The weight of the decision loomed over the chamber like a storm waiting to break. Lord Calder's offer lay on the war table, but it was more than just parchment and ink—it was a doorway into a world that The Maxwell Dominion had, until now, only watched from the outside.
This was no mere trade agreement.
It was a test.
Alexander exhaled slowly, his fingers tracing along the edge of the map. Every move he had made so far had been dictated by necessity—building, expanding, surviving—but now? Now, he was being asked to step onto a different battlefield.
Politics. Diplomacy. The game of nobles.
And standing across from him, Lord Calder of Stonehaven, a man who had played that game for years and survived.
The Question of Loyalty
Silas cleared his throat, breaking the silence. His sharp gaze turned to Calder. "Before we go any further, let's make something clear."
Calder's expression remained calm, almost amused.
"You're offering us an alliance. But who are we really allying with? Varenia? Or something else?"
Calder leaned back slightly, folding his hands together. "A fair question."
The flickering candlelight cast long shadows over the chamber as Silas tapped the map of the region, his voice cool and measured.
"Stonehaven sits here—right between the Kingdom of Varenia and the Kingdom of Eldoria."
A pause.
"A gateway for trade. For diplomacy. And for war."
Unlike Viscount Vale, whose authority was deeply embedded in Varenia's noble structure, Calder was different.
His power didn't come from being favored by the King. It came from his city's position—its ability to influence the flow of goods, people, and information between two warring kingdoms.
And that made him dangerous.
It also made him valuable.
Stonehaven – A City Between Kingdoms
Stonehaven was not just another noble-controlled fiefdom.
It was a crossroads—a place where the conflicts of nobles, merchants, and warlords intertwined.
And Calder had ruled it with careful precision, ensuring that neither Varenia nor Eldoria could fully claim dominance over his city.
Silas turned to Alexander. "That's why he's still alive."
Elias scoffed. "Because he plays both sides?"
Calder smiled slightly. "Because I balance both sides."
For years, Stonehaven had thrived on neutrality, playing mediator between rival factions, merchants, and noble houses.
But the war had changed everything.
The balance was shifting.
And neutrality was no longer an option.
A Noble Without a Master
Alexander folded his arms, his gaze steady. "So you're Varenian. But you're not fully under the Kingdom's rule."
Calder let out a quiet chuckle. "Exactly. Stonehaven is officially part of Varenia, but we are… flexible in our allegiances."
Silas nodded slowly. "You profit no matter who is in power."
Calder inclined his head. "That was the plan, yes."
But plans change.
And that's why he was here.
"Varenia and Eldoria will not allow Stonehaven to remain neutral for much longer."
The words hung in the air.
Alexander understood immediately.
Calder wasn't just offering an alliance.
He was choosing a side.
And he was choosing The Maxwell Dominion.
Why Calder Needed The Maxwell Dominion
Silas' fingers drummed against the wood of the war table. "Which means," he murmured, "you think we're worth the risk."
Calder's eyes gleamed slightly. "I think you're the future."
Elias crossed his arms. "Flattering words from a noble."
Calder chuckled. "Not flattery. Reality."
His voice remained calm, but there was an underlying certainty in his tone.
"I do not align myself with dead men, Lord Maxwell. And I do not gamble on losing hands. Right now, The Maxwell Dominion is small—but you have survived. You have done what others could not. That is not luck. That is proof of power."
A pause.
"And power is the only thing that matters in the end."
Alexander met Calder's gaze.
There was no deception in his words.
Calder was not a loyalist, nor was he a man of honor.
He was a survivor.
And survivors knew when to shift alliances.
The Offer Stands
Calder leaned forward, his voice calm but firm.
"I'm offering trade, protection, and recognition."
He spread his hands slightly.
"But let's not pretend this is charity. I need an ally who is not tangled in the noble feuds of Varenia. Someone who can tip the balance in ways the old lords cannot."
A pause.
"You, Lord Maxwell."
The chamber remained silent for a long moment.
Silas exhaled through his nose. "And if we refuse?"
Calder shrugged lightly. "Then I find another option."
There was no malice in his tone. No threat.
Just simple truth.
Stonehaven could not stand alone forever.
And Calder was not the kind of man to wait until he had no choices left.
Alexander respected that.
Because he thought the same way.
The First True Test of Political Power
Alexander knew the stakes.
Accepting Calder's offer meant entering noble politics—tying The Maxwell Dominion to a larger game.
It meant access to trade routes, economic influence, and a buffer against enemies like Vale.
But it also meant obligations.
Calder was giving them recognition.
Which meant he would expect something in return.
On the other hand…
Refusing the deal would keep The Maxwell Dominion independent—for now.
But it would also send a message—a message that The Maxwell Dominion was not looking for alliances.
And that could invite more enemies than it deterred.
Because if you stand alone for too long, eventually, someone will test just how strong you really are.
Silas finally broke the silence.
"This is it, Alexander."
"The first real decision about what The Maxwell Dominion will be."
Elias remained quiet, watching Alexander carefully.
Marcus shifted slightly, his expression unreadable.
And Calder simply waited.
The offer was made.
Now, the choice was his.