My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 137

§ 137 – Princess, Elena (2)

The Imperial Capital, Darkhan.

And the Imperial Palace located in Darkhan.

Crown Prince Conrad skimmed through a report, letting out a small sigh.

“The damage in the North… is more severe than I thought.”

The incident that turned the entire North upside down.

Fortunately, the incident itself was resolved well.

However, the resulting damage was not so well resolved.

Numerous people were sacrificed.

Many facilities were destroyed and disappeared.

And the estimated damage is just this much.

The damage not written in the report was even more severe.

Above all, Conrad had been to the North himself.

There were countless people starving because they had nothing to eat.

Also, injured and sick people were wandering the streets.

And there was a severe shortage of supplies to care for these people.

Not only money, but also the supply sources to provide supplies were severely lacking.

It was impossible to secure supplies locally due to the already barren environment of the North.

It was an ironic situation where they could not obtain supplies even with funds.

“It would be nice if someone would step up at times like this…”

However, all the nobles shook their heads, putting on airs.

They claimed that they themselves did not have enough to spare due to the poor harvest.

Well, it wasn’t wrong, so Conrad didn’t press them any further.

Conrad let out a small sigh and pushed the report aside.

Then, he took out a new piece of parchment.

It was none other than a payment request for North support to be sent to the Imperial Treasurer.

Conrad calmly picked up a quill and began to write the payment request.

Scribble.

Conrad had just written the first phrase of the payment request.

But for some reason, he could already hear the Treasurer’s complaints in his ears.

“Still, it can’t be helped.”

He couldn’t turn a blind eye to the suffering people just because it was a waste.

Swish, swish.

Conrad wrote the payment request without hesitation.

At that moment.

Knock, knock.

-Your Highness. Princess Elena has come to see you.

The Chief Secretary’s voice was heard from outside the office.

“Elena?”

At the Chief Secretary’s report, Conrad raised his head from writing the payment request.

After tilting his head a few times, he gently put down the pen he was holding.

“Let her in.”

Not long after Conrad’s words, the office door opened again with a click.

And Elena revealed herself.

“Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince─.”

“Leave the unnecessary formalities in private. Haven’t I told you that?”

Conrad waved his hand.

Then, he gestured to Elena, who straightened her posture.

“Sit there comfortably.”

At Conrad’s gesture, Elena took a seat in a suitable spot.

“So. What brings you here?”

“Actually… I came to ask a favor of you, Brother.”

“A favor…?”

Conrad’s head tilted at Elena’s words.

Could it be that Elena is asking for a favor?

Has Elena ever asked him for anything before?

At least, Conrad didn’t remember.

Elena was so inflexible that it made him feel suffocated.

He wondered what that sense of duty was.

Elena was a child who, far from asking for favors, would rather ask him for work.

And she didn’t make a single groan in the process.

In short, wasn’t she an un-sisterly sister?

Such Elena is asking for a favor?

“Speak freely. This brother will try to grant it as much as possible.”

Conrad said, feeling a strangely excited feeling.

“That is…”

Elena lowered her gaze slightly.

She couldn’t bring herself to speak easily.

It was the first time she had ever asked for a favor.

This situation was unfamiliar to Elena.

Therefore, Conrad waited patiently without urging Elena.

After hesitating for a long time.

“Could I… borrow some money?”

“……” What?

Conrad couldn’t help but doubt his ears.

“What… what did you say just now?”

Conrad asked again, hoping it was a mistake.

And.

“Whether I can borrow… money…”

Elena answered in a barely audible voice.

“……”

Conrad was speechless.

So, Elena is saying she wants to borrow money?

So, it wasn’t a misunderstanding?

Conrad couldn’t understand Elena’s words.

He really couldn’t understand.

Elena is a princess.

In short, she is of a status that has no worries about money.

If she wants something, she can have it.

If she wants to eat something, she can eat it.

That is the right that a princess can enjoy.

And isn’t Elena trapped in that sense of duty because of the rights she has enjoyed?

But she’s asking to borrow money?

So, money?

Why on earth?

Could it be that she wants to do something separately?

Conrad barely managed to gather his wits and asked Elena.

“How much, how much are you asking to borrow?”

And.

“About 20 million… gold.”

“…… 2 million?”

“No. 20 million…”

At Elena’s subsequent answer, he lost his mind.

“……”

This is…

This was not it.

No matter how much she is his only and beloved sister.

No matter how much she is a pitiful child who couldn’t live her life because she was trapped in the status of a princess.

“Are you in your right mind…?”

20 million gold was not it!

Conrad didn’t know what to say.

He was beyond dumbfounded, to the point where his absurdity was ascending.

