Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: 64. Empty Yet Full (1)
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After that day, the Teutons were completely demoralized.
It was only natural. Not only had they lost the duel, but their leader had become half-crippled and holed up in his quarters. It would have been stranger if their morale hadn't plummeted.
Yet amid all this, one person had seized the opportunity.
Hestia Neumann Tudor, the princess of Teuton.
She didn't miss the chance presented by her uncle's absence and finally reclaimed the nominal authority of chief representative.
Her first action as the true leader of Teuton was...
"The princess of Teuton requests a private audience with Your Highness."
...to request a private meeting with me out of the blue.
I didn't refuse.
And soon enough, the princess arrived at my palace.
"Your Highness. Have you been well?"
"We saw each other just a few days ago, and you're already greeting me so formally."
"It may have been just a few days for you, Your Highness, but it felt like years to me."
I replied indifferently, however.
Then I stared at the princess for a moment.
The forced smile that looked like it might cramp her facial muscles, the fake grin that hid her discomfort—they were gone.
She seemed somewhat stiff, but her face looked far more human than before.
I'd planned to kick her out if she started her fake coquettish act again.
With a smirk, I got to the point.
"Why did you want to see me?"
She answered as if she'd been waiting for the question.
"I wish to resume the negotiations that were halted."
"Fine. I permit it."
At my immediate response, the princess's eyes widened in surprise.
She must have thought I'd use the resumption as an excuse to make various demands.
I had no such intentions.
If anyone was going to extract concessions, it would be Montpellier and Siorin, not me. And they had more than enough skill for it.
No matter how much of a queen regnant she was, her talents were only just beginning to bloom.
Compared to the sly old fox Montpellier, seasoned in every trial, and the sharp Siorin, she was little more than a flower in a greenhouse.
There was no need for me to waste my breath haggling from the start.
"Anything else you want?"
The princess shook her head at my question.
"Nothing for now."
"Then we're done..."
"But there is one thing I'm curious about."
She hesitated a moment before asking me.
"Why are you being so good to me?"
Her sudden question made me frown, and she hurriedly elaborated.
"I mean the exclusive rights to trade dwarf-forged weapons."
"I never said it was free."
If she tried to lowball me, I'd scrap the exclusive rights and the entire deal with Teuton.
In response, the princess laid out her thoughts.
"I'm no expert on swords, but I know the immense value of dwarf-forged arms and the tremendous power that comes with the rights to trade them. I'm not foolish enough to let them slip away over petty greed."
"Good to know you understand."
"You're not the only one. Even if Duke Seymour were here, he'd do the same. No matter who sat in this position, the Kingdom of Leonberger wouldn't suffer losses."
She paused, staring straight at me before speaking again.
"So why me, of all people?"
Her eyes sparkled strangely. The intensity made me uncomfortable.
"Because you're Teuton's representative right now."
I swallowed my unease and answered. She pressed further.
"Is that all?"
"You're also easier to deal with than Duke Seymour."
"If that's the case, you wouldn't need to grant exclusive rights."
"If we're going to keep trading anyway, it's more convenient to deal consistently with one person rather than... Wait, why does that even matter?"
"It matters to me."
Her firm response drew a sigh from me.
"If Duke Seymour were in your place, he wouldn't have offered Teuton's hard-earned position as alliance leader to the kingdom. So I merely countered with terms matching what you proposed."
"Is that all...?"
I felt interrogated, and it soured my mood.
"I don't know what answer you're expecting. Even if there were more, I have no obligation or desire to explain."
My tone naturally grew curt.
But oddly, the princess brightened at my brusque words.
"I see. So there was a reason you couldn't say."
"What nonsense..."
"I promise. You won't regret choosing me as your trading partner."
The princess boldly declared it with a resolute face, rambling on her own.
Her words were incomprehensible, but the conclusion wasn't bad.
I smirked and scolded her.
"If you want to make promises like that, finish the negotiations properly first."
"It won't be easy. Our representatives are no pushovers."
She replied with a confident smile instead.
"Do your best."
With that perfunctory encouragement, I promptly sent her away.
Once the princess left and I was alone, I frowned.
I felt strangely exhausted.
Our conversation hadn't been long, yet it felt like I'd been talking all day.
"I'd rather not see her again if possible."
Queen regnant or not, she was just uncomfortable. I hoped to avoid meeting her again.
Fortunately, with negotiations underway, I wouldn't run into her much.
I'd left all the details to Montpellier and Siorin anyway.
If we met again, it would be after all terms were settled.
Or so I thought.
But no.
After visiting Adelia, who had just regained consciousness, and returning to my palace, the princess was waiting for me.
"Your Highness."
"Come inside first."
Thinking she had something to say, I let her in.
"I can't tell if that man is here to negotiate or just to obstruct us."
Once alone, she unleashed a torrent of complaints.
The demure demeanor she'd shown at the entrance was gone.
