The Prince was waiting for her when she got home. She went to him and held him close to her. She was feeling sad for him. But she knew that sadness wouldn’t help.
The Prince said, “I really love it when you greet me like this. Did you go to your source? Is there any news about Minver and Acastius? Are they okay?”
“My responsibility to Promapple has ended,” declared Martia. “Even if they aren’t okay, they will now have to take care of themselves.” Martia let go of the Prince. She held his hand and gave him a kiss and said, “My dear sweetheart, the only thing that matters to me now is to make a world you always dreamt of. A beautiful and peaceful place. And also, when we leave this place, we only focus on ourselves rather than worrying about being safe. Before we get married, I would have already made that happen.”
The Prince looked at her with adoration and a little confusion.
Martia then said, “I am going to meet all the ministers and try to bring harmony between Promapple and them. This is the least I can do for Absyleous.”
She got up, took his hand, and said, “Let’s have dinner first, and then I will tell you everything that I am thinking.” She then thought to herself, Except for that one fact that will hurt you the most.
Listening to her, the Prince got up and followed her, feeling all the
hope and love in his heart for the upcoming future.
After a few days Martia was invited for a meeting with Augtromas
again. He told her about the second minister, Mintroma, the minister responsible for economic affairs.
Augtromas said, “She always thinks about the profits made by Absyleous and she is very business-minded.”
Martia planned in her mind about how to talk with her. After some time, Mintroma entered the office and sat in front of them without saying anything.
Martia looked at Mintroma’s eyes and said with confidence, “You know where I came from, right? Promapple may be situated in a place where no one can find it, but in business, it is very remarkable. And profits, well that is something we can make even with our eyes closed.”
Mintroma became interested, and her eyes were now filled with
curiosity.
Martia continued, “If Promapple were given autonomous status, with the right to govern the other eleven villages, if those villages agree to it, then Promapple, in return, will accept the king and its ministers formally and will contribute to the unity of Absyleous and make our kingdom much more prosperous than it is right now. Prosperity means profits. And increase in luxury, which you are completely aware of. We will help you with the profits; you help us to get leadership for the village and its satellite villages under the name of the king.”
Mintroma was deep in thought.
Martia continued, “You can think about it, and then, with the help
of Augtromas, make a proposal where the ministers grant Promapple its autonomous status with eleven villages under it. And I will make sure the Promapplers make a policy that whatever business they are doing and will do in future, a predetermined share of the profits of that will be sent to the ministry’s fund. And the rest of the terms and conditions, we can discuss at the negotiation table.”
Mintroma, now very interested with this offer, said, “How can we trust you not to rebel after that?”
“Promapple is under my control and command,” Martia replied. “We will not dismantle our fighters, but we will not rebel if granted that status and if the king and ministers take proper care of Absyleous.”
Augtromas chipped in, “I can take the responsibility for that. And as long as Martia is with us, they will never rebel.”
Martia chose not to say anything.
“Well, my purpose is to only do business, and from a business point of view, I always wanted Promapple and the other eleven villages to contribute economically,” said Mintroma. “If Augtromas, as minister of intelligence and the personal secretary of the king, can give us this guarantee, then I can draft this policy. The policy will be sent to you soon, Augtromas. Good luck in convincing the rest of the ministers.” Mintroma left the room.
Augtromas asked, “I was right in taking responsibility, right? Your
village will listen to you, right?”
“They just want power,” replied Martia. “The profits Promapple made were never distributed individually to Promapplers. They know how to live a tough life. I want to remove the mindset of Promapplers and the rest of the villagers of their main goal in life, which is to end the royal culture. I want them to start living their lives. But Promapple will still be invisible to the rest of the people of Absyleous. The fighters will remain as, along with itself, it has to take care of the eleven villages too.”
“Let’s see how this can work,” said Augtromas.
Augtromas then set up a meeting with the next minister, Engunai, and told Martia, “The third minister is Engunai. He is responsible for financial affairs. Doesn’t believe in social expenditure. Only investment in sectors where income is guaranteed.”
Engunai, after entering the office and seeing Martia, said, “Do you
need funds for the social development of your Promapple? If that’s the case, I would have to say no.”
Martia smiled and said, “If I marry a royal, won’t 51 percent of the fund from all the sectors be mine? Do you really think I would then need to ask for any funds from your meager ministry?”
