My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 138

§ 138 – The Hero of the North (1)

What on earth is going on?

What is really happening?

My mind is just blank.

Amelia calmly retraced her steps to figure out why this situation had unfolded.

It all started with Cian’s letter.

A letter that arrived urgently in Ruben.

And the content was nothing special.

Hurry and prepare supplies to come north.

That was all there was to it.

She wondered why, but Amelia immediately made preparations.

The great event that swept through the North.

This event had already spread widely throughout the Empire.

Of course, Amelia also knew the full story of the incident.

And she also knew what Cian had done in the process.

Could something urgent have happened?

Amelia gathered supplies.

An enormous amount of stock piled up due to various production buffs [temporary enhancements].

The amount was not something that could be produced in a single territory.

Amelia gathered all those supplies and headed north with the soldiers of Ruben.

The barren land of the North, where blizzards raged all year round.

The road was quite rough, but Amelia steadily headed north.

And now.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“I don’t know how to repay this kindness…”

Amelia was receiving heartfelt thanks from the people.

It was inevitable.

The supplies from Ruben that Amelia brought.

She was distributing those supplies to the people of the North.

It seemed that the incident that turned the North upside down had been resolved well in itself.

However, the damage was not well resolved.

Many were starving because they could not eat.

And there was a surge of people getting sick because they could not treat their wounds in time.

However, the barren land of the North could not accommodate all of them.

There was a severe shortage of supplies.

In such a situation, Amelia brought supplies from Ruben.

“To support us with supplies…”

“Thank you… Thank you so much, lords.”

It was not enough to describe it as a rain during a drought [a much-needed relief].

“Moreover, you are distributing them without receiving any payment…”

“I don’t know how to repay the favor of helping the North…”

They didn’t even receive payment for the supplies.

In a word, it was free.

No, it wasn’t just free.

“Hey, you! Wait a minute.”

A voice was heard for a moment.

Looking there, Cian was calling out to a woman.

The woman flinched and stopped in her tracks.

“Are you going back after receiving food rations?”

“Y-Yes…”

The woman nodded, looking around, at Cian’s question.

Soon, Cian’s gaze turned to the bread the woman was holding.

And two pieces of bread in her hand.

At that moment, the woman squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.

“I-I’m sorry… I have three young children at home, so I couldn’t help myself…!”

The woman trembled and begged for forgiveness.

That was because it was common sense that rations were usually one meal per person.

Especially in a situation where everything was so scarce, even one meal per person was impossible.

Nevertheless, the woman secretly took two pieces of bread.

She had no choice if she wanted to feed her starving children.

Children who knew nothing.

She was the only one who could take responsibility for them.

Her husband… had left in this incident.

So she had to endure.

If she could get one more piece of bread by getting hit a few times.

If she could give food to her starving children.

“Just once… If you forgive me just once…”

The woman trembled and begged for mercy.

But.

“Huh? What are you sorry about?”

The words that came were quite different from what she expected.

“W-What did you just… say…?”

The woman began to feel dumbfounded for a moment.

Then, the noble in front of her, Cian, tilted his head and said.

“I was going to ask why you’re only taking that much, why are you sorry? You even have three children? But why are you only taking that much?”

“Yes…? Yes?”

“Why are you only taking that much when you have children?”

Then Cian strode off somewhere.

Soon, he came back with a bag full of bread.

“Take it.”

He readily handed it to the woman.

“T-This is…”

The woman was flustered.

Cian shrugged his shoulders once.

“What good is it to only take that much when you have young children? Go and feed them well.”

Then Cian nonchalantly turned away.

And the woman stared at Cian’s back.

“Ah… Ahh…”

The woman unknowingly welled up with tears.

She couldn’t think of anything to say.

Something unknown surged up hotly in her heart.

Was it all the pent-up resentment she had received?

Or was it the despair about how she would live with her young children who only looked at her?

Or was it the resentment towards her husband who had left her alone?

Unknown emotions surged up, and the woman collapsed on the spot.

