Princess Caecila made a bit more small talk before conferring with Fulcinia and Typheras. Fulcinia frowned at what the Princess told her.

“Your Highness, I cannot recommend a direct appeal. Not only is it a breach of decorum, but it leaves you vulnerable.”

Princess Caecila shook her head.

“That is our problem, Fulcinia. We are vulnerable. Admitting it will not make the situation much worse. Besides, Miss NSLICE-00P is very…straightforward, it seems. And I am still not the most adept at social maneuvering among the Court. I believe our greatest chance to make progress is to approach her directly.”

Fulcinia frowned while Typheras shrugged.

“This is a girl who assaulted a Legion head on and took Uscfrea Spellbreaker down in single combat. She doesn’t seem to appreciate subtlety, in my humble opinion.”

Fulcinia just stared at her.

“Are you certain you are not simply projecting, Miss 'Bonecrusher'?”

Typheras smirked.

“Oh, I can be subtle. I just choose not to.”

Princess Caecila giggled lightly before shaking her head.

“Regardless, the fact of the matter is we have only this trip to approach her undisturbed and with candor, and it will not last forever. I will take the risk. I must.”

Both Fulcinia and Typheras frowned at that, but nodded. Princess Caecila took a deep breath and approached NSLICE-00P once again.

“Miss NSLICE-00P, I would like to discuss with you about your rewards.”

“Query: Is compensation to be issued at this time? This unit predicted compensation would occur upon arrival in Corvanus.”

Princess Caecila nodded.

“Yes, but we would like to sort things out in private ahead of time, before the public ceremony. With that said, your accomplishments are truly staggering, it is no exaggeration to say you have held the Northern Empire together by your own two hands. So…how would you feel about joining the Court? The Emperor’s council has some room, and I believe there is a Praetor spot open within the court. Should you prefer to remain beyond the capital, we will also need a new governor and new Magister Militum for Utrad in the near future.”

“Negative Response: This unit cannot officially affiliate herself with any factions prior to locating the persons of interest and receiving orders to do so.”

Princess Caecila frowned at that.

“Oh, I did not realize you had allegiances of your own, forgive me. What would you find acceptable as a reward, then?”

“Response: Assistance with this unit’s primary directive, including but not limited to mobilization of the Empire’s resources and manpower to search Imperial territory for the persons of interest, as well as data regarding the fundamental nature of mana and astronomical data regarding this planetary body’s location within the galaxy, as well as the structure and identity of this galaxy if it is not the galaxy designated: Milky Way. Material compensation is also acceptable, though grants of land or offers of authority will not be accepted if they require this unit to integrate into the Empire.”

Princess Caecila nodded.

“I see. I will relay your preferences when we arrive and we will arrange something to your liking, then.”

“Acknowledged.”

Princess Caecila then took a deep breath and looked NSLICE-00P in the eye.

“I will be honest, miss NSLICE-00P. I need your help. Please, would you hear me out?”

“Statement: This unit cannot respond without details regarding the nature of the request and proposed compensation.”

Princess Caecila nodded.

“The Northern Court has stopped functioning for years at this point. Every proposal is argued, every decision is delayed as the factions maneuver for control. The provinces are all but running themselves, the Court can’t even handle issues around Corvanus. The Emperor is isolated and powerless to intervene, and so the Empire is falling apart. If the Imperial family could receive support from someone as powerful as you, we might be able to change that.”

“Negative Response: Participation in the Empire’s political governance is calculated to violate this unit’s non-intervention protocols and has little predicted benefit to this unit’s primary directive.”This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Princess Caecila furrowed her brow.

“Then…why did you stop the rebellion, if I may ask?”

“Explanation: Rebel official Magister Vibius assaulted this unit. In accordance with self-defense protocols, this unit moved to terminate the threat. Due to Magister Vibius’s affiliations and the subsequent actions of his superiors, this resulted in the rebel faction being designated as hostile, and so subject to termination.”

“I-I see…”

Princess Caecila thought for a moment and then sighed. She then looked up, clasped her hands together, and looked into NSLICE-00P’s eyes once more.

“Please, what can I do to convince you? I will do anything I must.”

“Answer: Non-intervention protocols are not the highest priority for this unit. If benefits can be offered to this unit’s primary directive that exceed the potential risks and downsides, then it may be judged as acceptable to violate non-intervention protocols.”

Princess Caecila smiled and nodded.

“Oh! In that case, what sort of benefits would fit that?”

“Unknown.”

