Chapter 371 (2/2)

Wilhelmina doesn’t get fl.u.s.tered .

「I wonder, will it? I a.s.sume you are aware of the loyalty of my army . If harm befalls me……peace would be out of the question and a long extended fight that you can’t escape from would last for countless years . 」

Wilhelmina glances over at Erich who just sat down .

It’s impressive how she knew he was the person in charge of military affairs .

「We are not Your Majesty’s ‘real’ enemy . 」

There were visible changes to the king’s expression .

「Uwah, she knows . Scary . 」

So much tension is in the air that Tristan’s lazy voice sounds meaningful .

When the tension reaches the limit, Wilhelmina giggles out of nowhere .

「――fufu, besides, even if something were to happen to the incompetent and foolish me, someone more capable would appear . That kind of joke is quite funny . 」

I feel things becoming more relaxed .

「……well, I don’t plan on doing anything to your nation . Although I won’t go as far as peaceful coexistence, as long as you don’t step in my territory, I won’t go to war against you . 」

The king clears his throat and then leans back into his chair .

However, the potential carnage which everyone thought was avoided lasted briefly .

「I also have the same thoughts . But there is a thorn which jeopardizes the relations.h.i.+p between our countries . 」

Wilhelmina points to a map with her beautiful finger .

It was directed at my territory――no, it was at the stage where the clash happened, the occupied area centered around Kisatto .

「This region is former Vandolea land, which you have taken temporarily…… then there was the incident with the Dard mountain and you left it alone without making a decision . 」

Certainly, the mountain erupted right after we occupied the land so we didn’t have time for that .

After that, we had an outbreak of disease and couldn’t spare any effort to negotiate with Vandolea, so that’s why the land wasn’t officially recognized as our territory .

And now, Vandolea is gone .

「This land has belonged to Vandolea for a long time . That country is now a part of our nation, though the people have not changed . Some have attachment to the land or perhaps relatives living there . 」

Wilhelmina and everyone else’s eyes concentrate on me .

Tristan drinks his tea with a troubled expression . This is the time he should be saying something .

「The commander who went rogue was also born on this land . I’m not trying to diminish his sin, however leaving things they way they are would leave seeds for problems in the future . 」

Wilhelmina’s eyes open wide .

It feels like I’m being sucked into her vibrant green eyes .

「To your nation, it is a remote region with nothing ……for us, however, it is a precious land . Could you please return it to us? Could you please…… return our land and people?」

Her plea sounds weak, yet I feel an incredible pressure from her .

I unconsciously move my head up and down as I am faced head-on with Wilhelmina’s beauty . Of course I know nodding is not a good thing .

「「……」」

The staring match between me and Wilhelmina continued for awhile, and right up until the moment I was about to surrender, she turns to the king .

「That said, I’m not going to demand you to give back the land you shed blood to occupy . I intend to multiply the compensation for the clash by several times…… no, several dozens of times and buy back the land from feudal lord Hardlett and the king of Goldonia . 」

「Aah…… this is definitely not an opponent the Margrave can win against in a verbal battle . 」

In an instant, she changes her negotiation target from me to the king and switches methods from coercion and pet.i.tioning to bribery .

Tristan’s right in saying she isn’t someone I can match in negotiation tactics .

According to what I heard from Claire, South Yuguria has received a sizable investment from the merchants of Stura .

Nevertheless, I don’t think that sum could rival Goldonia’s funds .

It won’t be enough to win over the king .

「The occupied territory was won over by Lord Hardlett . It would prefer not to interfere . 」

Sure enough, the king’s response is weak .

But once again, I feel like I’ll fall by staring into those eyes of hers .

Should I touch Tristan’s a.s.s to neutralize the effect?

……wait, why did he leave his chair? Did he read my thoughts?

When Wilhelmina confirms my reaction and the king’s reaction are not favorable, she stands up .

「Shall we take a little break? This is a good chance . Bring in the present . 」

Wilhelmina orders her subordinates who brings out a strange object .

At first glance, it appears to be an ordinary rotten tree branch, though I’m sure that’s not the case if she is offering it to me .

It is about the size of my arm . What on earth is it?

「What is that?」

The king also knits his eyebrows dubiously .

「This is incense . I heard it is a rare item found only in the marsh region on the north coast of Teries, and that something of this size appears maybe once every few decades . 」

「Hooh . 」

After discovering the ident.i.ty of the item, the king’s interest wanes .

I also lose interest .

No matter how rare it is, like jewels, if I don’t have any interest in it, the item is merely a rotten branch .

The king and Kenneth have faces like they don’t care . It makes Tristan’s reaction seem dramatic .

Wilhelmina’s subordinate first lights the incense as a test .

