Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Fox Baron (2)
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“Are you acquaintances with the princess of Bakal...?”
“Unbelievable....”
Until just before establishing diplomatic ties recently, Leon and Bakal had been at odds.
Hearing that there were personal connections between the two nations left Burke and Frey with frozen expressions.
Their faces had turned as white as statues, and they simply stared at me blankly.
Watching the sight of someone casually chatting with a princess of a nation.
“Yes, close enough that I even spoon-fed her meals myself.”
I grinned widely and pointed at the crystal orb.
「Connection established.」
“Princess Tina! How have you been? Everything alright?”
I greeted the orb with a sly, teasing drawl.
Every time I called the esteemed Christina simply “Tina,” the Golden Apple members flinched.
“Calling a nation's princess ‘Tina’ just now....”
“Ahem....”
They watched tensely, wondering what the response would be.
And then, as soon as signs of life stirred from the crystal orb.
「Veil? It's been ages!」
A bright, lively voice returned—one so fresh it was hard to believe it came from the princess of the frigid northern kingdom.
That voice sent shivers through the bodies of the two powerhouses who had been eyeing me suspiciously.
“It’s... really her...?”
“Good heavens... connections with Bakal royalty too....”
I waved them off dismissively.
Telling them to quiet down.
「Anyone around?」
“Ah, yes.... I’ve got some acquaintances here with me.」
「Hmm, acquaintances, huh.」
Tina trailed off, as if pondering why I’d called, drawing out her words.
Then, she came back with a sultry tone.
「But it feels like you didn’t call just to check on me—you need something, right?」
“Oh, come on, what do you take me for.”
I played it off smoothly.
But the quick-witted strategist grasped the point immediately.
「Otherwise, why call me in a crowded place like this.」
At her words, I glanced at the rowdy lords.
Those who had doubted my abilities until now averted their eyes with apologetic looks.
「No worries, no worries—I’m not grilling you or anything.」
Fortunately, Bakal’s princess switched back to her gracious tone.
The sound of turning pages suggested she’d been leisurely reading.
「So, what do you need my help with? You’ve done me favors before, so speak freely.」
“Understood.”
I was pleased by her straightforward personality.
Matching her vibe, I cut straight to the chase.
“There’s a merchant leader I know well.... She greatly admires Bakal.」
As soon as I opened with that, the princess’s page-turning stopped.
She was listening intently to my story.
「Is that so?」
“Yes, especially Bakal’s formidable military strength. She was so envious of the polearms on your escort detail during this last visit.”
I specifically praised the weapons of Tina’s guards.
In response, a chuckle came from the crystal orb.
「Our polearms are the finest on the continent, after all.」
“Yes, so here’s the thing—she wants to import those military supplies.”
I slipped in the question subtly, riding the upbeat mood.
「Hmm.... Really?」
But my casual query met a cynical reply.
The voice of a wise ruler who knew how to separate public from private.
「Exporting polearms to foreign nations comes with incredibly strict regulations, though. Even I’d have a tough time.」
“Ahem....”
Burke looked disappointed.
He gazed at me with desperate eyes.
“No need to worry. It’s the answer I expected.”
I quietly reassured him.
Then, flashing a wink at the crystal orb, I continued.
“Of course, of course. Leaking foreign tech would be risky, so naturally it’s tough.”
I hadn’t been aiming for the polearms from the start anyway.
“So here’s my real pitch—instead of importing the weapons themselves, we’d like mithril mined in Bakal.”
Start with an outrageous demand.
Then, when the other side hesitates, slip in a milder proposal....
“You’ve been exporting plenty to maritime nations already.... Now that we’ve established ties, the justification’s there, right?”
「True enough.」
People tend to respond positively to such framing.
「If we’re exporting to other countries, no reason not to for Leon.」
“Our merchant leader’s got quite the reputation in Leon. If you trust and hand it over, we’d love a fair price on the import....”
I pushed into the opening in Tina’s mind.
Whistling inwardly.
‘She’s almost hooked.’
But right then.
