“You’re telling me to swear allegiance, or you’re going to take my land away. It doesn’t matter how you say it in a sophisticated way.”
She mustered up her courage and pushed forward.
“My lord.”
When she called out in a low voice, the two men’s eyes simultaneously turned to her. Ines didn’t miss the look of relief on Noah’s face.
“May I come in?”
Carson barely managed to smile as he brushed his hair back. She knew that he was trying to make her feel comfortable.
“Yes. Come in.”
As she entered, Ines glanced at the imperial letter that was carelessly placed on his desk.
“Have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”
“No.”
Although he made a nonchalant face, Ines knew that he was very angry.
“I heard that a messenger came from the imperial family.”
“Yes.”
“Is it from the Empress?”
“No, it’s from the Emperor, but the Empress must have written the contents.”
“Can you tell me what it says?”
He hesitated for a moment, but it was short. Carson walked to the desk and handed Ines the imperial letter. She read it carefully. It said that the Empress had decided to put her second son, Duke Anthony von Raymond, on the throne on his birthday.
“So you mean that they need your support?”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t come and swear allegiance, they will consider you to have broken the sacred contract.”
Carson took a deep breath. That meant that they could take everything away from him without any problem. Carson had broken his contract with the Gods and the imperial family.
Then Noah intervened between them.
“That’s not the only problem.”
“What else?”
“The Empress has taken issue with the fact that Monstera has taken over a large piece of land this time.”
It was the right of the Counts to have their own expanded territories. It didn’t make sense for them to change the laws that were created to force them into a corner to suit their own needs.
“So?”
“They need to make sure that His Highness the Prince is still a loyal subject of the royal family.”
What he said was the content of another letter brought by the imperial messenger. She could tell without asking that it was a separate letter from the Empress. Ines sighed softly without realizing it as if she was shocked.
“What does that mean...?”
“It basically means that we should give up the territory equivalent to the size of Monstera’s expansion. We should either move further northwest from here or divide up the territory of Landhill.”
“Why, why don’t you tell them to come and cut off the land beyond Monstera themself?”
Carson laughed quietly at Ines’ cold words, and Noah bit his lips.
“Miss Ines, the messenger hasn’t returned yet.”
However, she was so lost in thought that she didn’t hear Noah’s words. What the Empress wanted was the land of Landhill. It probably wouldn’t stop there. Ultimately, what she wanted was the right to build a railroad.
The Empress could not have been unaware that Carson was planning to build a railroad that would run through the entire empire. And what that meant.
Furthermore, Carson was currently the most powerful heir to the throne in the empire. Due to the plague and civil war, the number of the Emperor’s children remaining was less than eight.
The civil war had not yet ended. In this situation, the line of succession to the throne was not an issue.
Carson was a war hero who had solved the empire’s problems and was the lord of the wealthiest territory in the empire. Building the railroad required a lot of manpower. The number of people mobilized for him had already reached tens of thousands.
The flow of the economy was something he could feel with his whole body.
It was natural for people to support him, like a body swaying in the direction the wind was blowing.
If Carson, who was like that, supported the Empress’s second son, it went without saying that her son's position as Crown Prince would be solidified.
But not like this: you were willing to bite if you were bitten. But if they tried to eat you, you couldn't take it anymore.
She mustered up her courage and pushed forward.
“My lord.”
When she called out in a low voice, the two men’s eyes simultaneously turned to her. Ines didn’t miss the look of relief on Noah’s face.
“May I come in?”
Carson barely managed to smile as he brushed his hair back. She knew that he was trying to make her feel comfortable.
“Yes. Come in.”
As she entered, Ines glanced at the imperial letter that was carelessly placed on his desk.
“Have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”
“No.”
Although he made a nonchalant face, Ines knew that he was very angry.
“I heard that a messenger came from the imperial family.”
“Yes.”
“Is it from the Empress?”
“No, it’s from the Emperor, but the Empress must have written the contents.”
