-Prior-
Prior had arrived with Queen Ada in the rather small room. There were a few chairs, a table, and a large screen.
As promised, there were also some snacks and drinks on the table.
Prior had thought, however, that she might still be able to see Kashion beforehand, or at least see him directly somehow — perhaps behind a glass wall.
They took their seats. The queen also seemed rather nervous.
"Won't we be able to see him directly?" Prior asked.
The queen shook her head. "It will be broadcast by video."
"But then why are we here?"
The queen looked at her again as though she simply understood nothing.
"We are still very close to him here. That gives him support."
Prior nodded and smoothed her hands over her pants.
Queen Ada turned on the television, and they could see a large room. The camera, however, was focused on a kind of stage. Two red armchairs stood there, a small table with two bottles of water, and a microphone in front of each seat. Kashion would probably take his place there.
There was also a view of several rows of chairs. The chairs were a muted dark blue.
"Do the reporters sit there?" Prior asked.
The queen nodded. "The reporters and others. Council members. Advisors."
Everything looked so exciting. Prior tried to remember what it had been like when she used to watch interviews with Kashion. But now it all felt so unreal. Back then, he had not been her Kashion either.
"Is this more of an interview or a press conference?" she asked further.
"It's a kind of combination. Someone from the Lantian press will lead the interview, but afterward others can ask questions."
The queen held a sort of remote control in her hand. "We can select different cameras and zoom in as well. That's another advantage of this room. The press only gets the main camera."
Prior nodded. Then the queen clicked around a little more, and now several viewing angles could be seen. A large image in the center showed Kashion's seat directly, while several smaller ones showed the audience.
Prior noticed that her hands were damp. And yet it was Kashion who had to go through all of this, while she was only a spectator. When she thought about the fact that the entire world — or galaxy — could really be watching!
Suddenly she also thought of her parents and the fact that she still had not answered them. She mentally pushed that aside for later.
Prior and Queen Ada watched the screen in silence.
Slowly, more and more people entered the audience hall. At first mostly servants and technicians who checked once more whether everything was working and properly arranged.
After that, the first reporters slowly seemed to arrive and take their seats in the rows.
-Kashion-
Kashion finally made his way to the audience hall together with Oren, Iris, Wanyi, and a few others.
He was actually in a good mood, but still nervous.
He really disliked these public interviews. Sometimes he could prepare for the questions beforehand, but now he had no idea what awaited him.
Eventually, they entered the audience hall, which was already fairly full. As Kashion entered the room, everyone rose from their seats and nodded to him.
He gestured with his hand for them to sit down again.
The reporter Phu had already taken her seat on the stage. He felt slightly relieved, because she was a very easygoing reporter.
As he walked down the aisle, he also saw many unfamiliar faces. Naturally, reporters from other countries and even from Saturn were surely present as well.
When Kashion stepped onto the stage, he first looked into the one camera hanging directly above it. He hoped that in doing so, he could look toward Prior. He trusted that it had worked out and that she was now sitting with his mother in the small room behind the hall.
-Prior-
Prior became even more tense when she saw Kashion enter the hall, which was now quite full. He looked so confident, and that dark red suit! When he stepped onto the stage, it almost seemed as though he had deliberately looked into that one camera.
Facing the audience, he stood before the microphone and remained standing for a moment. Then he began to speak.
"I would like to warmly welcome you all here to Lantian Palace. We also have guests from other countries here, and I would like to welcome them to Tingdao as well."
With that, he sat down, and a servant adjusted the microphone so it would be easier for him to speak into it.
The screen now showed him in close-up. Prior thought to herself that it almost hurt to look at him. He simply looked that good. Almost unreal.
"He looks so different somehow," she remarked.
The queen laughed. "That's the makeup. Everything is perfect. For occasions like this, we always let the makeup artist help us."
Makeup. So that was it. But even beyond that. The contrast of the suit against his skin and hair. His confident gaze. Prior thought to herself that if she had not already been in love with him, it would have happened by now at the latest. The fangirl inside her was waking up again.
