Chapter 102: The Princess’s Visit. (2)
"This is…"
Inside the wooden chest lay a longsword.
The blade glead in an extraordinary way, and the craftsmanship on the hilt was anything but ordinary.
Seeing people’s reactions, Lieutenant Benjamin raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction.
"This is a sword by the dwarven craftsman, Kiehl. The princess chose it with great care, so please make good use of it in a worthy place."
"Ooooh……."
Everyone’s eyes widened.
‘Kiehl? The master said to make swords that can cut even water?’
‘And the princess is giving us sothing like this?’
Cobalt quickly raised his head and spoke.
"We are honored, but… may I ask what prompted you to give us this?"
"That’s sothing that arrogant fellow over there should know, so you should ask him."
"By that… do you an Hardin?"
"Yes."
When deia gave a slight nod, Cobalt’s gaze turned toward Hardin.
Hardin shrugged his shoulders and spoke.
"What else could it be? We’re in the sa boat now. That’s what it ans."
"The sa boat?"
"What do you an by that…?"
The princess and us… in the sa boat?
‘I have no idea what that’s supposed to an….’
‘But why?’
Just as confusion filled the faces of Cobalt and the retainers, deia stroked her chin and asked.
"Hardin Daphne."
"…Yes?"
"At this point, there’s sothing I want to ask."
"Please, go ahead."
"From here on… no, what is your family planning to do?"
Cobalt hurried to open his mouth.
"Well, about that…"
"I asked him."
"Ah… yes, yes."
At deia’s interruption, Cobalt closed his mouth and lowered his head.
"What we plan to do, huh… Hmmmmm."
She’s certainly straightforward with her questions.
After thinking for a mont, Hardin slowly spoke.
"First of all, I’m planning to get so ships. Preferably so fairly large sailing ships."
In an instant, the eyes of the Daphne people went wide.
‘Sailing ships? In this situation?’
‘…No, what on earth is he talking about.’
Right now, the harbor isn’t functioning properly, and maintenance costs are already draining our funds. Buying sailing ships—each of which would cost at least several million gold?
Viscount Cobalt spoke with an awkward expression.
"Hardin, wouldn’t it be better to repay the princess’s investnt first, rather than… that?"
At that mont, deia tilted her head slightly and spoke.
"So, you’re planning to use the ships to extend your influence outward, is that it?"
"Yes, exactly. Whether it’s for trade or for war, given the geography of our family’s territory… we absolutely need ships."
"…A rather reasonable choice."
When deia nodded as if convinced, the faces of the Daphne people beca even more perplexed.
‘Reasonable?’
‘Does that an she’s going to allow it?’
Rather than repaying the investnt, Hardin intended to use any funds to build ships first.
From the perspective of the family… no, from the perspective of any ordinary person, it would be strange if that made sense.
At that mont, Hardin raised his hand slightly and spoke.
"Your Highness. Since I answered your question, could I ask you a few questions in return?"
"Speak."
When deia nodded, Hardin grinned and said,
"That… sailing ship you ca on, could you give it to our family? Ah, I’m not asking for it for free. We’ll pay it back later, so I was wondering if you could lend it to us for a while."
"Ha, Hardin?"
"……."
Cobalt turned pale and shouted, while Malion shook his head with a sigh.
No matter how you looked at it, this was going too far…
…or so they thought, until…
Princess deia gave a short, scoffing laugh and replied,
"That ship belongs to the Imperial Family, not to ."
What a sha. It looked to be in good condition too.
Hardin scratched his cheek and said,
"Hmmm… I see. Then, could you advance the investnt by about another 3 million?"
"Do I look like I have the ans for that?"
"You don’t?"
"That kind of talk… should wait until after you’ve repaid the 10 million gold in full."
"Khhhm. Yes, yes, I understand."
When deia spoke with a cold expression, Hardin scratched his head awkwardly.
‘P-please, stop.’
‘Just shut that mouth already…’
Sweat stread down the foreheads of the Daphne people, their faces turning pale as if their bodies had turned to ash.
All mbers of House Daphne, sentenced to death for insulting the Imperial Family! Your cris are clear!
Aaaaaagh! P-please spare us!
It felt as if their lives were flashing before their eyes, their blood running cold.
But what could they do?
It wasn’t as if they could grab Hardin by the collar and shake him in front of the princess.
‘God Faeron, please… make my brother hold his tongue.’
‘Please… please…’
Just as everyone was praying in their hearts, Hardin asked again,
"Then let’s move on to a more serious question this ti."
"What is it?"
"What are your plans from here on, Your Highness?"
"…Plans."
deia slowly closed her eyes and then opened them, exchanging a brief glance with Lieutenant Benjamin.
When Benjamin nodded, deia spoke slowly.
"My knights and I will soon be taking part in the Northern Subjugation."
"Northern Subjugation?"
At that, Malion adjusted his glasses and interjected.
"By any chance… do you an you’ll be going on a monster subjugation?"
Lieutenant Benjamin nodded in deia’s place and said,
"That’s correct. Recently, beyond the northern front, a large-scale monster wave has occurred, and His Majesty has ordered a preemptive, large-scale northern subjugation. Her Highness will personally command one of the units."
At deia’s answer, the Daphne people blinked.
‘But… does Her Highness really need to take part in that subjugation?’
‘After what she went through in Ruslan… she’s going to the front again?’
However, Hardin’s reaction was a little different.
