Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Carriage Journey
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The next day.
-Thud!
The door burst open roughly.
"Ai-den sec-re-ta-ry? Explain why the Crown Prince is coming to the Grand Duchy!"
Luna stormed into my room with a ferocious aura.
"Uh... Grand Duchess?"
Seeing her bobbed hair flailing wildly in the air, I swallowed hard without thinking.
-Gulp.
As she took a step closer and swung her hand back...
-Bang!
The door in the distance slammed shut. I reached out my hand.
"Stop! W-wait a second! The oath! Remember the oath?"
At my frantic voice, Luna nodded with killing-intent-filled eyes.
"Yeah, no matter what it is, you said you'd forgive me and love me..."
Her red eyes gleamed sharply.
"But that doesn't mean no punishment!"
With those words, Luna slammed me down onto the bed at a speed invisible to the eye.
"Uwak!"
Thank goodness it's a palace bed.
If she'd slammed me onto the floor...
My back would've definitely snapped.
"Hoo, now explain!"
"C-calm down first. Let's sit at the table and have some tea..."
"You think I can keep tea down right now?! Letting that pervert Crown Prince into my palace? Ugh..."
Luna's face drained to a pale blue.
"Just imagining that bastard touching my underwear is horrifying!"
She never swore in front of me usually, but was it because Ferdinand was coming?
Seeing her swear so naturally, I realized persuasion wouldn't be easy.
"So, let's have some tea and talk it out."
I got up from the bed, walked to the table, and carefully pulled out a chair as I spoke.
"Sit."
"Haa..."
Luna let out a deep sigh.
I urgently called to the maid outside to bring tea and sat down at the table.
"Grand Duchess—no, Luna. Don't you know why I set this up?"
"No! That's why I'm like this!"
To her blazing with fury, I gestured for her to calm down as I spoke.
"Actually, I had a serious talk with the Crown Prince yesterday."
I opened with that and recounted every detail of our conversation without omission.
"What?! What does he plan to do with my underwear?! That damn pervert Crown Prince!"
I regretted it as I watched Luna bolt up from her seat.
Ah? Should've skipped that part?
"W-wait! We have to think of the Grand Duchy's future!"
If Luna killed the Crown Prince here... we'd all face horrific consequences.
I frantically grabbed her shoulders. Her crimson eyes brimmed with a sticky killing intent I'd never seen before.
"Let go?"
Let go and I'm dead. Don't let go and I'm dead.
In that case...
I hugged Luna tightly and spoke in the kindest voice I could muster.
"Don't get mad. I'll handle the Crown Prince properly."
-Flinch.
I held my breath, terrified she might bolt out.
"Haa, sit down first."
The moment Luna sat to cool her head.
-Knock knock. Tea is here.
"Ah? I'll get it."
I opened the door, took the tea from the maid, and set it on the table.
"So, where was I?"
"The Crown Prince wanting to know the scent of my underwear."
To Luna's rotten expression, I spoke awkwardly.
"So I asked if that's okay? I scolded him—how does he think he can get along with you after getting caught like that? That's why we're taking him north to find a Crown Princess."
"Crown Princess? From the north?"
Luna's eyes widened in bewilderment.
"Yes, think about it. If we marry, the Crown Prince will try to block it, right? He might even try to kill me."
She narrowed her eyes sharply.
"You think that's possible? As long as I'm alive, no way."
To her edged reaction, I spoke in a calming tone.
"No one's unkillable in this world. Anyway, wouldn't it be better to change who he likes instead of risking that? And even better if I introduce her."
"True, but... can it really work? Even the Emperor couldn't manage it."
To her dubious words, I nodded with conviction.
"You said High Elves get lord-level treatment before, right? That should qualify for Crown Princess."
She made a pondering face at my words.
"Each High Elf is duke-level, sure... but for Crown Princess formality..."
Luna frowned in thought.
Then her face brightened.
"Ah? Come to think of it, I heard some kingdom married a High Elf before."
"Then it should work."
