Chapter 89 The Proposal
I stood outside the heavy double doors of the Council Room, smoothing the fabric of my dress with trembling hands.
I was not dressing to please a future husband. I needed to select my outfit for the upcoming diplomatic meeting. I selected a gown in deep midnight blue, which resembled the Northern sky and I braided my hair in the customary Wolf Queen hairstyle. The choice of my outfit was made with complete intention. I needed to present myself as an asset in order for him to acknowledge my value.
I told myself I could succeed as I looked into the door's polished brass handle. "He exists, but his presence remains hidden through encryption."
I entered the lion's den after opening the doors which I had pushed with a deep breath.
The Council Room maintained complete silence, except for the ventilation system and the sound of a finger tapping against the glass screen.
Ryker remained in the same position I had left him hours before. He sat at the head of the obsidian table while a holographic display cast a cool blue light on him. He remained in place without moving. He remained in place while the tie of his suit stayed fastened. He appeared more like a permanent element of the room than a human being as he stood still like a marble and ice statue.
He studied a document about water filtration performance in the lower districts. His eyes moved across the scrolling text at a rate which would cause normal human beings to experience a severe headache.
I approached him while my heels made a clicking sound that created an attention-grabbing rhythm.
He kept his gaze down.
I spoke to Ryker while maintaining my vocal control.
He answered with "Occupied, Vessel" as his immediate response. His tone rejected my presence because he considered me to be less important. He treated me as a minor disturbance who needed to be handled. "Sector 3 has a filtration grid which operates at 94% capacity. This measurement shows a 2% difference from the expected operational limits. I am currently isolating the variable."
The man who formerly regarded me as his sun caused me deep emotional pain through his rejection. I used my mental strength to suppress the suffering. I stored it away in a box, which resembled the way he had stored his life essence.
I couldn't speak to him as my partner. I needed to address him through an analytical perspective.
I presented my tactical proposal through clear communication.
He paused all movement. The words activated a function in his system which controlled his reasoning process. Tactical. Strategy. Importance.
He raised his head in a gradual manner. His golden eyes focused directly on my eyes. They possessed a stunning appearance with intense beauty but they lacked any emotional content.
"Proceed," Ryker requested.
I began speaking by saying "You are the King of Balance" while I walked toward the table's border. I placed my hands on the cool surface, leaning in. "You want to achieve complete stability throughout the Iron Sovereignty. Right?"
"Correct," Ryker stated. "Stability ensures survival. Survival is the primary directive."
"Then your current data model is flawed," I said.
Ryker's eyes narrowed slightly. It was the first emotional reaction I had observed in him during the past few days. He showed intellectual curiosity instead of anger about the situation. He disliked all data imperfections.
"Explain," he demanded.
"Your stabilization of the South has occurred," I said while pointing at the city map. "You have reorganized the food distribution, the power grid, and the police force. The South operates as an effective system.
I took hold of the hologram and spun the map until the North's frozen white landscape appeared on the display.
"North area presents itself as an active blind spot," I declared. "The Pack Lands remain disorganized. They operate according to their traditional blood oath procedures instead of your new legal framework. The situation is chaotic. Unpredictable. Your border inspection operations have ceased since the conclusion of the war.
Ryker examined the white section of the map while he performed his calculations.
"The Northern sector is low-density," Ryker countered. "Economic output is negligible. The industrial zones of the South offer higher strategic value than the Northern sector.
"I challenged him, saying "You are incorrect." The North functions as the origin point through which the Wolves enter the military sector. The North serves as your military power source. The clans in the North will initiate rebellion if they believe you have abandoned them for the city.
Baron was just the beginning. Your 'stability' will collapse if the North decides to rebel.
He remained silent while he continued to stroke his chin which he had done in the past. He simulated the northern rebellion probabilities in his mind.
"Your assessment is... logically sound," Ryker admitted slowly. "A destabilized North creates a 40% chance of Wolf population integration issues in the city. It is a variable I have neglected.
"Then you need to inspect it," I said. "Personally."
He nodded once as confirmation. He stood up while he buttoned his jacket in an exact sequence.
"I will prepare a team," Ryker said. "Commander Jaxon and a squad of Grey Knights will accompany me. My team and I will leave the base at 0800.
"I objected to the statement.
He became confused about my disagreement with him.
"Jaxon is a human," I said. "If you march into the Wolf lands with a squad of human soldiers and a human commander, the clans will see it as an invasion. They will see it as weakness. They won't respect you."
I will proceed on my own path according to Ryker because he believes he needs no protection.
I corrected you by saying that you need legitimacy for your situation. You require a companion who can demonstrate all three things. The Wolves need to respect him while he demonstrates magic ties to all others who practice it.
I stood tall to demonstrate all my regal authority which I could muster.
The Queen needs you to accomplish your goals.
Ryker performed an examination of my entire body by inspecting every detail of my outfit and my body language and my vocal delivery. He examined my appearance for practical applications instead of evaluating my attractiveness. He was evaluating whether the object would help the operation.
Ryker said to me in an icy manner that I function as a civilian asset. Your body exists in a delicate state. The mission will face major dangers because you plan to take the Vessel into a dangerous combat area.
I am the one who killed the Spider Queen I declared while electricity in violet form moved between my fingers. I hold the Origin Stone. The Northern Wolves respect power, Ryker. Our presence will compel them to show us respect because they see us as the Alpha and the Origin. The presence of you without your companion will make them question your authority.
I maintained my stare into his eyes. I challenged him to discover any mistakes in my reasoning.
Ryker took in the information and made a decision. He compared the danger to my safety with the chance of achieving political success.
The scales started to tilt toward one side.
Ryker said that your presence increased diplomatic compliance by 28 percent. The risk which you present becomes acceptable according to the assessment.
I exhaled a breath which had remained inside me until now. I had succeeded in my task.
Ryker ordered the team to depart at first light. He proceeded to his console to enter commands. The team needs to prepare thermal outfits because the Northern sector currently experiences -15 degrees of temperature. The team members who experience hypothermia will face immediate consequences for their failure to work efficiently.
I said I would be prepared for the situation.
He left without saying goodbye. He went to work without saying goodnight to me. He started plans for the trip by creating the itinerary.
My legs buckled as I exited the Council Room.
I had complete control over him through my manipulation of his mind until I used his broken state against him. The experience felt wrong to me because I had used dirty methods against him.
I walked through the hallway while I touched the ring which rested upon my finger.
I wanted to save him from the danger which would come from my control over him. I was taking him back to the place where we fell in love—the attic where he had defied his father to bring me soup, the woods where he had first claimed me as his mate.
I was taking him to the graveyard of our past, hoping to find a ghost.
I whispered to the empty space that I would take Ryker back home. I plan to destroy your heart to help it stay safe.