“Thank… Thank you… Thank you so much… sob.”

The woman couldn’t get up from her seat for a while.

And it wasn’t just that woman.

“Okay, there are many of you, so take a lot.”

“Don’t starve yourselves by pretending to give way.”

The knights of Ruben were distributing the supplies of Ruben.

“W-We are…”

“Thank you… Thank you so much…”

The people of the North each welled up with tears and expressed their gratitude.

That’s why Amelia couldn’t understand at all.

“Amelia. The supplies that are being spent now. Are you recording them accurately in the ledger? We have to claim all of this from the Imperial Family, so you have to record everything without missing anything.”

Amelia didn’t know how to accept this.

And she couldn’t understand how to understand it at all.

“……”

Her words were blocked.

No, to be honest.

Isn’t this just extorting the Imperial Family!

What kind of gangster-like behavior is this!

No, this wasn’t even a gangster.

What kind of gangster in the world would extort the Imperial Family!

“Oh, but don’t write it falsely.”

In the meantime, he was still taking care of his conscience.

No, no.

Can that be said to be taking care of his conscience?

Besides.

“Ledger? What’s that? Um… human words are too difficult.”

Who on earth is this elf next to me?

“……”

Amelia couldn’t understand how the situation was going at all.

Honestly, she didn’t even want to understand.

“Okay, it’s not something that comes every day!”

“It is not!”

“Ruben’s specialty products special sale! All the necessary items are free!”

“Free!”

Wouldn’t we be beheaded for treason if this goes on?

That is, for national subversion for emptying the imperial finances.

I really feel like I have nothing to say even if that happens.

“Amelia, what are you doing? 3 sacks of soap and 5 sacks of wheat are going out there.”

At that moment, Cian’s words were heard.

…… Oh well, I don’t know.

“3 sacks of soap, 5 sacks of wheat, and…”

Whatever will be, will be.

#

Darkan, the capital of the Charlotte Empire.

The heart of the Empire located in Darkan, the Imperial Palace.

And the most heart of the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor’s audience room.

Two blonde men were sitting there.

And the one sitting on the throne among the two blonde men.

“Are you saying that you want me to set aside 20 million gold as compensation?”

The number one person in the Empire. Emperor, Baluaga.

And the one who receives Baluaga’s words.

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

None other than the Crown Prince, Conrad.

Baluaga was momentarily speechless at the sight of Conrad bowing his head.

He answered without any hesitation.

“…… Are you in your right mind?”

Honestly, that’s all I could think of.

That’s because 20 million gold is not a dog’s name [insignificant amount].

It was a truly enormous and astronomical amount.

It was by no means a reward given to one person.

“I am sorry… but yes.”

Yet Conrad showed no hesitation.

Did Conrad not know the value of 20 million gold?

That couldn’t be.

If that were the case, Conrad would not have been appointed as Crown Prince.

That was not just ignorance, but a level of insanity.

Yet he was making such a bold proposal.

“What is the reason?”

There must be a reason for that.

“Your Majesty promised to give Cian gold in exchange for meeting Elena. And Cian had a conversation with Elena.”

Baluaga slowly nodded.

He could not escape the Emperor’s eyes and ears in the Imperial Palace.

Therefore, Cian and Elena had a conversation.

Baluaga was naturally aware of that fact.

But.

“I did not promise that the amount would be 20 million gold.”

It wasn’t that it was 20 million gold.

“Elena came to me immediately after meeting Cian.”

Conrad continued.

Baluaga nodded once again.

He also knew this.

However, he did not know what the two had talked about.

Conrad carefully raised his head and opened his mouth.

“Elena asked me for a favor.”

“A favor?”

Baluaga’s head tilted to the left for a moment.

That was because Elena was not someone who would ask for a favor.

Rather, she would receive favors.

She was a child who had never asked anyone for anything until now.

“She asked me to persuade Your Majesty.”

“Persuade me? Explain it so I can understand.”

