Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 82

082

Sipping tea while reading translated foreign dispatches and domestic newspapers was an indispensable part of King Arya’s morning routine.

『Lionel Kingdom Completes Development of Red Star Fever Cure, Genesia! Illuminating a Light of Hope for the World』

『Genesia, What is its True Efficacy?』

『The Pantheon Announces They Will Inspect Genesia’s Safety as Quickly as Possible』

『Arya in Diplomatic Conflict with Lionel. Will Genesia Supply Be Affected?』

King Arya’s hands began to tremble as he read the newspapers.

『Amika Arya Dies Suddenly in the Lionel Kingdom. Was it Really Her Sole Decision?』

Then, his eyes caught a headline of an article, and he crumpled the newspaper roughly, unable to contain his anger.

It was from a newspaper company funded by a leading figure in Arya’s aristocratic faction.

“How dare they! Doubt the facts that the royal family has directly proclaimed?”

It was something unimaginable just a few months ago. The enraged king began to destroy everything he could get his hands on.

Crash! Clang!

“You bastards! How dare you! How dare you! Huff… Huff…”

After rampaging for a while, he collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.

‘The situation is not good.’

The sinking of the Joe Bayley pirate ship was painful, but Amika Arya was on a different level.

She was a strategic asset of the royal family, highly likely to be an 8-star summoner, who had artificially awakened her summoner talent through a secret deal with Etrim.

It was a fact that should never be revealed to the outside world, but the tale of a ghost snatching newborns was created because of that deal.

Such Amika lost her life in vain.

Because of that, the aristocratic faction, which had been suppressed without a peep, went so far as to denounce the royal family through influential newspapers.

The return of the shipbuilders.

Geumwol Island.

Free trade.

Extraterritorial rights.

The demands of the Lionel Kingdom that the Foreign Minister had brought. None of them were acceptable.

But to refuse?

The Fifth Prince of the Lionel Kingdom declared that not a single Genesol or Genesia would come to the Arya Kingdom.

If the Pantheon intervened, such a worst-case scenario would not occur. However, it was entirely possible that the order would be pushed back to the very end.

‘The aristocratic faction will rise up.’

If that really happened, the country could be torn in two.

‘I can’t give them everything.’

What must be given must be given.

The King of Arya bit his lip tightly. A bitter taste of blood trickled down his throat.

‘Etrim, wake up as soon as possible.’

He desperately wished for the awakening of Arya’s guardian dragon, Etrim, who was sleeping in its nest. He had already prepared a great sacrifice, the Second Queen.

Until then, it seemed he would have to bide his time.

***

I had dinner with Clian.

“I heard that most of the problems within your family have been resolved?”

“Thanks to you, Your Highness.”

“I heard that Count Miloa handled the matter fairly.”

Several elders of the White family were taken to the Royal Secret Service on charges of leaking confidential information.

Since it was tacitly agreed to play fair, only those who were truly suspected were arrested.

They were the ones who supported the Second Prince and talked about replacing the head of the family, so Clian was able to restore order in his family automatically.

“Prince Evan.”

Clian, who was cutting his steak, called my name with a serious expression.

“What is it?”

“Your Highness is no longer the ghost prince of the Emerald Palace. I don’t think you need to show respect to ordinary nobles and knights, thereby making yourself look down upon.”

Clian, I didn’t realize you were such a stickler for hierarchy.

“I know that you do it out of respect for them, Your Highness.”

“Isn’t Count Clian more than just an ordinary noble?”

“From now on, treat those of my rank comfortably. The authority shown in the way you treat others is more significant than you think.”

It wasn’t a difficult request.

“Well, I will.”

“…You seem more accustomed to it than I thought.”

I just smiled.

As we continued eating in silence, Clian opened his mouth.

“I met Count Royce on the way here, and he was beaming, saying that the results of the negotiations with Arya were out.”

“Did he tell you?”

“He clammed up, saying that it would be announced tomorrow, so I should listen then.”

“Are you curious?”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight if I don’t hear it.”

“They say they acknowledge that Geumwol Island is their territory. They foamed at the mouth, saying that extraterritorial rights were absolutely out of the question.”

“Extraterritorial rights… Wasn’t that what you expected?”

That’s right. That’s what I expected.

Accepting extraterritorial rights was the same as being treated as a colony. It was a clause that no normal country could ever accept.

“What about free trade?”

“That’s conditional. For ten years, your country’s merchants operating in Nagapo Port will be tax-exempt.”

Honestly, I thought they would push a little harder, but ten years seemed like enough.

The probability of the Lia War breaking out within that time was very high. The moment the war broke out, all treaties would turn into scraps of paper.

“What will they do with the shipbuilders?”

“They said they would send them sequentially once Genesol and Genesia start being imported into their country.”

“So, they’re hostages.”

“That’s right.”

In my heart, I didn’t want to sell Genesol and Genesia to the Hamel Empire and the Arya Kingdom, which were potential enemies, but it wasn’t easy to do so.

The Pantheon was bound to put pressure on us.

If they withdrew the priests in the kingdom or messed with the patents for Genesol and Genesia, it would become a headache.

In the worst-case scenario.

The Hamel Empire from above and the Arya Kingdom from the right might attack us in a do-or-die manner.

Honestly, there’s no answer if they come out like that.

“We’ll have to sell them at the right time.”

“Just don’t be too late.”

“But it’s already difficult to produce enough for domestic use, so will we be able to meet the export volume as well? I’m worried about whether Genesen’s stock is sufficient.”

The reason why the eyes of the world are currently focused on the Lionel Kingdom is because the herb Genesen is a native plant.

It only grows naturally on the kingdom’s eastern coast.

