Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 269

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story 12

Leo, who had somehow ended up standing alongside Cesar, glanced at his uncle’s attire.

The black cat fur clinging all over his uniform told the story of how fierce a battle he had fought with Chaser before coming here.

Fortunately, his uniform was also pitch black, so it didn’t show much.

“I greet the sun of the Kingdom.”

“I have called my Duke here because there is something to return.”

As Cesar bowed formally, kneeling on one knee, Mikhail gestured to his aide as if he had been waiting.

Only then did Marquess Hanel realize that the King’s aide had been holding a long wooden box all along.

It looked too light to be filled with gold and silver treasures, yet too grand to contain important documents.

With everyone’s attention focused, Mikhail elegantly opened the box and grasped what was inside.

A sword in a crude scabbard emerged in the King’s hand. Though it had no ornate decorations, one could tell from the scabbard alone that it was a famous blade.

However, in the vast hall, only the Duke noticed the weight of truth contained within that sword.

The beginning of the tiresome bitter relationship between the Royal Court and the North.

Seven hundred years ago, the sword’s owner had offered this blade that had severed the First King’s neck to the royal heir and made an oath.

Never to betray the Royal Court and never to set foot on that land without permission.

A very long time had passed since then. The scent of blood and iron that had permeated the sword had long since faded, and though rust had formed on the famous blade trapped in its scabbard, the North had never once broken that day’s covenant.

Yet the Former King never relaxed his guard toward the North, as if this sword still reeked of terrible blood.

Mikhail examined the sword briefly with a face filled with regret, then handed it to Cesar.

“I express gratitude for the North’s sacrifice and dedication in protecting the Kingdom for all those long years.”

Like someone who had long been involved in politics, Marquess Hanel instinctively sensed that the King’s next words would be extraordinary.

He wished he could strangle the King’s throat to stop the words about to spill from his mouth, but it was already too late.

“Therefore, the Royal Court, in recognition of that merit, hereby breaks the covenant with the North and respects the decision of the Five Nations Council to permit the independence of Baluashten Territory.”

“Your Majesty!”

The nobles’ shock filled the hall.

Then, even without the King’s permission, Cesar straightened his back and rose from his position.

Their eye levels became equal.

After today, there would be no more occasions for them to look down upon or up at each other.

“That, that impudence…!”

“Your Majesty! Please reconsider your decision!”

“It’s not, it’s not too late yet! We must seal the Royal Palace and immediately prevent the news from spreading!”

The succession ceremony had somehow been pushed to the background. The nobles, who had been divided into two factions, raised their voices in unison for the first time.

“Haha, this is the first time I’ve seen you lords so united.”

Only Mikhail laughed off his retainers’ pleas with a relieved expression.

Unable to bear it any longer, Marquess Hanel stepped forward and knelt on both knees as if to make a desperate plea.

“I forgot to mention to you lords, but I already stamped my seal on the document permitting Baluashten Territory’s independence two days ago.”

“Your Majesty, how could you do such a momentous thing without giving us even a word of warning…!”

“No warning, you say. Didn’t I tell you in advance? That I would bring an answer regarding the North problem that would satisfy you lords.”

Patting the shoulder of Marquess Hanel, whose jaw had dropped in disbelief, Mikhail said affectionately.

“Now you don’t need to worry about the North’s rebellion. Since they’ve become another country, if they show signs of war, the Five Nations Council will step in, won’t they?”

“This, this…!”

“Now, now. Don’t be so amazed. It was a wise decision, even by my own thinking. Let’s follow today’s example and conduct rewarding state council meetings from now on.”

Leo, who had witnessed this series of events from the side, looked up at his King with eyes half-filled with admiration.

‘So that’s how you do politics.’

Thus, on the day Leo’s ‘seasoned political skills’ reached level 7.

Before the Former King faction nobles could do anything to stop it, what happened at the succession ceremony spread throughout the entire Kingdom.

* * *

One month ago.

The brief letter the Duke and Duchess received from the King read as follows:

[I have polished well the blood-stained sword received from the First Duke of Baluashten. If you want it back, come to the Royal Capital.]

Though the tone was as light as asking after a friend’s well-being, the couple immediately understood the true meaning contained in that short letter.

While it seemed like a great favor, Belinda knew that Mikhail was not such an easy person.

Her prediction was correct. Mikhail had made one proposal regarding Baluashten Territory’s independence.