Baluaga’s eyebrows twitched.

Only then did Conrad explain the detailed circumstances.

The story was neither too long nor too short.

“……”

Baluaga was lost for words.

So, to summarize Conrad’s story just now.

“Elena likes that guy?”

“Yes.”

“But that guy is putting up an iron wall against Elena?”

“Yes.”

“So she offered 20 million gold to get into that guy’s eyes.”

“…… To be exact, it’s to create a relationship.”

“Oh, my.”

Baluaga was stunned.

Well, I knew that Conrad cherished Cian.

And after meeting him in person.

I could guess the reason to some extent.

The young master of the Marquis family.

A useless bum.

I had heard rumors surrounding Cian.

Cian, whom I met and talked to in person, was different.

At least he was a different man from the rumors above.

So it was true that I was a little interested.

That’s why I told Elena to meet him once.

But that was it.

It wasn’t worth holding on to someone who didn’t like it.

Above all, Elena was a princess.

What was lacking in a member of the Imperial Family that she had to cling to?

It’s not this side that has to cling, it’s that side.

“You are Elena’s brother, what’s lacking in you that you…”

“That is…”

Conrad hesitated to speak at Baluaga’s scolding.

“I dare to say, I also thought it would be good if Cian became a member of the Imperial Family.”

And Baluaga was stunned once again.

Doesn’t that mean that he likes him so much that he wants to be more than just friends and become family?

At this point, Conrad liked Cian more than Elena did.

“What aspects of that guy do you like?”

“There are many things… I would like to say his attitude towards the world. And his generosity in embracing people.”

Then Baluaga’s eyebrows twitched.

Soon, an unknown force erupted from Baluaga’s whole body.

“Conrad, you are the Crown Prince of the Empire and a being who will become a monarch. And what you just said embodies the virtues of a monarch.”

The majesty of a monarch and emperor.

“Yet, you learned such things from a mere nobleman?”

Baluaga’s gaze towards Conrad sharpened.

“A monarch is one who reigns over all. Therefore, a monarch must stand on his own, without relying on anyone. A weak and indecisive monarch will soon be despised.”

“A desirable monarch creates a situation where his subjects *must* be loyal. Therefore, to unite the people and maintain their loyalty, one must not hesitate to be ruthless.”

“Deep compassion is poison to a monarch, and one must not be merely good…” Baluaga clicked his tongue in disapproval.

A capable subject is essential for a monarch.

But if it is excessive, a subject on whom the monarch relies becomes poison.

Such a subject is worse than none.

“Let’s pretend this never happened.”

Baluaga made a decision immediately.

And just then.

“That’s…”

Conrad’s voice broke the silence.

Slowly, Conrad raised his gaze.

“It is the path of the monarch that Your Majesty walks,” Conrad continued.

Conrad looked directly into Baluaga’s eyes.

Baluaga responded, “It is the path I walk, and soon, the path *you* must walk.”

That is the fate and duty of a monarch, a crown prince.

You have to do it even if you don’t like it.

You have to nod even if it’s not right.

That is the monarch that the people want and desire.

That is how the world sees Conrad.

But why?

“I once asked Cian…”

In an instant, Conrad introduced a seemingly irrelevant story.

“As Your Majesty knows, there are bad rumors about Cian.”

A good-for-nothing from the Marquis family.

A useless loafer.

“And the reality is not like that. Yet, Cian doesn’t care at all about these evaluations, about people’s gazes. I was always curious about that – whether he felt wronged. So I asked him this:”

*Why don’t you try to correct those rumors? Aren’t you upset? Aren’t you being insulted by something that isn’t true?*

‘Well, it’s not like it’s *not* true…’ Cian had replied.

‘The way the world sees me doesn’t necessarily have to be my reality.’

“I am trying to learn and follow the teachings that Your Majesty has given me, deeply engraved in my heart. I understand that it is my duty and the monarch that the people want.”

But.

“Even within that, I will walk the path of the monarch that only *I* can walk.”

