The Prince Wants To Retire

26. Transactions with the Principality (2)

Coordination with the Prince was made quickly.

First of all, the big thing was that Kariel didn’t put too much pressure on the prince, and there was also something that he didn’t want much in return for help in order to form an alliance.

On the contrary, the king was embarrassed and gave more himself.

The problem was the last item on the agenda.

“The Empire wants to organize the surrounding countries.”

The King, who understood Kariel’s words at once, was silent.

Because it was not a matter to be answered hastily.

“… … How far are you going to organize it?”

“I plan to organize all the countries gathered in the conflict zone.”

“Um… … .”

“In addition, countries that did not cooperate with the Empire even though they were related to the warlock are also subject to cleanup.”

Even if they did not participate in the Allied Forces in the disputed area, if they had anything to do with the Warlock, they would all be cleaned up.

“… … .”

At the resolute voice of Kariel, the king shut his mouth and fell into the django.

In the western continent, there were very small countries with only patterns.

The countries that formed the Allied Forces still have a larger territory than most of the empire’s territories, but there were countries that were less than that.

A country that is sandwiched between powerful countries and lives on customs clearance

A country that has given its territory to criminal groups.

A country that maintains its country through gambling or nightlife.

In fact, it cannot be said that they are necessarily at fault.

Because it is their own choice to survive.

The problem is that they also acted like bugs that gnaw away the interests of the Empire.

Then, like other countries, we should come and join us.

However, when Kariel beat other powers, he was only watching, and he was still struggling to avoid vomiting the reparation money while watching the situation unfold.

In fact, if the Empire had properly demanded reparations, it would have faced bankruptcy right away.

But if he had come and prayed first, he would have looked after the situation.

‘The golden hour is over.’

The time for them to be forgiven is over.

In my mind, I wanted to completely annihilate it and make it the direct control of the imperial family, but that part was already out of Kariel’s hands.

Kariel was planning to make a full retirement by drawing a sketch through a deal with the Prince.

“Are you going to start a large-scale war?”

“I don’t know about that. There is only one thing left to do in this deal is a strong alliance with the Principality, and what happens after that, won’t your Majesty and the Empire decide?”

Feeling Kariel’s will to fully retire, the Duke sighed and nodded.

In fact, it was best to marry a princess like this.

He was not greedy for power, had a status and power that was not bad for the princess, and finally, he was a man whom the princess liked.

The problem is that those bored eyes, as if everything is boring and annoying, make the princess’ married life expected to be very difficult.

‘Looks like he likes to hang around doing nothing.’

Thinking so, the king thought about marrying Kariel again.

‘… … Should I really send the princess to the empire?’

The more I looked into Kariel’s eyes, the more I felt annoyed, and I couldn’t figure out how she had led me to this point.

‘It must be that he is talented enough to overcome laziness.’

Having gathered his thoughts in that way, the king nodded slightly and ended the informal meeting with only the words that he would discuss Kariel’s proposal.

But it was only half successful.

The Principality also suffered a lot of damage from small countries, so it was not a bad proposal.

A swarm of demons that roam the borders of many countries to avoid crackdowns.

Criminal groups and pirates roaming the territory of a small country as a base.

Everyone was using what could not be intruded into the territory of another country.

What if the Empire sorts this out?

From the perspective of the principality, damage can be significantly reduced.

But it wasn’t just good things.

What would happen if only major countries remained in the Western Continent?

As the countries that acted as a buffer in their own way have disappeared, a fight between the powerful countries will begin in earnest.

That meant that the situation was much more tense than now.

Above all, if you look at the current empire, there will most likely be a large-scale war later.

If so, the future of the principality was not so bright either.

‘Anyway, if it’s the future to come, we’ll choose first.’

With that mindset, the king summoned the principal nobles of the principality and explained the contents of the secret meeting.

Because the matter was so serious, even the nobles had different opinions, but most of the cases were also accepted by the nobles, so it was highly unlikely that it would take too long.

* * *

Around midnight, a modest party was held.

The banquet was held in the opinion of the king, that it was better to be modest than a fancy banquet because the war had just ended.

The nobles were dissatisfied, but the knights and others seemed more comfortable because it was a banquet like this.

“Good.”

Kariel smiled as if he liked this simple banquet more, and raised a glass of champagne.

Had it been a splendid banquet, it would have been a playground only for high-ranking nobles, but many people were able to enjoy it because they opened the principality’s palace while holding a modest banquet.

Thanks to this, a noisy banquet was created and it became a space where people felt affection.

“See you.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Kariel smiled and nodded when she saw the princess approaching her.

The princess cautiously asked him.

“… … I heard what you said to my father.”

The princess put on a sad expression as she said that.

“Are you sure you don’t like me?”

“No way. Is there any man who would reject a princess?”

At the princess’s question, Kariel firmly shook her head.

Unlike the king’s daughter, she became close with merchants from an early age, making her stand out in sangjae, and now she is leading the famous high rank of the principality.

Also, her face was beautiful enough. Body too… … There was ample potential for development.

“Well.”

After Kariel coughed for a moment, he looked at the princess.

The expression on his face as if the prince’s words that he liked him were true.

His cheeks were red, and his eyes were brimming with tears.

If this was acting, I would have no choice but to be deceived.

“I want to give you a choice.”