“Can you tell me what it says?”
He hesitated for a moment, but it was short. Carson walked to the desk and handed Ines the imperial letter. She read it carefully. It said that the Empress had decided to put her second son, Duke Anthony von Raymond, on the throne on his birthday.
“So you mean that they need your support?”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t come and swear allegiance, they will consider you to have broken the sacred contract.”
Carson took a deep breath. That meant that they could take everything away from him without any problem. Carson had broken his contract with the Gods and the imperial family.
Then Noah intervened between them.
“That’s not the only problem.”
“What else?”
“The Empress has taken issue with the fact that Monstera has taken over a large piece of land this time.”
It was the right of the Counts to have their own expanded territories. It didn’t make sense for them to change the laws that were created to force them into a corner to suit their own needs.
“So?”
“They need to make sure that His Highness the Prince is still a loyal subject of the royal family.”
What he said was the content of another letter brought by the imperial messenger. She could tell without asking that it was a separate letter from the Empress. Ines sighed softly without realizing it as if she was shocked.
“What does that mean...?”
“It basically means that we should give up the territory equivalent to the size of Monstera’s expansion. We should either move further northwest from here or divide up the territory of Landhill.”
“Why, why don’t you tell them to come and cut off the land beyond Monstera themself?”
Carson laughed quietly at Ines’ cold words, and Noah bit his lips.
“Miss Ines, the messenger hasn’t returned yet.”
However, she was so lost in thought that she didn’t hear Noah’s words. What the Empress wanted was the land of Landhill. It probably wouldn’t stop there. Ultimately, what she wanted was the right to build a railroad.
The Empress could not have been unaware that Carson was planning to build a railroad that would run through the entire empire. And what that meant.
Furthermore, Carson was currently the most powerful heir to the throne in the empire. Due to the plague and civil war, the number of the Emperor’s children remaining was less than eight.
The civil war had not yet ended. In this situation, the line of succession to the throne was not an issue.
Carson was a war hero who had solved the empire’s problems and was the lord of the wealthiest territory in the empire. Building the railroad required a lot of manpower. The number of people mobilized for him had already reached tens of thousands.
The flow of the economy was something he could feel with his whole body.
It was natural for people to support him, like a body swaying in the direction the wind was blowing.
If Carson, who was like that, supported the Empress’s second son, it went without saying that her son's position as Crown Prince would be solidified.
But not like this: you were willing to bite if you were bitten. But if they tried to eat you, you couldn't take it anymore.
“What do you plan to do, my lord? Are you thinking of going to the capital?
“If I go there, they’ll try to completely strip me of my belongings.”
“If they don’t go, they’ll invade Landhill.”
“I know.”
Could anything be easier than taking over an ownerless castle?
“I know.”
Could anything be easier than taking over an ownerless castle?
If he goes now, he’ll only have to hand over the land of the old Landhill, but if he doesn’t go, he could lose the entire territory. That meant that everything that came out of it would end up in the hands of the Empress.
If not, there would be an all-out war between Monstera and Keynes. No matter how weakened Keynes’s power was, their numbers were overwhelmingly greater. Moreover, it would be difficult to win with the land located at the very end of the territory.
So rationally, it was right to go.
“But I don’t want to.”
Ines nodded as if she completely understood him.
“My lord, actually...”
At the nuance of confession again, this time, not only Carson but also Noah’s brow furrowed.
“Again?”
“Actually, I received a letter from the temple yesterday. Did you hear from the aide?”
“I heard.”
“I think I should return to Edmont within two weeks.”
If not, there would be an all-out war between Monstera and Keynes. No matter how weakened Keynes’s power was, their numbers were overwhelmingly greater. Moreover, it would be difficult to win with the land located at the very end of the territory.
So rationally, it was right to go.
“But I don’t want to.”
Ines nodded as if she completely understood him.
“My lord, actually...”
At the nuance of confession again, this time, not only Carson but also Noah’s brow furrowed.
