172. Crown Prince (1)
After getting on the horse again.
I started walking side by side with Tina.
“Veil, how is the princess?”
“Yes, you are doing gymnastics inside.”
“Really? “You’re very lively, probably because you’re from the East.”
The Northern Princess smiled and nodded.
Meanwhile, I observed Bakal’s soldiers closely.
There were about twenty soldiers who participated as her escort.
However, none of them wore equipment using mithril.
Everyone was wearing heavy steel armor and taking heavy steps.
Feeling strange about this, I asked the white-haired princess who accompanied me.
“But why did you readily provide us with mithril?”
“Our military does not use mithril.”
Does Bakal still lack mithril refining technology?
No, even if that were the case, we all know the reputation of Mithril, so there is no reason to export it to increase the military power of other countries….
“Can I ask why?”
In response to her question, Tina elegantly tucked her hair behind her ear.
Then, he glanced at me and gave me a sensual look.
“Well, would you like to guess?”
A sudden quiz here.
Tina was definitely not an ordinary character.
“If we reach a similar answer, I will tell you the correct answer.”
“Good.”
I was lost in thought for a moment after hearing her words.
The biggest characteristic of mithril is that it is light and hard enough, although not as strong as steel.
In other words, in some ways, it is the most perfectly compatible metal.
But why are they not used by large Bakal soldiers?
‘Body size, body size…’ .’
I soon organized my thoughts through the words that connected like a chain.
Afterwards, I answered the princess with intelligent eyes.
“Is it because it doesn’t fit Bakal’s fighting style?”
Tina narrowed her eyes at my question.
Her glacier-blue eyes sparkled coldly.
“Can you tell me more?”
“Most of Bakal’s soldiers are heavy infantry and use thick, massive weapons like axes and spears.”
In other words, rather than striking, he prefers ignorant tactics such as pushing with force or cutting down the opponent with weapons.
“No matter how light mithril is, unlike steel, it has a tendency to dent when subjected to impact. Moreover, if it is light, it is easy to be pushed away when hit.”
I narrowed Tina’s eyes as if responding to her.
And then he spoke to the princess.
“That is, if all countries arm themselves with mithril. “It actually makes Bakal weaker, as most of his troops are heavy infantry.”
The more I repeated, the more playful Tina’s eyes became.
She raised the corners of her mouth as if she liked her answer.
“That’s right. Mithril will have an overwhelming advantage in battles with other countries, but it will be weaker for us.”
I looked blankly at the princess of Bakal.
I thought Sunsun had signed an export trade agreement because they had clearly formed an alliance.
My lips parted at the realization that there was another ulterior motive.
“Hey, why are you looking like that? Veil.”
Tina gently stroked my shoulder.
And then, he quietly whispered into her ear.
“As long as you don’t make us enemies, right? Yes?”
The princess said that and took the reins again.
And then, I took a deep breath, enjoying the air of Leon.
“Well, don’t worry too much if a fight arises.”
The princess pointed to my heart with her finger.
As if he knew the Grand Auror latent within him.
“I will save you at least.”
She was not simply an immature youngest princess.
She was something close to a thorough monarch who gave meaning to every action.
“Why are you telling me this? “What are you going to do if I tell the other princesses?”
Princess of Bacal, Christina.
A delicate princess who survived in a country full of large, barbaric men.
“Anyway, the crown prince is the strong candidate to become the next emperor of Leon. And, the princesses don’t get along well with them.”
She looked at me intently.
“So, first, when there is a battle for succession to the throne with the crown prince armed with mithril. “Who will they find as an ally first?”
“It must be Bakal, who is strong against Mithril soldiers. I wonder if Her Majesty the Princess will intervene in our civil war….”
Tina placed her finger on my lips.
And then, he put his face on the crook of my neck and whispered.
It’s like smelling a colleague’s body odor.
“The past diplomatic road. “My brother Urus tried to kill me and the elders.”
Trying to kill the elders at the hot springs and exposing them to werewolves on the way back.
It was intentionally planned by Urus, who returned to Bakal first.
Once the elders and Tina are eliminated, there will be no force to oppose him who will soon become emperor.
“And, the one who tacitly helped with that was the crown prince of the empire. “To begin with, the two were in alliance with each other.”
Tina gently slipped one of her notes into my shirt pocket.
“If Leon becomes emperor, he will definitely help Urus and eliminate Bakal’s elders and me. On the other hand, even if Urus becomes king, he will help you purge the princesses.”
Afterwards, the princess returned to her words as if nothing had happened.
And, he spoke with the cool eyes of a monarch.
“So, we girls should help each other.”
Provide mithril to strong enemy countries.
I will provide Mithril’s method of destruction to the weak.
As long as Urus is an ally with the crown prince, only the princess will be able to help the princesses.
Because he is the only person other than Urus who has heavy infantry.
“So, does this mean that I can convey all of this to the princess?”
“Yes, here is a note with everything written down.”
Tina took out a small letter from her pocket.
And then, she gave it to me and said.
“Anyway, the princesses will have no choice but to ally with me, right? “This is just a notice.”
The princess did not feel intimidated even after learning about the reputation of the princesses.
Rather, he responded with dignity like a wild beast like them.
“Okay, I’ll tell you as it is.”
I rode the horse and approached the carriage Lydia was riding in.
Lydia, who was inside, still looked dazed, as if the shock had not yet subsided.
“Your Highness.”
I shouted at the window and Lydia responded.
“Yes….”
Lydia blushed, as if she was still in shame.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Uh, totally….”
The third princess of the empire glanced up.
Her face was still red.