With those words, Conrad bowed his head.

Baluaga watched him, speechless.

“…”

The figure of Conrad he sees now…

Doesn’t he look quite… like an emperor?

The Conrad that Baluaga had seen so far was the epitome of a true monarch.

He knew how to truly understand the hearts of the people.

He knew how to look at the lowest places from the highest.

Conrad had the qualities of a monarch that Baluaga did not possess.

But that’s why Baluaga was worried.

A monarch must not be merely good.

A monarch who is merely good is worse than an evil monarch.

Conrad understood the hearts of the people too deeply.

Therefore, he had a weak side as a monarch.

Right now, he was being praised as the epitome of a wise ruler.

But someday, when he sits in this position, that disposition would become poison and bind Conrad.

So, I urged him.

I told him the virtues of walking the path of a righteous monarch.

But looking at Conrad’s figure now…

Why is my thinking changing a little?

Was that really the ‘right’ path of the monarch?

Maybe it wasn’t the right path of the monarch, but the ‘easy’ path.

Even if you walk with the king, do not lose the hearts of the people.

The monarch’s greatest quality and most difficult virtue.

Conrad was now trying to walk his own path that Baluaga could not walk.

It wouldn’t be a very good action as a wise monarch.

No, maybe it could be seen as an unjust action as a monarch.

But the creator does not follow.

He only makes his own way.

I thought it was still far from becoming a monarch.

I thought my era was not yet over.

‘*Time does flow…*’

Baluaga finally let out a small chuckle.

And at the same time, Baluaga revised his evaluation of Cian.

Also, he was finally able to fully understand why Conrad cherished Cian so much.

At first, I thought he was nothing, a useless loafer.

A subject who makes a true monarch.

You have to keep such a subject by your side, even if you have to grab his ankle.

“However, 20 million gold is too much.”

But 20 million gold is a bit… I have to think about it.

At Baluaga’s words, Conrad raised his head again.

“However, Your Majesty, he is the man Elena has cherished for the first time. Please reconsider.”

“Hmm…”

And this time, Baluaga couldn’t refuse right away.

To be honest, his heart was a little inclined…

Above all, Elena’s request made Baluaga hesitate.

As a father, Baluaga hadn’t really done anything for Elena.

*I guess it’s enough to have been born as a princess,* he thought ruefully.

Elena is rather caught up in an excessive sense of duty because of that.

Before being an emperor, as a father…

It was true that Baluaga’s heart ached.

In the meantime, it’s a man Elena is fond of.

At the same time, it was the first thing Elena had asked for.

“Above all, Elena is only a side branch.”

“Um…”

And this was also true.

Of course, it didn’t mean that he would use Elena for a political marriage.

Unlike Elena’s intentions, Baluaga had no intention of marrying Elena off for political reasons in the first place.

So, the ‘side branch’ that Conrad mentioned meant that it was a side branch in giving compensation to Cian.

So, even if it wasn’t Elena, Baluaga was going to give compensation to Cian.

That’s because it was to praise Cian for his contribution in the North.

Nevertheless, 20 million gold was a bit excessive…

But it wasn’t *so* excessive.

Cian’s work was worth that much.

It was just that Elena was slipped in during the process.

However, Elena came out more actively than expected.

‘*Cian… Cian…*’

What is it about that guy that Elena is doing this much?

Why do I suddenly feel resentful towards Cian?

Baluaga felt complicated and subtle feelings and fell into deep thought.

How much time had passed?

“… Okay.”

In the end, Baluaga nodded.

20 million gold was a big expense.

But it wasn’t to the point where he couldn’t spend it from the imperial family’s wealth.

Above all, you have to show off when you have to.

Baluaga didn’t hesitate any longer.

“That’s right…” Baluaga changed the subject instead.

“What is the current situation in the North?”

None other than the situation in the North.

The incident was resolved well, but the damage was not resolved well.

The damage was directly linked to the suffering of the people.

