Chapter 142
Chapter 142
Translation: godsn
"Your Highness, I merely convey the unvarnished truth without any personal opinion."
"Your Highness, grant us your wisdom. What should we do?"
The princess had anticipated and prepared for both the war on the plains and the Regent's rebellion well in advance.
While the outside world sang praises of Pelleus's reign and valor, the leadership gathered here knew full well that neither their current victories nor stability would exist without the princess.
Thus, no one found it strange when Siseo and Dianzel sought answers from the young princess.
Medeia understood that when Pelleus asked for her opinion, it was his way of lending weight to his sister's decisions.
"......"
All waited with bated breath for the princess to speak.
"Lord Siseo," Medeia asked instead of giving an answer, "how long would it take for us to match the Kazen Empire in national power under current circumstances?"
"Given our present situation..."
Though perplexed, Siseo answered reflexively with complete sincerity.
"To reorganize our national affairs and stabilize our foothold on the plains would take at least ten years. And this assumes everything proceeds favorably—factoring in variables, it could take even longer."
Ten years. Considering their current state, this was a remarkably short period for Valdina's preparations toward a new leap forward.
Yet Medeia remained unsatisfied.
She walked over to the continental map spread across the table. Everyone held their breath, watching the princess's movements.
A small hand placed a flag piece upon a specific point on the map.
"Your Highness, isn't that... the Elamuz Strait?"
It was the strait bordered by Valdina to the east, Kazen to the west, and connecting to the Crimson Sea in the south.
"And if this were to fall into our hands?"
The strait was narrow in width and modest in scale, typically used merely as a passageway into the bay.
"...We could reach the ocean through the Crimson Sea."
Yet Siseo immediately recognized its value at a glance.
This would give Valdina—located in the barren northern lands—a maritime trade route independent of the Kazen Empire.
Siseo's eyes widened momentarily before darkening with thought.
"But the Empire would never relinquish this strait. They know its geographic advantage would benefit Valdina..."
"At the same time, it's a persistent headache the Kazen Emperor can't simply ignore. It remains a disputed territory where conflicts with the strait's indigenous people continue to this day."
Originally, the Elamuz Strait hadn't belonged to Kazen.
Annexed by force during the conquest wars, the indigenous people of Elamuz still refused to acknowledge Kazen's rule.
"Given time, they'll naturally submit to Kazen. What matters is that the current Emperor lacks that luxury of time."
Medeia pointed out dispassionately.
"The Emperor isn't trying to save Claudio merely because of his daughter's pregnancy. It's the symbolism of Claudio's bloodline. After His Majesty, they're the closest bloodline to Valdina's throne."
"But Your Highness, the Regent has already been stricken from the royal records—"
"That doesn't erase the symbolic power of blood. If he disappears now, the very possibility of challenging His Majesty's sovereignty vanishes. As Emperor, he'd want to preserve that spark by any means."
"......"
Medeia had precisely discerned Perdiccas II's true intentions.
"Then shouldn't we seize this opportunity to eliminate the Regent's entire family?"
Dianzel pointed out with a puzzled expression.
"Fortunately, only two embers remain from our uncle's line—the uncle himself and Samon. With our uncle blinded, only Samon remains alone."
Medeia had no intention of ending matters with something as simple as the Regent's execution.
Her vengeance needed to be slow, deliberate, and meticulous.
'A momentary death is too simple. You should experience betrayal and despair in equal measure to what I endured.'
Having crushed their ambitions, it was now time to shatter their unshakable faith.
"Thus, the Kazen Emperor will try everything to keep him alive."
Medeia knew well of Perdiccas II's obsession with the Philosopher's Stone.
'When the First Prince died, his madness truly took hold. Even now, it's no different.'
The Emperor's fixation on Valdina would never wane. That left Valdina with only two choices.
"To bend, or to stand against."
She had no intention of bringing ruin upon the Empire.
But she needed to sever Emperor Perdiccas II's grasping hands that sought the Philosopher's Stone.
'By unleashing the poison named Claudio.'
The Emperor would believe the sparks he left behind would burn Valdina to ashes.
"We must exploit that gap. If we can gain the strait in exchange for sparing that bastard's life—giving us the means to oppose Kazen—it's a bargain that overwhelmingly favors Valdina."
Medeia turned to Siseo.
His face still bore traces of deep concern.
"But even so, to oppose Kazen, we're still lack—"
"What if this were included?"
Medeia placed another flag upon the map.
"Sardegna Island...?"
All eyes widened in shock.
"I extracted it from the Fourth Imperial Princess."
Amidst the murmuring crowd, Siseo looked at the princess.
"Sir Siseo, please dedicate your full efforts to expelling Grand Duke Castulo from the royal castle."
So this was the secret agreement that had passed between the Fourth Imperial Princess and Medeia.
'Her Highness has not carelessly relinquished even the smallest thing.'
At first glance, it might have seemed she let things pass generously, but as time unfolded and results became clear, she had tenaciously exacted every possible price.
Awe at the princess's flawless maneuvering sent a shiver down his spine.
"And most crucially, this is buried here."
Clunk. A small, rough lump of silvery metal rolled across the table.
"This is mith— Hrk!"
Dianzel, the first to recognize it, nearly shouted before hastily clamping a hand over his own mouth.
"Thish ish not mithril," he mumbled, voice muffled by his palm, as if terrified the word might leak out.
Medeia gave a slow nod.
For a moment, not even the sound of breathing could be heard.
Even Pelleus was at a loss for words, staring between his sister and the mithril lump that had fallen from her hand.
"I've already sent people to Sardegna to confirm. Massive deposits of mithril lie beneath the iron mines. And it's close to the strait..."
Sardegna Island was located just a short distance from the strait—less than half a day's sail.
"It could serve as a stronghold to control the strait's native tribes."
Pelleus finished Medeia's sentence for her. When their eyes met, Medeia offered him a faint smile.
"Yes. We could also trade mithril without Kazen's knowledge."
Medeia turned back to Siseo.
"Sir Siseo, with this mithril added to our resources—how much time would we need?"
Siseo's hands trembled slightly as he stared at the table.
His rigid fingers traced invisible calculations in the air, as if tallying unseen numbers.
"Three years."
At last, he spoke, his voice thick with barely restrained emotion.
"Three years will suffice. It may be tight, but we can cultivate enough strength to hold our ground against Kazen without being pushed back."
"Good."
Medeia issued her command with an air of satisfaction.
"Send our reply to the Emperor. If he yields the strait, we will spare Claudio and his faction intact."
Her tone was utterly indifferent.
"And it would be wise to demand reparations from Grand Duke Castulo as well. Given the severity of his crimes, twenty years' worth of his territory's tax revenue seems appropriate."
"But the sum would be astronomical. Would the Emperor truly agree to that?"
The Castulo territory was among the largest and most fertile in the Kazen Empire.
Though the Emperor had seized his nephew's throne, he couldn't ignore public opinion—so he had reluctantly granted him this prime territory, however grudgingly.
'The Emperor has always coveted Iason's lands. He won't miss this chance—he'll use the reparations as an excuse to reclaim them.'
"Yes, it's not entirely impossible for him to procure it. He'll find a way soon enough."
Medeia intended to strip Iason of the foundation for his resurgence upon his return to the Empire.
The Castulo territory still harbored remnants of the Late Emperor's faction—those who supported him and secretly fueled his ambitions for the throne.
Once the territory was taken, Iason would no longer be able to hide them from the Emperor's sight.
Just how far could Iason climb now?
"What we need is time. If we can buy three years for Valdina to stand firm, this is no losing bargain."
Medeia turned her gaze to Pelleus.