11. Gift.

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

“…Huh?”

 

 

Aran questioned.

Not because he didn’t hear, but because he heard something unbelievable.

 

 

“It seems you were so captivated by my voice, finding it so pleasant and clear, that you lost your senses.”

 

 

Unlike the flustered Aran, Moe was calm.

 

“Our Mei Empire has recognized ‘Cornelia Hermunt Rial Persia’s’ accession to the throne and has decided to call your country the ‘Persia Empire.’ Furthermore, we have decided to cede six regions-Trua, Cora, Roana, Karma, Roishi, and Logos-to your country, which won the war against Srodia.”

“….”

 

 

Even with her second explanation, Aran only wore a bewildered expression, unable to say anything else.

Hancock, who entered with him, was the same.

 

 

Because of her status, she didn’t speak, but her face was as surprised as Aran’s.

 

 

“Now, I’d like to hear your country’s position.”

“….”

 

 

Position or whatever… it already exceeded the territory Aran was aiming for in the first place.

 

 

Originally, he was going to demand the entire Srodia, then give and take appropriately, and finally receive the Lower Four Islands or the Lower Three Islands.

But the Mei Empire, which should be trying to reduce that as much as possible, is offering to hand over six islands from the start?

 

 

Aran couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

 

 

“…Ahem….”

 

 

But he soon came to his senses.

 

 

There’s no harm in it anyway.

It’s at least six islands, and maybe he can get more.

 

 

“The home country wants the entire territory of Srodia.”

 

 

He went out strong as initially planned.

 

 

It’s the same principle as business.

 

When you want to get an item worth 20 meso, if you’re willing to pay 15 meso, you go and offer 10 meso first.

If the owner says no, you gradually raise the price to 11 meso, 12 meso, and so on, until you finally get close to 15 meso.

Then, because it has risen by 50% from the initially proposed 10 meso, it gives the impression that you have backed down a lot.

 

 

Negotiation is the same.

 

 

“Hmm. That’s not possible.”

“Why not? Srodia lost the war, and even the king is captured.”

“Because….”

 

 

Moe placed her hand on her chest.

 

 

“It’s because I’m beautiful.”

 

For a moment, he had the illusion of seeing a halo.

 

Although he had the memory of passionately embracing her last night, this appearance was different again, making her seem like a saint.

 

 

‘What kind of woman is this…’

 

 

While dumbfounded, he couldn’t help but agree.

Because she was truly beautiful.

 

 

“Since you have taken someone as beautiful as I am as your wife, isn’t that already like gaining all the wealth in the world? Wanting more than that would clearly be greed.”

 

It’s an incredible amount of confidence and self-admiration, but I nod my head without realizing it.

 

But I still have to say what I have to say.

 

 

“Ahem… I don’t deny that, but that’s just my personal gain, and it has nothing to do with the Persia home country.”

“Then shall we delve into the root of the war?”

 

 

She took out a knife.

 

 

“Originally, the spoils obtained through war are deeply related to the legitimacy of the war. Can the ‘Srodia-Persia’ war that your country started really be called a just war? You invaded a peaceful country without permission, plundered, and killed countless people. The pain of the people must be beyond expression. If you consider that, I think you should be apologizing and compensating instead.”

 

It’s the truth.

 

But Aran also has something to say.

 

 

“That’s a misunderstanding because your country doesn’t know the situation well. About four years ago, ‘Merlin Bi Persia,’ who was the prince of our country, was brutally murdered by outlaws in Srodia. Our country demanded the truth and an explanation for the incident, but all that came back was, ‘There can be no envoys with barbarians.'”

Even though a prince of a country was harmed, they simply endured and tried to resolve it with words, but they refused.

How should we accept this? Are you saying that we should have just left them alone because they called themselves barbarians? Even if they had given a few words of explanation, this extreme situation would not have happened.

 

Also, the soldiers of our country are all elite soldiers. There was no looting whatsoever; rather, the nobles of Srodia did the looting. They drove innocent people to their deaths to preserve their own lives and property, and they stole property by taking advantage of the chaos of the war. It is admirable that I executed such corrupt nobles.”

“Huh? Is that so?”

“….”

 

 

She, who had seemed intelligent for a moment, looked foolish again.

Of course, she was beautiful, though.

 

“N, no. Ahem… Anyway, how about being satisfied with six islands since I’m beautiful?”

“….”

 

 

It feels like a debate isn’t possible.

No, it definitely felt that way.