Engunai sat up straight and focused his complete attention on Martia.
“But there is something you can help the Promapplers with,” said
Martia. “And that is power. Help me give Promapple autonomous status with a right to govern the eleven villages supporting it. Their social welfare will also be taken care of by Promapple. As you are aware, there are many areas in the eleven villages where you can invest and some areas where you are even trying to invest but are unable to because of constant conflicts and an unpeaceful atmosphere. I, as the leader of Promapple, can guarantee that
those villages will peacefully grant access to all your reasonable investments if Promapple were given the right to govern it officially. Now it’s all up to you. Are you interested in entering into a deal where the returns to the financial ministry are profitable?”
Engunai said, “I don’t mind this deal as long as you are a royal.”
“She is already,” said Augtromas. I know the Prince. Only Martia will be in his life. So Martia is not going anywhere.”
Martia realized that Augtromas was setting a trap for her, but she decided she would deal with it later.
The next day, Augtromas told Martia, about the fourth minister,
Gunrepta, who was responsible for weapons and arms manufacturing and sales. Augtromas said with confidence, “Weapons bring a lot of money, and Gunrepta is aware of that. So, I don’t think you will have much trouble convincing her.”
Gunrepta then entered Augtromas’s office and said to Martia, who
was sitting there, “Promapple is one of the most profitable markets for weapons. I am aware of it.”
“Then how about we make the dealings legal this time?” asked
Martia.
Gunrepta laughed, stood up, and said while leaving “I don’t know what you are saying, but you have my support, Martia. The rest we can discuss later.”
At the next meeting, Martia received information from Augtromas
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about the fifth minister, Shaegaim, who was responsible for the peace, harmony, and unity of Absyleous. According to Augtromas, Shaegaim was simple, honest, and a strict person, which made Martia realize that convincing him might take effort.
The moment Shaegaim entered the office, Martia started talking
before he could say anything. “Peace, harmony, and unity—no one knows it better than Promapple and the eleven villages who support it. Help me get Promapple the desired autonomous status along with the rights to govern the eleven villages, and I will guarantee peace, harmony, and unity in Absyleous as long as I and the Prince are alive.”
Shaegaim asked, “What does a rebel know about peace?”
Martia smiled and said, “Your assumption would have been right about me if you had met me before. I really didn’t know anything about love or peace before I met the Prince, but now, I want everything to be peaceful even more than you. I want him to live in a beautiful world, and you want to live in that world, too. Let’s help each other for the common goal, and for the rest, we don’t have to agree. So?”
Shaegaim asked, “So you are doing this for the person you love?”
“Yes.”
“Are you planning to stay?”
“As long as I am alive, I plan to stay with the Prince.”
Shaegaim smiled and said, “Do you understand what you are asking for?”
“What are you talking about?” asked Martia, puzzled.
“Making the world beautiful is impossible. But yes, you have my
support.”
Martia replied, “I am aware that this is an impossible dream, but it is one of the cons of falling in love with someone full of humanity. I just have to try at least.”
“Take care of yourself then,” said Shaegaim. “I hope you live long.”
Martia was furious at Shaegaim’s statement but didn’t say anything.
The sixth minister Martia had to meet was Nagtulip. She was responsible for all the administration, and Augtromas seemed quite sure that Nagtulip was not a very honest person.
Nagtulip, during the meeting with Martia, said in a frustrated tone, “Administering Promapple and the eleven villages is troublesome.”
Martia said, “Then let me relieve you from the burden of administration of the rest of the eleven villages, which you will never be able to gain full control of anyways, so better let go of them. And then, one of the representatives of Promapple will report to you about the administration of them all. Instead of being known as a minister unable to control the rebel villages, you will then be known as the only one being able to control all—well, Promapple and the rest only in name—but your reputation will
be good.”
Nagtulip thought for a while and replied, “You have Augtromas already on your side. What is your deal with him?”
“It was he who called me. So what is your stance now?”
“My reputation matters the most,” said Nagtulip. “If it will make me a good administrator, then I don’t mind the deal.”
“I will make you known as one of the best administrators, so don’t
worry about it.”
Nagtulip smiled. “See you at the next meeting then, along with the
other ministers. We will do detailed negotiations on that day.”
Augtromas then told Martia about the seventh minister, Novtretta, responsible for social welfare and the upliftment of the poor.
Martia was informed that Novtretta was a very sympathetic person.
