The Prince Wants To Retire

26. deal with the principality

Contrary to everyone’s expectation that the principality would be swallowed up at any moment, Kariel only destroyed the undead army and did not try to enter the principality’s fortress.

Rather, the western and southern forces of the empire were used to keep the southern kingdoms in check, and the northern forces were used to keep the castle in check.

When Kariel really kept his promise, supporters of Kariel appeared in the principality.

Unlike other countries, the perception that the empire is a trustworthy country spreads within the principality, and some nobles claimed that it was an ambition to take over the principality by marrying a princess.

Actually, it wasn’t a false claim.

It was because if Kariel marries a princess, she will be able to become a princess, so there is a possibility that she will be incorporated into the empire later.

However, from the point of view of the principality, which was concerned about its imminent destruction, it was inevitable to be grateful to the empire for blocking the approach of other countries.

“Do you believe in the Empire? Did you bring the largest army among the three kingdoms? You guys, think about it!”

“Isn’t that bastard an agent of Talos?”

“Right! That guy! I heard you made some money trading with Talos!”

“What about the noble person who saved the principality? this guy! You’re the one to kill!”

A semi-aristocrat from a merchant background began to be beaten by people from the principality he was close with.

In such a situation, when the news spread that the imperial master and the knights had protected the iron wall from the attack of Roman and the black magicians, the claim of the nobles lost power in an instant.

“… … You have become the hero of the principality.”

As the king murmured with an absurd expression on his face, the knights who had been serving him from a close distance coughed and turned their heads.

This is because they, too, had a hand in making Kariel’s hero.

“after… … Still, is it good that I’m not in a position to be eaten away?”

There were variables that did not know how the empire would come out, but once the crisis was over, I was able to relax for an hour.

The people of the Principality knew it, so they were able to laugh even when they were injured and worked hard.

As the Empire defended the Principality, even the Holy Kingdom and Talos could not enter hastily.

The cause itself was to protect the Principality, and even if you ignore it and try to enter, you have to break through the resistance of the Empire and the Principality.

In such a situation, he went into a lull as he heard the news that he had completely blocked Roman’s invasion.

“We are back.”

The Duke of Cletta, commanding Talos, ordered the withdrawal of the army.

This is because the Empire could not be allowed to take control of the entire conflict area as it is.

They had to return in haste, even in order to deter any attempt to occupy the disputed territories, leaving only the principal territories of the principality.

On the other hand, Seongguk acted cleverly.

“The Holy Spirit has sent you.”

A number of priests entered the fortress to heal the wounded in the Principality.

Priests who heal at no cost.

Seeing that, people gasped.

Originally, in order to receive treatment with the priest’s divine power, he had to pay a huge cost.

Not only did people without money have to pay for it, but the potions they made were also very expensive.

But come now?

Even though everyone is receiving treatment, they put on a cold expression.

Nevertheless, the priests treated the people of the principality with kindness.

When the principality that kept the peace of the continent continued to receive treatment for free, saying that no fee could be paid, the hearts of the people in the principality began to melt little by little.

“It’s like a fox.”

Kariel quietly watched what the Pope was doing.

Except for the Paladins, only priests were sent into the fortress, and the pope himself also traveled around the outskirts of the duchy and healed the suffering.

It is to use a strategy that did not work in the Empire again.

Not only did they recover, but they also used the provisions they had brought to feed the people.

Those who are tired and injured in the war have no choice but to pay more attention to the person who directly heals and takes care of them.

No matter how great the Imperial Army was, from the standpoint of the general public, their hearts would incline toward the Holy Nation.

“Are you trying to restore the status of the Holy Kingdom?”

Tarion, who had completed the work ordered by the capital and returned to the seat next to Kariel, asked cautiously.

“It will. Even if it seems like the Seongguk is suffering a huge loss right now, if it recovers its status, the lost money will be restored soon.”

After saying that, Kariel made a relaxed expression. Then Tarion tilted his head and asked.

“Can I leave it alone?”

“I do not care. On the contrary, if you block it too actively, Seongguk may join hands with the South. If that’s the case, it’s more comfortable to leave it open enough to survive.”

After answering that, Kariel turned to Tarion and said.

“Choose only the Royal Guard and the Imperial Palace Knights to escort me.”

“Are you planning to go to the principality?”

“Since the public opinion is over, we have to go see the end.”

Tarion bows his head at Kariel’s command and disappears.

Kariel, who watched Tarion’s back for a while, turned her attention to the priests snooping even in the area occupied by the Imperial Army.

The Continental Congress threatened its status as the best religion in the Western Continent. If they were able to directly intervene in the duchy, they would be able to reach out to the south again using this place as a stepping stone, but the empire completely blocked it.

What Kariel did in the principality was not simply to prevent the intervention of the Holy Kingdom and Talos.

Through Talos and the priests who were trying to devour the upper world of the principality through the Merchant Company, the Holy Nation’s intention to raise the status of religion within the principality was crushed.

That is why Seongguk is struggling and moving like this.

‘Suffer a little more.’

Of course, not even a seed would be eaten by the people of the empire, who were filled with distrust in the Holy Kingdom.

Therefore, the principality or other countries had to attack.

But that won’t be easy either.

Because Kariel will make it so.

In this way, the empire will enter the next stage while the castle kingdom wastes time in attacking the principality.

