Chapter 144
Chapter 144
Iron Emperor — Chapter 144
"The arrows and other gear we captured aren't even worth the trouble of salvaging just the iron, and we have no need for the leather armor, so selling them off cheaply is a net gain."
The captured arrows didn't fit the Gauri army's Maekgung bows.
Arrows meant for the massive warbows of this land were too large for their smaller short bows, and the leather armor—mostly animal hide—was utterly useless to people who literally raised monsters as livestock.
"I'd like to sell off the Hawk Corps' matériel, too, but we don't know what might happen on the journey home, so hold on to it."
"......."
Watching Go Jin-cheon speak without so much as a flicker of expression, Gowin couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.
* * *
"The quantity is substantial."
Marquis Helios Baikal, reading through the documents Yeon Hwi-garam had presented, opened his mouth with a look of surprise. Marquis Rui Terikan took the documents next.
"Hoh......."
Marquis Terican let out a murmur of admiration as well.
The volume was impressive, but the prices were also set well below the market rate.
That was only natural, though.
How could eighty thousand troops' worth of North Roselin military supplies possibly be a small quantity?
As Marquis Terican studied the quantities and items listed in the documents, Gauri was steadily taking shape in his mind as a prosperous and powerful nation. This sort of matériel wasn't something a mere band could accumulate in a day or two.
Setting the documents down, Marquis Terican addressed Prince Alsein.
"It would be enough to re-equip the entire Eastern Army."
The words were brief, but Prince Alsein—young though he was—was no fool. Assuming a suitably solemn expression, he directed a single remark at Hwi-garam.
"In recognition of our error, and as a token of our gratitude for the long march your nation undertook to aid us, we shall hold a banquet."
As Prince Alsein spoke, Marquis Terican smiled with satisfaction. Restoring a positive atmosphere was the first priority.
But the model answer Prince Alsein had offered, reading Marquis Terican's intent, was immediately blocked. Hwi-garam's expression was not especially bright.
"The truth is......."
Maintaining a grave expression, Hwi-garam slowly began.
"The reason I've come here alone is that His Majesty the Yeolje and the commanders are already preparing to depart. I only managed to come here at all because I persuaded them."
"What—what do you mean, depart? It hasn't even been a full day since you arrived. How can you speak of such a thing."
Marquis Terican started up and seized on Hwi-garam's words. Prince Alsein joined in.
"How can you leave without even giving us a chance to atone for our mistake? Sir Hwi-garam, please persuade them."
"For now...... I shall attempt to offer counsel. The soldiers could genuinely use some rest, so I will present the matter."
When Hwi-garam answered with visible difficulty, Prince Alsein issued a command with calculated solemnity.
"Lord Terican, see to it that the Gauri soldiers may rest in comfort. And Chamberlain!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Prepare a banquet for our state guests! It must not be handled carelessly!"
As Prince Alsein pointedly gave the order with Hwi-garam in mind, Marquis Terican and the chamberlain bowed deeply in acknowledgment.
"Sir Hwi-garam, I entreat you earnestly. I could not bear for matters to end this way, weighed down by my own fault."
"I shall do my utmost."
As Hwi-garam rose under the earnest gaze of Prince Alsein, Marquis Terican rose with him.
"I shall take my leave and see to the preparations as well."
"Do so."
"Ah, Sir Hwi-garam. I wonder—has the Yeolje of Gauri married......?"
What wavered at Marquis Terican's sudden, unexpected question was Prince Alsein's gaze. It was easy enough to tell that the marquis had in mind the prince's sole remaining blood relative, Princess Yunias.
The question seemed to take Hwi-garam by surprise as well; he answered with an awkward smile.
"There is a lady designated as Yeolhu, but they have not yet performed the official wedding ceremony."
"Hoho, he really ought to enter into a formal engagement soon. Now, if you'll excuse me."
With those words, Marquis Terican—after a last glance at Prince Alsein—departed ahead of Hwi-garam.