「You’re vouching for it, right?」
My inner whistle cut off abruptly.
Tina was never an easy mark of a monarch.
「If you join as guarantor if issues arise, I’ll consider it favorably.」
“Uh.... Absolutely, of course!”
‘Her tone’s gotten a bit weird....’
「If there’s trouble, you’ll come take responsibility in Bakal, Baron Veil.」
She was unmistakably back in Bakal.
Yet she already knew I’d been granted a barony.
“You knew I received my title...?”
At my question, the sound of closing a book echoed.
Then Tina replied in a queenly, sensual voice.
「If I want to know something, I can find out anything.」
A chill like glacial ice seeped from her voice.
Even Burke, pierced by it, flinched.
“Haha.... To think my fame has reached even there. Truly an honor, Your Highness.”
「Alright, I’ll send our mine overseer and your merchant leader to meet within a few days. Talk it over.」
Christina spoke comfortably, satisfied with my response.
She’d resolved Burke’s dilemma in one go.
Something that would’ve taken at least a month of petitions for anyone else.
「You be there too. As the ‘guarantor.’」
“Of course, I’ll oversee it personally.”
Her repeated emphasis on “guarantor” was nagging at me.
But since the matter was settled smoothly, I decided to be content.
「Well then, I’ll hang up, Baron. Was nice hearing from you.」
“Take care.”
I bowed toward the crystal orb.
Then, the princess’s presence stirred from it.
「Hey, summon the tailor.」
「Yes, since I might take a long trip soon, refine some boots and a cloak....」
Her voice faded gradually.
So I couldn’t make out what the princess was saying.
「....」
The orb’s transmission cut off abruptly.
‘Something about that sounded ominous....’
Still, the deal was done.
A product absent from our imperial capital.
Yet one we desperately needed.
I’d connected the provincial merchant leader to it.
In turn, he secured goods for his push into the capital.
And simultaneously, the birth of the first merchant guild absolutely backing the princesses.
“Y-You really did it! Baron Mikhail...!”
Burke shot up from his chair.
He grabbed both my hands and expressed his gratitude.
“I told you. I’d handle it in one shot.”
As I shrugged, the Golden Apple members bowed politely to me.
“Forgive my doubting lapse in judgment.”
“I apologize too....”
Even Frey joined in.
Emboldened, Count Timan spoke on their behalf.
“To go this far for us. You truly are on the princesses’ side.”
“Of course. After all the favors they’ve done me.”
I smiled brightly at them.
The count then asked cautiously.
“Favors.... Speaking of which, how close are you to the princesses...?”
I rested my chin on my hand at his question.
“Hmm....”
Then, narrowing my eyes, I recalled times with them.
“They always visited whenever I fell ill.”
Irina, who came to my home and nursed me after the black knight’s ambush.
“They helped me out every time trouble arose.”
Leah, who calmed me when I suffered from excessive grand aura.
“They even knelt to cover my indiscretions.”
Lydia, who hid me when I was at risk of discovery.
“They’re all precious to me.”
I gave the provincial lords a gentle smile.
These words were sincere.
“...”
But.
After those incidents I just mentioned, what happened next?
“...”
Embarrassing memories flooded in darkly.
The looks on the princesses’ faces back then....
They were all so intensely lustful.
“W-Well, anyway! We’re very close!”
My face flushed a bit as I said it.
“I see....”
“Understood.”
“Hmm. I get the vibe now.”
My abrupt words left the lords with knowing looks.
They were all married men, or at least familiar with love.
“Ahem.... Well, it’s getting late, so I’ll prepare to head back to the capital....”
I rose and headed to the carriage.
The Golden Apple members stared intently at my back.
“Feel it?”
“Yes, the princesses clearly hold that man special.”
“Ufufu....”
The three exchanged lecherous grins in unison.
Nodding at one another.
“We might need to prepare wedding gifts someday.”
“I’ll handle the dowry.”
Like finally finding the rope to grasp.
The moment their long-held neutrality ended.
“As expected of you, Count. How do you see so far ahead?”
「―――――」
The next day.
