[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
Chapter 184
Eloise Loengrand.
An Elf.
A woman who treats everyone casually, regardless of who they are.
However, even Eloise couldn’t help but be cautious and careful with her words this time.
“…Selena. Are you okay?”
Dark circles that had sunk so low they nearly reached her chin. Lifeless eyes.
And most of all, an unidentified muttering that seemed like it could kill anyone who crossed her path.
This was Eloise, who had served in Hyzens’ elite special forces, specifically in a unit specializing in high-risk operations.
She had done and experienced all sorts of things. Naturally, she could control her fear.
But even she was experiencing this kind of fear for the first time.
“You’re asking if I’m okay… Yes. I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine…”
“You… don’t look fine at all… No, forget it. Never mind.”
Muttering about wanting to kill the person who invented the thesis, wondering why mages haven’t developed a time-turner yet, and declaring that if they had, she’d steal it and confront the inventor of thesis…
Selena, who had never been like this before, was exuding a murderous aura.
Eloise, feeling like Selena would really snap someone’s neck if they got in her way, quietly sipped her drink.
“I guess grad school really isn’t worth it.”
Lavrenti was frozen as well. She was also very nervous about Selena’s state.
There’s nothing scarier than someone suddenly acting out of character.
The two women were experiencing this firsthand.
And these were women who had been through the battlefield, veterans in controlling fear!
“But the professor isn’t giving you a hard time, right, Selena? Right?”
“Yeah. That’s right… The professor is a good person… That’s why I want to kill the person who invented thesis even more…”
“Eloise. Let’s just shut up and drink our coffee.”
For once, Eloise nodded without any objection to Lavrenti’s words.
The two women brought up another topic leaving Selena, who was still muttering something with a chilling expression.
“Karl left four days ago, right?”
“It’s been five days now, Eloise.”
“It’s already been that long. I’m sure he’s met the former king of Lasker by now, right?”
“The first thing on his list was to meet Lefia’s father, so I’m sure he has.”
‘Right. But I’m still a little worried. It’s Lasker, after all.’
Eloise sipped her coffee, recalling which family Karl belonged to.
“I know what you’re worried about, but it’ll be fine, Eloise. Have you forgotten what kind of person Master is?”
“I haven’t forgotten. But when it comes to national pride, even that can be forgotten. I’m not saying this to belittle humans, but elves are the same. It’s just…”
‘How should I explain it? Ugh, I don’t know. Anyway, there’s something like that.’
Waving her hand dismissively, Eloise took a sip of coffee.
“So there’s nothing to worry about. Master wouldn’t be unaware of that. I doubt he would go to Lasker and make unreasonable requests.”
Lavrenti, who replied, also drank her coffee. Or rather, she tried to.
“Oh. Karl said he was going to ask the Queen of Lasker for a sword.”
“…What?”
“Selena?”
“No. I met him briefly before he left. That’s when he said he was going to get a gift for the imperial heir.”
At Selena’s sudden return to her senses, the two women were speechless.
Meanwhile, at that time…
“…Young Lord Karl Adelheit. What did you just say…?”
“If you have any unused swords, I would appreciate it if you could give me one. And if you do, a famous sword would be nice.”
Even though she is the queen of a nation. Isn’t he a bit too bold in front of her?
The Queen of Lasker, Imir II, was speechless at the man’s audacity.
* * *
Some people would probably say I’m out of my mind. That I’m crazy.
Even though it’s true that the Empire has the upper hand and Lasker is in a relatively weaker position.
Even so, there are protocols to be observed, boundaries not to be overstepped, and they might say I’m being too presumptuous.
‘…But it’s not like my argument is completely unreasonable.’
I made it clear from the beginning.
The sword I’ll receive from Lasker is not for me, but for the imperial heir.
It will be a gift for the future crown princess, and eventually, the empress of the Empire.
The short-sighted and simple-minded will only focus on the ‘request-like nature of the favor’ and the ‘sword as a symbol of national pride.’
Some of the extreme pro-knight factions in Lasker would be those kinds of people.
I heard they still don’t acknowledge the Empire’s superiority and are shouting that they need to be prepared to fight at any time.
For the Queen of Lasker, Imir II, my sister-in-law, this would be an unpleasant sight.