Even if you research Genesen to create antipyretics and cures, it’s all for naught if you can’t cultivate the raw material, Genesen.

“There’s enough Genesen to make medicine for domestic use. The problem is for export… It’ll run out a month or two after exports begin.”

“You don’t seem too worried. Do you have a solution?”

“We have to grow it.”

“Yes? Genesen grows in the summer… Ah! You’re thinking of using greenhouses.”

“That’s right.”

“The greenhouse technology in the country is terrible, so you’re thinking of requesting cooperation from Aden after all?”

Elves cultivate in greenhouses made by dwarves. There is no faster way to produce Genesen than that.

“Yes, I guess most countries are trying to cultivate Genesen using greenhouses? I’ll have to contact Aden soon. Count Royce alone is a bit 불안하긴데…”

I trailed off and looked at Clian.

“I will join you.”

“I’d be happy if you would. It’s a bit odd for the Vice Minister of Finance and Economy to get involved in the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs…”

After stroking my chin for a moment, I snapped my fingers and opened my mouth.

“How about engraving one more name card on this occasion? How about the Director of Overseas Sales at Aitz Trading Company?”

“Aitz Trading Company?”

“I can’t just keep calling it a trading company under my command. I named it after the three founding contributors: Evan, Ira, and Schutz.”

“…I think I’ll just have more work to do if I take that on.”

As expected, Clian.

He’s quick-witted. I was going to use him privately too.

“I’ll consider it if you give me some shares in the trading company.”

“No way. I’ll talk to Count Royce at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so don’t worry.”

Trying to put a spoon on a table that’s already been set [attempting to gain something that is already prepared or arranged]. Would it be more profitable to give him only 0.1% and use him privately?

***

『Hamel Empire, Red Star Fever Cure Completed Independently!』

『Hamel Empire Closes Mouth When Asked If Genesia Is Necessary』

『Pantheon, Never Use the Cure Developed by the Hamel Empire. Dozens of Side Effects Have Been Revealed』

The newspapers that Alphonso handed me were full of interesting articles from the headlines.

“These guys claim everything is theirs.”

“They’re not saying that Red Star Fever is theirs.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

I sipped my mint chocolate-flavored Genesen tea and read the newspaper.

The articles related to the Hamel Empire were half-believable, so I skipped over them roughly. However, one noticeable article appeared.

『Aden, Successful Genesen Greenhouse Cultivation!』

‘That’s fast.’

It was decided that if Aden harvested Genesen and sent it to the Lionel Kingdom, Genesol and Genesia would be produced with it.

Thanks to this, the approval rating of Aden’s head of state, Thorrik, which had been slashed by the ‘Frankenstein’ incident, recovered to some extent.

I was feeling a bit of guilt personally, but I shook it off with this opportunity.

The details of the contract are confidential to the outside world. Rumor has it that Clian was called a robber without a knife [someone who takes advantage of others shrewdly].

‘Are there any other news?’

Unable to find any more interesting articles, I folded the newspaper and got up from my seat.

I went to the window and opened it, and a cozy scent brushed the tip of my nose. New sprouts were emerging on the bare branches.

The hectic winter had passed, and spring had arrived.

‘Huh?’

In the distance, I could see a person wearing a hood walking towards the main palace.

“Oh? Fran-nim [term of respect] is here? When did she come?”

Alphonso also discovered her.

If she, who should be in the Elven Forest, had a reason to return to the royal palace….

Ah! There was only one.

A little later.

Fran entered the office. She hung her coat on the hanger and said.

“Schutz has completed the cure for the elves.”

“I thought so. Have you already confirmed the efficacy?”

“The wrinkles were noticeably disappearing? It seemed like most would return to normal in about a week. How did you really know that those weeds had to be included in the cure that reverses the aging of the elves?”

Well, I heard it directly from the Elven Queen’s successor in the ‘future.’ We were quite close. But, I can’t tell her that.

I smiled enigmatically as always.

“Weren’t you not curious about that anymore?”

“Forget it. I must have seen it in a dream. But is there really no way to turn back white hair?”

“It’s not that there isn’t, but rather that I don’t know.”

“Tsk, I guess there’s no choice.”

“Why? Is there severe discrimination?”

“The immature ones were running around calling them the White Demon, so I smacked them a few times. Well, it’s not as bad as half-humans, so I don’t have to worry about it.”

“White hair might become popular later on.”

“Is that so? Well, the Queen’s successor would have white hair too.”

Fran chuckled and rummaged through her space expansion pouch, then took out two flasks filled with golden liquid.

“It’s a concentrate of the World Tree’s fruit. I used less than you said to make the cure. A quarter? I divided the rest exactly in half.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. You didn’t have to show me… Just give me anything.”

At my words, Fran seriously compared the two flasks and handed one to me.

“You said you put the same amount in, so why are you so worried about giving it to me?”

“It’s a feeling, a feeling.”

I shrugged and put the flask in the space expansion pouch in my arms and asked.

“Are you going to use it right away?”

“Are you sure? If I gain another star, I’ll be reclusive for quite a while.”

“I won’t be bothering Fran-nim for the time being. Just bring Schutz to the royal palace and use it right away.”

“Should I? What about you?”

“I’m thinking about it. Whether to use it right away or save it for the future.”

“Saving it will turn it into poop [become useless].”

Alphonso, who was listening from the side, burst into laughter.

“Well, do as you please. I’m going.”

“Ah! But just because you eat it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically go up to 8 stars. You know that, right?”

It’s less than half of the complete fruit.

It was possible that it would only end up making her feel refreshed after using it.

“I know that! You’re cursing me, cursing me.”

And a few days later.

Eight stars rose from the Emerald Palace.