I love Weblin. It's always been my home. I aspired to be one of the knights since I was young. However, I can't stay there any longer.
[He rubs his hand along his jaw, exhaling thoughtfully as his gaze wanders off to one side. Like he's seeing something else. The rioting people in Scharlmessen attacking those who'd always protected them, the torches, stones and glass and those ridiculous accusations.]
I've about committed treason by now. Nesso's sister was accused of being a witch and controlling the wolves somehow... all because she'd lived her life in a tower due to having a very weak constitution. They had her come to the castle and confined her there until it could be 'proven' she wasn't a witch.
Nesso couldn't take that, of course, so he broke her out. And I'll follow and support that.
He says it so simply and in truth, she can't quite understand. Perhaps it's because he's so dedicated to Nesso and she can vaguely follow that form of camaraderie. Guy took care of Luke for years, after all, and chooses to believe in him above all else. Perhaps it's that.
Though she still looks rather displeased. Two knights - particularly level-headed ones - are choosing to abandon their country in favor of saving their own skin.]
And what will likely become of the people left in Weblin once you all leave?
[That's right they're choosing to abandon the country. Elza turns his gaze back to her and notices the displeased expression. He thinks he can guess at and understand the reason for it, but nevertheless his own expression is unwavering.]
I don't know.
...But, even if we wanted to, there would be little we could do for Weblin.
[Natalia's not the type to try to force her opinions on others - except for when it comes to a state of a country. It's not so much that she thinks less of Elza choosing to abandon his country but infinitely more so that the fate of the people still residing within it is left so uncertain.
So as she gathers her thoughts, she sips her tea. Hm. For now, she'll bite her tongue on what she thinks of deserters.]
What makes you so certain?
[She's trying to use what little information she has to consider possible outcomes. Other kingdoms intervening and hopefully overthrowing the awful monarchs in order to salvage the future of the people? Or are they doomed to ruin?
She certainly hopes it's not the latter, but she's also not one to believe in absolute futures anymore.]
Since we've gone against the crown princes with taking Nesso's sister from the castle, we're already wanted for treason. Even with Nesso and I gone from the castle, that's only one of their company--the castle still has plenty of knights to fight for them.
We'd most likely be put to death and Nesso's sister taken back into their castle before we could so much as try anything.
[Trying to save the country on their own just... isn't feasible. Elza isn't naive. He knows full well what those princes are capable of by now, and with the revolting of the villagers of Scharlmessen... Well.]
[Well, admittedly her next answer does require some thought. Though putting it together with her previous contemplations, she can't help but question-]
If you were to leave to another country, could you not beseech the aid of their kingdom?
[Hey, it worked for her party when they casually wanted to completely rearrange geography of the entire globe.]
After all, if the illness is plaguing Weblin there's nothing to say that it would be incapable of spreading further out of the country's borders, no? It could be enough to mobilize the intentions of a foreign government if the cure can be found somewhere within Weblin's own borders.
War is catastrophic but it sounds as though without change, even Weblin's idea of peace is marred by misfortune. I hate to think of the fate of citizens left behind.
[Elza hums with slightly drawn eyebrows and a slight tension to the corners of his mouth, a thoughtful look. She's the type who thinks of her people. He's glad for the country who can have her.]
But... another country might be hesitant to interfere in what's going on in Weblin just for that same reason; the risk of the illness. Most people still are under the belief it's carried by the wolves, and they live in Weblin. There's only a very small group who know the truth of the matter, and it's our word against the ruler's.
And would another country's rulers be willing to listen to a group of people who allegedly committed treason and stole into their country secretly?
She has this tendency to forget that her traveling party did include herself as the crown princess, two nobles - one from each country, two highly ranked soldiers, the emperor's best friend, and the world's religious leader.]
Does news truly travel that fast?
Furthermore, do your rulers currently benefit from high praise? I would think that if there's so much unrest in their country that claims of witchcraft actually hold water then they can't exactly be revered.
Their own horrid reputation ought to catch up to them if it hasn't already tainted their trustworthiness. [A wave of her hand.] Idle gossip is pointless but even rumors on crowned pigs ought to be listened to.