"Well, if it’s there, it’s perfect for avoiding the waves."
"……."
deia answered only with a heavy gaze.
"Ahem."
At that mont, Benjamin and the other escort knights cleared their throats.
It felt as though Hardin had hit a sore spot.
‘What’s this?’
‘Why that reaction…?’
Avoiding the waves?
While the Daphne people looked back and forth between the two with puzzled expressions, Hardin quickly organized his thoughts.
‘Staying in the Imperial Palace right now… would be hell for her.’
The current Imperial Family must be overflowing with people ready to tear apart a discarded Fourth Princess.
Especially since it seed she had already drawn the ire of one particular person.
For deia, remaining in the capital was no different from having her hands and feet bound.
She must have judged that she needed to get away from there first before she could do anything.
"So then, when are you leaving for there?"
"As soon as I leave this place, I plan to head straight to the north."
Oh, I see how it is.
Hardin nodded and continued.
"Ah, so you stopped by our family along the way, then."
"You could say that."
Hardin curled his lips into a sly grin, rubbing his hands together as he spoke in a fawning tone.
"My, my, Your Highness. Then you’ll be going through quite a hard ti for a while."
"What is that expression? It’s unpleasant."
When deia frowned slightly and asked, Hardin waved his hands.
"Hey now, that’s harsh. I’m just trying to do sothing nice while I have the chance."
Turning his head to the side, Hardin spoke.
"Father."
"Hm? What is it?"
"We just received such a graaand gift from Her Highness, didn’t we? And we’ve owed her quite a bit in the past too."
"…That’s true."
"Then can we just send her off like this? She’s about to set off on a long journey."
Viscount Cobalt imdiately shook his head and replied.
"Of course not. At the very least, we should show so sincerity…"
"Right? We should, shouldn’t we?"
"…Yes."
Why was Hardin suddenly saying such things…
Just as Cobalt’s eyes narrowed, Hardin clenched his fist and continued.
"Then, let’s hold a social party to commorate Her Highness’s departure. A very large and grand one."
"A social party? All of a sudden?"
"Suddenly? Our family’s greatest patron is going on a long journey. The least we can do is this. Isn’t that right, Malion?"
"Well… it’s not impossible."
As Malion glanced around nervously, Hardin placed a hand on Viscount Cobalt’s shoulder.
"And the timing is perfect. We’ve just opened our port, so it’s a good chance to let the neighbors know as well. Two birds with one stone. Eh?"
"But… Her Highness must be busy…"
At this, deia chid in.
"I have no hobby of wasting ti on sothing like a party."
"I thought so. Hmmmm… Still, if you were to attend and grace the occasion, it could be an imnse ‘honor’ for our family."
"……."
While the family mbers whispered among themselves, wondering what on earth this was about—
‘So that’s what he ans…’
deia crossed her arms, frowning for a mont before speaking.
"If we do this, will it benefit you?"
"Yes, greatly."
Benefit? What did he an by that…
Just as everyone’s confusion deepened, deia closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, as if having made up her mind.
"How long would it take to prepare?"
"Malion! Her Highness is asking you."
"Asking what?"
"How long it would take to prepare the party."
When Hardin looked at him, Malion hurriedly adjusted his glasses and replied,
"That… that would depend on the scale, but if we move as quickly as possible, we could probably hold it in about a week."
"A week? That’s quick. Could you wait that long, Your Highness?"
"……."
deia tapped the table lightly with her finger, seeming to think for a mont, before letting out a long sigh.
"Very well. Just this once… I’ll humor you."
At that, Hardin rubbed his hands together, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"Thank you. I’ll make sure to prepare an exceptionally grand party so you won’t regret it."
And of course… we’ll make sure to profit nicely from it.
Of course…
‘I-is this for real?’
‘My goodness… Princess deia actually agreed to attend a social party?’
The faces of Viscount Cobalt and the other family mbers were filled with shock.
‘C-calm down.’
A sudden social party, and one with Her Highness attending…
Viscount Cobalt quickly gathered himself, erasing all expression from his face before looking directly at Princess deia with a calm deanor.
Then, rising from his seat and placing one arm across his chest, Viscount Cobalt spoke.
"Princess deia, are you truly certain about this? If it will cause any disruption to your schedule, you need not attend."
"……."
Though she had made her decision, deia seed unable to imdiately speak, her lips parting slightly without sound—until Hardin asked again.
"Your Highness?"
At that, deia wore a slightly awkward expression before finally speaking with difficulty.
"Did I not already give my answer?"
"Ah…"
Hearing this, Viscount Cobalt’s lips curved into a faint smile as he replied with the courtesy of a noble.
"Then, we shall consider this an honor and do our utmost in preparation, Princess deia."
"Very well."
deia gave a slight nod.
"Here, take this with you, Your Highness."
"Hm?"
Hardin held out to deia the sword by Kiehl that he had received earlier.
"Why are you giving that back?"
"I’d like you to keep it for a while. Since we’ll be holding the party, I’m sure there will co a ti when it can be put to even better use."
deia t Hardin’s gaze for a mont before accepting the sword.
"Understood. I’ll hold on to it."
"Yes! I’d appreciate it!"
Alright, with this opportunity…
‘Let’s make sure to get so real benefit from the princess this ti.’
Heh heh, ahahaha!
See? If you just wait, an opportunity like this will walk right up to you.
A deep shadow fell across Hardin’s face as he lowered his head.
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