“Again?”
“Actually, I received a letter from the temple yesterday. Did you hear from the aide?”
“I heard.”
“I think I should return to Edmont within two weeks.”
Ines’s term of service would end in March. She couldn’t meet the end here. She had to return to the temple, receive official permission, and then go to Landhill.
Naturally, Carson looked surprised. His expression seemed as if he had never thought of that.
“Now, my lord, you should return to Landhill too. There won’t be any war in Monstera for the time being. The people of Landhill will be waiting for you, Lord.”
Carson looked at Ines, who was speaking softly, with a strange look.
“Before you return to your territory, stop by the palace and swear allegiance. It’s not that hard.”
“Are you serious?”
“We can’t give up Landhill completely.”
Noah stuck out his tongue as he watched Ines handling Carson. What she was saying now was no different from what Noah had just said to Carson.
“I have to give up the land of Monstera?”
“That can’t be.”
Carson frowned and tilted his head as he listened to Ines’ answer.
“First of all, I think we need to buy some time. Handing over the land isn’t something that can be decided so quickly.”
When his sharp gaze pierced Ines, she rolled her eyes. Carson watched her and relaxedly sat back down. Ines’s heart beat a little faster because the sight looked like a beast that had stretched its body after a big leap.
Carson was beautiful at any moment.
She took a deep breath, straightened her body, and smiled brightly.
“I will also go to Landhill as soon as my time at the temple is over.”
“Ines?”
“Yes.”
“What are you doing now?”
Ines’ body flinched at the stinging words.
“That... What are you talking about?”
She tried to smile. So that he wouldn’t know her true feelings.
“So what are you doing now?”
“I’m just telling you to hurry and go to the palace.”
“No, that’s not it...”
He closed his eyes and crossed his arms as if he were trying to assess the situation for a moment. At such times, he felt like a castle that was impossible to approach. His eyes sparkled and his golden eyes shone.
“You, are you trying to make me Emperor now?”
At that moment, Noah gasped next to him. However, Ines’ expression did not change much.
“Noah said that the military supplies you’ve collected so far are probably the largest in the empire. With that much, you can fight a war for 300 years.”
“What kind of...”
Naturally, Carson looked surprised. His expression seemed as if he had never thought of that.
“Now, my lord, you should return to Landhill too. There won’t be any war in Monstera for the time being. The people of Landhill will be waiting for you, Lord.”
Carson looked at Ines, who was speaking softly, with a strange look.
“Before you return to your territory, stop by the palace and swear allegiance. It’s not that hard.”
“Are you serious?”
“We can’t give up Landhill completely.”
Noah stuck out his tongue as he watched Ines handling Carson. What she was saying now was no different from what Noah had just said to Carson.
“I have to give up the land of Monstera?”
“That can’t be.”
Carson frowned and tilted his head as he listened to Ines’ answer.
“First of all, I think we need to buy some time. Handing over the land isn’t something that can be decided so quickly.”
When his sharp gaze pierced Ines, she rolled her eyes. Carson watched her and relaxedly sat back down. Ines’s heart beat a little faster because the sight looked like a beast that had stretched its body after a big leap.
Carson was beautiful at any moment.
She took a deep breath, straightened her body, and smiled brightly.
“I will also go to Landhill as soon as my time at the temple is over.”
“Ines?”
“Yes.”
“What are you doing now?”
Ines’ body flinched at the stinging words.
“That... What are you talking about?”
She tried to smile. So that he wouldn’t know her true feelings.
“So what are you doing now?”
“I’m just telling you to hurry and go to the palace.”
“No, that’s not it...”
He closed his eyes and crossed his arms as if he were trying to assess the situation for a moment. At such times, he felt like a castle that was impossible to approach. His eyes sparkled and his golden eyes shone.
“You, are you trying to make me Emperor now?”
At that moment, Noah gasped next to him. However, Ines’ expression did not change much.
