The Hunting Season (7)
The Oslo motion to exclude the Guardians was rejected unanimously.
Oslo showed a humble acceptance of the results of the vote and spoke to the participants with a relaxed smile on his face...
As you can see, it's boiling inside.
At that moment, Shancrecia's aides approached me, laughing heartily.
The intention was to diligently stamp my eyes to receive the anti-monster herbs a little faster.
"Guardian, may I ask which country you plan to distribute it to first?"
"Since you are a guardian chosen by God, shouldn't you distribute it to our Shancrecia first?"
He hadn't even paid any attention to me until just a moment ago, but he seemed to be really interested in the anti-monster herbs.
Rahon snickered at their behavior. While I was roughly dealing with them, I could smell sweat coming from somewhere.
Anton, the second grand prince of the Grand Duchy of Romena, was standing near our table.
Assistant Shancrecia frowned and left the room.
"Great! I'll come back later."
"Okay, then."
As the Shancrecia aides returned to their seats, Anton approached me, timidly. He still couldn't look me in the eye.
'He looks like this.'
The atmosphere was dark and he was sweating a lot, but if he had lost some weight, he would have looked pretty good. His white skin, silver hair, and green eyes were in perfect harmony.
'You don't seem like the type of person who would approach a stranger first...'
At the moment I was thinking about it, Halsteille, who was watching me, came into view.
Did he send Anton to me?
"Who is in front of me?"
"Yes? Oh! I, I am Anton Romena."
"I apologize for not being able to greet you first as I cannot see you. This is Millenia Astrod."
As I said this, I stepped aside from Anton and held out my hand.
Then Anton rubbed his hand on his thigh in a hurry, then grabbed my hand gently, and then let go.
"Do you have anything to say to me?"
"That, that I asked you to find out if you could sell anti-monster herbs in Romena..."
"Who is it?"
"The Prime Minister..."
Certainly, Anton had a very different vibe from other royals.
His attitude was timid and his voice was timid. There was no sense of royal dignity or high self-esteem.
Are you insecure about your appearance?
I think I understand how you feel. I've been afraid of meeting people since I lost my eyesight.
"Of course it is possible. How about we set aside some time to coordinate the details?"
"Excuse me?"
"Of course. Discuss the schedule with the Prime Minister and let me know. I will make arrangements."
"Oh, I see. Thank you, uh, uh, really, for giving us a chance."
As he bowed, sweat splashed on my dress and the back of my hands. Anton's face turned blank...
"...Um, I'm sorry. I sweat a lot... Wait a minute, here's a handkerchief..."
But his handkerchief was already soaked with sweat. Anton hesitated, unable to bring himself to hold out his handkerchief.
"Nadia, do you have a handkerchief?"
"Yes, Miss."
Nadia put a tightly folded handkerchief in my hand. I handed it to Anton.
"This..."
"Why are you doing this to me..."
"The capital of the empire is hot even in early autumn. So, I heard that people from cold regions suffer a lot from the heat. I heard that they often don't prepare extra handkerchiefs."
The Grand Duchy of Romenya, like Eldern, had a climate that was the complete opposite of that of the Empire's capital and was even colder than Eldern in midwinter.
If you spray water into the air, it will freeze?
It was natural that Anton, who lived in such a place, could not adapt to the weather of the empire.
"You can decline if you don't need it."
Anton's lips were tightly shut. He held the handkerchief I had given him tightly and nodded.
"...Thank you."
"You're welcome.'
Anton returned to his hunched posture.
I turned my gaze to the Imperial Seat, seeing Halsteille tapping his shoulder.
Everyone except Ian and Kjer were gathered around Oslo, glancing at me with disapproving expressions.
Even Shancrecia and Romena reached out to me, so I don't know what they believe and why they remain silent.
In particular, Count Saiga and Count Gideon were extremely pitiful. So was Baron Nokron.
No matter how much you want to look good in Oslo, don't you think about your people?
Since I am from the Empire, do you believe that the herbs for monster resistance will be distributed first to the Empire?
'Stupid people.'
I sighed at their foolishness.
"Nadia."
"Yes, Miss."
"Go to Mr. Hugh and ask him to make a simple sketch of the Nokron Prison. Wait until it's finished and then bring it to me."
"Yes, Miss. I'll be back shortly."
"Yes."
After a while, tea time ended and the meeting began in earnest.
The first item on the agenda was the size of the Allied forces.
This is an agenda item as important as electing the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, and it will determine how many troops each of the three countries will provide.
This wasn't an issue that could be resolved in a day. There would probably be heated debate for several days.
The eyes of the attendees change.
It was the prelude to a fierce battle.
***
No country, no matter how futuristic and anti-monster hubs it may have, wants to send its citizens to war.
The three countries wanted to provide minimal troop support and even wanted supply support from the safety of the rear.
The discussion, which lasted until sunset, ended without reaching any conclusion.
It was as expected. In my last life, it took five days just to decide on the size of the coalition forces.
Anyway, now that each country has revealed what they want, the real story starts now.
Beginning tonight, aides will begin secretly contacting their counterparts and negotiating.
Kjer came to me.
"Youngest, I think I need to have a meeting with the little Duke. Can you go home alone?"
"I told you I'm not a kid."
"It looks like you've grown a lot since l saw you earlier. Good job."
Kjer whispered secretly while tapping my temples.
"His Highness the First Prince has requested a meeting in the back garden. Go out the back door."
"Yes."
Before we knew it, the attendees had left like the ebb tide. In the now deserted banquet hall, Rahon stood up.
"You go in first."
"What's wrong?"
Rahon put his fingers on the collar and pulled it loosely.
He looked obviously tired from watching the long meeting that he couldn't even participate in. His neatly groomed hair was somewhat disheveled.
"The cardinals wanted to meet me. I don't want to see them either, but I think I should show my face."
How can those who didn't even greet Rahon when the meeting started suddenly ask to meet?
Rahon spoke coldly to me, who was tilting my head.
"They didn't get the answer they wanted from you earlier. So they're probably trying to use me to get the anti-monster herbs. Because I seem friendly with you."
“Ah...”
Rahon seemed reluctant to meet the Cardinal. He hesitated for a moment before asking.
"I don't know if I can ask this, but aren't you on good terms with the Cardinals? If you don't feel comfortable, you don't have to answer."
"Some of the cardinals hate me."
"Why?"
"I was a slave. In Shancrecia, slaves are considered to be people abandoned by God."
Are you disliking Rahon for just that reason? And that too from the perspective of those who serve God and the guardian chosen by God?
It was clear that the Cardinals simply disliked Rahon out of a sense of privilege or entitlement due to his origins.
Why am I so angry? Rahon is just being calm, but my stomach is churning.
Finally, I couldn't hold it in any longer and opened my mouth.
"Please tell them."
"Who? To the Cardinals?"
"Yes."
"...What?"
"From now on, Shancrecia will only be able to purchase anti-monster herbs through Lord Rahon."
Rahon's purple eyes opened wide.
"If it weren't for you, Rahon, the anti-monster herb wouldn't have been released into the world. I originally planned to share the profits with you, but I'll also give you the right to sell it."
Rahon's expression became strange.
"Right now... are you taking my side?"
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