บท 279: I'm not being summoned, I'm being invited

She squinted and pressed her fingers to her lips, staring down at the paper in front of her.

It was rather small and unimpressive, for being such a pain in her ass.

Finally, she sighed and shook her head. "...A diplomatic summons...?"

Octavian shrugged slightly, clearly doing his best to distance himself from the summons, despite the intrinsic connection. "It's...more of an invitation. My father set up a meeting between Nevremia and the nation of Ceiori. It's not compulsory..."

Phoenix huffed softly. "Except that if Nevremia snubs the invitation it will humiliate Pristan and sour our relations with both Ceiori and Pristan. Right before her wedding to you, at that."

Octavian sighed, pressing his lips into a line. "...Yeah. Something like that. So...you need to go, if you wish to be polite. But - it's...still not a summons..."

His voice was just a bit defeated in that last bit.