I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 85
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
#85
“If the Kingdom of Natsha helps us eliminate the pirates, we will establish a trading post in Kan and set up a concession area for the Kingdom of Natsha to use.”
At my words, the diplomats from the Kingdom of Natsha all looked surprised and widened their eyes.
“And as compensation for the damage the Kingdom of Natsha suffered due to the Empire’s mistake, we will not only reduce grain export taxes for 10 years but also increase the quota limits.”
Their mouths hung wide open at my continued words and wouldn’t close easily.
On the other hand, the Empire’s nobles looked puzzled as they stared at me.
They couldn’t understand at all why I suddenly brought up such matters, or why the Kingdom of Natsha was reacting that way.
Of course they couldn’t understand.
They hadn’t even read the materials I gave them, and this discussion was something I had talked about separately with Kalian yesterday through messenger birds.
“…You knew.”
Diane asked with a trembling voice, covering her mouth with her hand.
“You knew from the beginning what situation our kingdom is in…what the real reason we want Kan is.”
“I knew.”
The Kingdom of Natsha was importing half of its food and producing the other half domestically.
However, domestic production was continuously decreasing every year. The factors were land unsuitable for farming and unpredictable weather.
At this rate, there was a very high possibility that domestic production would reach zero in the not-so-distant future.
Therefore, the Kingdom of Natsha researched various countermeasures, but there was no other good method besides increasing grain imports.
However, the amount of grain that could be imported from the Cardin Empire, their main import source, was limited, and the more they imported, the higher the taxes became.
They couldn’t solve the food problem in the long term.
Troubled by this, the Kingdom of Natsha tried to use Kan as a trading post to import grain not only from the Empire but also from other countries.
“What will you do, Baron Azef?”
I smiled as I looked at Baron Azef.
“As His Majesty the Emperor’s representative, I ask you. Will you accept His Majesty the Emperor’s proposal?”
* * *
Although it took some time to consult with others, Baron Azef eventually accepted the Empire’s proposal.
It was much more beneficial than taking the lordship of Kan or receiving damage compensation, so there was no reason to refuse.
It was equally beneficial for the Empire as well.
Not only could they maintain their territorial waters, but they could also eliminate the pirates that had been a headache.
Was that all? They also continued to secure the trade route with the Kingdom of Natsha, their main export destination.
Although lowering taxes seemed like a loss for now, it was a great benefit in the long term.
It also helped with managing their external image.
After briefly discussing more, the meeting ended.
There were many details left to adjust, such as grain export quotas and tax rates, but we decided to organize those and meet again in two days.
‘I shouldn’t attend that meeting.’
From then on, it would be the diplomats’ domain. Although I would check the reports when they reported to Kalian later, my role ended here for now.
“Here are the materials summarizing the Kingdom of Natsha’s situation.”
So as soon as the diplomats from the Kingdom of Natsha left, I handed the materials I had to Viscount Valdir.
There were materials I had given him before, as well as new ones I had added while discussing with Kalian yesterday.
Viscount Valdir glared at me, then took the materials and began quickly skimming through them.
As each page turned, Viscount Valdir’s face grew redder and redder.
Why is he acting like that? Perhaps there are parts he doesn’t understand.
“If there are any parts you don’t understand or find insufficient, please let me know. I’ll explain what I know.”
Viscount Valdir snorted and glared at me.
“Not sharing such materials in advance, are you disrespecting me now?”
“I never did such a thing.”
Bang-!
“Never! You just did until now!”
He shouted while slamming the round table hard with a very angry face.
“Did you want to show off so badly at the conference? Or did you want to flaunt how amazing Princess’s abilities are?”
His voice echoed loudly throughout the meeting room.
I couldn’t tell if he was really angry or trying to intimidate me, but I wasn’t scared at all.
Rather, seeing him struggle like this was amusing and made me want to laugh.
I suppressed my laughter and looked at Viscount Valdir calmly.
“I’m grateful that you think my abilities are amazing, but I never tried to show off or flaunt anything.”
“What? You never did?”
Viscount Valdir twisted his lips and waved the materials I had given him.
“Then why didn’t you bring these materials to me earlier? Why wasn’t it shared with me, the representative of the diplomatic mission!”
“I did bring them to you.”
“Don’t lie! I never received anything!”
I thought he was lying, but seeing his very angry face, it seems he really never received them.
“Please ask your assistants about that, not me. I definitely gave them to your assistant.”