The guards were scared of poison smoke, then realized Wilhelmina can’t escape from this place and ruled out that possibility .

I see, for how rare it is, it’s emitting a nice fragrance .

It would work well in the bathroom after dropping a deuce .

「Mm, what a nice smell . I’ll gladly take it . 」

The king sighs in resignation and expresses his thanks before accepting the gift .

That was when it happened .

「What a wonderful…… scent, isn’t it?」

A voice comes from the mobile prison behind the king .

It transforms the king’s complexion .

「Rosario!?」

He runs at her like a child calling for his mother .

「I apologize for speaking out like that . I can’t see what is going on right now…… if I am a hindrance……」

「I don’t mind . There is no need to hold back . Speak freely . 」

I can’t see clearly because of the cage, but it looks like the king is talking with Rosario .

The faces of Kenneth and Erich turn paler as it happens .

Wilhelmina is unfazed .

It was as if her face was covered with a steel mask .

The king and Rosario converse, although Roasrio’s voice is soft enough that I can’t make out what is being said .

Nevertheless, I can somewhat guess what’s being said, like “my sense of smell has become more sensitive after losing my sight” and “I’ve never smelled such a splendid fragrance before, it calms me down” .

「I see, so you are fond of this smell . No, it’s good . Being unreserved is good . 」

A short moment of silence later, the king turns back to face Wilhelmina .

His face did not have the same intensity from when he was glaring at her before .

「How long will these incenses last?」

「Depending on how you use them, I believe they will last three weeks . 」

The king mutters ‘three weeks’ bitterly……

「How many more of these do you have?」

「They are rare, so not many . 」

「I don’t mind paying a high price . I will purchase it . 」

「They come from the depths of an unexplored region and cannot simply be……」

As Wilhelmina forces a smile, the king frowns .

「A brief recess!」

The king declares that and still continues talking with Wilhelmina .

Even after the meeting stopped, it’s impressive how South Yuguria did not twitch in the slightest, whereas those on the Goldonia side couldn’t hide their unrest .

「Hardlett . 」

During the break, I was called by the king into the garden .

I can guess what he wants to talk about . Surely Tristan also knows since he’s making a dubious face .

「About South Yuguria’s request to return the occupied land…… no, to sell the land, I want you to accept it . 」

I knew he would say this .

Entangled with Rosario, the king cannot think about anything else .

「Wilhelmina promised to prepare sufficient compensation . It isn’t a bad deal for Goldonia or for you . Holding such a remote land will not bring you as much profit anyways . 」

Keeping the occupied territory will produce little benefit for me and the kingdom .

The region was where we made a base for treating the disease, though it has lost its meaning now .

That’s why returning the land isn’t painful .

「First, we must fortify the interior of the nation . Besides, setting up against South Yuguria for a potential problem isn’t a good plan . 」

I have no problem with him wanting to part with the land because he wants money .

In fact, being able to sell the land for such a high price would make anyone chuckle to themselves in joy .

「There won’t be any obstacle to the defense . Using the money gained to gather weapons, all that’s left would be to attract soldiers . 」

If I leave the defense to Leopolt, everything will be fine .

Having more funds also means the number of cannons and chariots will increase .

「Hardlett, this is my wish . I ask that you see it come true . 」

There is one problem, which is the king of Goldonia yielding to Wilhelmina .

It would be fine if, as a result of negotiations, he was satisfied after weighing the benefits .

However, this is different . He was taken by their ploy and swallowed conditions he would normally not agree to .

I’m unfamiliar with diplomacy and plots and I could see that .

The Goldonian king is admitting his defeat in this negotiation .

Yet, I don’t know if I can make up an excuse to the king .

「Very well, Your Majesty . 」

The king patted my shoulder and thanked me over and over after I said that .

I respond with a strained smile .

Relinquis.h.i.+ng the occupied territory is not fatal to me and it would be impossible to keep opposing the king’s will .

As I am letting the king’s words in one ear and out the other, I mutter this in my heart:

“King, is this all you amount to?”

The meeting ended like that .

South Yuguria will pay Goldonia for the damages done and a settlement was reached .

I will return the occupied land to South Yuguria in exchange for not a small amount of gold to me and the kingdom . Wilhelmina would continue to send the king personal gifts .

Everything wrapped up with negotiations coming to an end .

I wonder what kind of face I had when I returned to the mansion .

「Nonna, I want to f.u.c.k you hard today . Sorry, be prepared . 」

「I am your wife . I am there for whatever you want . 」

My heart did not clear up during my intense session with Nonna .

–Third Person POV–

South Yuguria Empire . Vandolea State – Capital City: Vandola .

「The northern lands have returned! The northern lands have returned! Her Majesty Wilhelmina has retaken the stolen territory!」

The citizens widen their eyes in astonishment as a man runs around shouting .