[Yes, having that much powerful influence in your party makes all the difference. Elza shakes his head though.]
They've hid it well. As of right now... there are very few people who'd speak up against them or even have bad things to say. No, Mejojo and Auger have good reputations among the people, but they've probably cultivated those on purpose.
[He wants to grin when she says crowned pigs, though.] You wouldn't think that they're the ones that have responsibility for how things have become. Even I didn't think so until Nesso told me the truth.
...There's also that their father was a generally good ruler, aside from the order for the wolf hunts.
[Crowned pigs!! That's what they are! And her frustration is beginning to show. Snakes on the throne are essentially what she's imagining right now. Still though, she shakes her head.]
It matters not if their father was a good leader. One would hope that nobility truly is a hereditary trait but it is something that must be cultivated through temperament and upbringing.
.... but I see your point. If their reputations are so impeccable, it's another hurdle.
[But only a hurdle - she's not yet willing to succumb to the belief that there's no other way to save the people yet.]
I apologize... I'm probably overstepping my bounds in trying to offer counsel but - no people deserve to be left in the ruins of sickness and fear.
[Elza lifts up his teacup to his mouth, his eyes lowered to look into it as he sips.] You don't need to apologise. I do appreciate hearing what someone else has to say about this.
[And it's not like he truly disagrees with what she says, that no people deserve to be left behind.
He doesn't think all people deserve to live in that tumultuous kingdom, he just knows that there's no way to save them all, for all people to be happy and safe.]
Then what I have to say is that if there was any way I could have my kingdom come to your aid, I would.
[Because that's... honest to goodness the only way that she can even think to save those people. Natalia hates war more than anything else but there must be another way to help them - foreign aid?
At this rate, it's hard to imagine the monarchy collapsing on its own, as much as she would prefer that. Even a coup from the people would be preferable.]
[Elza pauses, shifting gold eyes to her and blinking a few times, slow and catlike.]
Thank you. [And he smiles wryly.] Our worlds being different just make a bit too large an obstacle.
[But he thinks that he could trust her word if she was able to help. Even if they haven't spoken much at length, just her concern for his kingdom in this conversation alone...]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
You intend to abandon your country?
[.... 'abandon' is a bit of a strong word - probably stronger than she intends - but it's the first one that came to mind]
no subject
I love Weblin. It's always been my home. I aspired to be one of the knights since I was young. However, I can't stay there any longer.
[He rubs his hand along his jaw, exhaling thoughtfully as his gaze wanders off to one side. Like he's seeing something else. The rioting people in Scharlmessen attacking those who'd always protected them, the torches, stones and glass and those ridiculous accusations.]
I've about committed treason by now. Nesso's sister was accused of being a witch and controlling the wolves somehow... all because she'd lived her life in a tower due to having a very weak constitution. They had her come to the castle and confined her there until it could be 'proven' she wasn't a witch.
Nesso couldn't take that, of course, so he broke her out. And I'll follow and support that.
no subject
He says it so simply and in truth, she can't quite understand. Perhaps it's because he's so dedicated to Nesso and she can vaguely follow that form of camaraderie. Guy took care of Luke for years, after all, and chooses to believe in him above all else. Perhaps it's that.
Though she still looks rather displeased. Two knights - particularly level-headed ones - are choosing to abandon their country in favor of saving their own skin.]
And what will likely become of the people left in Weblin once you all leave?
no subject
I don't know.
...But, even if we wanted to, there would be little we could do for Weblin.
no subject
So as she gathers her thoughts, she sips her tea. Hm. For now, she'll bite her tongue on what she thinks of deserters.]
What makes you so certain?
[She's trying to use what little information she has to consider possible outcomes. Other kingdoms intervening and hopefully overthrowing the awful monarchs in order to salvage the future of the people? Or are they doomed to ruin?
She certainly hopes it's not the latter, but she's also not one to believe in absolute futures anymore.]
no subject
We'd most likely be put to death and Nesso's sister taken back into their castle before we could so much as try anything.