"Who knew such an infuriating person existed? So arrogant, too."
Her words were disjointed, but I instantly knew who she meant.
It was clearly about Montpellier.
He'd thoroughly rattled her.
It was to be expected.
Montpellier was endlessly weak against the strong and mercilessly strong against the weak.
To him, the Teutons—crushed in the recent duel—were obvious weaklings, while the kingdom, holding the enticing dwarf-forged weapons, was the powerhouse.
I'd bet he'd vented all the stress from losing his fief and being stuck in the kingdom on them.
I understood her feelings.
But,
"I can't fathom why you'd come complain to me about this."
I couldn't grasp why she'd vent to me, a foreigner, instead of her own people.
"Don't forget the man you're cursing is my subordinate and the chief negotiator I appointed myself."
I told her she should complain to her Teutons, not me. She replied shamelessly.
"They see me as a delicate, kind princess. I can't show this side to them. I'd get lectures instead of sympathy."
"Even so..."
"And Your Highness the Crown Prince said I could be myself around you."
"That's not what I meant."
The princess ignored me.
"Whew. Your Highness, I feel so much better now."
She chattered on alone, expressed her thanks alone.
She bowed her head and vanished.
And the next day, she came to my palace again.
And the day after. And the one after that.
Sometimes she badmouthed Montpellier, other times she whined about Siorin's nitpicking.
Her endless chatter grew worse by the day, giving me a headache.
Finally, I couldn't take it and had the palace entrance sealed.
Her messengers came requesting audiences, but the Royal Knights blocked them all.
"Should've done this sooner."
I finally regained my peace.
But it didn't last.
"Rumors are flying around the palace. They say Princess Hestia Neumann Tudor is wearing a path to the 1st Prince's Palace. Lately, she's been sending letters instead of coming herself."
This time, the sly Grand Admiral Billefeld came to stir things up.
"Who the hell's spreading that?!"
"Well, it's just rumors. Though her frequent visits to the 1st Prince's Palace seem more than that."
The marquis helped himself to the liquor cabinet and spouted nonsense.
I was about to retort when his expression turned serious.
"His Majesty and the Eastern Fleet have arrived four days from the harbor."
My eyes widened.
"The messenger who brought the news left two weeks ago, so His Majesty is likely already off the front lines, heading to the capital by land."
My heart fluttered.
It was an indescribable feeling.
"Negotiations with Teuton are hectic enough, and now preparing for the triumphal procession will make it worse."
After struggling for words, even I found my response awkward.
"No need to worry. His Highness the 2nd Prince has everything prepared."
The marquis smiled at me.
"Your Highness need only go to the gates when the time comes to welcome His Majesty and the Eastern Legion."
I nodded silently.
"Then I've said all I came to say. I'll take my leave."
He downed his glass and left.
I stared at the closed door for a long time before muttering.
"He's finally coming."
My face twitched involuntarily.
I cupped it with both hands.
My lips seemed to curve upward slightly.
The protracted negotiations were nearing their end.
Once the fine details were settled and diplomatic ties formalized, the Teuton deal would be done.
At least officially.
My personal deal with the princess had to remain a secret pact, not part of the agreement.
And finally, the official negotiations concluded.
All that remained was for the representatives to sign and affix the royal seal.
"The name on this treaty will be His Majesty's, not mine."
I handed the final step to the king.
An achievement that might echo through history—not a small feat.
"I can only admire Your Highness's magnanimity."
The marquis beamed at me. Maximilian and the others wore similar pleased expressions.
The only one not smiling was Teuton's princess.
She'd urged haste, citing Duke Seymour's rapid recovery and the need to wrap things up.
Instead of indulging her, I scolded her.
What could the duke do now that she, the chief representative, was closing the deal? Why fear when she held the exclusive dwarf-weapon trade rights?
Realizing her overreaction, she blushed belatedly.
"I've shown my foolish side again."
I sighed, watching her shake off her anxiety.
What hardships for a future payoff from this queen regnant.
But the current struggles would soon yield greater rewards. No reason to refuse a bit of babysitting.
Then a messenger arrived announcing the king's approach to the capital.
From early morning, I waited at the city gates.
"His Majesty and the Eastern Legion!"
Finally, the king appeared on the plain.
His now fully white hair flowed like a white lion's mane,
with the kingdom's knights and elite troops at his back.
His majestic figure made my heart pound fiercely.
I stood silently, betraying nothing, waiting for him to reach the gates.
Finally, the king and Eastern Legion arrived.
Clack.
The Eastern Legion halted as one. The capital's guards and knights advancing to greet them stopped too.
In that frozen world, only the king and I walked toward each other.
Step, step.
Twenty steps. Fifteen. Ten. Five.
The distance closed bit by bit.
Now three steps.
I stopped.
But the king didn't. He took those last three steps.
And then—
Whoosh.
A sudden warmth enveloped me.
"Uh?"
I could only blurt out a dazed sound.