174. The princess’s reward (1)
The crown prince raised his treasured sword.
And, the moment it was aimed at my neck.
“… !”
Luckily, his blade landed gently on his shoulder.
Just as an emperor gives a title to a subject.
“You passed, Baron.”
Leon looks down at me with a stern voice.
He spoke to me as if he were a subject.
“For me, it is easier to deal with a guy who has a clear goal of success than a guy who talks about respect and justice.”
The crown prince smiled and put away his sword.
And then, he skillfully put it into his sheath.
“In that respect, the Baron is qualified to be my partner.”
‘Whoa…’ . ‘Aren’t you still a subject?’
I was sighing in relief alone.
He said, observing my thin eyes with a keen look.
“A little while ago, during the day, you said you wanted to give me mithril, but now that you have the opportunity, you say you will choose to give me a lot of money. “I like your consistent beliefs.”
“Okay, thank you. Majesty….”
If I had said something sugar-coated here for no reason, did you plan on getting kicked out because it was different from how you appeared during the day?
“Okay, then let’s start the real story. “I didn’t call you here simply to threaten you.”
The Crown Prince flicked his crystal ball with his fingers.
“It was just for easy ideological verification. These days, there are a lot of people who are curious about what I’m up to and are sending spies.”
He apologized to me with generous eyes.
The appearance was similar to Leah’s merciful eyes as she treated her subordinates.
“So, please understand.”
“Of course, it was an honor to be able to reveal my innocence.”
The crown prince called a middle-aged man wearing glasses who was standing at a distance.
“Financial secretary, bring the whiskey.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
His financial secretary brought a glass bottle with sparkling golden liquor.
The middle-aged man carefully placed her bottle on her table and leisurely returned to his seat to wait.
“I’ll take a drink.”
I slowly took the glass.
However, I did not drink it.
“Why can’t I drink alcohol?”
“Yes, I get very drunk after just one drink…” .”
I answered carefully, looking at his eyes.
Then, the crown prince frowned and asked.
“What am I giving you?”
His blue eyes stared at me.
I swallowed deeply and answered.
“I’m sorry, but wouldn’t it be necessary for me to maintain my sanity so that I can immediately answer the great prince’s question?”
I raised the corners of my mouth.
And then, he smiled with the purest smile in the world.
“I did that because I may not be able to convey clear information to you if I become intoxicated.”
The crown prince looked dumbfounded for a moment after hearing what I said.
Then, he smiled and nodded his head.
“You are truly a businessman by nature. From the information I heard, I heard he was just a defense engineer from the Subangsa Temple.”
‘Did you research my personal information before meeting me?’
“Ahahahaha…. Actually, the job of being an engineer doesn’t suit me well. “My goal is to retire in my 30s and take care of my estate.”
The crown prince’s expression softened somewhat as if he understood my firm goal.
“Yes, I heard that they succeeded in becoming a high-end product by harvesting a crop called watermelon. “Now that you have accumulated so much wealth, would a career as a junior engineer be in your sights?”
“As expected, there is nothing that Your Majesty does not know.”
I smiled and did my best to match his rhythm.
“Since you are so knowledgeable in business, I would like to give you wise advice.”
The crown prince emptied his glass while saying meaningful words.
As if to answer this, I repeatedly poured him drinks.
“Your Majesty, Jeon Seo-eung has arrived.”
The financial secretary unwrapped the note from Jeon Seo-eung’s leg when he arrived at the window.
And, I humbly conveyed this to Leon.
“Yes, Lydia is starting to make her move.”
The crown prince has been waiting without making any suggestions until now.
He read the contents of the note leisurely.
“Our youngest put 500,000 gold into acquiring Mithril.”
The amount initially offered in exchange for exclusive access to Mithril’s line was 750,000 gold.
However, considering the potential value, 2 million gold is an acceptable amount.
The crown prince, who knew this, leisurely bet twice.
“Financial secretary, insert 1 million gold immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
With his words, the prices of two buildings in the capital change.
“Then he will immediately double it to 200. “Then offer him 300 to break his will.”
The crown prince who thought he was only good at government affairs.
He ordered his secretary with a look in his eyes that seemed to take everything into account.
“This is an excellent choice.”
The secretary followed orders and immediately resigned with the proposal.
Then, Leon calmly focused on the whiskey again.
