My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 79

Cyan headed to the barracks with Conrad.

It was the same barracks Cyan had woken up in before.

There was no particular reason for them to be there.

Although the crisis in the West was resolved, the damage hadn’t been fully repaired yet.

And this Gern territory was the first area to be ravaged by monsters.

It was in even worse shape than Ruben before its development…

But it was still mostly ruins.

The only decent place was here.

So, Cyan entered the barracks with Conrad.

“Lord.”

Amelia rose from her seat as Cyan entered the barracks.

Cyan had left immediately after hearing the situation from Amelia.

She seemed worried and hadn’t left her post.

As expected, Amelia approached Cyan with a concerned expression.

“Are you okay? It’s very noisy outside…?”

Then, Amelia tilted her head.

She had noticed someone entering behind Cyan.

Amelia’s gaze naturally shifted behind Cyan.

And she saw his face.

“Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince?!”

Amelia’s eyes widened as if they would burst.

Her expression suggested she was about to faint.

Why was the Crown Prince here!

And why was he entering here alone with Cyan!

Why was the second-in-command of the Empire here?

Amelia couldn’t understand what was going on.

And finally.

“Ah? Ah, ah…?”

Amelia seemed to be breaking down again.

Cyan shook his head as he looked at Amelia.

Well, judging by her reaction.

It seemed Amelia didn’t know Conrad was coming either.

It seemed the trip to the West was Conrad’s independent decision.

“Hmm? Who is this woman?”

Conrad, who had noticed Amelia, asked Cyan.

Cyan slowly answered.

“She is Amelia, a resident of my territory. She currently leads the Ruben Brahe Merchant Guild.”

“Ruben Brahe? Wait, if it’s Brahe…?”

Conrad tilted his head at the name Brahe.

He seemed to recognize Amelia’s family, the Brahes.

Brahe was a large merchant group that had briefly dreamed of becoming the number one in the West in the past.

Even Cyan knew the name of Brahe from his time in his family.

There was no way the Crown Prince Conrad wouldn’t know.

“Amelia was the young lady of the Brahe family.”

“Hmm… I knew something bad happened a few years ago. Was that lady in your territory?”

Conrad’s gaze turned to Amelia.

But…

“Ah? Ah, ah, ah??”

Amelia was still panicking.

Cyan sighed softly and said to Conrad.

“Amelia seems to be… very flustered.”

Cyan subtly approached Amelia and poked her in the side.

“Ah!”

Amelia instantly snapped out of it.

And then, startled, she paid her respects.

“I-I see Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Was the sight quite amusing?

“Hahahaha! Is it because she’s around you? The residents of your territory are quite unique. Hahahaha!”

Conrad burst into laughter.

“I-I have committed an impoliteness. I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay. I didn’t mean it that way, so you don’t have to be so scared. Hahaha.”

Conrad waved his hand dismissively at Amelia’s words.

In a way, she had shown a disgraceful sight.

But Conrad just smiled as if he found the situation pleasant.

“Amelia.”

“Yes? Ah, yes, yes!”

At Cyan’s prompting, Amelia hurriedly got up.

Then she quickly ran out of the barracks.

Looking at Amelia’s retreating figure, Conrad asked Cyan.

“Am I that difficult to approach?”

“Aren’t you His Highness the Crown Prince? Anyone would be like that in front of Your Highness, even if it’s not Amelia.”

“Hmm…”

Conrad nodded once.

He was aware of his position.

“But you don’t find me difficult at all, do you? Come to think of it, it seems like you were like that when we first met.”

“You’re mistaken. I still find it difficult enough.”

“Hahahaha!”

Conrad burst into laughter.

“That’s why I like you.”

Conrad moved with a good-natured smile.

And he took a seat in a suitable place and said to Cyan.

“Sit down. Ah, right. I’m the guest. Is it okay to sit here?”

Cyan wondered what he meant.

Conrad just smiled again.

Cyan sat down at a suitable distance from Conrad.

“Hmm… I don’t know where to start.”

Conrad was silent for a moment, lost in thought.

And as he had seemed to know since earlier.

Conrad seemed to know everything about the situation in the West.

What exactly was the situation in the West?

And why he hadn’t been able to properly grasp the situation in the West.

Also, what Cyan had done in the West.

And what would have happened to the West if Cyan hadn’t been there.

After a little time passed, Conrad slowly began to speak.

“First of all, I have to thank you. Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you… the West would have been ruined. I sincerely thank you on behalf of the Imperial Family.”

Conrad sincerely thanked Cyan.

Cyan stared silently at Conrad.

