Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 138

138.

I called Ken.

After Olivia had a delicious dinner and returned, I couldn’t sleep and tossed and turned, finally making a decision.

‘This isn’t something I can figure out alone.’

To be honest, I had never been in a relationship before.

After realizing I was the Crown Prince, I had expected arranged marriages, but I never dreamed a woman like Olivia would appear.

I explained to Ken in detail what had happened with Olivia today.

“First of all, Your Highness’s words are unusually disorganized. But judging from the circumstances, one thing is certain.”

“What is it?”

I asked hastily, and Ken smiled.

“It seems Your Highness has fallen for Lady Olivia.”

I frowned and said to Ken.

“Fallen? What are you talking about? I’ve only met her twice. Once at the banquet, and once today.”

“Your Highness, Lady Olivia’s participation is an agenda item to be discussed depending on the political situation. It’s a proposal for an arranged marriage, and a connection to the White family through blood.”

At Ken’s words, I cleared my throat.

Ken’s serious voice continued.

“Although you have gained the power of the West, it will take considerable time to see political benefits from them. On the other hand, the moment you are connected to the White family by blood, Your Highness’s influence will be much greater than it is now.”

Ken’s explanation made sense.

There isn’t a family with two Sword Masters not only in the Empire but throughout the entire continent.

After the banquet, the White family’s influence naturally increased.

“Duke James had a long private meeting with His Majesty. The story about the two of you must have come up in that meeting.”

Even though my father’s story came up, Olivia’s swordsmanship was still vivid in my mind, and her smile in the flower-filled garden flickered before my eyes.

I beat around the bush, but I clearly advised Olivia not to decide on something as important as marriage for the sake of her family.

I was sincere.

It wasn’t to look good to her because I liked her, but because it’s not right for someone to decide another person’s life.

I lived in an era where that was common sense, and that concept hasn’t changed much even now.

Things like common sense, culture, and ideas that are not easily accepted in the Calpheon Empire can be my strengths.

Although I haven’t learned much, I could think more broadly than the scholars and politicians of the Calpheon Empire.

It was thanks to my experience living in a much more developed world.

“I’ll choose about Lady Olivia’s matter. Sorry for calling you in the middle of the night. To be honest, my emotions were so intense that I felt suffocated if I didn’t talk to someone.”

“Your Highness, having someone in mind is a perfectly natural thing for a man. But Your Highness is the Crown Prince.”

Ken was cold. Because he thought that was his role.

“His Majesty may or may not accept Duke James’s proposal.”

“That’s right.”

I nodded.

Even if Olivia and I had some agreement, or even if we shared our feelings, it’s over without my father’s permission.

My fate was to suddenly have another lady brought in one day and be told to accept her as the Crown Princess.

The only hopeful news is that my father also highly values the White family, and Duke James chose me.

“If an arranged marriage with Lady Olivia doesn’t proceed this time, such things can happen to Your Highness any time in the future.”

“So I don’t have the freedom to choose either.”

Originally, the best match was Ted, but he had already become engaged to a noble lady found by Duke Beregon.

Many princes were engaged before their coming-of-age ceremony, but no one had brought up the story about engagement to me. Because I was the Crown Prince, but too precarious.

The nobles’ minds must have changed after confirming my abilities. How were their eyes at the banquet?

‘Even if I had accepted Duke James’s proposal at the time, everyone was trying to create an opportunity somehow.’

Ken pointed out one more thing.

“I don’t know much about relationships either. But there is a way for Your Highness to marry someone you truly desire, regardless of His Majesty’s decision or political position.”

“Even if my father opposes it?”

“Yes.”

I was very surprised.

“There’s such a way?”

“You just need to build an unshakable position, no matter who you are with.”

I exclaimed, “Ah!”

“The essence of arranged marriage is a device to compensate for each other’s family shortcomings.”

Ken was seeing through the essence of arranged marriage.

“The Imperial family is not much different. It’s just that they consider the shortcomings of the person more than the family when choosing a partner.”

Ken’s conclusion was simple.

“If the West is stable and strongly supports Your Highness, and you succeed in the Eastern Expedition, you will be able to choose your own marriage partner.”

Ken added.

“You’ll have to propose first, though.”

“It’s impossible to propose as I please. I have to win Lady Olivia’s personal heart first.”

Ken shrugged.

Anyway, although I grumbled because I was embarrassed, Ken pointed out my feelings and clearly concluded the realistic issues.

“My position! Okay, let’s meet Vikan first. I need to develop the West faster. If there’s anything you need in preparing for the expedition, tell me then and there.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

It was quite late at night.

I sent Ken back.

Sitting alone in my office, I thought of Olivia.

A smile spread across my face.

‘I’ll grow to the point where no one can refute my skills.’

Olivia’s level flashed through my mind.

‘First of all, I have to become as strong as Olivia. She’s a Sword Master no matter what anyone says. Wouldn’t it be disappointing to choose a man weaker than herself?’

Before I knew it, I was evaluating myself from her perspective.

* * *

New passion gave me strength.

“The conscription must be completed by the end of next month.”

At my words, Ken nodded.

“Yes, Your Highness. The nobles are cooperating well, so a month will be enough.”

I turned my gaze to Gale.

“It will be a war with many knight orders participating. Gale, it may be a burden, but I want my knight order to shine the most in this war.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Gale didn’t rashly make promises to me.

‘I can trust Gale.’

I trusted Gale more than anyone. All the current knight order members are talented, so I thought they would be able to exert a stronger force than other knight orders.

