252. Reward (3)
I heard that the humans of the original empire were greedy and dominant by nature.
That’s why Rize swallowed deeply, probably thinking that my intentions for secretly visiting her were impure.
“Well, what’s in there…?” ?”
Lise asked, pointing to the blanket and plate I brought.
The plate was covered with a tin cover, so it was impossible to see what was inside.
‘What on earth did this person grow up watching…? .’
I lifted her covers to show her off.
And then, I had some steaming herbal tea and watermelon.
“According to an old book, elves mainly drink fruit and tea.”
Lise looked blankly down at the dessert I offered her.
With the unique blue eyes of an elf, they look to see if food is poisoned.
I sighed and said.
“There’s nothing inside, so just drink it. “I’m already in obedience, so what else are you feeding me there?”
“Huh….”
Rize flinches at the command to drink.
She obediently began to drink her glass.
“….”
Tea time is warm and soothing.
The elf’s long ears slowly drooped as if it felt like its empty stomach was being gently filled.
“This is a watermelon….”
After drinking her tea, she picked up her watermelon as ordered.
“What, I know.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Watermelon is a southern specialty, so how do you not know? Besides, I am a great sage.”
Rize said, squeezing her watermelon with both hands.
The force I had when I first saw it has long since disappeared.
Looking at her like this, she was no different from just a beautiful woman.
“Oh, that’s right. “I was so stupid that I forgot.”
“What?! “It happened because you were a special case!!”
The Great Sage grumbled that it was unfair.
At this time, her long ears were also fluttering.
Elves seemed to be able to roughly understand emotions just by looking at their ears.
“But what…. It tastes good…. “It’s a taste of home.”
“It seems watermelons are common in the South.”
I went into the prison cell together and sat on the chair alone.
And then, I watched Rize sitting on the soft blanket and chewing on the watermelon.
Fortunately, it seemed like her guard had relaxed.
“So you didn’t just come here to give me this…. “What is your purpose?”
Really, like a great sage, Rize sensed my intention.
She asked back in a calm voice.
“I’m curious as to why you are obsessed with life-extending drugs, even while using the crown prince.”
“….”
When Rize heard those words, she put down the watermelon she had been enjoying.
She thought for a moment, then obediently recited what she was going to say anyway under the spell of obedience.
“The current center of the Southern Alliance is the Hawthorne Kingdom.”
“I know, it is the largest kingdom led by Emperor Hodrian.”
This is a place she had heard about in her past life.
The king there was a figure who united all city-states through his image of justice.
“Yes, but Hodrian is already over seventy. He probably won’t even last 5 years….”
“Can you even measure something like that?”
I asked the elf, who guessed the human lifespan, with a curious look.
Then, Rize quietly nodded her head.
“You can figure it out by listening to the heartbeat. “That person’s vitality.”
Lise said while looking at my left breast.
My heart sounds quite loud.
“Besides, my son is only 10 years old. If Hodrian dies within five years, he will be fifteen at the earliest, so there will definitely be internal strife….”
Even if the king is young, the queen or another royal family usually acts on his behalf.
Nevertheless, seeing Rize say this, it appears that the affiliated countries have a significant influence.
“Because of His Majesty the Crown Prince, local provocations have become difficult, and the Emperor is getting old and must be very embarrassed.”
“Are you kidding me?”
I shook my head at Rize’s sullen appearance.
And, to the woman who seemed to desperately wish for peace in the South, she answered calmly.
“I was just organizing the situation. What should I do here to ensure that the empire remains peaceful ‘as long as I live’?”
In terms of animals, the Hawthorn Kingdom is the leader of a group of wild beasts.
If their cynical response to the empire so far was a deliberate effort to protect their position….
“I guess things will turn out easier than I thought?”
When Rize heard me, one of her ears perked up.
Like a curious pet.
“What?”
“That’s it. “I’ll go now.”
I roughly motioned for him to go to bed and then stood up from the chair.
And then, I tried to leisurely leave the prison cell.
“W-what are you planning?!”
“There is something like that. “You should sleep well.”
“Well, how can I sleep after making you so curious…” . Sigh….”
She falls asleep easily thanks to her obedience magic.
He looks anxious.
“What did my disciples do? “I told you everything!”
“There is no magic blocking spell in the detention room, so ask directly.”
I roughly told him to speak in full voice.
And then, I leisurely walked up the stairs with my back behind me.
“….”
When I went outside, Rize opened her eyes wide, trying not to fall asleep.
Even though I was sleepy, I somehow resisted with my unique powerful magical power.
「Baal, Emil. Is it okay? If you can hear me, answer me!”
A half-elf who focuses his mind and sends out a signal.
The first to respond to this was Emil, who was in the prison cell right next to him.