In fact, Conrad didn’t have to go this far.

Aside from any other explanations.

It was an act Cyan volunteered for to build overwhelming justification.

So, he didn’t have to go this far.

Yet, the fact that he was stepping up this much.

Along with what kind of person Conrad was.

It was a scene where one could glimpse Conrad’s genuine concern for the people.

“As you know, it was also a necessary task for me. Frankly, things have turned out better than expected, so I’m in a good situation too, so you don’t have to go that far,” Cyan said to Conrad with humility.

However, Conrad shook his head and said,

“Of course, it was a necessary task for you too. But you didn’t just think of it that way. I heard that you distributed goods for free to the starving people.”

“Oh…”

Cyan trailed off for a moment.

And Conrad continued.

“To care for the people even while enduring considerable losses…”

It seemed…

That he was quite mistaken about this part.

Of course, he couldn’t turn a blind eye to the starving people.

But he was planning to extort it from the nobles of the West.

“How could this be an action solely arising from duty?”

However, Conrad seemed to really think that Cyan had endured losses.

This… he couldn’t just let this pass.

Even if he was the Crown Prince, he had to say what needed to be said.

Cyan slowly opened his mouth.

“That’s─.”

“I will pay enough for that. Thank you again.”

And at Conrad’s words, Cyan shut his mouth tightly.

No, to be exact…

“I only did what I had to do.”

He wiped his mouth clean!

Cyan slightly lowered his head without any change in expression.

“You really are…”

At Cyan’s appearance, Conrad’s eyes subtly changed.

It was as if he was saying, ‘Where else would you find someone like Cyan?’

“Well…”

Cyan slowly avoided Conrad’s gaze.

Even for Cyan, this was a bit… burdensome!

No, it pricked his conscience!

But he had no intention of telling the truth.

Well, what…

Good things are good.

And really. No joke.

He also had the heart to not turn away from the starving people.

If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have released the goods like that.

Of course, if someone asked if he would have released them for free even in a situation where he couldn’t extort from anyone…

Well.

Cyan didn’t tend to think about things that hadn’t happened.

Anyway.

“Since we’re on the topic, let’s proceed right away. Do you have any records of the ledger?”

“I wrote it down to keep track of the inventory, but…”

Inventory my ass.

It was a ledger that Amelia had been badgered into recording in detail, trying to squeeze every last bit out.

Cyan took out a few pieces of parchment from his chest.

It was none other than the parchment he had received from Amelia while listening to her explanation of the situation before the incident.

Conrad received the parchment from Cyan.

“You’ve recorded it quite accurately.”

And there were more items than he thought.

He wondered if this was the amount and type that could be produced in one territory.

It was almost on par with what could come out of an entire county.

There were even things he was seeing for the first time.

Soap.

He didn’t know what it was used for.

This one didn’t have any stock left at all.

So, if you roughly add up all the items written in the ledger…

“7 million gold… what the.”

Conrad shouted without realizing it.

7 million gold!

What kind of ogre farting sound was this!!

Conrad looked at Cyan with an absurd expression.

‘Ah, right!’

And Cyan realized.

No matter how much the quantity and items were.

The value of 7 million gold could never come out.

At that level, it couldn’t be called commerce.

The reason why 7 million gold came out was simple.

‘I didn’t fix the inflated price.’

Cyan had inflated the price of the items several times!

Since he was planning to extort it from the nobles of the West anyway, he just wrote it down.

As expected.

Conrad cast his gaze back to the parchment and asked.

“The prices of the items written in this ledger are a bit strange… Especially the grain prices don’t make sense.”

Conrad wore a suspicious look.

Even if he was the Crown Prince, he still knew the basic market prices.

At Conrad’s appearance, Cyan pondered for a moment.

But now.

He couldn’t change his words.

There was no particular reason.

‘7 million gold!’

Cyan’s eyes were already on 7 million gold!

Cyan slowly opened his mouth.

“It’s a specialty of Ruben.”

“Specialty?”

Cyan nodded and said.

“Crops don’t grow in the Forest of Darkness. As you know, it’s rampant with magical energy. The crops sold by our Ruben Brahe Merchant Guild are crops harvested from that Forest of Darkness.”

“So, there’s a price premium attached?”

“That’s right.”

Cyan nodded without changing his expression.

Conrad stared at Cyan quietly.

Cyan slightly lowered his gaze and received Conrad’s gaze.

A strange war of nerves went back and forth.

Conrad knew that this price didn’t make sense.

But Conrad eventually burst into a hollow laugh.

“You really are something…”

Conrad shook his head, as if at a loss.

