13. Founding

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After taking down the biggest pirate gang, Katarina absorbed and destroyed the subordinate pirate gangs, swallowing the archipelago whole.

 

It wasn’t easy when other countries sent out subjugation forces because all the pirates would form alliances to resist, but this time, she was able to achieve it easily because she had set a trap.

 

That’s because Katarina was the boss of the giant pirate gang that divided the archipelago.

 

 

 

 

 

The Pirate Archipelago itself is vast, but there’s more to gain.

For example, trade routes.

 

 

The Pirate Archipelago is in a very strategic location, always on the shortest route from Persia to the Mei Empire, and from the East Continent to the West Continent. In the past, merchants had to avoid this route, but now they don’t have to, saving time and resources.

 

 

Also, thanks to its strategic location, it can generate huge profits if developed properly. In fact, before the pirates became rampant, this place was home to the best trading port in the East Continent.

 

 

The only problem is that it was originally Mei Empire’s land.

It’s been hundreds of years, so the justification is weak, but for a great power, having nothing is the same as having something.

 

 

 

 

 

“….Therefore, in recognition of your service, I bestow upon you the title of Baron and the family name ‘Agnil’. Aran Persia, First Prince of Persia.”

 

The envoy drew his sword and held it over Katarina’s head.

It was a proxy investiture ceremony.

 

 

Katarina received the investiture quietly, though inwardly dissatisfied.

 

 

In fact, Baron sounds good, but the bestowed family name ‘Agnil’ is a very unpleasant name.

You’d have to see the spelling to know, but it’s obvious that they attached the suffix ‘-gnil’, which means subordination, to the name ‘Aran’, meaning ‘slave subordinate to Aran’.

 

 

She thought of him as a very annoying human being who crushed her pride from the first meeting to the end, and she stood up.

 

 

“Ah, and this is His Highness’s letter.”

 

The envoy handed over a scroll and left the room, and she sighed and sat down at her desk.

 

 

When she unfolded it, it said that they would support her with various funds, materials, knights, and magicians, so they would leave this place to her for the time being, and that her family of the same gender would increase quite a bit in the future. Judging from the considerable calligraphy, it didn’t seem like he wrote it himself.

 

 

“Come to think of it, he was from a commoner background, that person.”

 

 

She felt even more miserable when she thought that he might still be illiterate.

Because the more she belittles him, the lower she, who is subordinate to him, becomes.

 

 

“Huu…. Nothing I can do about it. Now that it’s come to this, let’s legitimately (?) rule the sea.”

 

 

She decided that even if she was affiliated with the government, since being a pirate was over, she would become the queen of the sea.

That’s the only way she can see this situation in a slightly better light.

 

 

“I need to start replenishing the warships.”

 

 

She rummaged through the documents and approved various restorations and constructions.

 

 

 

 

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Three days later, several fleets arrived at the Pirate Archipelago, named ‘Agnil’.

 

They came from Srodia’s capital city nearby, and from Persia far away, taking the shortest route.

Various materials and funds came from Srodia, and troops such as knights and magicians arrived from Persia, providing sufficient conditions to rebuild the completely destroyed archipelago.

 

 

“Alright. I’m going to make my own naval headquarters with this!”

“It cannot be the Baron’s own naval headquarters.”

“…I’m just saying. Just saying.”

“Then be careful what you say.”

“….”

 

 

She frowned and avoided her eyes at the picky lecture.

 

 

There was a noble sent by Aran next to her, a woman named Baroness Milkis, who was famous for speaking her mind without hesitation.

 

 

“More than that, I don’t know what you’re thinking by leaving this place to me and sending Baroness-nim. Are you telling me to work or not?”

“Of course, I’m telling you to work.”

“….”

 

 

Baroness is higher than Baron.

If such a person is supervising, she can’t help but be concerned.

What’s the point of saying you’ll leave it to me and then sending someone like that?

 

 

“In addition, His Highness told me to report everything the Baron does, so please behave yourself.”

“…Sigh. Okay, then I’m going to the brothel for a while…”

“Brothels are prohibited.”

“Huh?! Why!!”

“How can a noble who serves the country fall into such lewd acts? It’s impossible.”

“Lewd! Does Baroness-ssi not know how sacred that is!”

“I don’t know. And I don’t want to know. Also, it’s not sacred. It’s just dirty.”

“Hmph. That’s prejudice. When you’re tired from work…”

“It’s dirty.”