[Trying to save the country on their own just... isn't feasible. Elza isn't naive. He knows full well what those princes are capable of by now, and with the revolting of the villagers of Scharlmessen... Well.]
no subject
If you were to leave to another country, could you not beseech the aid of their kingdom?
[Hey, it worked for her party when they casually wanted to completely rearrange geography of the entire globe.]
After all, if the illness is plaguing Weblin there's nothing to say that it would be incapable of spreading further out of the country's borders, no? It could be enough to mobilize the intentions of a foreign government if the cure can be found somewhere within Weblin's own borders.
War is catastrophic but it sounds as though without change, even Weblin's idea of peace is marred by misfortune. I hate to think of the fate of citizens left behind.
no subject
But... another country might be hesitant to interfere in what's going on in Weblin just for that same reason; the risk of the illness. Most people still are under the belief it's carried by the wolves, and they live in Weblin. There's only a very small group who know the truth of the matter, and it's our word against the ruler's.
And would another country's rulers be willing to listen to a group of people who allegedly committed treason and stole into their country secretly?
no subject
She has this tendency to forget that her traveling party did include herself as the crown princess, two nobles - one from each country, two highly ranked soldiers, the emperor's best friend, and the world's religious leader.]
Does news truly travel that fast?
Furthermore, do your rulers currently benefit from high praise? I would think that if there's so much unrest in their country that claims of witchcraft actually hold water then they can't exactly be revered.
Their own horrid reputation ought to catch up to them if it hasn't already tainted their trustworthiness. [A wave of her hand.] Idle gossip is pointless but even rumors on crowned pigs ought to be listened to.
no subject
They've hid it well. As of right now... there are very few people who'd speak up against them or even have bad things to say. No, Mejojo and Auger have good reputations among the people, but they've probably cultivated those on purpose.
[He wants to grin when she says crowned pigs, though.] You wouldn't think that they're the ones that have responsibility for how things have become. Even I didn't think so until Nesso told me the truth.
...There's also that their father was a generally good ruler, aside from the order for the wolf hunts.
no subject
It matters not if their father was a good leader. One would hope that nobility truly is a hereditary trait but it is something that must be cultivated through temperament and upbringing.
.... but I see your point. If their reputations are so impeccable, it's another hurdle.
[But only a hurdle - she's not yet willing to succumb to the belief that there's no other way to save the people yet.]
I apologize... I'm probably overstepping my bounds in trying to offer counsel but - no people deserve to be left in the ruins of sickness and fear.
no subject
[Elza lifts up his teacup to his mouth, his eyes lowered to look into it as he sips.] You don't need to apologise. I do appreciate hearing what someone else has to say about this.
[And it's not like he truly disagrees with what she says, that no people deserve to be left behind.
He doesn't think all people deserve to live in that tumultuous kingdom, he just knows that there's no way to save them all, for all people to be happy and safe.]
no subject
[Because that's... honest to goodness the only way that she can even think to save those people. Natalia hates war more than anything else but there must be another way to help them - foreign aid?
At this rate, it's hard to imagine the monarchy collapsing on its own, as much as she would prefer that. Even a coup from the people would be preferable.]
no subject
Thank you. [And he smiles wryly.] Our worlds being different just make a bit too large an obstacle.
[But he thinks that he could trust her word if she was able to help. Even if they haven't spoken much at length, just her concern for his kingdom in this conversation alone...]
no subject
[ . . . . er, except, even Natalia can recognize she might be starting to get ahead of herself here. Um. She shakes her head faintly then.]
Hm. Perhaps as a last resort....
[She's still not ruling out the idea????]
no subject
[There are many things about this world he doesn't know, up to and (GREATLY) including their technology.]
If it does ever prove possible, I may ask for your aid, then, Natalia.
no subject
You wouldn't even have to ask. It's a given.
no subject
[He'll bring a fist up to his chest, respectful.]
no subject
Think nothing of it. If there is anything that I can do to aid an ailing country's people, it's only natural that I would do so.
[Taking the whole People's Princess concept a little bit further.]