I heard that the imperial family’s finances as well as the supply of goods were terribly insufficient.

And as expected…

Conrad visibly twitched.

He was quite embarrassed, and it seemed that the situation was serious.

“Ah, I was going to tell Your Majesty about that matter…”

Conrad stuttered, uncharacteristically.

Conrad, who was confident when he extorted 20 million gold just a moment ago…

How serious is the situation that Conrad is acting like that?

“What is it?”

At Baluaga’s question, Conrad swallowed his saliva and said, “The current situation in the North has stabilized a lot. The people who received the supplies are no longer starving, and the injured are all recovering well. In fact, it is reasonable to consider that the post-war processing is over.”

“What?”

Baluaga shouted without realizing it.

I expected a miserable situation in the North.

All post-war processing is over?

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, it is.”

Conrad nodded without hesitation.

There was no way Conrad would lie.

“How? I heard that there was a shortage of supplies.”

“That is… Someone released supplies without hesitation for the people of the North.”

Release supplies for the people of the North?

“Who? Who showed such generosity?”

“It’s Cian.”

And again, Cian’s name is heard.

“Heo…!”

Baluaga finally exclaimed.

Not only did he solve the situation in the North alone, but he also released supplies without hesitation for the suffering people?

Was there such a nobleman in the Empire?

In an instant, Baluaga became ashamed of himself.

Baluaga, who was worried about giving 20 million gold until just now…

If so… I was worried for nothing.

If I had brought up this story from the beginning, I would have given it right away.

Why didn’t Conrad bring up this story first?

Baluaga was very suspicious.

I was able to hear the reason soon.

“I am sorry to say… The truth is, Cian didn’t just release the supplies.”

“Didn’t just release it?”

“That’s actually…”

Conrad hesitated a lot and started talking.

And if you summarize the story in one sentence…

“Did you charge the imperial family for the price of the supplies?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“And even put a premium on the price?”

“I added the word ‘wartime situation’…”

“…”

Baluaga was momentarily speechless.

During the last audience…

I thought it was bold to confidently say gold as compensation…

Isn’t this more than bold? I doubt if he’s sane.

But what…

It could be.

In the first place, the imperial family was about to support the North.

There was a shortage of supplies itself, and I was suffering.

In that situation, he released what he had.

In a situation where the entire empire is suffering from a famine.

Thanks to that, the situation in the North stabilized in an instant.

I heard that he put a premium on the price…

How much is it?

I could show that much generosity.

Anyway, he quickly relieved the suffering of the people.

“So, how much is that all?”

“T-that is…”

Conrad didn’t open his mouth easily.

But it’s something you can’t avoid forever.

Conrad glanced away and said, and Baluaga was able to understand at once.

“Currently, about 12 million gold…”

Why Cian is called the Marquis family’s good-for-nothing.

Warak! Baluaga’s expression distorted.

Bang!

“This good-for-nothing bastard!”

Baluaga jumped up from his seat.

#

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

With a polite greeting, Yale left the seat.

Yale, the commander of the 2nd Knights of the Royal Knights and the direct escort knight of Crown Prince Conrad.

As an absolute powerhouse reaching the intermediate level of Master [a high rank in martial arts or swordsmanship].

The reason why he is in this northern part, not the imperial palace, was simple.

Right, the two tickets in Cian’s hand.

It was to deliver this to Cian.

I wondered if the Royal Knights needed to step in to deliver just a ticket.

Even a commander-level figure of intermediate Master level.

But this wasn’t such a simple ticket.

One ticket guaranteed in the name of the Emperor.

One ticket guaranteed in the name of the Imperial Family.

And the amount written on each ticket:

20 million and 12 million each.

A total of 32 million.

“Aaaaaa…!!! Aaaaaaaa!!!”

Cian couldn’t control the trembling that was rising throughout his body.

And.

Ting!

《B-b-b-bug, I think I’ve been bugged!!!!!!!!!!》

The Mobile Lord also couldn’t control the rising seizure.