Has Elena finally gone crazy?

Looking at her.

Elena was avoiding Conrad’s gaze.

“Do you know how much 20 million gold is worth?”

“…… Yes.”

There was no way she wouldn’t know.

Because Elena is a smart and wise child.

Even if she is a royal who lives without worrying about money, there was no way she wouldn’t know the value of 20 million gold.

That’s why Conrad didn’t know what to say even more.

A moment of silence followed.

“Why… why are you trying to borrow such money?”

Elena couldn’t answer easily again.

Conrad waited silently for such Elena.

After another long time passed.

“That is…”

Elena then told the detailed story.

A story that was neither long nor short.

And only then did Conrad understand why Elena was trying to borrow 20 million gold.

So, to summarize.

“You need 20 million gold to go to Ruben?”

“Yes.”

“You had no choice because he was putting up such an iron wall?”

“…… Yes.”

“Hmm…”

Conrad unknowingly let out a groan.

Should he say she did well?

Or should he ask if she’s in her right mind?

Well, she didn’t bring up the marriage story out of the blue.

She was trying to create a chance to slowly build a friendship according to his advice.

This was a very good thing.

And looking at it…

‘I didn’t expect Elena to say such a thing first…’

This was quite unexpected.

No, it was an unexpected action beyond unexpected.

Could it be that Elena personally liked Sian, not just out of a sense of duty?

Of course, the sense of duty as a princess was still greater.

So, the fact that he and the Emperor were thinking of Sian as her partner.

But the attitude Elena showed was clearly a liking.

A liking to get to know Sian a little more.

So Conrad’s head became a little complicated.

Elena had never shown a liking to a man even once.

That’s why, as her brother, he wanted to actively support Elena.

But…

Conrad lowered his gaze slightly.

The [Payment Request for North Support Supplies] that he had been writing just before came into view on the table.

At the same time, he also heard the Imperial Treasurer’s sigh like a hallucination.

“It is impossible to spend 20 million gold from the Imperial treasury right now.”

Conrad had no choice but to shake his head firmly.

No matter how much Elena is his only sister.

What’s not, is not.

With the treasury already tight due to North support.

It was impossible to spend such an astronomical amount of money as 20 million gold.

“Above all, Imperial assets cannot be used for personal matters of the Imperial family.”

Public and private matters must be clearly distinguished.

“I’m sorry, but it seems like that will have to be called off.”

Conrad shook his head without a shred of room for negotiation.

But.

“No. I was asking to borrow from somewhere other than the Imperial treasury.”

“Somewhere else?”

Conrad tilted his head at Elena’s subsequent words.

Borrowing money from somewhere else?

Where on earth would she get 20 million gold…?

“I know that His Majesty made a promise with Young Master Sian.”

Conrad flinched at Elena’s words.

It was none other than giving gold to Sian in exchange for having a meeting with Elena.

The Emperor and Conrad did not inform Elena of this fact.

Because it felt like they were arranging a meeting with money for nothing.

That’s why Conrad didn’t say anything.

It seemed that Elena already knew.

‘Even so, she didn’t exactly refuse.’

Anyway, she was a sister who had no charm at all.

“Isn’t the compensation that His Majesty gives to Young Master Sian not an Imperial asset?”

“That’s true, but…”

The Imperial assets are largely divided into two categories.

Imperial assets used for major and minor events of the Empire.

Assets of the Imperial family that members of the Imperial family use for personal matters.

Both are managed by the Imperial Treasurer.

However, Imperial assets are used for official matters related to the Empire.

Such as supporting the damage in the North like now.

Imperial assets are used for official matters related to the Empire.

But not for the private affairs of the Imperial family.

It is impossible to use public assets for private matters.

This is something that even the Emperor cannot violate.

That’s why Conrad refused to lend money to Elena just now.

The same goes for the Emperor’s promise to directly compensate Sian.

That was a personal matter of the Emperor, and therefore, he could not draw on Imperial assets.

And now.

The fact that Elena brought up that story.

“Are you… are you saying you’re going to borrow from His Majesty’s assets?”

Elena nodded slightly.

And Conrad was speechless.

To put it bluntly.

Isn’t it the same as extorting the Emperor!

And well…

20 million gold was an affordable amount from the Emperor’s assets.

But just because it is ‘possible’ to spend it.

“I don’t know if His Majesty… will allow it.”

That definitely didn’t mean he could readily give it.

It was clear that he would unconditionally refuse.

It was obvious that the Emperor would have thought of a few million as compensation.

He probably thought of 10 million as the limit.

But she’s calling for 20 million?

He probably won’t allow it.