 

 

“And frankly, six islands is the entire Lower Peninsula. Your country also came thinking of about the Lower Four Islands or the Lower Three Islands, right? Let’s be honest. Lies are not allowed in front of my sacred and sublime beauty.”

 

Aran was certain.

The woman in front of him had not been educated about negotiation at all.

 

 

‘She’s definitely so pretty that it seems like that alone could be a weapon…’

 

 

It seemed like she came out because Aran was a man.

If the opponent was a woman, the power would be less effective, but Aran is a vibrant man, isn’t he?

 

Thinking about it, it seemed like making him hold her the day before was all part of the plan.

Every time he saw Moe’s fantastic beauty, her dazzling naked body overlapped, making normal thinking difficult.

 

 

‘But she did that and said she’d give six islands… even recognizing the accession to the throne. What on earth is her ulterior motive?’

 

 

Aran was curious about the Empire’s intentions.

What on earth are they aiming for that they’re allowing this so easily?

 

 

 

 

 

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the end, the negotiation ended with the cession of Srodia’s Lower Peninsula (6 islands). Other achievements included the recognition of the national name ‘Persia’ and the recognition of the ‘accession to the throne.’

In addition, they received the right to choose the king of Srodia for this one time only.

 

 

“It worked out well… but something still feels uneasy.”

 

Aran muttered as he left the venue.

Hancock also nodded.

 

However, it seems she has some idea.

 

 

“Hmm… could they be thinking about the friction between His Highness’s Great Kingdom and the home country?”

“Huh? Friction between the Great Kingdom and the home country?”

“Yes.”

 

 

She is one of the few people who knows about the Great Kingdom.

And as a ‘Count,’ she also knows a lot about politics.

 

 

“It’s a well-known secret that His Highness and Princess Huana are not on good terms, right?”

“I heard it’s all over the Imperial Palace.”

“At that level, the Mei Empire will also know. And the next emperor will be… unless something happens, it will be Princess Huana.”

“Hmm….”

“I think they saw a move there.”

 

 

Aran frowned.

He was a commoner until just a few months ago and had not received much education, so he was terrible at so-called ‘reading the situation.’

He especially hated invisible politics.

 

 

“If His Highness grows, Princess Huana, who is the next emperor, will naturally dislike him, right? Empress Cornelia also knows that, but she insisted on making His Highness the king of the Great Kingdom. It’ll be okay for a while, but if Princess Huana ascends the throne, will she leave the Great Kingdom alone?”

“That’s… hard to imagine.”

 

 

Thinking of her face filled with spite, it seemed hopeless.

 

 

“The Lower Peninsula of Srodia is fertile, especially the Lower Three Islands, which are granaries. Logos also has a specialty, apple pie. It’s more valuable than two or three of the home country’s territories, so they can’t give that up. Moreover, if the owner is a brother who doesn’t get along, even more so.”

“A war will break out.”

“Yes. And that war is beneficial to the Mei Empire in some way. If His Highness wins, it’s good because their ‘son-in-law’ won, and if Persia wins, it’s good because Persia’s power is weakened… either way, it’s good. Of course, the best thing is…”

“Mutual destruction.”

“Yes. But they won’t expect that much. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have given Princess Moe to His Highness.

The point is that the Mei Empire is giving His Highness power, but using him as a shield to block Persia. Since the Srodia land isn’t the Empire’s mainland anyway, they don’t lose much, and the princess will have a political marriage anyway, so it’s not much different if the target is His Highness.”

“I feel like I’m being seen as an insignificant person?”

“And more than anything, if His Highness barely manages to swallow the home country, the Mei Empire can interfere with this and that under the pretext of ‘supporting’ their son-in-law. Ah, maybe they’ll even come in from the beginning of the war under that pretext.

 

Anyway, as a result, the Mei Empire can swallow the Srodia Peninsula and the Persian archipelago just by adding a little more land to the vassal state. Rather, their influence becomes even wider than before.”

“…That’s scary… More than anything, the fact that a woman I thought was stupid thought that far.”

“Princess Moe? That can’t be. It probably came from the emperor’s head.”

“I’m surprised that Count Hancock can think of that.”

 

She suddenly stopped walking.

 

 

“……I’m going to cry!”

“D, don’t cry.”

“I’m not stupid, you know!”

“Yes. I know.”

“Ugh! At least I’m smarter than His Highness!”

“Well, I’m from a commoner background.”

 

Hancock puffed out her cheeks.

She was so cute that I wanted to poke her, but somehow I felt like she would sulk a lot if I did.