“The meeting is adjourned here. Please double-check the preparations again. After tomorrow’s meeting, I will report the Eastern Expedition date to Father.”

Everyone answered yes at the same time.

After checking the preparations for the last time, I was going to set the date at tomorrow’s meeting and visit the Great Hall.

Since I had already received the position of commander, I proceeded with everything related to war preparations at my discretion.

Not only the nobles but also my father helped me with the issues I requested without saying a word.

After finishing the morning meeting, I took out the parchment containing the writing information and read it.

‘The Eastern Expedition is something that didn’t exist in the original history at all.’

I seriously tapped the desk alone, reading, thinking, and analyzing the information from this period.

‘The Pireon Kingdom was conquered in my father’s first expedition. That means… it’s completely different from what I wrote.’

Until now, small variables or events had flowed differently from the novel I wrote, but this Eastern Expedition was particularly different.

My father, Ron, was the first to carry out the retreat, and I, Arun, took over the battlefield.

‘It’s getting more and more different.’

The Sword of Destruction came into my hands, and the appearance of Sword Master Olivia was also surprising.

I felt uneasy.

Knowing the future, I moved confidently and grew.

Now I felt like the place to lean on was disappearing altogether.

I covered the parchment bundle, carefully put it in the drawer, and locked it with a key.

‘Let’s think positively. It’s a new life.’

Arun Karl Leord is my name.

Thinking that made me feel much more comfortable.

It’s not like all my knowledge is useless.

I still benefit from the system window and enjoyed a lot of quality information.

‘Calmly, without rushing.’

I erased the anxiety about the Eastern Expedition.

“Your Highness, Merchant Lord Vikan requests an audience.”

I called Merchant Lord Vikan, who arrived in the capital yesterday, to the palace.

He must have been quite surprised.

Because I knew he was coming to the capital and even matched the timing to meet him.

‘It’s thanks to Hamilton.’

I smiled and said.

“Let him in.”

The office door opened and Vikan appeared. Vikan, with a bright smile, paid his respects to me.

I offered Vikan a seat.

“Sit there.”

I turned my gaze to the servant and said.

“Please bring some tea.”

Watching the servant walking away in small steps, I opened my mouth to Vikan.

“Is this your first report in the West?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I thought several things would proceed in the West, but I didn’t know Your Highness would return to the palace so early.”

“Father called me. I also took on an important position. I can do the work of the West here, so there’s no big problem.”

I smiled brightly.

Vikan said calmly.

“I heard you are considering several merchants.”

“I like Merchant Lord Vikan. But I can’t be sure of the Vikan Merchant’s abilities.”

I didn’t bother to beat around the bush with an experienced merchant.

“The Water of Purification is very important. It doesn’t just end with distribution.”

“From the Imperial family to the commoners. Everyone can be a customer. If you only do business with a specific class, you can’t make a big profit with this kind of item.”

The servant brought tea, and I gestured as if to say drink it and then talk.

Vikan took a sip of tea and continued.

“We can supply the highest grade to the Imperial family and noble families, and only make and sell enough products to cure mild illnesses for the commoners, then we can make a big profit.”

It was just a distribution story, but Vikan was explaining everything from the product to the target customers.

“If you simply put it on the market, it will sell a lot, but you can’t make a big profit. You have to consider customer characteristics, adjust the production volume, and adjust the distribution volume.”

Vikan was accurately understanding what I wanted to say.

The Water of Purification is a specialty of the West.

It boasts the best efficacy.

Even if you have money, you can’t easily buy the highest grade Water of Purification, but you can get an ordinary grade Water of Purification.

“If you create a shortage of the highest grade to skyrocket the price, and release the quantity to the commoners so that they can see the effect immediately, Your Highness’s heart to love the people will also be satisfied.”

“Vikan.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I said with a smile.

“It’s a fact I know well enough. What I want to know is whether the Vikan Merchant has the ability to make my product like that? That’s important.”

Vikan nodded.

“I heard you are going on the Eastern Expedition.”

I didn’t like the way he suddenly changed the subject, but I nodded anyway.

“That’s right.”

“War merchants make big profits. They risk their lives traveling around the battlefield, so naturally, they have a lot left over.”

I listened to Vikan’s words for now.

“If you guarantee the distribution rights of the Water of Purification, I will receive the proper price for the supplies delivered to the nobles, but I will only receive one-tenth of the market price for the supplies sold to the soldiers on the battlefield.”

Vikan bet his fate on me.

He aimed not only for the Western Water of Purification but also for the appointment of a war merchant.

He did not give benefits to the nobles but offered drastically low prices to the general soldiers.

‘This setting hasn’t changed. The biggest route for war merchants to make profits is not the supplies delivered to the nobles and the Imperial family, but the supplies sold directly to the soldiers traveling around the battlefield.’

The reason why war merchants are swarming is precisely because of that.

It’s difficult to win the delivery to the Imperial family and nobles, but selling to soldiers only requires following the battlefield.

Of course, no one guarantees the life of a war merchant.

There was a part that Vikan overlooked.

“Your calculation is wrong, Vikan. This war has more supplies than ever before. Wouldn’t it be better to hear more rumors from the capital before coming?”

Vikan’s eyes shook.

I got up.

“I came all the way to the West, so I’ll give you one more chance. Prepare well. After this time today, other merchants will flood in.”

I issued an order to dismiss Vikan.

“Let’s make time again next time, Vikan. That will be the last chance to jump from the hundredth merchant to the tenth merchant.”