Princess Caecila blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“Elaboration: This unit is uncertain as to whether it is possible for the Empire to locate the persons of interest, or if the Empire has any data relevant to that purpose. As a result, this unit cannot speculate as to specific benefits Princess Caecila could offer that would enable violating non-intervention protocols.”

Princess Caecila went silent for a moment before nodding.

“I see. I suppose it would be boorish of me to ask you to tell me that. Just tell me this, if I can find something that would benefit your mission, will you support me?”

“Response: As stated, should benefits to the primary directive be deemed sufficient, violation of non-intervention protocols may occur.”

Princess Caecila nodded.

“Then I will find something to convince you. I promise.”

“Acknowledged.”

Princess Caecila did not only speak with NSLICE-00P, of course. She also made small talk with Ateia, Taog, and Agedia. She attempted to speak with Estrith as well but backed off as the Dobhar scoffed and replied gruffly.

Agedia kept an eye on her when she spoke with Ateia and Taog, but she avoided any political conversations with them, focusing on more casual and personal matters, such as now.

Princess Caecila sat on a chair by the window, Ateia sitting in a seat nearby. They were just reaching the end of Utrad, where Velus’s Pass broke through a towering mountain range. The open farms and plains gave way to hilly forests that led up to snow-tipped mountains.

“So, why did you become an Exploratore, if I may ask? I must admit, I too was interested in the Empire’s heroes at one point.”

Ateia smiled at that.

“Well, I guess it's because of my father. He was an Exploratore, so at first I just wanted to be like him. Then he…well he left on a mission and never returned. The Legion hasn’t confirmed he’s dead, so I figured if I followed in his footsteps, I might be able to figure out what happened.”

Princess Caecila frowned.

“You have my deepest sympathies.”

Ateia shook her head.

“Again, the Legion never confirmed it, so as far as I’m concerned, he’s still alive.”

Princess Caecila shook her head.

“He need not have died for you to have lost your father. My father left us after…well the important part is that he left. At first I was desperate to have him back, then I was angry at him. Now…now I grieve for the family I lost, but I try to move forward, and focus on who I have now.”

Ateia frowned.

“I’m sorry to hear that. But I can’t move on, not yet. Not while there’s still hope.”

Princess Caecila looked at her for a moment before slowly nodding.

“I hope you find him someday.”

Ateia kept her gaze outside the window.

“Thank you.”

The rest of the trip was uneventful. They flew over Velus’s Pass, a stone fortress that blocked the entire pass. To NSLICE-00P, it appeared more reminiscent of a massive dam than a defensive fortification, rising at least a thousand feet into the sky. NSLICE-00P read massive mana signatures even from up on the ship, and identified countless towers that appeared armed with siege weapons.

But she could also see that the gates were open, and constant streams of wagons and people moved through the fort in either direction. Utrad had been under the Empire’s control for centuries now; it had been a long time since the Legion was required to hold those gates.

And so the ship passed the mountains, into the heart of the Northern Empire.

The Northern Court was not as rich as the South, nor as powerful as the East, but the one thing it did have to its name was history. This was the home of Elteno, the city-state from which the Empire grew. The birthplace of the Empire.

NSLICE-00P watched as the ship flew over the land. This area seemed even more developed than Utrad had been. They passed more than one city the size of Velusitum if not larger, with massive farms and countless paved roads in between. Massive towers with bright lights at the top were interspersed throughout at regular intervals.

“Query: What is the purpose of those installations? This unit predicts they are related to communication infrastructure?”

Princess Caecila nodded at the question.

“I believe some of them, but most are for transport. From what I understand, they create currents of moving ground between the cities. The plaustrum subterraneum can then ride along those currents without needing to move on their own power, so we can use much larger versions that wouldn’t be feasible to build individually.”

NSLICE-00P continued to observe, and indeed identified the powerful signatures as mostly Earth-attribute mana. If her simulations on the amount of earth such a signature could move were correct…then the Empire’s logistics were not inferior to the modern day, at least within this province.

Soon, their destination was in sight.

Corvanus was a port city, with the ocean bordering it along the east and south and wide swamplands to the north. A large road entered into it from the west, with several forts guarding the entrance. NSLICE-00P also noticed two additional airships of similar size to the one she was riding over the city, though these lacked the gold and silver highlights or purple paint.

The city itself was made of stone, and laid out in the Empire’s grid pattern. Perhaps surprisingly, it was not that much larger than Velusitum, and with much of its space dedicated to large manors it might even have a lower population density. The airship made its way to the center of the city and paused in the air. Princess Caecila then led them to the ship’s hangar, where the smaller craft were ready to take them down.

And so NSLICE-00P and company arrived in the Northern Capital of Corvanus.