“I hear there’s a business the Duchess has been investing in for the North since before her engagement. Given that Adelia, the merchant guild leader called the golden hand, is personally involved, I expect it’s quite a large venture.”

Even Belinda would probably not have been able to manage her expression in front of that statement.

That’s how secretly Belinda had been pursuing the business Ian had conceived.

However, fortunately, Cesar was not one to show agitation or emotions outwardly.

Mikhail couldn’t extract any information from Cesar, who sat with an expressionless face just dropping sugar cubes into his coffee, but he wasn’t disappointed.

He was confident.

“You must know that the Five Nations Council is making noise over the ownership rights of the unexplored region. In reality, they have no expectations for that frozen wasteland. The reason they’re still greedy is because they’re wary of my Kingdom’s territory expanding. The balance of power among the five nations might be disrupted.”

Therefore, the Five Nations Council was very much welcoming the Duke’s independence.

However, that was because they didn’t know the true value of the unexplored region.

Who could have dared to imagine? That massive amounts of magic stones were buried in that vast wasteland filled with magic energy where only occasional poisonous plants could be seen.

If Mikhail hadn’t known the information that Belinda, who had come to the Royal Capital, was secretly meeting with mages and geologists along with Ian, he too would never have dared to imagine it.

‘Considering the principle of how magic stones are produced at Herington Mine, it’s not entirely impossible.’

It was quite a plausible deduction that the magic energy that had covered the unexplored region for over 700 years had transformed underground minerals into magic stones.

Of course, finding magic stone mines precisely in that vast land would require much time, money, and manpower.

“What’s buried beneath the wasteland will remain a secret known only to me for a while. So…”

Mikhail continued while unfolding the contract he had prepared.

“If you supply half of the mined magic stones to the Kingdom at cost, I’ll keep my mouth shut to the Five Nations Council and permit the Duke’s independence.”

Cesar looked at the contract the King offered with apparent interest.

Mikhail skillfully hid his triumphant smile while putting on a troubled expression.

Unless he planned to use force for independence, the Duke would also need the King’s seal. This was a deal beneficial to both sides.

Moreover, though he said half, what Mikhail actually wanted was 30% of the magic stones.

That much would be a decent deal from Cesar’s perspective too.

“I promise substantial capital investment until the magic stones are mined.”

“Investment is unnecessary. So let’s make it 20%.”

Rejecting the investment funds was unexpected, but the response wasn’t bad.

If it had been Belinda, she would have pretended to refuse outright while bargaining.

Though the Duke was difficult to read, he was an easier negotiating partner than Belinda, as Mikhail had expected.

“Hmm, then how about 45%?”

“20%.”

“Haha, such stubbornness. Fine, then 43%.”

“20 percent.”

“Duke, I’m suddenly losing 1/4 of my territory. So….”

“20 percent.”

“If you listen to what I have to say, it’s surely a reasonable deal….”

“20 percent.”

That’s not how you negotiate….

Around that time, Mikhail noticed the atmosphere was flowing strangely.

“…Duke, by any chance, do you not know how to negotiate?”

“Yes, it’s 20 percent.”

Cesar was a formidable opponent in a different sense than Belinda.

After a week of negotiations, thinking that talking to a wall would be better than this, Mikhail gave up in resignation.

“Fine, let’s agree on 20 percent.”

“Thank you.”

Mikhail looked at Cesar with a fed-up expression while touching his twitching lips.

Throughout the entire week, Cesar maintained a machine-like expressionless face. Mikhail often suspected he might be wearing a mask like before.

‘Why did Belinda marry such a boring man.’

Curious about such trivial things, Mikhail asked.

“When do you expect we can start mining the magic stones? It seems like it would take at least 10 years.”

“It won’t take that long. I think we’ll be able to deliver good news to you next year.”

“What? That quickly?”

At the unexpected news, Mikhail’s eyes widened as he looked at Cesar.

A smile had formed on the face of the man who had looked like a sharply carved ice sculpture. As if even melting helplessly in the warm breeze would be happiness.

When Mikhail turned his head toward where his gaze was directed, he saw Belinda waiting for Cesar.

A beat later, the Duke answered.

“My wife is loved by the goddess of fortune, so if luck follows, she’ll find something like a mine in no time.”

The man who had been so thorough about etiquette forgot to bow to Mikhail and headed toward Belinda.

Watching that retreating figure that even held a hint of impatience, Mikhail changed his mind.

‘Their married life probably isn’t boring.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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