“…So, when fatigue builds up in your body and your sexual desire…”

“It’s dirty.”

“…Ah.”

“It’s dirty.”

“….”

“It’s dirty.”

“Okay, stop it.”

 

 

She grumbled, suppressing her bursting dissatisfaction.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she pointed at her and shouted.

 

 

“Okay. Now I know why Baroness-nim is here.”

“?”

“Baroness-nim has been ‘demoted’! Judging from your personality, you must have talked back to His Highness or Her Highness the Princess. Well, you deserve to be demoted.”

“That’s not true.”

“Hmph. Don’t say it’s not. If that weren’t the case, there’s no way a Baroness would come to an island like this.”

“This place will become an important strategic point for a great kingdom in the future, and the center of the East Continent’s economy. It doesn’t make sense to be demoted to such a place.”

“That’s what you’re talking about when it’s developed. You just make them develop it, and when it becomes good land, you take it away and move it somewhere else. That’s what you call ‘demotion’, you stubborn Baroness-nim.”

 

She thought she had landed a blow and raised her head triumphantly.

It would be nice if she was shocked by this and became a little lax.

 

 

But her expectations disappeared meaninglessly like falling leaves.

 

 

“Then that’s fine. As a result, it is undoubtedly for the sake of the country and the people, and even if I cannot hope for abundance, I can maintain my pride as a noble more than ever, so I am only grateful.”

“……”

“If you ask about the way of a noble, it lies in loyalty to the king and sacrifice for the people. Even if this body falls into hellfire, if it benefits His Highness as a result, and the lives of the people become prosperous, then it is the right thing to do.”

 

Katarina stepped away as if she was fed up.

This woman is someone who won’t listen no matter what you say.

 

‘Annoying…! Why did you send this kind of bitch!!!’

 

 

“Also, His Highness has ordered the Baron not to get close to men under any circumstances. You must never get close to men until further notice.”

“What? Why!!”

“It is said that all evil comes from a woman getting close to a man. By bringing in a man, private emotions arise, and those emotions cloud judgment. His Highness’s foresight recognized this.”

“Foresight my ass. He just doesn’t want to give me to another guy.”

“What did you say just now?”

“It’s nothing. I understand, I understand.”

“I cannot forgive disrespectful words to His Highness.”

“Yes, yes.”

 

Katarina grumbled and went inside.

She didn’t like having a burden attached, but what could she do? She had to do what she was told.

 

 

‘Ah… I want to go home… Mom…’

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Do you hear it?”

“No.”

“The sound of the wind envying me.”

“I told you, I can’t hear it.”

“Perhaps it’s not envy, but admiration… or something more. Hehe. You’ll have to work harder. Since nature is coveting me so much, it may take me away from you before long.”

“That won’t happen.”

 

Aran cut her off.

Otherwise, she’ll keep going on endlessly.

 

 

Of course,

 

 

Even if he cuts her off, her self-admiration continues.

 

 

“The fact that the clouds change every time is proof of that. Every time, a different god is trying to steal me, so they take on a different shape.”

“Why don’t you pour that imagination into literature? I’ll search every corner of Yurim to find you a legitimate teacher.”

“I don’t need it. Because,”

 

 

She put her hand on her chest.

 

 

“I myself am literature.”

 

Aran turned his back.

It’s impossible to have a conversation with this woman.

 

 

“Literature that contains all beauty, art that contains all beauty. That’s me. My existence itself is a treasure of mankind!”

 

Aran shook his head and went into the room.

Even while doing so, she chattered diligently and followed him in.

 

 

There was no one in the room, only darkness.

 

 

Moae quickly turned her body.

 

 

“Where are you going? Suddenly.”

“Nature is calling me. I can hear the earth shaking me. Just for a moment…”

“It’s time to sleep now, so come here.”

 

 

When Aran put his hand around her waist, she panicked and struggled.

 

“N, no!”

“You said I should work harder, right?”

“I, I was just saying!”

“Husbands and wives speak with their bodies.”

 

Aran dragged her in with force.

 

“Hwaeng!”

 

 

Soon other women will come in one by one, but it would be good to warm up the room in advance.

 

Aran went straight to the bed and laid her down.

The soft, squishy female body was pleasantly laid out.

 

 

“Ugh. This can’t be happening. How can you treat the treasure of mankind like this…!”

 

 

While resisting, she didn’t refuse much, perhaps because she was aware that she was his wife.

Aran, who inwardly found her resistance cute, licked his lips and took off her clothes.