The Tycoon's Odyssey

Royal Castle, Luxembourg—Great Royal

The Great Royal was renowned for its grandeur, a palace exuding opulence from its gleaming ivory walls to the towering golden gates, flanked by vigilant guards.

The palace grounds, a testament to tradition and authority, were meticulously maintained, with pathways paved in smooth, polished stone and stately statues standing sentinel over the entrance. Guards lined every corridor, their uniforms crisp, eyes sharp, their mere presence a silent reminder of the power vested in this fortress.

Beyond the palace lay an office building of equal splendor, though it radiated a cool efficiency instead of the palace's warmth.

A tight perimeter of guards surrounded the building, their presence augmented by the latest surveillance technology. Inside, seated in a vast chamber furnished with lavish antiques and rare paintings, sat Her Majesty, Queen Lisa. At sixty-five, her figure was regal, her face composed, her every movement precise and dignified.

Though the country functioned under the guidance of a Prime Minister, everyone knew that it was Queen Lisa who truly held control over the Great Royal. In her domain, no decision was made, and no strategy was executed, without her approval. Whispers circulated that not even a leaf moved in Great Royal without her consent.

Today, however, was far from ordinary. Before Queen Lisa sat Rena Barret, the formidable second wife of Nathan Barret, often referred to as Madame Barret. She had arrived with a haughty expression filled with determination for a proposal that was as enticing as it was treacherous.

The Queen looked at her coolly, her calculating gaze trying to pry.

"So, you want support from us to see your son established as Head," Queen Lisa began, her voice calm but laced with a hint of skepticism. "But I fail to see what we stand to gain."

Rena met the Queen's gaze with a shrewd smile, the air between them charged with mutual understanding. With practiced elegance, Rena addressed her, "Your Majesty, Queen Lisa of Great Royal, you would gain a loyal asset of the highest order."

"What is that?" Lisa asked nonchalantly with a smile.

"That is to be one of the most loyal dogs, and if you are willing to help my son sit on the throne of Barrett, I can swear on his behalf that our loyalty would unquestioningly lie with you and the crown."

The Queen's eyebrow lifted slightly, though her expression remained inscrutable.

Meanwhile, Rena continued, a slight gleam in her eye. "Moreover, I have information about something that has… world-shifting significance."

Queen Lisa's interest sharpened. "And what might that be?"

Instead of responding immediately, Rena handed over a video and began narrating the events surrounding Evan.

The Queen watched in silence, her expression unchanging as Rena detailed the young man's brilliance, the unique technology he commanded, and the precarious implications that could befall them should such a technology fall into foreign hands.

In the beginning, Queen Lisa wasn't interested but the more she watched, the more astonished she became.

When the video ended, Queen Lisa's silence was thoughtful, though her face betrayed nothing. "So many things have unfolded in the shadows," she murmured, her voice measured.

"And this boy's name, Evan—I have indeed heard his name in passing."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Rena replied, her tone respectful but insistent. "This is not a person we can ignore. The technology he wields… if it were to shift into the wrong hands, it could alter the world's balance in ways we cannot predict. The Great Royal would stand to lose much. With your support, we could be the sword that strikes before others could even sense the threat."

Queen Lisa listened carefully, noting the gleam in Rena's eye as she spoke of Evan. Beneath her words, the Queen sensed a personal motive—Rena's desire to rid herself of Suri, her son's sole rival for power. Yet, their interests seemed to align, and as a ruler, Lisa understood the value of a partnership that served her aims.

"Madame Barret," Queen Lisa spoke, her voice low but authoritative, "you propose much, and in return, you request not only our support but also our silence as your plans unfold."

Rena bowed her head slightly, taking the Queen's hand gently, her voice soft yet full of conviction. "I swear my family's undivided loyalty to you, Your Majesty, as we wield the power necessary to contain this threat. The world may change, but we wish for the Great Royal to remain untouched, secured by its people. I ask only that you grant us the means to protect it… and secure my son's position."

The Queen's eyes narrowed slightly, her thoughts veiled behind her regal facade. After a moment, she withdrew her hand, nodding. "You ask for loyalty, Madame Barret, and loyalty must be earned. Very well. You will have our ear… for now."

As Rena departed, her face alight with satisfaction, an officer, who had been stationed nearby, stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Your Majesty," he began with cautious respect, "what is your decision?"

Queen Lisa's gaze drifted to the window, her mind churning with the implications of Rena's words. The proposal sounded as sweet as honey, but she knew well enough that honey often masked poison. There was danger, of course—should other nations become aware of their acquisition, they would do anything to sabotage it, perhaps it could even incite open conflict. No nation would idly stand by if Great Royal were to gain such a decisive edge.

Thoughtfully, she spoke, "Securing such technology would certainly shift the power balance. But," she paused, her voice contemplative, "our interests must be approached with caution. This world is governed by alliances as well as rivalries. We cannot stand alone, wielding power recklessly. However… it won't hurt to extend some aid."

She turned, a faint smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "We'll support her, yes, but only in ways that are harmless and appear… unrelated to us. For now, this will suffice."

The officer nodded and stepped back as Queen Lisa's gaze lingered outside the window, her mind already shaping the delicate web of strategies.

_____

Amid brewing conspiracies, the man who was the topic of the previous talk lay in his peaceful slumber until a sharp burnt odor assaulted his senses.

Sniff…Sniff…

"What the…?" he exclaimed while waking up abruptly.