I understand her feelings towards the Empire, but for now, it’s more important to read the situation and focus on steady growth.
Yet, they keep getting in the way and throwing cold water on the peaceful atmosphere we’ve worked so hard to create.
It must be frustrating. If she could, she would probably want to get rid of them all.
But she lacks the justification for it, so she’s biding her time.
‘In that situation, offering a Laskerian sword as a gift to the imperial heir…’
Some would say she’s even selling out her pride.
But what if, in that situation, I, of all people, were to formally declare it a ‘gift’ and emphasize its significance?
Lasker would become the first to give a gift to the imperial heir.
Leaving aside pride and all that, it would be a significant achievement, having done something that even the imperial dukes haven’t done yet.
Why is it important? Because if they’ve achieved such a significant diplomatic feat, and the domestic dissenters keep making noise, they can now say, “I worked hard to improve relations with the Empire to this extent, and you’re ruining it, so you’re the traitors.”
Why is it important? Because if they’ve achieved such a significant diplomatic feat, and the domestic dissenters keep making noise, the queen can now say, ‘I worked hard to improve relations with the Empire to this extent, and you’re undermining it, so you’re the ones betraying Lasker.’
“…”
The queen seemed to have somewhat grasped that aspect as well. She was staring at me with a strange look.
I decided to show her that I had no other intentions but to benefit Lasker.
“Officially, it’s a place with formal diplomatic relations with the Empire, but personally, it’s the homeland of my future wife. I wish to offer a small gift to that place, and I hope Your Majesty will accept it with a generous heart.”
It’s my wife’s home, so I’m just trying to find a way for our Empire to get along with them!
“…”
Oh my. Look at our Queen, her mind working so fast.
I can almost hear the gears turning in her head.
She’s probably calculating the benefits she can gain from this, as well as the losses she’ll have to bear.
“Follow me for a moment.”
Finally, it seemed she had finished her calculations and reached a conclusion, as the queen beckoned me with a silent gesture.
I quietly followed her with my escorts, and soon we arrived at a rather secret location.
“Although my sister has abandoned her royal status and is marrying a man from another country, in Lasker, when a royal gets married, the royal family always gives a suitable gift.”
Is this an early wedding gift? But if that’s the case, it becomes a strange situation where a gift is being given back as a gift, doesn’t it?
Whether she knew my thoughts or not, the queen held two swords, each in one hand, both of which looked quite impressive at first glance.
“One is for you, and the other is an additional gift from my heart. You may do as you wish with it.”
Aha. So you haven’t officially given a gift to the imperial heir.
This is just a gesture of goodwill. But that goodwill could be a gift to my niece.
Therefore, it means you’ve given a gift anyway, so the Empire should understand Lasker’s heart.
‘At the same time, it doesn’t give too much of a weakness to the domestic faction, either.’
As expected, politics isn’t for everyone.
Power isn’t for everyone to wield.
Thinking that the world is a scary place, I accepted the two swords the queen offered.
Hmm. Let’s give the most ornate and coolest-looking one to my niece! * * *
Ooh! Ooh!—
“How about this one, niece? Does this look the best?”
Ooh! Ooh!
Ten days later, Karl returned to the Empire and presented the heir with a magnificent sword that looked extraordinary at first glance.
As if understanding what it was, the little child babbled and welcomed it.
“Haha.”
Watching the scene, the Crown Prince simply laughed.
No. I thought it was a joke, but I didn’t think he would actually bring it.
And the Queen of Lasker, who actually gave this, is also amazing.
‘It’s like she’s saying she’ll use it to her advantage.’
Now that I think about it, that sword is a tool to silence the dissatisfied factions within Lasker.
Anyone who complains about it now becomes someone who insults the queen’s pride.
She can rebuke them, saying she made a great effort to achieve diplomatic success, and asking what they have done.
She’s a formidable queen. Perhaps Lasker could recover its national power faster than expected.
So it’s fortunate. That Friedrich County is still strong and unwavering.
And that the next lord of that place is a loyal and trustworthy subject of the Empire.
Ooh! Ooh!!
“Your Highness. You can’t take both swords.”
Ooh! Ooh!!
But I’m a little bit jealous.
My daughter still doesn’t smile like that even when she sees her father.
But as soon as her uncle arrives, she forgets all about her crying and starts babbling!
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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