Chapter . 75
Rhiannon, before the regression, always showed outward obedience to Father. While behind his back spreading rumors that Father showed madness or had seizures, and branding , his son, at the sa ti.
However, she was soone who moved when she had to move. Even against the Emperor's will.
“If you wish to receive my favor as well, I shall bestow an estate upon you as the reward I promised.”
It was a reward originally promised, but if it's only given upon forming an alliance, is that a reward?
But this was Rhiannon's calculation.
“Your Majesty's words are correct. I am already overwheld with the undeserved tasks His Majesty the Emperor has bestowed upon .”
I also spoke towards Father, showing off obedience not inferior to Rhiannon.
Whether I desperately needed an estate or not, there was no reason to admit it in front of an enemy. Rhiannon, for her part, couldn't just keep letting
increase my influence more than her son, so we were both equally anxious.
“It is surprising that you, who acted so aloof, now wish to join the Emperor Faction.”
“That is because I am loyal to Father. Isn't that why I receive such favor?”
However Rhiannon probed, I held out, implying that I would join the Emperor Faction if pushed, so push if she dared. It is foolish to admit sothing just because the opponent noticed sothing I didn't want either.
“You are skilled, impressive.”
The Empress changed her thod imdiately when I didn't budge. This was why Rhiannon was scary. Even her children couldn't switch directions as quickly as she did due to the pride of royal blood.
“Then choose.”
When the Empress gestured, a maid ca and unfolded a map. The maid brought arrows used in strategy maps and stuck them in three places.
Three places among Rhiannon and Lauderdale's estates.
“Which place will you choose?”
The first one touched Maximilian's estate. The second was close to Alexander's estate.
Of course, it was according to the Empress's thorough arrangent. Even the place close to Maximilian's estate was originally an estate of a family fallen by gambling, and rumors were rampant that Lauderdale was behind that gambling den.
The third was… out of nowhere. A mountain and a small village attached below it.
Mount Petrafis was the highest mountain in Armatia. Its alias was Dragon's Mountain, also famous for legends related to dragons. Before the regression, Rhiannon had sent
and Michelon there to find the dragon's gold.
But we found nothing. The fact that a dragon lived there was an ancient legend from before Armatia's history.
“Is the reason you included this mountain in the choices perhaps because you wish
to choose it?”
Even if it's Dragon's Mountain, using a mountain I already know is empty? When I desperately need an estate to build a castle.
Moreover, I didn't want to raise pointless expectations in Michelon, who hadn't regressed and whose inherited mories weren't complete so he wouldn't know.
“Impossible. For , it is better if you stay close to your full brother Maximilian or half-brother Alexander and serve as a buffer between them and our estates.”
Buffer, nonsense. To invade the Empress's estate, I would definitely join hands even with my brothers.
“It could beco a bridgehead for advance.”
“That is also true. However, would His Majesty the Emperor drive his most beloved son to such a dangerous perilous place? Therefore, I also prepared a place sowhat remote but safe.”
“Since it is a mountain, aren't landslides frequent?”
“To worry about a landslide when a revelation would descend upon you. Wouldn't Saint Marcella laugh?”
Instead of Saint Marcella, Rhiannon smiled brightly. But soon she continued seriously.
“In this village, unusual things are happening. People are dying off.”
“Oh my, perhaps they are starving to death because the lord collected too much tax?”
“If so, we would know the reason. These people just disappear and their bodies cannot be found.”
“Is it just one or two people who died in that mountain? If they entered the mountain and fell into a glacier, that could happen.”
“If that is really so, why would the Traneha religion take interest?”
The Empress was hinting that the temple would carry out a mage hunt in that village. I said without showing any agitation.
“How would I know? Since among our brothers, Desmond is so deeply religious that he even staged a religious play at the banquet, why don't you call that child and ask him?”
“It's not just commoners dying, but if there truly is an evil group and the Traneha religion carries out a mage hunt in my estate, what becos of my face?”
The Empress and I had been talking past each other for a while, but sohow the conversation continued.
“Her Majesty the Empress's face will absolutely not be shaken by any matter. Is that not so?”
“If you make this village your estate, the Traneha religion, frantic to please you, would restrain themselves.”
“Would His Majesty the Emperor send
to this far place?”
“I will arrange a direct magic circle connecting to the Imperial Palace.”
Rhiannon said as if doing a favor.
“There is still no reason for
to go there risking Father's opposition.”
“Do you think I don't know that? But you must also hold my hand.”
“Why is that?”
“Because your full brother, Maximilian's coming of age is approaching. To think you already have two adult brothers while you are still young. Should you not pray to your late mother to send down divine protection more diligently from heaven?”
“The First Prince's coming of age, ti has passed indeed.”
“It is useless to pretend to forget in front of .”
Rhiannon frowned as if I tried to deceive her. But I had really forgotten. Since I had already contracted with the dragon, things that would have made
tense before were no longer my concern.
“It is enough if His Majesty, who cares so much about him, rembers; do I have to rember too?”
“…Since Maximilian has reached the age to contract, he will harass you to find the dragon's egg. So for now, it would be better to hold hands with . Since Desmond will co of age only after you.”
The person who was dangerous enough even when Desmond was a minor said calmly.
“Those are valid words.”
“Then does that an you will accept my proposal?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“…Although the estate is small, what will you do if you don't accept even this? Will you continue to live as a Prince with no land and no castle like that? To think you deluded yourself that I would bestow a large estate, pitiful.”
Honestly, it wasn't that I didn't think about accepting even a small estate gratefully and growing it, but the Empress's urging brought
to my senses.
I didn't endure anymore.