At my words, Viscount Valdir turned to look at the assistant who had accompanied him with a whooshing sound.
“Is what Princess Tebesa says true?”
“That is…”
The assistant couldn’t answer immediately and hesitated.
He couldn’t answer because lying would make him worry about my reaction, but telling the truth would incur Viscount Valdir’s wrath.
There was one fact he overlooked.
“Besta!”
From the moment he hesitated, it was already the same as answering yes.
“Why didn’t you bring such important materials to me?!”
Under the fierce anger, Prince Besta shrank his neck like a turtle.
“Th-that is, the chief assistant said it was useless information and that it wouldn’t be necessary…”
“…”
The reason Viscount Valdir couldn’t say anything was because the chief assistant was his son.
No matter how angry he was, he didn’t want to badmouth his son.
It was truly touching parental love.
“Then I’ll consider all misunderstandings cleared and take my leave now.”
I could hear Viscount Valdir shouting something, but I ignored it and left the meeting room.
I immediately left the main building and headed toward the annex, but someone was standing in the path.
“Count Tebesa.”
It was Diane. She approached me with a bright smile.
“You’re not even from our kingdom, yet you know our kingdom’s affairs so well. I was really surprised. You’re amazing, Count Tebesa.”
“That’s what I want to say to you. I almost fell for Prince Andrian’s brilliant rhetoric.”
“Oh my, it’s fortunate you didn’t fall for it. If you had, we would have missed an even better opportunity.”
“Thank you for considering it a good opportunity.”
The days I spent agonizing over finding a way for the Cardin Empire and Kingdom of Natsha to coexist had paid off like this.
“Will you also participate in the next meeting?”
“No. My role ends here.”
I could do it if I wanted to, but being too forward wouldn’t look good. I needed to know how to step back appropriately.
“That’s right, you’re not a diplomat.”
Diane sighed deeply as if disappointed.
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh, nothing’s wrong.”
Diane smiled awkwardly and scratched her cheek.
“I just asked because I was disappointed that I couldn’t talk with you more.”
“Do we have to talk only in the meeting room?”
Since I also wanted to talk with her more, I smiled and said.
“I was just thinking of having tea time… How about it, Sir Adrian? Would you join me?”
At my suggestion, Diane smiled brightly and nodded.
“Of course, Count Tebesa.”
* * *
The news that Leilah had brilliantly succeeded in the negotiations with the Kingdom of Natsha reached Kalian’s ears less than an hour after the meeting ended.
It wasn’t reported by Viscount Valdir or anyone from the diplomatic envoy.
Kalian had directly contacted Hilltain, who had followed Leilah, to ask about it.
“So, it was successful.”
Kalian smiled with satisfaction after hearing the entire story from Hilltain.
Ber, who had inadvertently received the report as well, expressed quiet admiration.
“I suspected that the Kingdom of Natsha was demanding Kan to develop trade routes, but I had no idea there were such problems.”
Kalian answered as he placed the disconnected messenger bird on his desk.
“I didn’t know either until Leilah told me.”
“Where do you think Count Tebesa found out about such things?”
“Well. There wasn’t much time, so I couldn’t ask her that far.”
“I’ll have to ask when she returns.”
Academic fervor blazed in Ber’s eyes as he clenched his fists tightly.
Kalian chuckled and said.
“Don’t bother people too much, keep it moderate.”
“You don’t need to worry. The only person I bother is His Majesty.”
Ber spoke shamelessly as he placed documents on Kalian’s desk.
Kalian poked at the documents with his index finger as if annoyed.
“It seems like I’m working hard, but the documents never seem to decrease.”
“I agree.”
Just as he was about to tell him to hurry up and work, a chirping sound was heard.
It wasn’t a real bird chirping, but a magical messenger bird.
He wondered if another message had come from Hilltain, but the bird he had placed on the desk remained quiet.
That meant…
Kalian took out another magical messenger bird from his desk drawer.
When he wound the spring, its beak moved and spoke.
[This is Dwin.]
Dwin was Hilltain’s subordinate and a member of the Crowd Knights.
[Duke Williot has gone to Count Tebesa’s house.]
Kalian’s eyebrow tilted slightly.
“Duke Williot went to Leilah’s house? What for?”
[I don’t know the business, but he appears to be very angry.]
Dwin paused for a moment before speaking.
[Right now he’s pounding on the door and causing all sorts of trouble, saying he’ll break in if she doesn’t come out immediately.]
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