It would be a relief if he didn’t roll his eyes and tear her limbs apart.

Elena wouldn’t know that.

“That’s why I came to ask for a favor from you, Brother.”

At the following words, Conrad was able to fully understand Elena’s words.

“So… you’re saying you want me to help persuade His Majesty?”

“Yes.”

Conrad burst into laughter at Elena’s nodding appearance.

Somehow…

He thought it was strange that the wise Elena would suddenly ask to borrow 20 million gold.

And the fact that Elena is going this far.

‘I was the one who encouraged the meeting, but…’

They say that when you fall in love with a man, you don’t care about anything else.

What happened at their meeting?

Somehow, Elena seemed to like Sian more than Conrad thought.

Why does he feel somewhat happy and somewhat sad?

Well, Sian was more than good as Elena’s partner.

There was a rumor that he was an incompetent bum.

But that was just saying it without knowing Sian.

But when Elena comes out so actively…

“Hmm…”

Conrad’s thoughts changed very slightly.

Of course, he still thought of Sian as Elena’s partner.

But for some reason, he nodded a little at the fact that Sian was a bum…

He didn’t know why.

Conrad was lost in thought, feeling complex and subtle emotions.

20 million gold.

It was truly an astronomical amount of money beyond imagination.

But it wasn’t an amount that couldn’t be extorted from the Emperor’s assets.

“Please, Brother.”

“…… Okay. I will help you.”

After much deliberation, Conrad nodded.

First of all, it was the first favor he had ever received from his sister.

Above all.

“His Majesty should also know in detail what kind of person Sian is, shouldn’t he?”

His beloved daughter wants to get married.

Shouldn’t the father open his wallet?

#

A Dark Elf village characterized by trees that soar as if piercing the sky.

“Dad!”

A woman was running through those trees from afar.

The long black hair fluttered in time with her running.

Whack!

Sera ran up in an instant and hugged Asrandiz.

Asrandiz staggered backward, unable to withstand Sera’s force.

Once the 8th Circle Archmage who was discussed as the strongest on the continent.

But now he was Asrandiz, who had lost all his power.

Sera hugged Asrandiz even more.

And Asrandiz silently hugged Sera.

A reunion of father and daughter done in silence.

But there was something deeper than words.

How much time had passed?

In an instant, Asrandiz’s head turned to Sian.

There was something transparent in the black eyes that looked at each other.

“Really… I really don’t know how to thank you…”

And the words of Asrandiz were heard.

The trembling voice contained the emotions that Asrandiz was feeling.

This feeling of being embarrassed for no reason.

“Well…”

Sian could only give an awkward smile.

And right then.

“Sian, I like you!”

Whack!

In an instant, Sera, who was in Asrandiz’s arms, ran to Sian.

It seemed that Sera also knew.

Maybe she knew that she would never be able to meet Asrandiz again.

But the fact that she met Asrandiz again now.

Sera seemed to know that Sian had used his power.

Sera hugged Sian and rubbed her face against him.

Asrandiz, unable to watch any longer, opened his mouth.

“Sera, correct your words and actions. He is the new Forest Keeper.”

Stop.

As expected, Sera’s movements stopped abruptly.

Then she raised her buried head and looked at Sian once, and Asrandiz once.

And then Sian once more.

Finally, she looked at Asrandiz again.

“Forest Keeper? Sian?”

Sera asked, tilting her head.

Asrandiz nodded and briefly told her the situation.

After that short story ended.

“Then is our Sian moving into our house?”

“Yes. He is the Forest Keeper who will lead our Dark Elves from now on.”

Sera’s gaze turned to Sian again.

Sera’s appearance, which could be seen right in front of her.

He thought that the appearance was truly elflike.

Bright black eyes.

Unlike her black hair, her skin was so white that it was pure white.

Her downy hair was as fluffy as a child’s, and there were no blemishes on her skin at all.

Then Sera smiled brightly and said.

“I like it! I like that Sian is the Forest Keeper, and I like that Sian is moving into our house.”

“Sera, didn’t I tell you to correct your words and actions to the Forest Keeper?”

“Hmm…”

Sera made a sullen expression at Asrandiz’s scolding, which wasn’t really a scolding.

Then she pouted her lips once.

“But Sian is Sian.”

Whack.

She buried her face in Sian’s chest again.

“Sera, to the Forest Keeper…”

“It’s okay. Just leave her be.”

In the end, Sian stopped Asrandiz, unable to watch any longer.

“But…”

“I don’t really care about such things, so don’t worry about it.”

Sian waved his hand.

In the first place, there was no such thing as honorifics for elves.

It was enough to just have a heart that respects the other person.

Above all.

