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And what she saw was rather impressive. They had done their part in healing and protecting settlers. Plus they certainly had a hand in reducing some of the evils that plagued the colonies.

It was clear why Max wanted them to be sponsored to be a nation-state.

When Matriarch de Jardin spoke, Eva got that same sense of power in her voice, like with the councilors in the floors below. But the Matriarch’s was far more refined, far more practiced, far more stately. It struck her that the woman’s every word and every movement was completely deliberate.

Every bit of her was an exercise in fine erudition.

“Apologies it took so long to set an appointment,” said the Matriarch. “Brief as it is.”

“None needed, grandmother,” Max replied. “We’re all well aware of how busy you are.”

“Honestly, we expected it to take way longer to meet with you,” Eva said. “A month, likely more. Figured we’d have a bit of time to settle in at the diplomatic sanctuary.”

“What can I say?” the Matriarch replied. “Maximilian represents the House’s future. I can’t help but keep tabs on his... activities. And of course, I can’t ignore any call for my direct recommendation of a burgeoning nation-state. It’s quite the request. And I don’t believe I can grant it.”

.....

Lucifer furrowed hir brow a bit. It was indeed an incredibly large ask, but as the Matriarch, she could have simply told Max no over comms. It didn’t need an official meeting to do so.

Ze wondered if the meeting was to officially reject the request, or simply to indulge Max. After all, according to him, she had helped him back onto his feet after his desertion. Perhaps there was more to it?

“Is it also because you dote on your grandson?” asked Eva. “At least a little?”

“My, how blunt. How rather refreshing,” she replied. “Though I suppose my affection is a touch obvious, hm?”

“What is wrong with that?” Miko blurted out. To her, and to most of the Ravens, family was always tight-knit. They were there for each other, to support everyone through thick and thin.

She couldn’t understand why a powerful family wouldn’t do the same for each other. She reasoned that they became that powerful because of intertwined support. Her mother and Amal’s mother had become the Matriarchs of their families, and they did it through endless support and shrewd business sense.

“You should know that as the Matriarch, my every move is scrutinized,” she replied. “Everything I do is noted down. Collated. Interpreted. Analyzed. Many people pay attention and count certain things, such as where my favor goes, and where it doesn’t.

“Doting on Max here can be a touch problematic. It’s no doubt an unnecessary burden on him. And on me, of course. Being too obvious about it only increases those burdens.”

“You mean, it gets him targeted?” asked Lucifer

“Yes, exactly. I’ve... many opponents – within the House, among the other Houses, and even some from the other nations. There are plenty who seek weaknesses in the House, and will try to exploit them in whatever way they can.

“Through Max, for example. Doing something to him would no doubt cause some rather difficult imbalances within the Palace. Not because he’s particularly important now, but what he represents for the House itself.”

“That’s the exact excuse father gave when he issued me those personal guards,” Max interjected. “I’m a weakness that needs to be protected, all the time.”

“And you ought to thank him for them. They’ll certainly keep the Grevatia Homonculi off your back.”

“All they do is keep me under lock and key! And they no doubt spy on me at the same time.”

The Matriarch grimaced at Max. She understood where he was coming from – he felt like a trapped prince. He was, in a way. But it was by his own actions. Had he acted more wisely...

“Well, perhaps if you didn’t misbehave in the first place,” she said.

“I was making a statement!” Max cried. “His warmongering isn’t doing the House any favors! All he’s doing is tearing the people in two – sometimes literally!”

His grandmother exhaled at length. She seemed to put on a different face, one slightly softer than before. But only just.

“There’s a difference between making a statement,” she intoned, “and leaving your fellow Hegemony warriors to fight on their own. Think of what that makes the de Jardins look like. All the other Houses would see is a spoiled child who flees from conflict.

“How could we possibly lead, if we cultivate such soft children?”

“Speaking of children, it seems like it’s father who’s having a tantrum,” Max retorted. “He’s having his grand old fight ‘coz he’s too angry to stop, and he’s dragged the entire Hegemony right into it.”

“You shouldn’t resent what your father is doing,” she said after a moment. “He hasn’t been himself since his... since the former admiral was killed. All he wants to do is keep you, his only child, safe.”

“Doesn’t mean what he’s doing is right,” Max argued. “We’ve been warring against the Federation on and off for the past few centuries. It’s killing us slowly, can’t you see that?

“And we’re fighting for what, exactly? So a few Houses can expand their domain? It’s not right. You know it’s not right. You’re the Matriarch, can’t you stop him? At least, call a ceasefire and ask for a diplomatic solution – anything!”

