Published: July 4, 2025
The banquet for Prince Lyun and Princess Shio Fen is being held in the Forbidden City within the Imperial Palace.
Near the West Huamen of the Forbidden City, the Western White Hall is filled with delegations, envoys, and ambassadors from foreign lands.
The time is noon.
Yes, officially, it is the time when Prince Lyun and Princess Shio Fen are being presented to the citizens of the imperial capital.
However, for those gathered in the Western White Hall, there is something more important than the presentation parade.
That is diplomacy.
This Western White Hall has become a venue for diplomacy for the entire day.
Of course, they will remain in the imperial capital for a while after today, engaging in diplomatic negotiations with various countries.
Today serves as a preliminary skirmish.
The palace is well aware of this, which is why, although the banquet starts at five in the evening, preparations were made in the Western White Hall by nine in the morning to provide a venue for the delegations.
After all, it has been five years since the last royal marriage involving a prince and a principal consort.
This is, in fact, a revival of diplomatic activity after five years.
Delegations have even come from the far Archipelago Sea Region.
However, most of them are merchants.
They are not diplomats, but merchants who have come as representatives of their countries with official authorization.
Due to the considerable distance between the Archipelago Sea Region and Darwei, there is no necessity for diplomatic negotiations.
Moreover, after the recent conclusion of disturbances in the Sujay Kingdom, a regional conference was held with other countries in the Archipelago Sea Region, so there is no need to discuss matters further now.
That said, this is a royal wedding in a superpower representing the Eastern Nations.
It would be troublesome if no one was sent, leading to issues later on.
Thus, merchants were authorized as the country's delegation and sent.
For the merchants, purchasing rare items in the imperial capital and returning to their home countries will yield significant profits.
Although there is a risk in traversing seas they have never navigated, the potential profits far outweigh the risks.
For such reasons, merchants representing their countries have come to participate.
“I had a fruitful discussion, Lord Bandersh. Until next time.”
“Excuse me.”
So said Bandersh, the president of the Sougyoku Trading Company, as he returned to his subordinates.
“Father, please have some tea.”
“My apologies.”
The one who offered the tea was his youngest son, Ban Hugh.
While Bandersh had mentioned the dangers of traveling such a distance, Ban Hugh had insisted on accompanying him.
“It was wise of you to follow. I never expected such a difference from our homeland.”
“Well, the scale of the imperial capital Hanlin is immense even among Darwei. There is no city to compare it to.”
As they spoke, a figure approached them.
“What in the world…”
Upon seeing the figure, even Bandersh was taken aback.
This person was not a merchant.
He was from the same Archipelago Sea Region.
Not from the Komakyuta Feudal Kingdom, but from the neighboring Sujay Kingdom…
“Lord Protector, Kavui Somaru, I cannot believe you are in Darwei.”
“This is Bandersh from the Sougyoku Trading Company of the Komakyuta Feudal Kingdom. It has been some time since the Archipelago Sea Region Conference, hasn’t it?”
The two exchanged greetings.
The Komakyuta Feudal Kingdom and Sujay Kingdom are the two major powers of the Archipelago Sea Region.
Naturally, relations between great powers of the same region are not always cordial.
Historically, this has been unavoidable.
Unless a common enemy or another great power emerges, that is simply how it is.
That said, the relationship between the feudal kingdom and the kingdom currently is warmer than during the Cold War.
At the very least, they are not on the brink of war.
“However… many countries in the Archipelago Sea Region, including my feudal kingdom, have sent merchants, yet I am surprised that Sujay Kingdom has sent none other than the Lord Protector himself at the core of its government.”