"Your Highness." Marquis Nardt fell on one knee, greeting the princess.
"It must have been hard on you, Marquis." Wendy nodded.
"Not at all. Thanks to Countess Christina, everything has been going smoothly."
"I see. Thank you for your hard work."
"Hahaha. Please. Seeing that kind of expression on their faces alone makes the trip worth it." Marquis Nardt smiled.
Wendy’s expression turned solemn before turning to one of the people she freed before. "Have you picked up the ti?"
"We have contacted everyone to the best of our ability. It looks like we can finish it in ten days."
Wendy nodded before turning back to the marquis. "I apologize, Marquis. It looks like you have to wait for ten days."
"Not at all. Being able to see you wear the crown is enough for . I believe you will be able to lead the kingdom for the better." Nardt shook his head. "Still, Your Highness. If you would like to grace with your wisdom... May I know your intention toward the north and the east?
"Right now, you have gained control over the central and the east. However, it’s different from the north and the east."
Wendy glanced at her people as well. "Of course. The east itself is unstable due to the influence of my uncle, who has beco a demonic human.
"However, the north will definitely not be passive in this situation. Instead of us, Marquis Ardagan will be the first one to make his move."
"So, you’re going to pit them against each other?" Nardt squinted his eyes.
"No. We will assist Marquis Ardagan."
"!!!" Nardt was quite surprised. Her father had been suppressing the north, but she was the exact opposite. Still, assisting Noel would an making him even more powerful. If this were the case, the royal family would beco nothing but an empty shell.
To answer that doubt, Wendy turned to Duke Lorelei. "Duke. You know Marquis Ardagan the most here. There’s sothing I’d like to request from you. If it’s you... do you think it’s possible to acquire the airship?"
"Impossible. Don’t even think about it," answered Duke Lorelei without hesitation. "Right now, the airship is the strongest power of the north. Asking for that power is the sa as provoking the marquis. It’s not a good move, Your Highness."
Even Nardt had the sa opinion. If she antagonized the marquis, it would lead to the sa result as with her father. This ti, instead of a royal family, Marquis Ardagan might personally lead a rebellion.
"No. You misunderstand . What I an by acquiring is buying the airship."
"!!!" Nardt and Evan exchanged looks. Evan shook his head again. "I’m sorry, Your Highness. I don’t think it’s possible either. While this won’t antagonize the marquis, it will surely displease him. Besides, we don’t have enough money to buy such a thing."
"Don’t worry. I won’t be buying such a big airship."
"Not a big airship?" They were confused.
"Yes. I just want sothing small."
"!!!" One of the people noticed what she actually wanted. He stepped up before asking, "Your Highness. Please forgive my rudeness. Are you trying to use it for information?"
"!!!" They turned their heads to this guy, shocked by the revelation.
"Correct." Wendy smiled. "There’s no stopping the marquis from gaining more strength. He will without a doubt beco the strongest.
"However, there’s sothing we can compete on. If strength is not enough, then I will build a foundation that can be utilized by my descendants."
The guy was impressed. "Normally, we would send a ssage via bird, but there are a lot of limitations to sending the ssage this way. We can use more birds, but it might still be quite troubleso.
"As such, on so occasions, we will be sending a ssenger by riding a fast horse and changing it along the way to reach the castle as quickly as possible.
"However, the airship will be different. If it’s small, the airship will be able to fly fast as well, aning it can replace the bird. And since soone is flying the airship, that person can bring us the information. This kind of traveling speed will be at least three tis faster than a fast horse... no, even more... After all, the airship can ignore all kinds of terrain.
"Besides, the airship of the Ardagan family is often equipped with runes for defensive purposes, so it ans the ssenger will be much safer.
"Last but not least, they can bring other things. Even the smallest airship will definitely have enough space for several people.
"This airship can be used in other ways as well. For example, the arbiters. They can raid soone’s house with a group of elites by traveling on this airship. Then, this airship can hold all kinds of things from them, especially docunts. The rest can be handled with formal delegation, but the damage has been done.
"In other words, this airship will beco a beast in a lot of fields. Because it’s small, it won’t be compared to the big one, which is usually made for might, so the marquis won’t feel threatened.
"Still, the marquis should be able to figure out Your Highness’ intention as well."
The people were astonished. They never thought Wendy could co up with such a plan.
Wendy asked, "Do you think it will be possible, Duke?"
Duke Lorelei fell into deep thought, starting to connect the dots, especially when she said she wanted to assist Noel.
"I see. By assisting Marquis Ardagan, asking for this small favor might be possible. Still, this is just to the extent of enabling the negotiation. We don’t have the funds to buy it. It might be impolite to say this, but there’s not much money anymore."
"Why do you think we seized those people from the royal faction?"
"Ah!" Duke Lorelei forgot about it. The national fund might be low, but those people had been embezzling money, so they should have a lot. This would be enough to buy so airships from Noel.
"By using this agreent as an opening, I’ll be restarting the national road project and letting him expand the road and the train, which will be useful for us as well. I’m sure the marquis won’t mind. After all, he knows that the transfer of technology will be achieved sooner or later through the rune academy. Hence, he will try to get as much benefit as possible right now." Wendy smiled.
She was neither aggressive nor passive in her approach, which might make it possible to find a new and better path that wasn’t possible before.
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