‘I’ll have to organize everything except for a few countries.’

Except for the powerful nations that attended the Continental Congress, including Iron in the West, Principality in the East, two southern kingdoms, and the Northern Seongguk, the small countries were intended to be erased from the Western Continent.

The small countries united and provoked the empire in the conflict area, so the justification was sufficient.

The basis for making this judgment was the irony.

Since we have an alliance, the west should be safe. This means that there are more troops available for mobilization, but if an alliance is formed with the principality as well, only the castle and the two kingdoms remain.

Then, you can keep them in check with all your strength, including the three Masters, and wipe out the small country alliance with the remaining troops.

The empire was strong enough to clean up the coalition of small countries without using the main forces led by the margraves.

“Is this the beginning of a great empire?”

Originally the territory of the empire, but fell away over time.

The time has come to subjugate them to the bosom of the Empire once again.

The beginning would be an alliance with the principality.

“welcome.”

The prince and nobles greeted at the front gate of the fortress at the news of Kariel’s arrival.

At their hospitality, Kariel also got off the horse and entered on foot.

“Nice to meet you.”

Kariel, who smiled and shook hands with the king, entered the fortress while chatting lightly.

Seeing her entering with only a minimal escort, Kariel became a trustworthy person to the people of the principality.

When I entered the palace with the princess without any pressure, the princess greeted Kariel wearing a dress and full makeup.

“Greetings to Princess Ayla, First Prince of the Empire.”

“Nice to meet you. It is an honor to meet the most beautiful woman in the principality.”

Kariel lightly kissed the back of her hand, laughed and had a short talk with the princess, then immediately looked at the princess.

“You seem to have prepared a party, but how about taking care of the big things first before proceeding?”

“good.”

The nobles in the vicinity put on a tense expression when he said that we should not feel uncomfortable with each other and take care of the big things first.

“I want to have a one-on-one conversation with the Prince.”

It was a somewhat rude request, but the current Kariel was not in the status of an ordinary first prince.

Since he had been entrusted with full power in the Empire, the Prince nodded his head willingly and guided us inside.

A table was set up, and a simple tea set was prepared as soon as we sat down.

After all the preparations were done and the people left, Kariel said straight-forward.

“You don’t have to make a marriage alliance.”

The prince’s eyes fluttered at Kariel’s words.

Then Kariel smiled and said to him.

“I know that the Prince’s daughter’s love is recognized by the continent. Above all, there is no need to overdo it, as there are some who worry that the Principality will be eaten by the Empire.”

“… … I will protest against the Empire in another country later.”

“Are you worried about the Empire?”

The king sighed at Kariel’s question.

Now the Principality was not in a position to worry about anyone. However, the king looked at Kariel with worried eyes, wondering if the Empire, who had helped him so much, was not willing to be insulted.

“What the Empire wants is a strong ally.”

“Do you want an alliance stronger than the Iron League?”

“exactly. Proof of a strong alliance between the Principality and the Empire will be the present conflict zone.”

To share Aisarman peacefully.

Without touching the principal territories of the Principality, the Empire will also occupy a portion of Aesarman, making it a mutually satisfying deal.

Of course, Talos could resist, but he would end the conflict by giving them some of the territories occupied by the Empire.

What if you don’t accept it?

It had to be pressured under the pretext of attacking the coalition of small countries gathered in the current conflict zone.

“Since when did you make this board?”

Instead of answering the prince’s question, Kariel only smiled.

The prince sighed briefly at the sight and said to Kariel.

“Actually, from the point of view of the Principality, marriage between you and a princess is not bad.”

“Well… … .”

“More than anything else, the princess likes you.”

At the king’s words, Kariel’s eyes fluttered.

“what… … Did you?”

“The princess said she likes you.”

“… … Are you sure? Aren’t you mistaken with your brothers?”

Seeing Kariel asking again, the king shook his head resolutely.

Then, Kariel’s expression hardened.

“More than anything else, it would be better to form a clan from the point of view of the Principality.”

In response to the prince’s reply, Kariel let out a small sigh.

Marry a princess → become the next princess. → Immerse yourself in the political battle between the Empire and the Principality.

It’s a pain in the ass to get to this point, but what if the supporters of Kariel want to reinstate the crown prince again?

‘I’m going crazy.’

Kariel, whose thoughts had gone that far, put on a determined expression.

“Do you have any plans to send the princess to the empire to study?”

“You want to hold them hostage?”

When the king asked with a serious expression, Kariel shook her head resolutely.

“It could be that the princess likes me because she hasn’t seen my younger siblings properly yet. If you want a blood alliance, I would like to give you a choice after meeting all the princes in a wide range.”

As Kariel smiled and said, the Gong King’s eyes were filled with doubt.

“Is there a need to conclude a blood pact urgently? We have a lot of time, so wouldn’t it be better to proceed slowly?”

“Well… … .”

The prince wonders why Kariel has come this far.

The ministers of the Empire took out Kariel, who was barely stepping down from his position as the Crown Prince and was about to go into hiding, and entrusted him to the commander-in-chief.

He was a person who hated power.

Such a person is saying openly that he wants to retire.

“All I want is peace and stability.”

“… … I will consult with the nobles.”

“Okay. Now that I have solved the most difficult problem, I think I will be able to solve it quickly.”

Cariel said with a smile and started discussing the remaining issues with the Prince as well.