“… … Is it a choice?”

“exactly. It’s a blood oath, but it’s a forced marriage. It might be embarrassing for the princess. That’s why I’m being considerate so that I can choose at least among the three princes.”

The princess’s face brightened at Kariel’s words.

“You mean you don’t like me?”

“Of course.”

At Kariel’s answer, the princess smiled brightly and nodded.

As if he had gained his own confidence, from this point on, he continued the conversation by talking about the duchy or asking about the empire.

“Actually, I was curious about the empire.”

“exactly?”

“yes. Before the prince… … No, I heard that the empire has changed a lot since you moved in earnest. When I visited for the Continental Congress, I looked at how things had changed, but as a guest, the information I could access was limited.”

“Hmm… … .”

Kariel rubbed her chin at the princess’s words, lost in thought.

As if the experience of the previous life was not in vain, as the princess had said, the empire had changed a lot.

However, it fell far short of his expectations.

It was because the authority of the nobility was still too strong.

As the empire was destroyed in his previous life, one major change was the strengthening of the imperial authority.

And as a result, a change in the status of the imperial people followed.

‘It was possible because the empire was in crisis.’

The funds generated by robbing the nobles who revolted, and their own technology, were released.

The policies that were unavoidably implemented to strengthen the power of the empire, weakened by numerous incidents, in a short period of time.

Magic, swordsmanship, techniques, etc. handed down from each family were released to the academy and received regardless of status.

In addition, a basic academy was newly established.

Even the nobles who were initially opposed to it knew that they had no choice but to accept it to some extent.

But this future will be difficult now.

“… … It’s a pity.”

“yes?”

“no.”

At the princess’s question, Kariel shook her head with a wry smile.

There were dozens of ways that popped into my head right now.

Ways to gradually raise the status of the imperial people and make the empire rich and strong.

Since the board has been made, even if you tinker a little, you will be able to achieve faster development than now.

‘I think it’s possible because there is an industrial system to some extent… … .’

It’s because it’s blocked by the limit of magic, but if you change the direction a little, you will be able to achieve rapid development like the industrial age of the earth.

“Hmm~.”

A princess who looks at herself as if she is interested.

Seeing her like that, Kariel tilted her head.

“Why?”

“no.”

The eyes that flashed once in the bored eyes that seemed to be bothered by everything.

Seeing this, the princess’s heart fluttered.

‘I don’t think the other princes were like this… … .’

The princess thought so and tilted her head.

He was the first prince who boasted of how genius his younger siblings were and acted like a person eager to introduce them, but even if he went to the empire and saw the two princes, he didn’t seem to change his mind.

“As the prince said, I will go and check it out.”

Kariel nodded with a deep smile at the princess’ words.

The nobles of the principality watched the two of them chatting for quite a long time, laughing and secretly watching them.

It was because they were talking to each other with serious expressions on their faces, but their eyes were on each other.

The knights and the citizens of the Principality also saw this and laughed happily.

When Kariel and the princess disappeared together as if they were the main characters of the banquet, everyone at the banquet had a conversation about their marriage.

However, contrary to their expectations, a few days later, it was announced that Kariel would head to the capital of the Empire with the Princess.

「Princess Isla! Go to the capital of the empire to see the princes of the empire!”

“The empire that gave princesses the authority to choose princes!”

「Who is the most enviable woman on the continent? It is Princess Ayla!」

All the people of the principality liked that the princess was given the choice of one of the princes out of consideration for the prince whom she had raised with great care.

Favorability increased even more at the appearance of the empire that was considerate of the principality.

Then, the worry that one of the princes might become a duke and become a de facto vassal of the empire disappeared.

Even if it became a subject country, it was said that it would not be bad.

Kariel, who raised the image of the empire in the principality, ended the negotiations with the king after stamping the seal on the final agreement.

“The second agreement will be made in the capital of the empire.”

At Kariel’s words, the Duke nodded slightly.

“Are you going to go to the conflict zone like this?”

“exactly.”

At the Prince’s question, Kariel smiled and nodded.

In fact, he had finished everything he had to do, so he was thinking of going down to the villa that the Prince had personally given him.

It’s his estate anyway, and the imperial palace will manage it, so it didn’t matter if he went down to the villa like this.

There was money sent from the Empire, and the money given to Kariel as a gift from the Principality was also significant, so there was no need to worry about making a living.

“… … I envy you.”

“The prince, pass it over to the princess quickly and rest.”

“I would like to, but… … .”

The prince wanted to do the same, but the princess still lacked a lot.

As a merchant, he could trust him to some extent, but he had a lot of power to lead the political world.

On the other hand, the man in front of him was different.

Kariel, who was already evaluated as a complete form, was in a state of being anxious to catch him somehow in the Empire.

That is why the prince looks at Kariel with a soft gaze as if he is greedy.

“Hmmmm! Then I will finish with this.”

“Twice! Let’s do it.”

The prince kicks his tongue as if it’s a pity.

However, there was no picture of Kariel becoming the Prince.

I came out with the throne of the Crown Prince, will the position of the Duke come into my eyes?

If you set your mind to it, you can become an emperor, but there is no way you can become a princess.

“I hope you have a pleasant break.”

At the words of the king, Kariel smiled and nodded.

‘It’s the beginning of a vacation of a lifetime!’