I have a few nitpicks, if ya wanna :) The goal of a story should be to provide enough detail and context for readers to immerse themselves in the story and understand the characters' motivations and actions. The less characters the better (at least in first chapter). The more emotion emanating from them the better. This could be more than one chappy! Be brave!
Clarity
Aim for using less flowery and wordy language, for example "many tens of times beyond its landmass with larger population to match" to "many times larger in both landmass and population". Such things make the text more readable ^^
- btw it is "landlocked country" not "in-land"
Emotion/Introduction
Half of chapter reads more like a wiki/news article, than a real story. (Some call it info-dump) When introducing characters, like chancellor Erwin, I would provide a brief description of his role and behaviour, along with his introduction. Like "Chancellor Erwin, a man usually composed and respected, was the last to enter, his face..."
Caroline's arrival and the cultists' summoning is explained, but consider adding more detail about how Caroline has integrated into Teroku's world and how people may react.
Paragraph Structure
I really didn't like it the way it was structure; maybe it is only a personal preference, but please break the text into paragraphs, without too much of a spaces. Break it always when there's a change in topic or a perspective.
Sometimes in longer exchanges I was a bit confused who was speaking. Maybe you could use dialogue tags (such as "said," "replied") to clearly indicate who is speaking.
To give you an example, I meant it like this:
The village of Muriel came into view as Erwin and Temona's carriage trundled along the path. Nestled amidst rolling green hills, the village exuded a rustic charm that felt untouched. Its cobblestone streets wound through small houses with thatched roofs, and vibrant flower beds sneaked around every corner. The village hall, a sturdy structure with blue-ivy creeping up its stone walls, stood at the heart of the settlement. Its large wooden doors welcomed all people of all backgrounds.
A group of local officers awaited Erwin and Temona's arrival, their expressions a mixture of concern and anticipation. As the carriage came to a stop, Erwin stepped out, his gaze fixed on the officers. They exchanged nods, and without hesitation, he urged them to provide a detailed report.
One of the officers stepped forward, his uniform adorned with the emblem of Teroku. "Chancellor Erwin," he began, his voice respectful yet tinged with urgency, "the detachment we dispatched to escort the representatives encountered an unexpected situation. Roughly half an hour after passing our checkpoint, Caroline—"
Erwin's brows furrowed, and he exchanged a quick glance with Temona.
"—Caroline blocked their way," the officer continued, his tone measured. "Confronted the leading representative, a woman named madam
Elara. The confrontation escalated to a point where madam
Elara raised her fist to defend herself."