‘If Sera uses honorifics, that’s a bit…’

To be honest, it was a bit awkward for Asrandiz to use honorifics now.

In many ways, this state was the most appropriate.

“If the Forest Keeper says so…”

At Sian’s intention, Asrandiz didn’t say anything more.

“Then I will inform the other members of this fact.”

Asrandiz pointed to one side of the village with his finger.

Where he moved his gaze along his finger.

There, numerous Dark Elves were gathered, buzzing and looking this way.

Each of them was looking this way with an expression that was half curiosity and half fear.

It seemed that an explanation of the current situation was needed.

“I see.”

Sian slowly nodded.

Then, a thought suddenly came to mind.

“Ah, right. How many Dark Elves are there?”

“There are about… 1,000 people.”

“1,000 people…”

Sian quickly calculated in his head.

‘It costs 1 million gold to expand one territory area. If there are 1,000 people, should I expand about two areas?’

And if he expanded, he would have to build related facilities.

‘Since 10 Lv.4 houses cost 100,000 gold, then if one house can accommodate 4 people, the housing cost for 1,000 people is 2.5 million…’

He also had to pave roads in the expanded area.

He also had to build new infrastructure as the population increased…

‘…Damn it.’

Hundreds of millions of gold were bullshit.

It seemed like it would easily exceed 10 million gold even if he poured money into a broken pot.

‘The Princess said she would extort 20 million gold… no, give it to me, but…’

To be honest, he didn’t know if that was possible.

Possible my ass [an expression of disbelief].

It would be a relief if she didn’t try to tear him limb from limb.

Even if she wouldn’t really tear him limb from limb.

20 million gold was an amount that made him think, ‘Wouldn’t she tear off at least one arm…?’

‘Haa…’

In short, he couldn’t just rely on Elena.

He had to find a way to get gold even if it wasn’t Elena.

‘But where on earth am I going to get that much money… Ah?!’

At that moment, one thought flashed through Sian’s mind.

Sian slowly turned his gaze and looked at Asrandiz.

Asrandiz was explaining the situation so far to the Dark Elves.

And fortunately, the Dark Elves didn’t have any aversion.

The fact that Sian became the new Forest Keeper.

And the fact that they had to move their base to Ruben.

They didn’t have any aversion to these two facts.

No, far from having any aversion, they were rather welcoming and grateful to Sian.

Sian approached such Asrandiz and asked.

“When do you think you will be able to leave?”

“That is… I think we need to prepare a bit.”

Asrandiz answered with a troubled look.

That’s because moving a base where they have lived their whole lives.

That was not an easy task that could be done in an instant.

Especially if it was a large-scale population of 1,000 people.

They also needed their own preparations.

“That’s good.”

Sian slowly nodded.

“I also have something to do for a while. Can I entrust you with the preparations for the Dark Elves to move?”

“Of course.”

Asrandiz nodded right away.

Asrandiz, the Forest Keeper who led the Dark Elves.

If it was such Asrandiz, he would do well even without Sian.

After saying that, Sian immediately turned his feet and moved his steps.

And at the sight of such Sian, Sera tilted her head and asked.

“Where are you going?”

“To make money.”

“Money?”

Could it be that she didn’t understand Sian’s words?

Sera’s head tilted to the opposite side again.

Sian just moved his steps, striding without any further explanation.

Sera looked back and forth at the Dark Elves preparing to move.

And Sian’s appearance leaving the Dark Elf village.

How many times did she look back and forth like that?

“I’m going too.”

Sera followed Sian, trailing behind him.

#

Amelia, who is active as a merchant in Ruben and is currently the head of the Ruben Brahe Merchant Group.

“Ah? Ahh?”

Amelia didn’t know how to accept the current situation.

Also, she couldn’t understand why it turned out like this at all.

That’s because of the situation unfolding before her eyes now.

No, the situation that is unfolding.

“I don’t know how many days it’s been since I’ve eaten food…!”

“To be able to eat such soft bread in the cold North…”

“And it’s so, so delicious…!!”

The naked and starving people of the North were eating the food that Amelia had brought.

“I was worried because the wound kept festering…”

“Oh, my god, the wound is starting to heal as soon as I apply it?”

“The effect of this medicine is amazing…?”

The injured were being treated with various medical supplies that Amelia had brought.

Of course, she could understand this situation.

She could understand it enough.

But over there.

“Come on, this is not something that comes every day! Ruben specialty special sale! Are all the items free?!”

Sian, who is promoting in front of people.

“If you need anything, take as much as you want! The price will all be extorted from the Imperial family… no, um… anyway, it’s free!”

Amelia couldn’t understand Sian at all!