Then Peleus also looked at Medea. There was no wavering or hesitation in his sister's green eyes.
Although she was used more than anyone else by the regent's family, Medea did not get emotional and instead analyzed the situation calmly.
She calculated Emperor Katzen's reaction and included the handling of Grand Duke Castulo in it.
It was too wide and dense for a field of vision of only seventeen.
Although he was wary of that brilliant wit, Peleus felt only surprise and sadness.
'Dear, you have grown so much. How much persecution and hardship have you endured alone while your brother was away?'
On her small shoulders hung the desperation to pursue only the best for Valdina. The corners of Peleus' handsome eyes furrowed slightly as he noticed the weight of it.
'Dea, I wish you were free from these shackles.'
It was similar to the weight of the young boy leading Valdina's army, who had to leave even his sister behind and head to the battlefield one day.
At the same time, Peleus understood.
That they cannot simply change the cold reality into wind and sorrow.
For the sake of his sister, and for the future of this land, Valdina could not stop now.
"Do as the Princess says."
Peleus' stern voice descended.
***
Clak. Clak.
The sound of horse hooves clanking the ground continued incessantly.
The rider was the Count of Kensington, who was returning home with a letter from King Valdina. It would be more accurate to say that he was repatriated.
"Sir, how about you rest for a bit? If you keep running like this without sleeping or resting, you'll collapse before you even reach the palace."
Umberto advised Kensington. Kensington shook his head.
"We must arrive at the imperial palace as soon as possible. His Majesty's wrath will be immense, so we must devise a plan as quickly as possible."
They arrived at the imperial palace as if we were running, and reached Emperor Katzen's office.
"Get the tea, Kensington."
Kensington sat down, hiding his nervousness. The chamberlain came over and poured tea.
Jason was also present at this event. After being driven out of Valdina, he returned to Katzen and was summoned by the Emperor.
Their images reflected on the golden statue in the office were slightly distorted.
The imperial envoy who had visited Valdina delivered a letter from the King of Valdina to Perdiccas II.
The Emperor's hands shook as he received the letter. The teacups on the table shook violently.
And as Kensington had predicted, Perdiccas II was furious.
"Give me the strait! Are these crazy Valdinas brainless?"
The shining stone statue was shattered into pieces by the staff that Pediccas II swung in anger.
"And what did he say? Peleus, that young man with a fresh face was not satisfied even though he was given the Anphron gold mine!"
The Emperor asked the envoy with narrowed eyes.
The Strait of El Amuz!
Although the task of subduing the indigenous people there remained, the importance of the area's location was not overshadowed.
When Valdina asks for the gist of it, it feels like an unexpected stab in the heart, stinging and painful.
The Emperor's emissary spoke haltingly.
"A, tell them that the price is what the seller is offering, ha, he said..."
"What? How insolent-! Peleus, he is truly as wicked as his father. Now that he has the plains in his hands, is he blind to anything? He is a wicked man who will not die even if I burn him in this fire!"
The Emperor suddenly lost his temper.
The Strait of El Amuz would suffocate Valdina. Knowing that the Emperor's heart seemed to be rotting he had to hand it over with his own hands.
Did the King of Valdina take this into consideration when he asked me for the strait?
'Have you noticed why I'm trying to save Claudio?'
A chill ran down Perdiccas II's spine.
This young man has never seen his face before.
Yet Valdina, who was miles away, was incredibly aware of the maximum good that Perdiccas II could give and demanded it precisely.
He was astonished by Peleus's insight and his shameless cunning.
If Strait and Claudio were hung on a scale, the Emperor's heart would definitely lean toward Claudio. Because he still hasn't let go of his obsession with the Philosopher's Stone.
'The Philosopher's Stone... There's no way that insolent King Valdina would give it up so readily.'
So the only way for Perdiccas II to obtain the Philosopher's Stone was to bring down Peleus.
For that to happen, Simon Claudio had to survive.
'I also have to think about Angelique's reputation.'
It had to be sorted out before the rumors spread further within Katzen.
He had a duty to protect his daughter as much as possible and bring her back to the empire, as his beloved Empress Dowager had requested of him.
Perdiccas II sighed.
"This reckless Valdina is playing a really cunning trick. He knows I have no choice but to give in, and yet he's trying to play right on top of my head!"
Kensington listened to the Emperor on the red carpet, reciting a series of curses against Peleus.
"..."