After they'd gone, with only Marquis Baikal and the court wizard remaining, Prince Alsein sat in the hall pressing a hand to his forehead.
'Elder Sister Yunias.......'
* * *
Returning to the encampment, Yeon Hwi-garam offered a military salute before Go Jin-cheon. Seeing the smile on Hwi-garam's face, Jin-cheon sensed that the matter had gone well.
"It's been accomplished as you intended."
"You've worked hard."
As Jin-cheon nodded in acknowledgment, Hwi-garam slowly raised his head, still smiling, and spoke.
"Though, from the South Roselin side......."
"They're asking us to share a meal, I take it?"
"Yes."
Hwi-garam chuckled.
A banquet, a feast—in the end it was all eating, so Jin-cheon's phrasing wasn't exactly wrong.
Jin-cheon, who'd had his arms crossed, discreetly surveyed his surroundings. Eulji Buru and Uru's eyes were brimming with anticipation. No one ever passed up a feast.
"Might as well go. Come to think of it, I've never once set foot in a banquet hall in this neighborhood."
"Understood. I shall convey our acceptance."
The voice of the chamberlain answering could be heard, and a moment later Gye Ung-sam entered.
"Reporting!"
"Did the repackaging go well?"
"Yes, it was repackaged perfectly."
In the unlikely event that the goods' North Roselin origin came to light, it would be a disaster—so they'd gone through the bows, arrows, leather armor, and other matériel item by item before packing them again.
"Also, South Roselin brought over a great deal of wine and food. How shall we proceed?"
"Eat and drink in moderation, and amuse yourselves."
"Understood."
At Jin-cheon's permission, Ung-sam answered with a quiet grin. Then Hwi-garam, who'd been off to one side, spoke up as if something had just occurred to him.
"Hmm, now that it's been mentioned...... it's not certain, but earlier, when they asked whether His Majesty the Yeolje was married, it seemed they were considering something like a political marriage with Princess Yunias......."
"Princess Yunias—isn't she that woman I saw this morning in the great hall here, seated on the prince's right, wearing a skirt blending pure white and blue? The one with the rich brown hair and skin as transparent as mare's milk?"
"......Mare's......."
Gowin, standing nearby, started to offer the advice that comparing a lady's skin to mare's milk was inappropriate—then closed his mouth.
In Jin-cheon, as he rattled off those words with a fixed expression, an almost disquieting degree of conviction could be glimpsed. If anything, it was Hwi-garam who was taken aback.
"......You certainly observed her closely, in such a short time."
"Ahem."
At Hwi-garam's remark, Jin-cheon—seeming only then to realize it—slowly turned his head toward the window and began a defense of his own.
"Closely, nothing. Were there any other women in the great hall besides the slim, golden-haired one in pale blue who stood behind the prince on his left, the one attending the princess's left with light brown hair and a rather endearing face—surprisingly full-chested and narrow-waisted—and the three young maidservants carrying fruit by the entrance on the left?"
"......."
"Were there...... that many, you say?"
Hwi-garam found nothing to say to Jin-cheon's words, and Buru's eyes went wide as if he'd had no idea at all.
Listening to the exchange, Ung-sam had ducked his head and was straining every nerve to suppress the laugh trying to escape.
'His Majesty the Yeolje didn't just observe them closely—he analyzed them as well.'
A brief silence descended. Jin-cheon slowly crossed his arms and spoke in a low voice.
"I'm a bit tired. Wake me later."
"......."
With those final words, Jin-cheon lay on his side—and fell asleep (supposedly).
"Well, he's been sleeping in an empty bed, hasn't he?"
"Even so, he'd still need to get Lady Yeolhu's permission."
The Eulji brothers exchanged quiet words. Gowin's voice joined in.
"He needs permission?"
"Of course!"
Gowin spoke again, as if stating the obvious.
"Couldn't he just ask for it?"