「Yes, Master. I’m fine. Ugh… !」
Emil lets out a strange moaning sound.
Rize was surprised and asked back.
「W-what?! Are you really being tortured?!”
「Well, I’m not sure. It feels like torture…. It’s cool too….」
Emil was also a beautiful half-elf boy.
Therefore, Rize was worried that she might be being manipulated by the women of the empire.
However, she soon sensed something strange in Emil’s answer.
「Wait a minute…. “You said it was refreshing at the end?”
「Yes…. He’s pressing my back hard…. Ah… !! I like it there!!”
Rize immediately became sullen.
When Emile realized that she was receiving excellent treatment from her masseuses, her long ears also fell down.
She said, “She said she was very shivering earlier, and the third princess treated her with the utmost care, saying that her hostage should not be harmed.”
Instead of the elf boy lost in pleasure, the trustworthy Baal answered on his behalf.
「Baal, are you okay too?」
「Yes, me too…. hahahaha….」
The sound of bookshelf fluttering was heard.
Baal reported his situation in an awkward voice.
「The Second Princess gave me a grimoire from Cornell. I also received hot tea and watermelon from Lord Bale….」
「Ah, yes…. “That’s a good thing.”
Rize looked dumbfounded at the sight of his students who were doing better than him.
I heard that the empire is full of greedy people.
Even the royal family came forward to take care of it.
I felt more comfortable in this unfamiliar land than in the South, where people were only superficially friendly and suspicious of each other.
“….”
Is it because of that feeling?
Lise, whose mind was somewhat relieved, obediently fell asleep for the first time in a long time.
「―――――」
The next day.
I went to Cheongung, his office, to report to the emperor.
Leonhardt was feeling so well that he left the door to his office wide open to see if anyone could visit.
No guard knights were waiting in front of his gate.
“Marquis Bail Mikhail, meet His Majesty the Emperor.”
「Welcome, Lord Veil.」
Emperor Leonhard was sitting at his office desk and wearing a monocle.
When he saw me, he greeted me with a gentler voice than before.
「I heard what happened last night. “It was a heated battle, right?”
“Luckily, things ended well.”
I bowed my head with a humble smile.
Then, the emperor chuckled and took off his monocle.
「Sit down. “I already wanted to talk about this.”
Leonhardt gets up from the chair and suggests the sofa.
It felt like my health had improved while I hadn’t seen him, and my bent back became straighter.
Thanks to this, my healthy appearance stood out.
It was a part that made us realize where Leah and Irina’s development came from.
Of course, Lydia’s elegant athleticism.
「So, how do you plan to take advantage of this situation?」
Is it because they heard my intentions through the Prime Minister in advance?
The emperor wanted to get straight to the point.
“Through this matter, we will end the unnecessary cold war situation with the southern kingdoms.”
「Interesting. “Let’s keep talking.”
Leonhard crossed his arms alone, as if he wanted to test his diplomatic skills at this time.
I humbly answered what I had been thinking about.
“Yes, the results I heard through the obedience spell. “The Kingdom of Hawthorne is currently under threat as the leader of the Confederacy.”
「Hmm, that old man Hodrian turns seventy this year. Still, he is the undisputed ‘king’, but has his position been shaken?”
The emperor said while touching his chin.
I responded by spreading my fingers and making the number 5.
“From what I heard, he has less than 5 years left to live. “It’s an elf’s word, so you can trust it.”
「The Crown Prince is only 10 years old, and Hodrian has taken down all the other royals, so there will not be a suitable talent to rule on his behalf.」
An emperor who excelled in international affairs.
Encouraged by the atmosphere of increasing communication, I made a suggestion.
“So, how about releasing all the elves who came to make life-extending medicine to the south?”
「Are you talking about the people who dared to hypnotize my son?」
As expected, in this regard, Leonhard’s unique, cruel look flashed as if he was cool-headed.
He regarded the elves who tried to take advantage of the crown prince with great displeasure.
“This is the time to use them. “We have secured the weak point of King Hawthorne’s exact lifespan.”
I took out the ingredients for a life extension medicine from my pocket.
It was brilliant golden mushrooms and various mysterious ingredients.
“I plan to let them create drugs to extend lifespan.”
「What do we gain by doing that?」
In response to the emperor’s question, I put both hands together.
Then he spoke, pressing his palms together as if shaking hands.
“It is to show favor to King Hodrian and make him a friend.”
「Friend.」
Leonhard calmed his voice as if he was still dissatisfied.
I continued speaking calmly.
“He has carried out local provocations against us, but he has never expressed any intention of going to war. In other words, I don’t want to worsen our relationship.”
I pointed to the world map on the wall of my office.
There was a huge empire located in the center of the continent and small city-states in the south.