「Has it really come back!? I heard we lost the fight . 」

「We reclaimed the land from fierce general Hardlett…… is this a lie? Didn’t General Daleon die?」

The man yells further to the people in disbelief .

「General Daleon’s death has reached Her Majesty! Her Majesty Wilhelmina traveled alone to Goldonia and led the Goldonian King as well as Hardlett down the path to righteousness, which is to surrender! Long live Her Majesty! Long live the South Yuguria Empire!」

Signboards shouldered by the man get built at the key locations of the city .

Although the exciting news was not entirely true, the people still gathered around and cheered in amazement .

「――that was when Her Majesty roared to Hardlett! I won’t let my land or my people be taken away, even at the cost of my life! If by any chance you do not follow the right path, our nation’s powerful soldiers will instantly overrun the plains! That made the blood of Hardlett and the Goldonian king run cold, then they begged for forgiveness――――」

Storytellers near the signboards recited the events in a lively manner .

「Is this true…… I never thought that place would ever come back . 」

「Honestly, I doubted Her Majesty . With this…… Her Majesty proved me wrong . She is a real hero . 」

「We might be watching an empress who will make a huge mark in history . 」

As the ma.s.ses stir, a group of soldiers march orderly .

「Look . Soldiers are heading to the land they recovered . 」

「Apparently, Hardlett’s army really withdrew…… amazing…… so amazing . 」

「Hurray! Hurray for South Yuguria! Hurry for Her Majesty Wilhelmina!」

「We are witnessing history!!」

Murmurs gradually turn into cheers and then burst into full-blown hollering .

On this day, in the state of Vandolea, where not as many people supported Wilhelmina compared to former Altair, suspicion towards her disappeared .

At the same time, South Yuguria Empire announced the payment of the princ.i.p.al amount of debts as well as interest from the merchants be suspended indefinitely due to various circ.u.mstances .

The panicked merchants tried to ask for their funds to be returned now that all transactions were stopped, but South Yuguria Empire had already established its own economic zone around the market of the merchants of the absorbed Libatis, and no longer needed their strength .

Ultimately, the announcement would cause a large number of Stura merchants to go bankrupt .

Flitch was among the names of ruined companies, though n.o.body recognized it as anything more than one of many mid-sized companies .

Protagonist: Aegir Hardlett . 25 years old . Spring .

Status: Goldonia Kingdom Margrave . Great Feudal Lord of Eastern Area . Mountain Legend . Friend of the Dwarves . Friend of the King of Aless . Dragon Slayer Hero .

Elf Mediator . s.e.x King of White City .

Family:

Nonna (fainted in agony), Carla (concubine), Mel (concubine), Miti (concubine), Maria (concubine), Catherine (concubine)

Brynhildr (sticking closely), Gretel (dog wife), Melissa (mother), Kuu (lover), Ruu (lover)

Mireille (lover), Pipi (lover), Casie (ghost), Rita (head maid), Yoguri (playwright), Alice (a.s.s lover), Leah (lover)

Marceline (lover), Daughters – Stephanie (lover), Bridget (lover), Felicie (lover)

Natia (failure), Sofia (loved one), Sekrit (free-loader)

Sebastian (butler), Dorothea (capital mansion supervisor), Claudia (gorilla macho), Clara (resigned)

Celestina (return preparations), Monica (maid), Adela (pro lover)

Subordinates:

Celia (fl.u.s.tered), Myla (commander), Marta (attendant), Irijina (commander), Peticheri (investigating), Luna (satisfied), Ruby (satisfied), Gido (escort unit), Polte (domestic affairs official)

Leopolt (staff officer), Tristan (departure), Adolph (head of domestic affairs), Claire & Laurie (official merchant), Lilian (actress), Kroll (servant), Alma (servant), Suzy (orgy), Solana (haggard)

Captives:

Christoph (harsh torture)

Non-humans:

Lammy (lamia), Alraune (sprouting), Mirumi (mermaid)

Pet:

Pochi (home owner), Messerschmitt (immigrated), Schwartz (horse), Felteris (discovered)

Citizens: 220,000 .

Major Cities – Rafen: 40,000 . Lintbloom: 7000 . Special Cultivation District: 14,000 .

Escort: 150 men

Infantry: 13 600, Cavalry: 1500, Archers: 1500, Bow Cavalry: 4000, Cannoneers: 400

Cannons: 60, Large Cannons: 30, Dwarven Cannons: 16, Chariots: 45

Other

Reserve Army: 0 men . Security Unit: 200 men .

a.s.sets: 250 300 gold (reparations +50 000), (payment to families of deceased -50 000), (sale of occupied territory +200 000)

s.e.xual Partners: 775, children who have been born: 68 + 565 (non-human)

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