"Mm, it'd be possible if you just wanted a short answer, but she's only now started to walk—still just a little thing......."
As Buru rubbed his chin with a troubled look, Gowin—still unable to pin down Eulji's age or identity—cocked his head, his face forming a question mark.
Nevertheless, Buru and Uru were enthusiastically lost in a world of their own.
"Who knows? Maybe if you handed her some candy and asked, she might go for it."
"Even so. You can't really think she'd do that, can you? That'd be cheap."
Twitch.
Jin-cheon, who had turned over, gave a faint start.
"I thought—it was a good idea......."
"Look here, Buru. Do you really think His Majesty the Yeolje is some Gangsoe? You think he'd pull some shabby stunt like that?"
Twitch. Twitch.
Lying down, Jin-cheon's body quaked as if he'd been hit by an electric shock.
At that sight, Hwi-garam—sensing ill portents—removed himself from the scene first, and the quick-witted Ung-sam also quietly slipped away. Gowin, though he didn't grasp the specifics, was exceptionally sharp at detecting danger, and followed after them.
Kraaagh!
Spare me!
Once they'd left, screams from an unidentifiable source began to erupt from the room.
* * *
Despite the approaching banquet hour, the core nobles of South Roselin and Prince Pamilion Alsein Roselin were deep in discussion with grave faces. At that moment, a knight entered looking equally grim, delivered a report, and withdrew.
"What is it?"
When Prince Alsein asked, Baron Bels—who'd received the report—opened his mouth, his expression rigid.
"It's said that from where the Yeolje of Gauri and his party are lodged, screams have suddenly erupted—sounds of someone being beaten."
"Heavens!"
"Such brutality......."
"Hnnnh. Was his fury really that great......?"
At Baron Bels's words, the nobles grew alarmed, their faces filling with severity.
When someone muttered about brutality, Prince Alsein's face went pale. And at the same moment, he glanced toward his elder sister seated beside him.
Princess Pamilion Yunias Roselin.
She simply remained composed. As if she'd already guessed why she had been asked to attend this meeting, she merely kept a quiet silence.
"We must not miss this opportunity."
Marquis Terican spoke in a grave voice. The words were meant for Prince Alsein, but his gaze was directed at both the prince and Princess Yunias together.
"Marquis Terican......."
Prince Alsein's voice trailed off.
The old noble, Marquis Terican, was not unaware of Prince Alsein's feelings. The royal bloodline, now reduced to just the two of them. Yet the war was not finished, and for their cause, they needed Gauri.
Rustle.
"Elder Sister......."
Princess Yunias's hand came to rest on Prince Alsein's slight shoulder. Though she was eighteen, to her brother, two years younger, she was a pillar of strength.
She smiled.
"Alsein, at the banquet, won't you introduce me to this person they call the Yeolje of Gauri? We only glimpsed him briefly that day, but I found myself favorably disposed."
Princess Yunias's gentle voice carried only sorrow as it reached them. She had already assessed the situation and was acting of her own accord.
Prince Alsein's voice trembled as it came forth.
"Elder Sister......."
"Oh, Your Highness!"
The nobles, by contrast, brightened at the princess's volunteering—they were openly welcoming. The fact that their attitude toward Gauri had so utterly reversed in a mere day or two spoke volumes about the reality of South Roselin's situation.
When Gauri had seemed a little weak, the instinct was to absorb them for use; now that they had proved powerful, there was no choice but to tread on eggshells. The reality of a nation shunned by the continent was simply a sad one.
Had the war not broken out, they might have proceeded more carefully, looked into things more thoroughly. But they lacked the wherewithal—their bodies and spirits ground down by war.
The only reason they were even moving like this was that Marquis Terican and the other nobles hadn't wasted time posturing with useless pride.
"Don't worry."
Princess Yunias patted Prince Alsein's shoulder lightly. At that sight, Marquis Baikal and Marquis Terican could do nothing but fall grimly silent.
Cursing their own weakness.