Queen of Revenge - Chapter 39

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

Chapter 39
Part 4
“A gold mine discovered in the Unregistered Territory, you say?”
The King carefully reviewed the mining rights contract and construction plans the messenger had brought. Across from the sofa in his office sat the Crown Princess.
More than two months had passed since Princess Iolet departed for the Northern Border.
The Northern Border Command Tower sent reports to the Royal Palace once a week.
Though it took roughly ten days for messengers to arrive given the distance between the Capital and the Border, the time lag posed no significant obstacle to the King’s understanding of events unfolding there.
The King skimmed through the documents and asked.
“Have you reviewed it as well, Catherine? What’s your assessment?”
“I found nothing particularly concerning. …It was quite impressive.”
Catherine offered her evaluation after a brief pause.
The documents that had arrived from the Border contained elements that differed from standard rights transfer contracts. Yet considering the unique circumstances of the Northern Border, the terms were reasonable.
The report detailed not only the revenue from the mining rights auction, but also the amount deducted for the Border Guard’s military supplies and the sum ultimately returned to the Royal Family.
The King checked the name of the responsible party listed at the end of the documents.
“I hadn’t realized Commander Lefebvre possessed such skill in financial management.”
In truth, it was obvious who had actually executed this plan.
Since my second daughter departed for the Border, a fresh wind had begun to blow through the Northern Border Territory, which had seen virtually no change in nearly decades.
Until now, the Northern Border had been my unspoken headache.
A blind spot that troubled me, yet where I could not exercise direct authority.
Unexpectedly, Iolet had filled that void admirably.
“Did you teach Iolet financial studies, Crown Princess? She employs methods similar to yours.”
The King laughed heartily, his expression far from displeased.
Catherine laughed along to humor the Late King.
“I often shared various worldly lessons with Iolet. It’s fortunate she seems to be adapting well. The Northern Region appears to suit Iolet’s temperament.”
“She understood that place was her path to survival. Well, she’s Charlotte’s daughter after all—she couldn’t be entirely foolish.”
“Still, allowing that child to handle military funds directly is dangerous, Mother. She has no practical experience whatsoever. Send an inspector to oversee her closely. We’re talking about a gold mine, after all.”
“Indeed. Power shapes people, as they say.”
The King nodded in agreement.
“Though it will likely take another twenty years before actual gold extraction begins.”
Typically, developing a single mine required decades at minimum.
Even excavating a single usable shaft took years.
Since gold doesn’t simply gush forth from the ground, it was more realistic to expect economic circulation effects from mine development in the Border region rather than anticipate meaningful quantities of gold extraction from the Unregistered Territory.
That alone constituted an already sufficient achievement.
Catherine understood this as well.
The gold mine Iolet had discovered would require at least twenty years to reach its full potential, and by then, I would already be long established as the King of Elovis.
Yet there was no reason to rest easy about it….
‘Something feels off. Of all places, the Unregistered Territory. Of all things, gold.’
Iolet was naive. She lacked worldly knowledge. Yet at times, she was frighteningly clever.
“I shall personally select the inspector and send them. I’ll also choose gifts to present to Iolet. What do you think, Mother?”
“Do so. Since Perein is reportedly missing, it would be good to send a new Guard Knight as well. The frontier likely lacks decent provisions, so select a skilled chef to send there too.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I shall do so.”
The King’s attitude toward his second daughter had softened remarkably.
Catherine found that equally displeasing. Everything came far too easily to Iolet.
Why, exactly?
‘I should have removed her when she was at my side. I should have acted faster!’
Lucian Perein.
The talented man Catherine had marked as the next captain of the Black Eagle had ultimately failed to carry out her orders.
Of course, she couldn’t be certain—whether he had failed or simply refused.
Every single Black Eagle knight she had sent with Lucian failed to return.
Elite knights had been decimated, yet the princess who should have died emerged unscathed.
It was harder not to suspect Lucian Perein. Naturally, suspicion had extended to his entire house.
Of late, Marquis Perein had been visiting the Crown Princess’s Palace nearly every day.