As if his competition with the 3 princesses was not a big deal.
“Lydia was a child with a lot of inferiority complex to our first royal family. “She plans to use this to keep me in check while at the same time making it known that she is still alive and well.”
“I see….”
When I nodded, the emperor shook his glass.
Golden liquor mixed and flowed in the air.
“Otherwise, there’s no reason to climb up like this when you don’t have as much money as me.”
I glanced up at him cautiously.
Then, he asked.
“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”
“I… ?”
The crown prince stopped drinking the glass.
And then, he looked at me intently.
“Yes, because of Her Highness Lydia, aren’t you purchasing it at a price that is close to three times the original price of 750,000 gold?”
Leon chuckled after hearing my question.
“I don’t think anyone would say he’s a businessman, but he’s good at counting.”
The crown prince put his glass down on the table.
“But, Baron. Unlike you, Lydia and I are members of the royal family. “The royal family doesn’t move with money.”
Then, he pointed to the golden lion brooch hanging on his chest.
“We move for ‘justice.'”
He looked down at me like he was looking at a cute little animal.
“I have a clear cause: pacifying the South. So it is understandable to blatantly monopolize Mithril. But what about Lydia?”
The crown prince smiled brightly.
“That child has no clear cause. In other words, what she did today will be a fatal weakness that could make her a target for purge later when I become emperor.”
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His eyes were as wise as Leah.
Because Leon was looking far into the future.
“Because he attempted to interfere with the national public interest of pacifying the South and strengthen his own private military.”
“That…” .”
The crown prince held the whiskey glass again and smelled its scent.
As if the glass of whiskey right now is more important than Lydia.
“The loss I will incur due to the acquisition competition is the price of that child’s weaknesses.”
He took another sip of the acrid drink.
Perhaps because he resembled the emperor, Leon’s facial expression did not change at all no matter how much he drank.
“But, Your Highness…” .”
I asked him in a meaningful voice.
“What would Princess Lydia do if she were to offer an amount greater than 2 million gold?”
“… ?”
The crown prince put down the glass she was holding.
And then, he looked at me strangely.
“Are you really worried about me?”
“Yes, there is such a thing as what if, right?”
I definitely thought the crown prince would laugh after hearing what I said.
However, he thought surprisingly seriously.
“That won’t happen. The child’s estimated assets are limited to 2 million. Moreover, it is impossible to borrow money from Samad in your home country within one day.”
The smile disappeared from his eyes, as if he had figured out all the information about Lydia.
“Rather, Lydia will realize it through today.”
Rather, the ambition and solemnity of the conquering monarch stood out.
“There is nothing that child can achieve alone in this empire.”
After the crown prince’s words, the hotel became quiet for a moment.
The only sound is the majestic flapping of Jeon Seo-eung’s wings.
―――――.
A financial secretary unwrapping a note from the leg of a hawk that arrived.
He read the contents first and then….
“Well, Your Highness…” .”
The irritable face has become distorted to look good.
“So, have we arrived?”
“Yes, but….”
The crown prince accepted the note.
Then, his relaxed brow soon became distorted.
Hide your smile alone in that space….
“3.5 Million gold… ?”
It was only me.
“Financial Secretary, how did this happen?”
Leon was originally anticipating Lydia’s estimated assets.
He took a deep breath when he saw the amount that was much more than this.
“Didn’t you say that Lydia’s current currency is 2 million gold?”
“Yes….”
In response to the secretary’s uncertain answer, the crown prince put down the glass rather forcefully.
Then, the middle-aged man flinched for a moment.
“I overestimated you. I heard that your information skills were the best in the finance department.”
“Lord, I have committed a mortal sin, Your Majesty!!”
The middle-aged man quickly got down on his knees.
This is the moment when even high-ranking people who used to hold their heads high bow down like low-income people.
“Please counter-offer 4 million gold right away. “I will question you after we take over Mithril.”
The financial secretary rushed over and wrote a proposal to Jeon Seo-eung.
The crown prince looked pitifully at that and clicked his tongue.
“I brought him here because he was the best in the industry… , Tsk.”
After that, Leon didn’t say anything, perhaps because he felt uncomfortable.
He even put down his drink and silently waited for the outcome of the acquisition.
But.
He will never drink again tonight.
Because the news is coming soon….
“Well, Your Highness…” !!”