“Despite all of their weaknesses, they do not threaten and ask for an alliance. “Is there anything that can guarantee this level of trust?”
The largest of them was, of course, the Hawthorne Kingdom.
“The healthy emperor will live comfortably for the next 10 years, and the crown prince will also turn 20 in the meantime, so the Hawthorne Kingdom will maintain its strength without any problems.”
I made my thin eyes look longer, like a mean fox.
“I heard that King Hodrian was an inherently just person. “If they receive this kind of favor, they will not threaten us in the future and will conduct internal crackdowns on their own.”
「Yes, he was a nice old man.」
The emperor nodded his head calmly.
Then, he looked at the small countries drawn on his map and said.
「When I see him leading so many multi-ethnic countries, I wonder if I come to accept him even though I hate him.」
Leonhard also disliked them for sometimes carrying out local provocations, but he seemed to recognize their abilities.
The emperor’s guess is roughly correct.
Even when the day of purge actually occurred, the Hawthorn Kingdom did not invade the empire.
Considering this, it seemed like it would be possible to have King Hodrian as an ally.
“How about sending out a diplomatic corps? We could include the elf prisoners among them and secretly free them.”
「Hmm…. That’s good, but let’s think about it first.”
I swallowed deeply at the cautious look of the emperor.
If Rize does not return for a long time, Hawthorn will definitely start to doubt her.
「….」
He stamped his feet nervously.
The last puzzle for my long rest is during the period of peace with the South.
The silence continued for a long time.
Suddenly, the sound of hard military boots was heard outside the office.
“Can I come in?”
「Oh, it’s Leah, come in.」
As if responding to the emperor’s words, the office door opened wide.
And then, the first princess of the empire, wearing a sharp white uniform, appeared.
“I came because I have something to say regarding yesterday’s incident.”
「Yes, I have heard enough about your activities.」
Leonhardt looked at his eldest daughter’s outfit with satisfaction just by looking at it.
Ordinary military boots and stockings for women supplied by the military.
Plus, the uniform hat worn tightly.
Because the noble and beautiful appearance was truly beautiful.
「What do you want to say?」
“I heard outside the door that you were going to form a diplomatic corps.”
Leah placed her hands on her voluptuous curves.
And, she spoke calmly.
“I want to go as the representative of the diplomatic corps.”
「Eldest daughter, are you talking about this?」
The Emperor looked at Leah with her eyes wide.
It wasn’t a strange thing.
Of the three princesses, Leah was mainly in charge of diplomacy.
However, I would like to go directly to a country in the midst of a cold war.
As a father, it was quite a burden.
“Yes, I also agree with Lord Bale’s opinion.”
Leah glanced at me.
Perhaps because she was in front of the emperor, her eyes were like those of a very cold soldier.
「Hmm….」
Leonhardt’s silence became even longer.
It’s a good opportunity to form an alliance with the troublesome South, but she doesn’t want to let her daughter go.
Still, it makes sense for the royal family to go to big things like signing an alliance….
The emperor finally sighed.
Then, he glanced at me and smiled.
「Lord Veil, you are now a noble.」
“Yes… ? What are you saying….”
When I asked back with a smile, Leonhard chuckled and hit me on the shoulder in a friendly way.
The pain felt like a lion pressing hard with its front paw.
「It means that I have learned how to use my personal connections. “It’s a compliment, a compliment-.”
The emperor stopped laughing and adjusted his voice.
And then, he spoke to Leah with the serious look in his eyes that he had during his time as the King of Conquerors.
「Do that, but there is a condition.」
The emperor raised his finger as if he had made up his mind.
“What is it?”
“… ?”
Leah and I looked at the Conqueror at the same time.
Then, his finger….
「Let Lord Bale come with you as an escort.」
From Noble mtl dot com
He pointed at me as if showing off.
‘Yes… ?’
I clearly told them to send only the diplomatic corps.
Why was he suddenly added as an escort…? ?
「I’m sorry, Lord Veil. “I know Leah’s skills well, but I’m still anxious.”
The emperor knew very well that I was a lot of trouble.
However, in order to protect his daughter, he seemed to feel at ease only if he followed the Grandmaster.
「I think I can trust you.」
Leonhardt looked at me and Leah alternately.
Leah’s eyes are as cold as they are when she looks at me.
Looking at her teeth, I guess she thought I would be ‘safe’ with her.
“Uh… , that is….”
“If that is your Majesty’s will, I will follow it.”
While I was equivocating, Leah answered first in an angular voice.
And while the emperor was heading to his desk to write the diplomatic corps dispatch document….
“I think it would be very reassuring for me to be Lord Bale.”
He glanced at me and smiled.
I then touched the item containing strong magical power in my inner pocket.
Something round like a bead….