“When I entrusted you with this task, I told you I would compensate you handsomely, even if it meant squeezing the nobles of the West. And then I promised you ample compensation again…”

Conrad’s gaze remained fixed on Cyan.

“Anyway, I really have to watch what I say around you.”

Conrad slowly nodded.

“I understand. I will compensate you with 7 million gold.”

“Ah… !”

Cyan exclaimed involuntarily.

It felt as if someone had cast a lightning spell.

Cyan’s whole body trembled.

But he desperately suppressed the reaction.

He couldn’t lose his composure in front of the Crown Prince, no matter what!

It was 7 million gold.

A whopping 7 million gold!

The profit from a single trading venture was a staggering 7 million gold!

And this wasn’t the end of it.

Melia was stirring things up in the West and making money.

He hadn’t heard the exact amount yet.

But judging from Melia’s confident expression, it wouldn’t be a small sum.

If he combined that money with what Cyan currently had in his possession…!

Maybe… just maybe…

It could exceed 10 million gold!

‘T-Ten million gold!!!’

“Ah ah… !”

Cyan couldn’t help but exclaim again.

His entire body, finally succumbing to the shock, trembled uncontrollably!

Ten million gold.

A truly absurd and insane amount!

Cyan wanted to take out his smartphone from his pocket right now.

The Mobile Lord [referring to a game or app], strengthened by the last temporary maintenance.

But could he really maintain his sanity even in the face of 10 million gold?

‘Ah ah…!!’

Right now, Cyan himself couldn’t maintain his sanity!

For a while, Cyan couldn’t control his trembling body.

How much time had passed?

Cyan barely managed to regain his senses.

And.

“……”

He saw Conrad’s dumbfounded expression.

“Are you… alright?”

Conrad was puzzled.

He was genuinely puzzled.

Didn’t Cyan seem intimidated by him just a moment ago?

But what was this now…

Cyan frowned slightly and replied.

“Ah, the wounds I sustained in the battle against the demon haven’t fully healed yet…”

“Ah.”

Only then did Conrad nod, as if he understood.

“I’m sorry. I heard you haven’t been awake for very long.”

“It’s alright.”

Cyan nodded slightly.

Thankfully.

It seemed he’d managed to explain it away.

Cyan breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Soon, Conrad’s expression darkened.

That was because of Cyan’s words just now.

The demon that had disappeared a thousand years ago had been resurrected.

This was a very serious problem.

“Now that we’re on the subject… was it really a demon?”

“It was definitely a demon.”

Cyan nodded firmly.

Despite Cyan’s confident words, Conrad still looked skeptical.

But he couldn’t deny it because there was testimony.

None other than Alex’s report.

The contents written inside were shocking.

The situation in the West was already dire.

And on top of that, with the resurrection of the demon, Cyan had annihilated it.

Of course, Conrad didn’t know the demon’s true strength.

Not only Conrad but everyone on the continent would be in the dark about that.

Demons were believed to have been annihilated by the Arnaize [likely a legendary group or hero] a thousand years ago.

However, he knew indirectly how terrible demons were.

From the stories in mythology.

He had encountered the Demon race, called the remnants of the demon.

Just from that, he could tell how terrible a true demon would be.

And Cyan annihilated such a demon?

The task that even Alex and the Royal Knights couldn’t handle?

Honestly, Conrad couldn’t believe it.

He didn’t think Alex, the leader of the Royal Knights, would submit a false report.

Nevertheless, he came running to confirm the facts himself.

“Your Highness, there is one thing I haven’t told you yet.”

Cyan told Conrad another story.

The story of the battle with Nurvia that took place in Ruben the other day.

Conrad listened attentively to Cyan’s words.

After hearing everything.

“How could such a thing… !”

Conrad exclaimed in great surprise.

He was silent for a while, seemingly quite shocked.

Cyan waited quietly for Conrad.

How much time had passed?

“Maybe… if it wasn’t for this incident, I wouldn’t have believed your words. No, even now, it’s hard to believe.”

He understood the situation well enough.

Because it was such an unbelievable story.

“So, that’s what the Saintess was talking about…”

“Yes? What did Aria say to Your Highness?”

“It’s nothing much. She said she was looking for the legacy of Emperor Charlotte to find the demon. At first, I didn’t understand what she meant…”

Aria was looking for the demon?

“It seems that this matter cannot be dealt with here right away. I think I should return to the Imperial Palace and discuss it with His Majesty.”

Cyan nodded.

As Conrad said, this wasn’t an issue that could be resolved here immediately.

Nor was it a problem to be taken lightly.