“We will soon enter the capital. If you want, you can go rest first….”
I spoke calmly and put the letter in her window.
Then, the princess took her paper and read it, matching it to the rhythm.
From Noble mtl dot com
“No, I am also involved in this business, so I have to check everything myself.”
However, she soon read the note and tore it up neatly.
And then, he returned to the eyes of a wise monarch and spoke.
“Starting from the capital, it is the crown prince’s territory. “I’ve memorized everything, so it’s better to get rid of it.”
‘I memorized that long content at a glance…’ ?’
When I opened my eyes wide, Lydia chuckled.
“The princess planned something fun? “I like it because it’s very cheeky.”
When Lydia heard Tina’s plan, she was neither embarrassed nor offended.
The only time she bothered her princess was when she had a friendly conversation with me.
―――.
They say even bears will come if you tell them.
Tina also rode her horse and approached Lydia’s carriage.
She looked at the princess’s red face and laughed.
“Your Majesty, your face is red. It looks like you have a cold.”
“No…. “Is it just because the carriage is hot?”
Lydia immediately responded to the princess’s words.
Then, Tina smiled brightly and put in the coat she had taken from her backpack.
“Be careful, it’s easy to catch a cold if you wear clothes like that.”
“….”
Lydia took her coat and covered her bare thighs.
And then, she was alone, crossing her arms and half closing her eyes.
“Well, thank you for taking care of me.”
“hehehe…. “I love you so much.”
Is it because I knew Tina’s true feelings through a conversation a while ago?
The princess’s words sounded meaningful.
‘Does Lydia know the princess’s intentions?’ ?’
――――――.
Soon, the magnificent gates of the capital of the Leon Empire appeared.
I rode to the front of the upper procession.
“You’re finally here.”
Burke, who was leading the way, spoke with eyes full of emotion.
This is the moment when a new market opens for him, who had only dreamed of entering the capital all his life.
“Just look forward to it, there will be a lot of people who are anxious to get Mithril first.”
I smiled and said to the owner of the merchant.
Then, he also nodded his head confidently.
“Don’t worry, the more customers you have, the better!”
The huge gate opens.
A huge gate fell into the river flowing under the castle, forming a bridge.
After that, the gate began to open little by little.
「―――――――」
I rode the horse briskly alone to go through the immigration formalities.
And, the moment you reach the castle gate.
“… !”
I made eye contact with someone waiting inside.
Brilliant golden hair.
Beautiful white uniform.
And, a man who resembles the emperor, has powerful mana, and has cool-headed blue eyes.
‘Prince Leon… !’
I have only watched from afar.
An enemy of the empire whom I had met only a few times in my previous life.
He was waiting for our Mithril leader in front of the capital city gate.
“You have arrived.”
A young man with a voice as solemn as an emperor.
Numerous imperial knights and elite soldiers were gathered by his side, who was soon to turn 30.
Like an army.
“Are you the person in charge of this mithril distribution case?”
I didn’t answer his question for a moment.
I just stared at the crown prince with cold eyes.
“….”
“It’s outrageous, His Majesty the Crown Prince is saying now…” !!”
The captain of the imperial guard scolded me in a loud voice.
Then, the crown prince stopped him, saying he was noisy.
“It’s okay, sometimes people freeze like that when they see me.”
Many knights died because of it in their past lives.
Thinking of them made me tremble and I couldn’t bear it.
However, I got off my horse and knelt before him.
“Bail Mikhail, meet His Highness the Crown Prince.”
The crown prince looked down at me for a moment.
Then, he raised his head and admired the long procession of Mithril merchants.
“Are you saying you led this large-scale company alone?”
“No, I am merely a guarantor of the contract between Bakkal and Cornell.”
Guarantor.
Hearing those words, the crown prince chuckled.
“It won’t be a simple guarantor. “I would have personally presented various conditions to induce a contract between Bakal and Berk.”
The crown prince’s eyes were different from Hakim’s.
If the 3rd prince’s eyes were so cloudy….
“Who on earth are you? Who has the connection between Bacal and Cornell?”
He was from a mostly upper-class family.
However, since my name was not found anywhere in that family, the crown prince was very wary of me.
“I am a defense engineer who participated in the recent diplomatic corps escort.”
Let’s give him just enough information to convince him.
Just to the extent of being a connection point between Bacal and Cornell.
“I barely survived the battle with the werewolves and was fortunate enough to make connections with the elders of Bakal.”
I called out to Burke, who was bowing from a distance.
“They said they wanted to export mithril, so I introduced them to my hometown senior, Sangsanju Berk.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”
Burke bowed his head to my beat.
“So, you’re also a graduate of Cornell?”
The crown prince said with cold eyes.
The Grand Auror flinched at his gaze.
“Yes, I was born in an orphanage there.”
The second-in-command of the empire nodded when he heard that I was an orphan.
It wasn’t a particularly dismissive look.
Rather, they looked suspicious that he had risen to this position in Goa.
“So, where were you planning on selling the mithril you imported like this?”
The crown prince’s full-fledged interrogation began.
Importing important metals from other countries directly through the emperor without going through him.
He had doubts about this and was asking me.
“If we had imported, wouldn’t we have also kept customers in mind?”
I went from Goa to a baron. Whose side am I on?
“….”
Tina and Lydia were watching from afar.
The two watched the crown prince and me in silence.
I bowed my head in response.
Then, he secretly raised the corner of his mouth and answered in a calm voice.
“Of course, I will tell the crown prince.”
A shiny apricot, but also a metal that has a fatal weakness.
I delivered that metal to the Empire’s worst enemy.