Clairmont will receive it as well."

Vael nodded once beside him. "That arrangement works for Edevane too. Adrien already has reason to speak with both sides, and his territory sits where most of these problems began."

Osric finally spoke. "You’re asking one of my Great Houses to act between kingdoms as though the Crown isn’t enough."

Laurent looked toward him without changing his expression. "I’m asking for another channel because what happened here proves one channel wasn’t enough."

The answer left Osric visibly irritated, but he didn’t push further.

Adrien looked toward Aurelian. For a moment, the Crown Prince remained silent.

Adrien could understand why.

Aurelian had wanted to lead this meeting, and Laurent had just placed part of the diplomatic relationship directly in the hands of House Clairmont rather than keeping everything beneath the Valleroy Crown.

Refusing, however, would only prove Laurent’s point.

Aurelian eventually looked toward Adrien. "I have no objection, provided Lord Clairmont is willing to accept the responsibility. The Crown can share anything relevant through his house if that helps keep communication between all three sides clear."

Adrien felt the room settle on him again.

Margaret was watching quietly from the human side. Amelia sat across the gap between the two halves of the table, while Vael and Laurent waited for his answer. Vikir remained behind him, saying nothing.

Even Osric looked toward him now.

A month ago, House Clairmont had barely possessed enough people to defend Greymoor.

Now two kingdoms and an independent elven territory were asking him to stand between them.

Things had changed quickly.

Adrien rested one hand against the table and looked first toward Laurent, then Vael, and finally Aurelian.

"I’ll do it. If Sylvamir and Edevane are willing to work through House Clairmont, then we’ll make sure the information reaches whoever needs it. Anything important that comes from either side will be passed on properly."

Laurent studied him for a moment before giving a final nod.

"Then we have an agreement."