“I have sent members of our house to the Border. Regardless of Lucian’s condition, I shall bring him back to the Capital. Rest assured, Your Majesty.”
The stubborn old man bowed deeply in apology.
Yet once suspicion had taken root, it cast a shadow of anxiety across Catherine’s mind.
‘What if the day comes when I can no longer trust Perein?’
A replacement for Perein was necessary.
She had already intended to recommend another candidate to expand her influence within the Royal Council.
Catherine decided to accelerate her plans.
“By the way, Mother. Count Leon has presented a new fragrant tea as a specialty of his Territory. Would you care to taste it? It’s quite excellent for recovering from fatigue.”
“Count Leon’s house? Is his Territory in Tolian?”
“How did you know?”
“It’s famous for its tea. Your mother was quite fond of the tea trees from that region as well.”
“How curious—I felt a certain nostalgia when I tasted it. If the tea pleases you, perhaps you might offer the Count a word of praise later.”
Count Leon was a young nobleman Catherine had designated as a new elder of the Royal Council.
It was time to begin dropping hints to the King and allowing him to become acquainted with the Count, so that the formal recommendation process would proceed smoothly.
The King laughed softly, as if he saw through Catherine’s every intention.
“If he’s someone you’ve marked, he must have much to recommend him beyond territorial products. Very well, let me see his face sometime.”
“I’m delighted to hear it. I shall arrange an opportunity.”
A tiger remains a tiger, even in old age.
The King, now possessed of far keener insight than in his bold youth, seemed to hear every calculation turning in Catherine’s mind.
The King appeared to trust Catherine completely, yet he frequently tested her worthiness.
Though there was no other suitable heir to the throne besides Catherine, he constantly weighed her against invisible scales.
Catherine had always resented this. The King’s hesitant attitude gave credence to the claims of certain neutral nobles.
‘We have the daughter of Queen Sallat.’
Thus Catherine, despite being the Crown Princess, perpetually felt the degrading sensation of her position being threatened.
‘Once I remove the neutral factions and secure control of the Royal appointments, the Kingdom will rest in my hands. After that, not even Father will dare to weigh me so carelessly.’
Just then, someone knocked upon the Office door. A butler entered carrying a teacup and teapot.
“Bring it here, Ahil.”
The Silent Boy, standing quietly like a fixture of the Study, moved toward the door and received the tray from the butler.
Even after the butler left and closed the door, Ahil remained motionless, still holding the tray.
The moment Catherine glanced at him sideways, the Silent Boy turned around.
Ahil approached and set the tea tray down on the table.
The movements of lifting the teapot and pouring tea into the cup were impeccably graceful and refined.
Catherine caught sight of the boy again as she watched those hands work.
‘When did he grow so tall?’
She had never noticed because he always hunched his shoulders and kept his head bowed whenever someone was looking.
Though not yet of age, the boy was already more than a head taller than Catherine.
Now that she looked closely, his delicate facial features had grown distinctly more masculine. He bore a striking resemblance to the portrait of The King in his youth that hung in the office.
The King seemed to have arrived at the same observation. His gaze lingered on the boy’s profile in an unfamiliar way.
“If only he had spoken up… Tsk. I would have found him a suitable bride long ago.”
His casual interest quickly faded.
The King lifted his teacup and savored the aroma of the tea.
Catherine felt the warmth of her cup as she waited for The King to drink.
That was when Ahil’s expression crumpled. Without hesitation, he snatched The King’s teacup away.
The King, nearly scalding his hand as the tea nearly spilled, glared at him.
“What—”
Ahil rapidly signed with his free hand.
Catherine could not decipher the gestures, but The King understood them easily.
The King’s brow furrowed deeply as he looked between Ahil and Catherine. His eyes held an ominous light.
‘What? What did he just say?’
Sudden dread washed over her.
Just as Catherine opened her mouth urgently, The King nodded.
The moment permission was granted, Ahil drank the tea in one gulp.
“…!”
Catherine gasped and pushed herself up from her chair.
“What in the world are you doing?!”
The boy’s Adam’s apple bobbed visibly up and down.
He doubled over, staggering.
Clang!
The teacup slipped from the boy’s hand.
Catherine’s spine went cold.
No, this couldn’t be. This couldn’t be—!
Yet her words caught in her throat.
“…!”
Blood was trickling from the corners of Ahil’s mouth.

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