Because it was much more shocking than the 3.5 Million gold a moment ago.
“Again, something.”
The financial secretary returned.
His clear voice soon began to stutter.
“Li, Her Highness Lydia….”
The treasurer was so surprised that he spoke highly of Lydia in front of the crown prince.
“You suggested 4.5 Million gold as the acquisition cost….”
4.5 Million.
This is an amount that can only be won if the crown prince spends all of his 5 million gold.
The moment you hear that amount.
――――――!!
All the windows in the hotel started shaking strangely.
“Hey… !!”
The middle-aged man flinched at the sound.
However, I was still relaxed.
I am simply the master of this wave.
Just staring at the prince with powerful mana.
“….”
Leon soon calmed down his auror.
Then, he took a deep breath and maintained his composure.
The crown prince looked at the financial secretary intently.
I thought you would cut off his head right away.
He asked with rather calm eyes.
“Who is it?”
The financial secretary flinched at his gentle question.
“Well, that is…” .”
The crown prince looked at the stumbling secretary and raised the corners of his mouth.
Then, he soon stopped laughing.
「Who the hell is behind that b*tch!!!」
The emperor shouted in a loud voice like the thunderbolt that struck me.
「――――――」
The carriage wheels rattled like the crown prince’s thunderous voice.
A simple black carriage.
The carriage headed to a large warehouse located in the eastern part of the capital.
Two carriages had already arrived there first.
Huge eastern knights are guarding the front.
“We have arrived, Your Highness.”
A young man wearing glasses.
He got off the driver’s seat and opened the carriage door.
Soon….
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the East.”
A beautiful body that stands out even while wearing silk pajamas.
Even the uniform jacket of the Knights of Light on top and the brilliant golden hair.
The first princess of the empire.
In other words, the next emperor, second in line, got off the carriage.
“It always seems like sand is mixed in the air here.”
Her eastern knights recognize her and retreat.
Then, Damian led her princess to the side door attached to her warehouse.
“This way.”
Her operational staff guided her along with her thick case bag.
The princess followed him inside with her solemn eyes.
――――――.
The side door opens.
After this, the moment the inside unfolds.
“It’s late. “I guess you had a hard time making money?”
A huge number of mithril chunks piled up in a warehouse.
The sight of Lydia and Irina sitting at the table below caught my eye.
The two were drinking coffee and waiting for Leah even in the middle of the night.
“I came after seeing the note that Veil sent.”
When Leah noticed, Damian placed the briefcase he had prepared in advance on the table.
And inside, he showed me a check from the Imperial Bank with 1.5 Million gold written on it.
“Okay, this brings us all together.”
Lydia let down her pigtails and grew long hair.
She also took out a check with 1.5 Million gold written on it from her pajamas.
“With this, Leon’s barn will be empty.”
The same goes for Irina, who is wearing silver pajamas.
Now that she has grown into a monarch, she proudly offered 1.5 Million gold.
This is the moment when the assets of the three princesses come together.
“Veil… “You came up with an interesting idea.”
Irina smiled brightly as she remembered a man.
She must have woken up from her sleep and her dirty eyes are strange.
“You probably never dreamed that we would be allies.”
Lydia chuckled and put her winning cup of coffee into her mouth.
Then, as if she wasn’t yet used to the taste of adults, she made a mistake.
“The price of mithril is 5 million gold…. “Isn’t the value of strengthening the military a bit high?”
Leah reminded herself of her own brother with her sensual eyes.
The sight of him fuming in rage.
Jeon Seo-eung comes in through the factory warehouse.
Then, Allen and Bashu, who were in charge of security, checked the contents of the note and approached the noble women.
“Your Highness, it is said that Crown Prince Leon offered 5 million gold!”
After hearing those words, the princesses looked at each other intently.
Then, he nodded, probably thinking the same thing.
“Give it to me.” “In 5 million.”
Lydia answered with a naughty smile.
“Oh, and congratulations as well.”
Leia drank the coffee placed in front of her, as if she was satisfied with the sight of the crown prince squandering her assets.
By nature, she hates caffeine, but she wanted to be excited today.
“When will Veil return?”
The princesses thought of the man who dragged them into this matter.
And then he said.
“I need to pet him when he comes back.”
Is it because of the darkly lit warehouse?
Their brilliant eyes were particularly sparkling.