Lucian turned to the group with a small smile.
"Alright," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "That meeting was longer than I wanted it to be, so here's a shorter version."
He explained the situation in a more relaxed tone: the empty storehouses, their limited number of knights, the debate between forcing the land to bear crops with magic versus opening trade routes, and the suggestion Hiccup had made. When he finished, he looked at Hiccup first.
"I'm going to take you up on that offer," Lucian said. "Do you think the chief would be willing to trade with us?"
Hiccup gave a half-shrug and a small grin. "Knowing my dad, he'll probably complain the whole time and still have the ships ready before sunrise. I'll talk to him."
Lucian nodded, then turned to Merida. "I'm also hoping you can speak with your parents, Merida."
Merida smirked. "Aye, I can do that. My mother will probably lecture me for running off again, but she'll still help."
Finally, Lucian looked at Ariel, his expression softening.
"And Ariel… I know how important fish are to your people. I'm not going to ask for that. But if there's anything else: sea plants, seaweed... I'd really appreciate the help."
Ariel smiled gently and shook her head before he could keep apologizing.
"You don't have to worry so much," she said. "I've learned a lot since I started traveling with all of you. My father will listen if I explain it properly. I'll ask for sea plants and anything else that can help."
Lucian let out a quiet breath and smiled back. "Thanks. That means a lot." He continued, "Don't worry, I'll send envoys with you, all traveling by boat."
Lucian looked directly at Ariel as he added, "Though I don't think I can send anyone to your kingdom Ariel, no one here can breathe underwater for long."
Ariel chuckled, and Astrid, Hiccup, Ruffnut, Merida, and Lucian laughed along with her.
Fishlegs, Tuffnut, and Snotlout looked confused by their laughter. Tuffnut nudged Fishlegs with his elbow and asked, "What are they laughing about? Am I missing something?"
Fishlegs shrugged, and Tuffnut brightened "Eh... then I'll just laugh too."
He started laughing, and soon the others joined in again.
Lucian waited for the chuckles to die down. "I'll arrange everything out today. You can all leave tomorrow, get some rest today."
"Then we shall leave at sunrise," Hiccup said. "I will head back to Berk, while Astrid escorts Merida and Ariel."
Snotlout, who had been leaning against the wall, suddenly pushed himself upright. "Hold on! You're sending the princesses and Hiccup, but not me? I can negotiate. I'm excellent at negotiating!"
Tuffnut pointed at him with both hands. "He's right. You should send the most handsome and charismatic people available. Which is clearly me… and possibly Ruffnut."
Ruffnut nodded with complete seriousness. "We're very charismatic."
Lucian laughed under his breath. "You, Snotlout, and Fishlegs will also go but you'll lead the envoys' boats to your respective homelands, while Hiccup and the others travel ahead quickly to speak with the chief and make preparations. The twins will help Astrid escort Merida and Ariel alongside the envoys."
Snotlout shrugged. "Alright, that works."
______
In one of the castle's larger guest rooms, reserved for the highest-ranking nobles, Duke Victor de Ville closed the door behind him.
Two figures were already waiting inside.
Standing by the open balcony was a young man with a bold split hairstyle: jet black on one side, stark white on the other, neatly slicked back. He wore a crisp black dress shirt, red tie, and a fitted vest divided perfectly into black and white, with a long fur-lined coat draped over his shoulders. A slender cane rested on the floor, held in a hand wearing vivid red gloves.
Sitting in a chair near the window was a young woman with the same striking black-and-white split hair, styled in short, voluminous curls. Her sharp blue eyes and red lips stood out against her pale face. She wore a glossy black coat with a grid pattern and long black gloves, a book resting in her lap.
Both turned as their father entered.
Cruella closed her book. "So how did it go, Father? Is the new king dependable?"
Victor walked to the chair near the window and sat down, gazing out at the recovering city for a moment before answering.
"I'm still not certain," he said slowly. "There is something different about him. His presence is calm… almost unnervingly so. It settles the room. But beneath that calm, I can feel something hidden."
Crewel, Cruella's brother, let out a small, amused huff from the balcony. "Better than the last one, at least. The previous prince was set to inherit the throne, but he was still childish in many ways, all pride and no patience."
Cruella's lips curved into a faint smile. "It was rather pitiful, wasn't it? He was supposed to be crowned only two days after that banquet. Instead the curse fell, and we were all frozen along with him."
Victor's expression remained thoughtful as he continued staring out the window.
"This new king is not the same," he said at last. "Whether that is a good thing or a dangerous one… remains to be seen."