This place has a custom against class mixing for inheritance rights.
Simply put, kings marry royalty, nobles marry nobles—inheritance goes to those offspring.
"But... will there be a High Elf who likes that guy?"
To apathetic Luna, I said.
"He's handsome, isn't he? Elves seem to care only about looks anyway."
Look at Jin—he seduced every maid, elf, and dark elf in the palace without discrimination, a man of pure charm.
The Crown Prince, far superior in looks to Jin, should do even better.
But for some reason, she scowled dissatisfied.
"His face is nothing special."
"Huh? He's handsome though?"
"Handsome my ass? Looks like a gigolo. O-oh... you're actually handsomer."
"Ah..."
Now I understood why Luna hated suitors.
Her standards... are sky-high.
"Anyway, I know some High Elves from past negotiations. I'll try some matchmaking."
A High Elf negotiator once complained his daughter wouldn't marry.
A few others came to mind too.
"Will it work? Feels more like he'll bribe palace maids instead."
To indifferent Luna, I reassured her not to worry.
"Haha, you think he'd pull that in front of his uncle? Probably not."
Luna nodded at my words.
"If you say so... I trust you. But Aiden, tell me before pulling stuff like this."
"Yes. I will next time."
She let out a deep sigh.
"Haa, always like this. The pioneer expedition last time, now too."
"But the results are always good, right?"
I'd secured the yin-yang wine myself before, and now with official imperial permission, the foundation for proper Grand Duchy development was set.
"True, but warn me ahead. Know how startled I was?"
To her pouting face, I spoke sheepishly.
"It was a sudden idea; couldn't tell you in time. Sorry."
"Fine... but if Ferdinand tries stealing my underwear again..."
She flashed a bright smile.
"I'll cut his throat then—so prepare yourself."
"Ah..."
I'm screwed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Aiden, take good care of my son."
I nodded to the Emperor.
"Don't worry, brother. I'll serve him diligently."
I'd told the Emperor it was to build memories with his not-much-younger nephew in the Grand Duchy, and that I'd attach a fine High Elf daughter-in-law—he welcomed it with open arms.
"Yeah. I trust only you."
With farewells from the Emperor and imperial family, I boarded the Crown Prince's carriage.
"Wish the Grand Duchess had joined..."
I snapped at the regretful Crown Prince.
"That's exactly why she hates you."
"Eek..."
I sighed at the guy shrinking down.
"I have tons of work. Stay quiet."
Riding back to the capital had piled up work to review, but with the Crown Prince joining, we'd handle it in the carriage.
-Swish...
Once we arrive in the Grand Duchy, finalize negotiations with the other races and mass-produce yin-yang wine sales.
Oh, right—should research greenhouse cultivation for samjiguibcho too.
Pondering the Grand Duchy's development, Ferdinand staring out the window caught my eye.
What’s that guy looking at?
I glanced along his gaze and turned my head—there was Luna on her white horse.
"Ferdinand, I told you not to stare so lecherously."
"Ah... it wasn't lecherous?"
The panicking guy.
Definitely lewd thoughts.
"Don't just sit there... check these numbers."
Simple arithmetic, but without calculators here, it ate up surprising time.
"No pen?"
"Here, use this."
And so, we silently worked inside the carriage.
Weeks later...
"Oh? The Grand Duchy really has changed."
Ferdinand, seeing construction everywhere.
He asked with curiosity-filled eyes.
"Uncle, how'd you do it?"
I shrugged at Ferdinand's words.
"Just made the tax system rational and cut rates."
Other territories had sky-high tax rates.
In contrast, the Grand Duchy had no gate taxes, rates around 15%, and promised to maintain unless war for the next decade.
The perfect nation for merchants and guilds to relocate production facilities.
"Hmm... won't short-term revenue drop?"
I shook my head at the Crown Prince.
"Pre-reform economy was so dismal, nothing to drop."
If anything, it increased.
"Hoo... that makes sense."
We talked more about the Grand Duchy's status...
-Creak.
The carriage came to a stop.