Augtromas also informed her about the eighth Minister, Rogvastri, who was responsible for food distribution, agriculture, and import and export related to it. Rogvastri was not very intelligent but truly desired that no one in the kingdom would go hungry.
After that, a meeting was held with Novtretta and Rogvastri together.
On seeing Martia, Novtretta said with contempt, “Of all the people I want to meet, you are the last. I know the people in your village are poor and deprived. You don’t deserve this meeting with me.”
“You are indeed worried about the welfare of the people. Good,” said Martia. “But no! No one dies of hunger in my village. No one is treated badly because of class or status, because in terms of money and living conditions, everyone is considered equal. But yes, they are not on a good path because of the hatred they have towards the king and his ministers. If you really are worried about the welfare of the people, then with the help of the other ministers, give Promapple the right to govern itself and the other
eleven villages. Like you, we also hate hunger, poverty, and inequality in the rest of Absyleous. Let’s help each other with business and agriculture to feed all and take care of everyone equally, as this deal among us will also free the Promapplers from the hatred they have for you all because of your inefficiency in taking care of the whole of Absyleous.”
Martia then looked at Rogvastri and said, “We take care of everyone, but we are also very good at business. Imports and exports will increase with the support of Promapple and the eleven villages who support it.”
Then she looked at both of them and said, “In this way, the people on your side of control will also not go hungry.”
Without wasting any time, Rogvastri said, “I will accept the deal. I
want to help everyone.”
Novtretta asked, “How can I trust that what you are saying is true?”
“You trust Augtromas, right?” asked Martia. “You can see he is on my side.”
Hearing this, Novtretta didn’t say anything. And Martia and Augtromas understood that they would get his support.
The next meeting was with the ninth minister, Milinovase, responsible for all research, development, and the distribution of drugs, medicines, etc. According to Augtromas, Milinovase’s honesty depended on the situation.
When Martia entered Augtromas’s office to meet, Milinovase, he said to her bluntly, “If your Promapplers will share their research and development with us, then I will accept whatever the proposal is.”
Martia replied, smiling, “Well, we will do what we can, but some things we will just keep to ourselves for our defense. However, significant research in medicine will be shared.”
Not satisfied, Milinovase said, “I want the research on all your drugs.”
Martia said, “We are so advanced when compared to your research that with what I am offering, you will benefit very much even from that, and you know it. But later, we might sign some more deals. Some mutual sharing can also be done in the future. This is also a very lucrative offer, given the status of your development in drugs.”
Milinovase knew that the Promapplers were very advanced in research after getting the reports from the spies. He thought for a while and replied,“I am not satisfied with the deal, but I can accept it for now. We can discuss the rest of the details later.”
Having got the desired result from the meeting with the chemical
minister, Martia then went to meet the tenth minister, Rogmanium, who was defense minister.
Martia had information that Rogmanium was not too interested
in politics and was a straightforward and honest person. So, at the meeting, Martia told Rogmanium candidly, “The fighters and assassins in Promapple are extremely efficient. I am not comparing them to yours, but instead of fighting with each other and getting nowhere, we can fight together and make the borders of our Absyleous stronger and the internal atmosphere more peaceful. Our defense is terrific, and you are aware of
that. In short, we will aid you whenever there is external aggression, and we will help you in keeping internal aggression in control, too.”
Rogmanium said, “If Augtromas, who is the intelligence minister, is fine with this deal, then the ministry of defense has no reason to worry. You, Martia, as the head of Promapple, have my support.”
After Rogmanium left, Martia asked Augtromas about the last meeting.
Augtromas said, “The eleventh minister is Beluttrim. He is responsible for law and order. Very practical and will always support the king.”
He paused and said with disappointment, “But we can’t get Beluttrim on our side for two reasons. First, he hates the disturbance in law and order because of Promapplers, so his only mission is to destroy Promapple as they have killed so many of his security officers. And second, he is loyal to the king and will never leave his side.”
“Without his support, we can never bring everyone to the negotiation table. To pass the bill against the king, all the ministers have to be on one side, isn’t it? Did I waste my time and energy?” she asked.
“Don’t worry, we will find a way,” assured Augtromas. “Give me some time to think. The last one I will take care of.”
Martia said, “You don’t seem trustworthy to me. But I don’t have any choice.”
Augtromas laughed but didn’t reply. Martia left the office.