For a moment, she did not even hear what he was saying. She only looked at him. She could practically observe him up close now without him noticing.
"You're absolutely beaming at him," she suddenly heard the queen say, and then looked at her, startled and embarrassed at the same time.
The queen only looked mildly amused.
Prior felt a little embarrassed, but when she stared at the screen again, the butterflies inside her took over once more.
Now she also wanted to focus on the conversation.
"Was an agreement reached and a contract concluded?" asked the woman sitting opposite Kashion. Her gray hair was pinned up in a bun, and she wore a brown pantsuit. She looked very refined.
-Kashion-
Kashion nodded. He looked smilingly at the audience.
"I am pleased to announce that Saturn and Earth have reached an agreement. In addition, the kingdoms of Tingdao, Terland, Ostrand, and Firefields have also come to an agreement, and today we all signed the contract."
The reporters began to applaud. It truly was a joyous event for the entire world.
"I have heard," Phu continued, "that Tingdao and Terland only reached an agreement under certain conditions. What can you tell us about the guarantees Tingdao gave Terland?"
Kashion sighed. But he remained calm.
"We have not yet been able to fully convince Terland of the progress of our technology. However, I am completely convinced that our scientists possess the necessary expertise to achieve improvements in propulsion technology within a short period of time. All of us can benefit from this, because it will result in major savings of Aethereleum. In addition, I expect good results from petroleum synthesis research very soon."
"That sounds good," Phu replied, "however, Tingdao would be bound to severe contractual penalties should the desired results fail to materialize. That would lead to major restrictions. In the worst-case scenario, how do you intend to ensure that Tingdao's standard of living remains secure?"
Kashion had to think for a moment. He did not want to think about a worst-case scenario, and he trusted in his science completely. But now that Phu had voiced these concerns, he had to say something to reassure the people of Tingdao. He took a sip of water.
"First of all, I do not assume that such a worst-case scenario will occur," he finally said. "However, if the unthinkable should happen and we are unable to fulfill our promises, we will ensure that there are ways to keep the economy stable."
If Tingdao did not have enough Aethereleum, intergalactic trade would also become restricted.
"That does not sound very concrete," Phu remarked.
Kashion had to improvise. "The High Council will develop and present an appropriate plan in the coming days. But the population can rest assured — Tingdao possesses sufficient resources so that the standard of living does not have to decline in the coming years."
"Then we look forward to seeing the plan in the coming days."
Kashion was just as curious himself. And it would mean even more work and discussions for him again.
Suddenly, Phu smiled. "And we have also heard that a marriage alliance between Earth and Saturn has been formed. Though of quite a different nature than originally expected."
Kashion nodded and grinned into the camera. "Exactly. We can already offer our congratulations to Crown Prince Rein of Firefields and Princess Evlina of Tangyan."
"Did Crown Prince Rein steal the princess away from you?" Phu asked, and laughter spread through the hall.
The question sounded harmless, but the answer was not simple. If he simply said that he himself had never wanted the princess, it would almost sound insulting. But he also could not pretend as though someone else had defeated him.
-Prior-
Prior could hardly believe her ears. Rein and Evlina? Evlina was going to marry Rein?
She almost felt relieved. Less guilty somehow. But for Kashion, the situation was surely awkward now.
As if the queen had read her thoughts, she said, "You see? This is the kind of situation you put Kashion in because you didn't want an engagement. Now it looks as though he was rejected."
"I didn't expect this," was all Prior could reply.
-Kashion-
Kashion laughed softly. "I am very happy that Crown Prince Rein and Princess Evlina found each other," he finally said. "Crown Prince Rein is a good friend of mine, and Princess Evlina and I have also become good friends. With this couple, we can certainly strengthen our alliance with Firefields even further."
"Beautiful words," Phu said. "But what can you tell us about the woman whom you personally carried into the palace?"