“Noah said that the military supplies you’ve collected so far are probably the largest in the empire. With that much, you can fight a war for 300 years.”
“What kind of...”
“Not until 300 years.”
Ines’ voice kept fading.
“We're not going to war.”
“You’re buying all that stuff for war?”
“I’m just preparing for defense.”
Carson laughed loudly. Ines’ floor seemed to thump along with his laughter.
“Anyway, it’s right for you to go to the palace now.”
“You really have decided to live for me.”
“I didn’t say that lightly.”
“So you want me to become Emperor.”
Ines didn’t answer, and Carson let out a long breath as if frustrated.
“Why can’t you send me higher? Why are you so anxious to get me further away from here?”
Ines continued to hold back her words.
It was true that she had made various preparations out of fear that Carson would be harmed, but that did not mean that she would wage war and make him Emperor. She had not yet made a proper decision or made a plan.
Ines, who was still not in a good mood, stood up from her seat.
“I have to go back now. I came in a hurry while doing laundry.”
“So you are giving up on your plan to make me Emperor and going to do laundry now?”
“Yes, for now.”
Carson held out his arm as if guiding her to the door. Ines slightly lifted her skirt and showed him how a maid would show to the lord.
Ines approached the door and grabbed the doorknob. The woman who had been acting as if she was about to leave stopped for a moment, so Carson watched her. After a while, she looked back at Carson and smiled brightly.
“There’s only a little over a month left.”
“...Yes.”
“We're not going to war.”
“You’re buying all that stuff for war?”
“I’m just preparing for defense.”
Carson laughed loudly. Ines’ floor seemed to thump along with his laughter.
“Anyway, it’s right for you to go to the palace now.”
“You really have decided to live for me.”
“I didn’t say that lightly.”
“So you want me to become Emperor.”
Ines didn’t answer, and Carson let out a long breath as if frustrated.
“Why can’t you send me higher? Why are you so anxious to get me further away from here?”
Ines continued to hold back her words.
It was true that she had made various preparations out of fear that Carson would be harmed, but that did not mean that she would wage war and make him Emperor. She had not yet made a proper decision or made a plan.
Ines, who was still not in a good mood, stood up from her seat.
“I have to go back now. I came in a hurry while doing laundry.”
“So you are giving up on your plan to make me Emperor and going to do laundry now?”
“Yes, for now.”
Carson held out his arm as if guiding her to the door. Ines slightly lifted her skirt and showed him how a maid would show to the lord.
Ines approached the door and grabbed the doorknob. The woman who had been acting as if she was about to leave stopped for a moment, so Carson watched her. After a while, she looked back at Carson and smiled brightly.
“There’s only a little over a month left.”
“...Yes.”
“I’ll be there soon. Wherever the lord is.”
He smiled brightly at her too.
“Yes, I’ll wait quietly. Without causing any trouble.”
Perhaps this would be the last affectionate farewell between the two. In a world where nothing could be seen, the two would have to go their separate ways again.
However, the woman who was like a wave heading to do laundry would surely come crashing down on him in some way.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her until the door Ines had closed and her figure disappeared. The afterimage continued as long as the scent she left behind.
After Ines left, Noah sat down across from Carson without asking permission because he was so anxious.
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to go.”
Noah looked dumbfounded at his words, which he said without a second thought.
“Yes?”
“She told me to go and swear allegiance. She has to go do her laundry.”
“Yes, I’ll wait quietly. Without causing any trouble.”
Perhaps this would be the last affectionate farewell between the two. In a world where nothing could be seen, the two would have to go their separate ways again.
However, the woman who was like a wave heading to do laundry would surely come crashing down on him in some way.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her until the door Ines had closed and her figure disappeared. The afterimage continued as long as the scent she left behind.
After Ines left, Noah sat down across from Carson without asking permission because he was so anxious.
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to go.”
Noah looked dumbfounded at his words, which he said without a second thought.
“Yes?”
“She told me to go and swear allegiance. She has to go do her laundry.”
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