The invisible fingers twitched beneath the neatly folded hands.
'No, Your Majesty. It was not the King of Valdina who planned all these things, but his sister, the Princess.'
Kensington knew. He had seen it firsthand at Valdina.
So he could tell.
The situation forced Perdiccas II to accept this demand, and this time again it was the Princess.
"..."
But instead of correcting his master's mistake, Kensington kept his mouth shut.
It was amazing.
As Katzen's subject and loyal confidant to the Emperor, he had to tell the truth.
So that the Emperor can know Valdina's true intentions and prepare for them.
"..."
But Kensington didn't say anything. It was out of character for him, and even Kensington himself couldn't quite explain why.
Kensington, who had been thinking about the Princess's clear green eyes, quickly erased the thought. Meanwhile, the chief chamberlain approached the Emperor, who was trembling with anger and gave him a word.
"Your Majesty, we have received word from the Holy Kingdom. They wish to quietly congratulate and bless the 4th Princess on her great achievement."
"Damn it! Even if I don't say it. I will just know how to do it! It's chaos inside and out!"
He didn't hide his irritation.
This is because he had figured out the Pope's cunning intentions, which were to not miss any excuse to interfere in Katzen's internal affairs.
Perdiccas II chewed his lip and spoke to the envoy.
"Go to Valdina right now and finish this job and bring Angelique and those Claudio guys back. As soon as possible!"
The envoy hesitated.
"Ha, then what are we going to do about their demands?"
Perdiccas II distorted his face.
It was rare for him, the supreme ruler of Katzen and the conqueror of the continent, to show his emotions like this.
"Tell them we accept it."
He had no choice but to grit his teeth.
'If only I could get my hands on the Philosopher's Stone.'
Valdina will pay the price for their current petty intentions. The demons will trample the land without needing to raise Katzen's sword.
"Yes."
The envoy walked out with his body bowed and his steps slow. A brief silence fell over the room.
The Emperor turned around.
His sharp eyes scanned between Jason standing on the red carpet and Valdina's letter.
His nephew looked much more haggard than when he first left the empire as part of the delegation.
In fact, Jason's journey back home was very difficult.
He was chased away and watched by Agemas who exuded life-giving energy all the way to the Valdina border.
Having lost his last shadow escort to Peleus, all that was left by his side were his strategists and his Varangian troop.
Even so, only about half of them survived after being attacked by Giliphort and Agemas.
"You guys go hide again. I'll somehow turn my uncle's eyes away.'
To hide the existence of the Varangians, Jason, who soon sent them away, had to return to the palace, exposed to all kinds of threats and assassinations aimed at him.
He felt naked. He never wanted to experience the misery and despair of losing all his cards again.
But Jason didn't know.
That his suffering is not over yet.
"Jason, what were you thinking?"
Perdiccas II looked down at Jason with displeasure.
"Your Majesty. I..."
Charak-!
Before Jason could open his lips, Perdiccas II threw Valdina's letter before him.
"Jason, the compensation that Valdina demands is beyond the ability of me and the royal family to afford."
Jason was surprised to see the numbers written on the golden paper, but then a bolt from the blue came.
"I will retrieve the Grand Duke from Castulo."
"Uncle!"
Jason was shocked.
"The Valdina Royal Family is plotting against me! You must not fall for their shameless scheme to fill the national treasury, which has been impoverished by war, with an absurd amount of compensation."
"Whether it's true or an exaggeration, I can't fight Valdina for you. You understand since Angelique's circumstances are involved."
Before Jason could make an excuse, Perdiccas II ruthlessly nibbled it off.
"You did it, so you have to take responsibility for it. Was I wrong?"
"I will somehow arrange for the compensation. So please withdraw the imperial order to recover the land. I, your nephew, beg you. "
Jason did not give up.
If it were normal, Jason would have already cowered and restrained himself under the Emperor's sharp gaze. But Grand Duke Castulo is his last bastion.
It was a great territory, counted among the top five in the empire.
Even if the result of the Valdina trip was painful and all the cards he had were used up, it was okay. It will take some time, but he can always recharge his strength and leap forward again in Castulo.
But the retrieval of the estate itself meant that Jason's treasure trove would disappear.
"Twenty years' worth of washing? There's no time. Is there any other way to raise the compensation?"
"..."
Jason could not answer.
The fact that Castulo was one of the wealthiest places in the empire ironically stabbed him in the back.
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