Chapter 381 Marriage Alliance
The Aegean Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea and contains many islands.
Crete is the largest island in the Aegean Sea and is also known as the crown of the southern Aegean.
Crete once had its glory days, but it seems to have been deliberately forgotten in the last century. Life on the island has gradually become difficult, yet few people leave. The impoverished fishermen and farmers persist on this land, guarding this once sacred seafaring paradise.
Six months ago, a massive waterspout suddenly appeared above the ruins of the collapsed Poseidon Temple, leveling the entire temple to the ground. This caused great distress to the descendants of some sea creature believers. The ruins were a source of spiritual comfort for them, and the past glory of their ancestors was a deep-seated hope in their hearts.
Their grief did not last long. When several beautiful women arrived in Hania and announced that the sea people were rebuilding the Temple of the Sea God, people thought they were dreaming.
Later they realized it wasn't a dream, because even in dreams they had never seen so many beautiful women. They were elegant, intelligent, and possessed the ability to manipulate seawater—qualities only found among the legendary mermaid royalty of the sea.
The city of Chania, which had been in decline for a century, was restored to its former glory within a few months. A large number of craftsmen flocked to this most prosperous port on the Aegean Sea and began the construction of the new Poseidon Temple.
The temple sent chests of gold coins, which attracted tens of thousands of craftsmen who built the outline of the new Poseidon Temple at an incredible speed.
On the highest point of the western cliffs of Hania Port, a palace was first built, which temporarily served as the bedroom and council hall of the sea queen Shia.
The palace was decorated with the utmost luxury. Venetian merchants sent the finest glass, and the world sent the most exquisite tapestries. The white granite unique to Crete was meticulously polished and used to create beautiful stone patterns on the floor.
The front part of the palace is the council hall, and deep inside the hall, on a white stone platform, sits the jewel-encrusted chair that represents the highest power of the sea people.
A tall and graceful young woman now sits on a chair that has been passed down for thousands of years. Her youthful face suggests she is not yet an adult, but none of the dozen or so powerful sea creatures standing in the hall dare to underestimate her.
"Your Majesty, the Ottoman King has sent another envoy, seeking a marriage alliance with our sea tribe. Prince Bolton has arrived in Hania. Please make a decision, Your Majesty." Resie, in charge of foreign affairs, respectfully reported to the girl on the white stone platform.
"Oh! You can ask Lady Audrey about this, there's no need to ask me!" Shia said with a serious little face, word by word. After half a year of training, the little girl already had the majestic demeanor of an empress.
Since the appearance of the sea creatures, Shia's aunt Audrey has become the sea creatures' chief steward. Most matters are reported to her first, and only difficult decisions are reported to Shia. At this moment, she is standing in the place closest to Shia in the main hall.
"Shia, we have already rejected the Ottoman marriage proposal three times in a row. If we fail again this time, we may be hostile to the Ottomans."
"The Ottomans are hostile to us? So what? I will never interfere with my sisters' freedom. As long as the women of the sea tribe choose that Prince Boton, I will bless them. If they don't, let him go back! I'll tell him then that if he dares to have any improper thoughts about the Black Sea, I will go to Istanbul!" Shia stood up straight, her small face expressionless, but her words were full of domineering power.
Istanbul is the gateway to the Black Sea. To enter the Black Sea from the Mediterranean, one must pass through the Bosphorus Strait to the east of Istanbul. The sea people have always regarded the Black Sea as their own backyard. However, after the Ottoman prince's failed marriage proposal, they had subtly indicated that they had jurisdiction over the Black Sea.
“Sia, now the women of our royal family are all interested in the Xia people and the elves. The chances of them choosing Prince Osman are really slim. And Osman has the Temple backing him up. They may be involved in this whole affair.”
Audrey was also quite helpless. As a person in a superior position, she could not do things entirely based on her personal preferences. But now, none of the pure-blooded mermaid royals wanted to marry Ottomans. They all preferred those with elven blood, and it would be even better if the elven blood was mixed with that of the Great Xia people!
As for why, just look at Shia. Originally, Shia was the weakest mermaid, but after awakening, she became the strongest sea queen. Do I need to explain why?
"So what if it's a temple?... Uh!... Let me think!"
Shia has always been a bit impulsive and irritable, otherwise she wouldn't have fought with Kaihime so many times with a head full of bumps. She was immediately annoyed when she heard what Audrey said, but as if she thought of something, she suppressed her anger.
“Yes! I’ve decided… to go to the Roman Temple!” Shia said solemnly.
“Your Majesty, your status does not allow you to go to Rome at will. That is the holy site of the Temple. If you go, it would be equivalent to our sea race visiting the Temple, and outsiders would think that our sea race is now subservient to the Temple!”
Lacey, who was in charge of foreign affairs, immediately objected. The sea creatures reappeared in the world without warning, and the temple immediately gave them strong support in rebuilding the Temple of the Sea God. Moreover, it would occasionally hint at a close relationship between the two. Now there are rumors that the sea creatures reappeared in the world with the help of the temple.
"I'll sneak off and talk to that Ashif alone, and have him arrest those guys spreading rumors!" Little Shia clearly had a plan, her big eyes shining with excitement.
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