Matriarch de Jardin shook her head at her grandson adamantly, her grimace still painted on her face.

Of course she wanted peace. Of course she wanted the killing to end. It had been going on since before she took up the mantle of Matriarch.

“Having power doesn’t mean pushing your own agenda,” she replied. “Power is service. In my terms, I serve the needs of the Dukedom, who themselves serve their fief. Since more than half the fief demands our defense of our colonies, then we serve that need.

We all serve the Hegemony, and see to its prosperity. We fight as the fief asks. If the colonies are important to them, then we must honor their desires.”

It was Max’s turn to sigh deeply.

“The fief’s desires are being manipulated, “he said. “All so their Ruling Houses can have more planets. It’s not right.”

“Then fight for what you think is,” the Matriarch retorted, her voice stately.

“Which brings us to your request for my recommendation of a nation-state sponsorship,” she continued. “I’m sure all of you are aware of the implications of such a move. It would be seen negatively, from many angles. The Dukes would immediately vote against me, and your inception as a nation-state would be as good as dead.”

“Especially since it would be seen as you giving your favored grandson his own nation-state,” Lucifer said. “If I were them, I’d vote the same. Doing otherwise would only bring you more power.”

“There is that, yes. In truth I cannot, in good conscience, recommend a sponsorship for a nation of seven. I’ve read the intelligence on each of you, and I can’t deny your merits and value. You are, very clearly, seven exceptional people.”

Lucifer nudged Eva at the mention of ‘intelligence’.

–

Lucifer: Remember what I said about research?

Lucifer: More proof of its value.

Eva: Good thing you’re around to do it for us

Eva: =p

–

“But how could I possibly weigh your potential against another nation-state?” continued the Matriarch. “Especially one that has a far higher population. Let’s say I had a choice between two potential nations – you seven, and another with 100,000.

“Which one has a larger need to be a part of the de Jardins? Which one of you can provide more to the Hegemony as a whole? Who represents the greater growth? I would say the answer is clear simply within the numbers.”

“I get it,” Max said. “But did you watch their ‘Cast, like I recommended? They’ve definitely helped change the lives of thousands of people already.”

“I didn’t watch them, no, but I did receive the reports. I agree – they have much to offer the de Jardins, and to the Hegemony. However, they can do this easily by joining the House, rather than creating their own nation-state.”

“What if we increased our numbers?” Eva asked. “I mean, we were gonna grow out into a fleet anyway. Figured that went hand-in-hand with being a nation-state, right? What if we did a bit of that before we sent in a formal application?”

“I do like where your mind is at,” the Matriarch replied, “but that is far from enough. We have documentation of your effectiveness as you are. However would that translate with an increase in numbers? I wouldn’t count on the Dukes agreeing.”

“True,” Eva sighed. “Even if we did, it would still look a whole lot like favoritism. Luci, got any ideas?”

“I honestly don’t know too much about de Jardin politics,” ze replied. “I’ll have to double up on my research. For now, based only on what I know right now, perhaps some simple sleight of hand is enough?

“I don’t believe you should recommend us at all, and instead perhaps have someone else – someone you trust – do the heavy lifting instead. That would, I think, free you from too much scrutiny. Or at the very least, would be seen as ‘obvious’ shrewdness.”

“Her opponents could still bring up this meeting, couldn’t they?” asked Claire. “I mean, all the paperwork regarding our visit, how long the talk took, and so on... it would all be under record, plain for everyone to see.”

“True,” Amal answered. “But she could simply tell the truth – she turned us away, quickly. Because of the exact things we’ve been discussing. It would definitely stop their arguments from going further.”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say the arguments would stop,” said Matriarch de Jardin. “Some do love to argue, after all. Though yes, I do agree – perhaps a simple maneuver like that would work here.”

She looked over the Ravens one more time and re-appraised them yet again. Though her face was warmly stoic, she was impressed deep down.

They were all incredibly skillful in each of their fields. Those skills, combined with their perceptiveness and decisiveness made them a powerful force indeed. If they extended those beliefs and expertise into more people, as a nation... well that was a huge possibility the de Jardins couldn’t simply ignore.

“Go talk to your Aunt Mathilde,” she said eventually. “She would be the best person to offer a recommendation. And I’m sure she could use your skillsets directly. Get your talking points ready – I’ll send a comms ahead of you.”

“Wait, what?” Max blurted out. “You mean right now?”

“Yes, right now! More doing, Maximilian, less fluttering about.”