Queen of Revenge - Chapter 61

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 61
Part 7
One month into the mining operation.
Several chunks of rock excavated from the mining site had accumulated in Prince Dietrich’s Commander’s Office.
The Expert Appraiser examined the rock chunks from every angle.
“It does not appear to be gold. The color is quite dark, and the hardness….”
“So there’s nothing to report today either.”
“My apologies.”
The workers in charge of the mining operation bowed in unison, their waists folding at sharp angles. Prince Dietrich’s expression as he received the report was decidedly displeased.
“Is construction work normally supposed to take this long? I heard that Elovis discovered gold nuggets in less than two weeks—what’s going on here?”
“I cannot speak to how Elovis’s mining process unfolded, but mining operations typically take anywhere from three months at the fastest to several years at the longest, Your Highness.”
“That’s precisely why I hired you lot—to accelerate the process.”
The miners trembled as they bowed their heads lower.
Dietrich bit his lip and issued an irritated command.
“Enough. Get out of my sight.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The miners filed out like a receding tide.
Alone in the empty Commander’s Office, Dietrich slammed his fist against the desk with a sharp crack.
More than a month had already passed since the mining began. It was more than enough time to exhaust Dietrich’s patience.
The mining operation alone was bleeding away both resources and manpower. Occasionally, valuable gems emerged from the excavations, so he couldn’t simply abandon the effort.
Dietrich stared intently at the map.
It was premature to jump to conclusions, but what if there was something wrong with the map itself?
What if they had been digging in all the wrong places this entire time?
Why had he placed such blind faith in that map from the beginning?
Did he have any proof that Elovis possessed knowledge of all the gold veins throughout the Unregistered Territory?
“Damn it…. I can’t let Emeric have all the advantages.”
Emeric was undoubtedly receiving detailed reports on the mining progress through his informants planted in Winterbark.
If the mining operation concluded without significant results, he would abandon this place without spending a single coin, leaving without hesitation.
That would leave only himself here, a fool chasing illusions toward bankruptcy. Dietrich’s pride could not tolerate such an outcome.
He ground his teeth and issued instructions to the Vice Commander.
“Announce that we’ve discovered gold from this mining operation. And make it sound like exceptionally pure gold.”
“Pardon? You’re ordering me to make a false announcement?”
“False? What nonsense!”
Dietrich struck the desk savagely as he spoke with venom.
“We’re simply announcing results we’ll inevitably achieve a bit earlier than expected. Since rubies and sapphires have already emerged, gold will surely follow soon enough. Spread the word loudly throughout all of Winterbark so everyone hears about it.”
“Yes, yes, Your Highness. I shall carry out your orders at once.”
“And I’ll need to send a message to the Elovis Command Tower.”
The clue to the gold mine rests in the hands of the Princess of Elovis.
Kairon visits the Elovis Command Tower once a month and stays for three days. However, Kairon is currently away on a military campaign. He won’t be going to Elovis this month.
Then what if the Princess came here instead?
‘The reason she said she’d marry me was that she fell in love at first sight, probably? Whatever the real reason, she won’t be able to stay away once she hears her husband has been gravely wounded.’
There was no better excuse to lure a woman rather than a princess.
Soon, news that Kairon Winterbark had suffered a serious injury reached the Elovis Command Tower.
* * *
The Northern Fortress, visited again after a month and a half, had transformed considerably from the last time.
Iolet surveyed the fortress meticulously. The military camp was divided in half.
The existing Fortress Army camp, which continuously departed for the Unregistered Territory, remained unchanged—bustling with the wounded and medical staff.
Meanwhile, the Reinforcement Army that the Second Prince had brought down occupied the cleanest castle. Their uniforms were immaculate without a trace of blood, and their faces gleamed with freshness.
“You’ve arrived, Your Highness.”
Franz’s face was gaunt. He seemed to lack even the strength to cling to Iolet and pour out his grievances.
“You’ve endured much hardship, Commander. From now on, I’ll take care of things.”
“Your Highness? What do you mean…?”
Iolet patted his shoulder instead of answering.
In the month and a half since, the reception room had been renovated so extensively that it rivaled the study of any noble household in splendor.
As Iolet entered, Dietrich, who had been sitting on the sofa, rose to his feet.
Upon seeing Iolet, he let out a light exclamation of admiration.
“So you are Princess Iolet of Elovis. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
Iolet gathered the hem of her dress in greeting and took her seat.
“I heard my husband was injured. Where is he?”
