@DarkLegions
It's not really like that. The Empire doesn't like their treaty to be used that way either, but they do have to keep its letter and protect Amidonia's territorial integrity. Other forms of reparation, OTOH, are possible and, from the Empire's POV, desirable. They want Amidonia...
I don't know what's worse. That it's taking so freaking long to climb the stairs, or that he's been stalled on that one step for I don't know how long.
I'm not sure a pseudo European should be all that concerned about the gender roles of dessert. If you like sweets, knock yourself out. A Swedish king killed himself like that, and if it's good enough for the descendants of vikings, it's good enough for the rest of us.
I don't understand the issue here. She just has to say a price, and he just has to pay. Or is it that Adis can't actually afford Valtan and is demanding some kind of big discount?