The main issue was whether the Emperor would believe this story.

Of course, he would trust Conrad’s words, but…

It would be different when facing the situation directly.

Even now, Conrad didn’t seem to believe it 100%.

But whatever.

That was Conrad’s concern.

There was nothing Cyan could do about it.

Anyway, that pretty much concluded their discussion.

Just then.

“So, about that. Do you really have no interest?”

Conrad suddenly asked out of the blue.

“In what… are you referring to?”

When Cyan asked, Conrad’s expression shifted, and he said,

“My sister, I mean.”

The only person Conrad could call his sister was Elena von Charlotte.

The Princess.

“If you want, I’m thinking of subtly suggesting this to His Majesty while discussing this matter… What do you think? Do you really have no interest?”

“Suggesting? What exactly… are you talking about?”

“Marriage, I mean.”

Conrad wore a subtle expression.

Conrad had brought up a similar topic in the Imperial Palace last time.

But now, the atmosphere was quite different.

Back then, it was mainly interest and curiosity.

Now, it could be called ‘desire’.

“Your joke goes too far.”

“To be honest, there was some joking involved last time. But not anymore. I’m more serious than ever now. Come to think of it, your age is similar to my sister’s, isn’t it?”

Conrad seemed ready to push forward as soon as Cyan said yes.

That’s why Cyan was so dumbfounded.

‘No, what the…’

Why suddenly marriage?

Above all, if it was a princess, the criteria for marriage partners would be extraordinarily strict.

At least a prince from another country.

Or Panat or Kaire, who are called the stars of the Empire, might be considered.

Cyan was not at all the kind of person who would be considered for a marriage with a princess.

So, what aspect of Cyan did Conrad see that made him act like this?

Cyan couldn’t understand at all.

Then suddenly.

Cyan felt a strange sense of déjà vu in this situation.

He was reminded of a thousand years ago.

Arnaise Charlotte and his sister, Leah.

And Kaire.

Cyan quietly looked at Conrad.

Conrad was a descendant of that Charlotte.

Elena is Conrad’s younger sister.

And Cyan is Kaire’s successor.

…Thinking about it, isn’t the situation quite similar?

‘Could it be that Charlotte, not Leah, was the first to bring it up?’

Of course, Cyan had no way of knowing the circumstances of a thousand years ago.

But something…

It seemed quite possible.

Because Leah said that Kaire kept longing for something.

So, Charlotte might have been the first to bring it up in order to win over Kaire.

Of course, Kaire was engaged to Leah.

So, he wouldn’t have been completely uninterested.

Although he had to leave suddenly due to some truth, he still wouldn’t have been without feelings.

But Cyan had no intention at all.

“I appreciate the offer, but I have no thoughts of marriage yet, Your Highness.”

“Hmm… My sister’s appearance is certainly not lacking.”

Well, I guess so.

Of course, Cyan had never seen Elena.

But just looking at Conrad, he could fully imagine what Elena would be like.

But it wasn’t an appearance issue.

Cyan really had no thoughts of marriage.

Whether he knew Cyan’s thoughts or not.

“Could it be that you have feelings for Brahe’s daughter from earlier? Hmm… Even so, it’s a bit much for our sister to enter as a concubine…”

Conrad was muttering strange delusions.

#

The nobles of the West were all arrested!

Conrad’s actions shocked the entire West.

The Crown Prince himself investigated the case.

And soon, the related facts were revealed one by one.

The lords of the West hid the true situation in the West for fear that their misdeeds would be revealed.

They downplayed the situation in their reports to the Imperial Palace.

They even caught the messengers going to the Imperial Family and silenced them.

Conrad was quite angry at this.

Therefore, he sentenced Count Elitz and other lords to execution for crimes equivalent to treason.

In addition, Conrad imposed enormous surcharges on each noble who had neglected their duties.

To repay the debt, they had to give up everything they had.

So, the lords of the West collapsed in an instant.

And the other nobles were virtually ruined.

That’s how quickly the overlords of the West disappeared.

And a new name emerged in the meantime.

The hero of the West, Cyan.

And his territory, Ruben.

While the names of Cyan and Ruben were sweeping across the West.

“Aaaah…!!!”

Cyan was trembling with uncontrollable joy.

Because the voucher he was holding now…

He had a voucher worth a whopping 7 million gold in his hand!

He had a 7 million gold voucher with the Imperial Family’s seal stamped on it!

“Aaaah…!!!”

Cyan couldn’t stay sane for a while.

After a long time had passed.

“This time, I will definitely get the maintenance compensation!”

Cyan took out his smartphone with gleaming eyes.