“What would be the reason? Just that since the estate I receive for the first ti in my life is a small village in such a remote place, I felt so miserable that I thought I would rather not receive it at all.”
“Maximilian will―”
“Yes, that is right. How about bestowing this village upon him at his birthday celebration? How happily would he express his gratitude? He would praise how generous Her Majesty the Empress is for a long ti to co.”
Maximilian would welco with open arms a gift that would beco a topic of conversation for a long ti about how petty the Empress behaved, indeed befitting soone of lowly blood.
“…What do you want?”
I turned my eyes to the map. The Empress followed my finger with hawk eyes.
“Montova.”
I pointed to a castle by the lakeside close to Mount Petrafis. It was a lake ford by water lted from the mountain's glaciers.
“You intend to get two estates from ?”
“It is one. What castle would I build in a mountain and a small village below it?”
“…Fine, instead you must tell
where the dragon's egg is.”
“Ask His Majesty the Emperor first. Without his imperial order, I never open my mouth.”
“Taking two estates, does that make sense?”
“The estate was a reward I deserved to receive, and a rugged mountain and one small village are infinitely small as the price for
handling the mage hunt that will happen there directly.”
Rhiannon did not back down. Although her appearance was delicate, she was like a bull in that regard. Hating it when calculations she had already finished alone went awry.
“Think carefully. His Majesty the Emperor openly said he wishes you to stay by his side, so would he be pleased if you have an estate? You might lose the favor you suddenly gained now. What will you do if you go to the estate and get expelled from the Imperial Palace just like that?”
I wish that would happen in this life, please. It's safer for Michelon to be far away from the Imperial Palace.
“However, if you go that far to take care of the people in danger, it is not easy for His Majesty the Emperor to oppose either. Is there any other justification like that? It is all sothing I arranged with careful consideration for your situation, so do not forget the grace.”
“How could I forget? When there is nothing to forget.”
“…You are greedy. Then why do you not think about acquiring more mages? Although real mages wouldn't be in such a remote mountain area, if talks with the Traneha religion go well with your influence, the people there will praise you, and if there really are mages, you just take them in, so it's increasingly beneficial.”
“Do as you please. But I can also tell my full brother or half-brother how the negotiation with Your Majesty broke down, and buy a small estate from my brothers in exchange for not negotiating with Your Majesty. The location would certainly be better.”
“How dare you! Do you act so arrogantly to
trusting His Majesty's favor!”
Rhiannon was good at plotting, but she also had a weakness of getting frighteningly angry when her plot didn't work.
“If Your Majesty will not properly give the reward you promised, I have no other choice either.”
I retorted sharply, but the next mont I lowered my voice.
“Even if I tell Your Majesty where the dragon's egg is now, what good would it do? I have never seen it either. Everything is His Majesty the Emperor's will. What I know is also only for now.”
When I hinted that if she tried to dig too hastily, Father might move the dragon's egg to a place even I wouldn't know, a faint twitch occurred at Rhiannon's lips. Although it disappeared imdiately.
“But at least, I can promise not to speak about the dragon's egg even to my brother who has co of age. Just as His Majesty the Emperor ordered.”
Rhiannon and I looked at each other for a while.
After so ti passed, Rhiannon finally accepted my proposal.
Thus, pretending not to be a mage, pretending not to want to do so at all, I gained the opportunity to be involved in a mage hunt for the first ti.
***
“This is a natural fortress!”
“Since no army would go there anyway, is there a need to build a fortress…….”
Before the regression, it was a place where nothing happened even during that terrible civil war, but Michelon was excited.
“A mage hunt. Learning magic is difficult, so would there really be mages in such a mountain valley? I am worried the Traneha order might just be aiming to harm innocent people.”
Yolande had an anxious face, but she willingly stepped forward.
“To gain two estates at once, you are truly amazing, Prince.”
Sir Rolf was also happy.
“Truly amazing. You have a lot of money even now, but you will be able to collect taxes too. I sll gold! Build the best fortress with that gold!”
War and gold, the dragon was excited.
It was fortunate that all three I would take with
were happy. But surprisingly, Nanette and Vincent also stepped forward.
“I will stay quiet. Really, really stay quiet. Please, Prince!”
“I do not want to be apart from Yolande. Just thinking about it makes my body ache again.”
“Wouldn't it be fine if you two stay together?”
“So if you take us and leave us at the lodging, we two will stay quiet!”
“ too! Really! Scold
if I don't stay quiet!”
It was understandable. Vincent had recovered a lot, and the three of them were very happy together with Yolande and Nanette, but all three were anxious. Afraid of being separated again.
Yet I couldn't leave Yolande behind. Because even if I used magic, it had to look like she did it.
“You cannot because you cannot use magic circles, Nanette.”
Yolande shook her head. Those words were correct. Yet if she followed in a carriage, it would take a very long ti.
But my Circle Magic worked on Nanette too.
My magical field could contain Nanette's Anti-magic wavelength. Then I just had to move the teleportation magic circle with that magical field itself.
Above all, Nanette's Anti-magic would be useful for this matter, and leaving only Vincent here alone wasn't good either.
“Let's all three go.”
“Waaaaah, thank you, Prince!”
“Thank you for your grace!”
“Thank the Prince, and from now on, don't throw tantrums like that, both of you.”
Yolande spoke strictly like a teacher, but she seed happy inside.
Thus, we headed to the Imperial Palace's magic circle early in the morning.
Because Rhiannon had threatened not to even dream of the direct magic circle she ntioned at first, in exchange for receiving Montova as well. Let alone dreaming, I had let it flow out of one ear long ago.
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