“He should be on his way back. He’ll arrive before sunset. My brother has caused you considerable worry.”
This meeting today was entirely private in nature.
The message Prince Dietrich had sent to the Elovis Command Tower bore no official seal of Kalande, and its contents were far from an official document.
By responding to that letter, both parties had implicitly agreed not to raise diplomatic objections to this visit. Yet of course, both understood that this secret meeting entailed far more than that.
Dietrich observed the princess carefully.
As he had heard, she was extraordinarily beautiful. Her hair color, her skin, even her simple gestures possessed a transparency that seemed to blend with yet never quite merged with her surroundings.
One would be hard-pressed to find such captivating beauty anywhere in Kalande.
But one must not let one’s guard down. How many times had he been blindsided by schemers with innocent, ignorant faces?
“On my way here, I heard rumors that the mining operation was successful.”
The princess, who had lifted her teacup to wet her lips, broached the subject first.
“You must be proud to have someone like Kairon as your brother.”
“How is that Kairon’s achievement? It’s your achievement, Your Highness. Tales of your exploits—how you remained at the Elovis Command Tower and extracted the location of the gold vein from the Demons—have spread even here.”
As Dietrich deliberately flattered her, the princess countered.
“Is my achievement different from Commander Kairon’s? How exactly do they differ?”
“Your Highness? Well, Kairon contributed nothing whatsoever to finding the gold vein.”
“Without Commander Kairon, I wouldn’t have known that the terrain of the Unregistered Territory changes constantly. Why would you say he contributed nothing?”
A hint of mockery tinged the princess’s voice. Her gaze upon Dietrich was not kind—it was the look one gives to something pitiful.
But that was not the important part.
“The terrain changes…?”
“He taught me how to establish precise positional coordinates in the Unregistered Territory. I’m told it’s basic knowledge that any Fortress Army soldier should possess, so I’m surprised Your Highness is unaware of it.”
The moment Prince Dietrich heard the Princess’s answer, joy swept through his entire being.
The map was flawless after all. The problem lay in the surveying!
The map Dietrich possessed had the ore vein lines marked according to the mountain range as a reference point. Naturally, when determining locations, he had used the mountain range as his benchmark.
He had adjusted the drilling sites as the mountain range’s position shifted, but now that he thought about it, the terrain when this map was created might have been entirely different from the current landscape.
That meant a completely different calculation method was necessary.
And Kairon had known this all along?
How true—the lamp at one’s feet casts no light!
The Princess stared coldly at Dietrich, who was barely suppressing a laugh.
“Of course, it’s natural you wouldn’t know. After touring the Fortress, I noticed the Fortress Army—who are practically experts on the Unregistered Territory—are completely overshadowed by the Capital Guard. They should be the true specialists regarding the Unregistered Territory.”
“Overshadowed by the Capital Guard? That’s a misunderstanding, Your Highness.”
“Is it? Yet the disparity in lodging, dining facilities, training grounds, and even military supplies issued was quite stark. Have my eyes deceived me?”
Only then did Dietrich realize the Princess’s demeanor was far from friendly. Her gaze was glacial.
Her private visit didn’t negate the fact that she was the Princess of Elovis. And she was Kairon’s wife. It was hardly surprising she would take offense at how his subordinates were being treated.
“Actually, on my way here, I had words with a Capital Guard Knight who was harassing a Fortress Army soldier without cause. If it was a misunderstanding, I’ll go back and apologize again.”
“No… that’s not necessary, Your Highness. It’s my fault as Commander.”
But seeing the Princess’s expression, Dietrich sensed he had blundered again.
The Princess raised her eyebrows as if she had been waiting for this very moment and asked.
“Did you just say Kairon is not the Commander? Why is that?”
“Vice… Vice Commander.”
Dietrich fumbled for an explanation.
“You may not know, but I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom Army. The Late King granted me command of the Fortress by royal decree. Therefore, I currently hold the position of Commander.”
“Ah, I see.”
The Princess let out a scoff.
“I thought you had stripped Kairon of his authority over the Northern Fortress by using his status against him.”
“How could that be? Ha ha. I’m saddened that I appeared so petty to you.”
“My apologies. Of course, you wouldn’t treat him so unfairly when he’s a member of the Elovis Royal Family.”
“…Yes, of course.”
Veins rose prominently across the back of Dietrich’s clenched fists.
‘A member of the Elovis Royal Family? That bastard Kairon? What nonsense is this…’
Yet infuriatingly, it was the truth. Every word from this sickly young woman’s lips struck at the heart of the matter.

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