Special editions hit not just Cornell region but the imperial capital too.
「Promising No. 2 of Solar Guild Causes Chaos in Brothel!!」
The empire’s top provincial guild, Solar.
Its No. 2, Jake—son of the former mercenary captain—had been witnessed in the act.
Soused to the gills, he’d harassed women in the brothel. Over ten times, no less.
Outraging citizens province-wide and even in the capital.
「Hired bards to cover up the incident?!」
Yet the event had stayed hidden until now, thanks to the bards he employed.
Only just revealed to the public.
「Solar Guildmaster Frey expresses deep regret over the incident.」
A somber image of the red mercenary captain issuing a statement.
That image flowed not just through capital back alleys.
But into the princesses’ palace too.
“Hmm.”
In the western office, Leah with her monocle.
Legs crossed, she peered down at the paper.
“Odd, for an imperial reporter to fetch provincial gossip.”
Wearing a shirt far too big for her.
She tugged the sleeve to her nose and inhaled deeply.
“Fuuu.... And Cornell of all places.”
Her policy-induced headache seemed to melt away.
Leah savored the sensation, fiddling with the oversized shirt.
“Good thing I researched scent-preservation magic. Almost 70% restoration.”
Leah’s blue eyes hooded seductively.
She’d drenched herself in someone’s scent like a rich, intoxicating perfume.
But then.
“Your Highness, time for the briefing.”
“W-Wait.... Just a moment longer before you come in, Damian!”
At the knock, the empire’s First Imperial Princess hastily tucked the shirt hem into her skirt.
Then tightened it atop to strain against her ample chest.
「――――――」
「Bakal Mithril Imported to Leon for the First Time!」
Cornell’s merchant guild.
Burke Company would import top-grade mithril from Bakal—the first ever.
The guildmaster promised fair pricing on the premium material, to circulate through the entire imperial capital.
“Bakan mithril...?!”
Irina, fresh from a shower in her bathrobe.
Hair still damp, she devoured the article.
She’d been after gear for the Emerald Knights, after all.
“Cornell.... That’s where Veil is right now.”
Like a princess’s intuition kicking in, Irina pondered briefly.
Then, from this short blurb alone, deduced the mastermind.
Cornell’s sole connection to Bakal.
Only one such person.
“It’s Veil, isn’t it?”
The Second Imperial Princess was pleased at securing pricey mithril at a fair price.
Thinking of the achiever, she nibbled her thumb against her lips.
“Such a good boy....”
Since when?
Thinking of him made her sensually lick her lips—a new habit.
Unknowingly casting a lascivious gaze.
「――――――」
Finally, the paper reached the eastern palace.
There, a woman was so absorbed she hadn’t even glanced at the special report.
Gorgeous antique tiles.
Below, a vast screen partition with clothes strewn everywhere.
“Hmm.... This one? No, too girlish!”
Lydia tossed aside a red cheongsam.
She eyed her old dancer outfit intently, lost in thought.
“So that fox Veil said he likes petite types too....”
She wrestled with outfits like heading into a grand diplomatic war.
Her secretary watched worriedly.
“Your Highness, it’s been an hour already. How long will you just stare at clothes....”
Dressed in a suit, he fretted that the Third Imperial Princess was neglecting state affairs for a man.
“State affairs? I finished today’s already.”
“P-Pardon...? Really?”
The secretary gaped at her claim of clearing the morning’s mountain of work.
And indeed, the table by the screen overflowed with already-approved documents.
“Unbelievable.... You usually hate the hassle and wrap up by day’s end....”
Normally, she’d munch candy and finish affairs as the day wound down.
Yet she’d powered through the morning, clearly preoccupied.
The stunned secretary blinked his sharp eyes.
“Secretary, stop that and help me pick an outfit. I’m meeting someone tomorrow.”
A daring cheongsam slit to the thigh.
Precariously revealing enough to glimpse underwear straps.
“That outfit is absolutely forbidden!!”
The middle-aged man who’d raised her like a daughter shook his head vehemently.
“Not until dirt’s in my eyes!!”