The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 110

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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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110.

After being captured and brought to the underground prison, his face, which had been trying to maintain composure somehow, crumpled as if he had lost his reason.

“-I am!”

However, his expression and mouth were faithfully operating separately.

“I don’t know what relation I have with the Kingdom of Basmach, since I’ve only lived in the Empire from birth until now.”

Oh my, what are you planning to do if all your teeth fall out like that?

You won’t even be able to get implants here.

He chattered on as if trying to cover his agitation somehow, even while grinding his teeth loud enough to make cracking sounds.

Even more so.

“To hear that trade with the Kingdom of Basmach has resumed, as a true citizen of the Empire, I’m delighshted.”

Even while completely mangling the pronunciation of “delighted” because he was clenching his molars so tightly.

Well, it wasn’t my concern anyway.

When he faces the King, that bluff will inevitably crumble.

“I’m truly glad you think that way. Gillard, then I’ll see you at the dinner with His Majesty the King of Basmach in three days.”

With those words, I leisurely left the underground prison together with Duke Lopez.

“What does that mean! Why on earth would you bring a criminal like me to such a meaningful occasion where trade is being, resumed!”

Meaningless echoes came from behind us, but neither Duke Lopez nor I gave him any answer.

*

The dinner with the King of Basmach was held three days later as I had announced to him.

“I am truly delighted to be able to meet with the King of Basmach like this.”

At the dinner, the Emperor offered words of welcome to the King of Basmach.

“I feel the same way. It seems our Basmach and the Empire can finally look toward the future beyond the past.”

The King then also greeted Duke Lopez.

“It’s been such a long time, Duke Lopez.”

“Indeed, I never thought that hurriedly returning home due to the Fourth Consort’s incident would be the last time.”

Duke Lopez spoke respectfully, then bowed his head once each to the Emperor and the King.

“I apologize for my inadequate abilities in various ways.”

“Not at all, Duke, and the previous Duke Lopez too warned me several times. That no matter how well-intentioned one’s treatment of others, those already trapped in prejudice cannot be helped.”

The King of Basmach had his attendant pour wine for Duke Lopez with an embarrassed expression.

“I should have heeded those words. If I had, the relationship between the Empire and Basmach wouldn’t have been severed for so long.”

When the King of Basmach spoke, Duke Jamoti, who had attended the dinner following the Emperor’s orders, flinched slightly.

‘It’s remarkable that he understood the implied meaning.’

Since it was pointing out his incompetence.

During the Basmach Fourth Consort’s riding accident, both the King and the people were all greatly enraged.

Nevertheless, because the Lopez Ducal House had worked hard on the aftermath, if just a little more attention had been paid, the relationship would have recovered over time.

But Duke Jamoti…

“It’s embarrassing to say, but honestly, we lacked justification to contact the Empire first. The Empire also seemed to have little interest in our country.”

As the King of Basmach said, he had made almost no effort to win back their hearts.

Though there were traces of formally requesting audiences only to be rejected, most were merely ceremonial.

‘During that time, did he report that the Kingdom kept its ears closed?’

It was so bad that even the Emperor, who had favored the Fourth Consort, had reprimanded Duke Jamoti several times over this matter.

After being scolded like that, he would show an ant’s tear worth of sincerity, but would quickly return to his original ways.

Naturally, the Emperor tried to appoint someone else to handle diplomacy, but each time Scaletti Zamotti would scheme to keep the situation dragging on.

‘Moreover, when such incidents occurred, he would bring achievements from other countries to block His Majesty’s personnel transfer orders.’

It was a blind spot created because His Majesty, despite being despicable, was someone who greatly valued justification.

While Basmach being blocked and southern trade becoming difficult was a blow to us, Basmach was in the same situation, so they would have been even more pleased.

The many requests that Duke Lopez had sent in various directions as soon as he received diplomatic authority.

If Duke Lopez hadn’t been putting in such effort, no matter how much we had secured Gillard Basmach, it would have been difficult to draw out the King of Basmach.

‘In the first place, even if I had tried to make the request, Duke Jamoti would have interfered.’

Since it’s a country that would be of no help whatsoever to the Zamoti Duchy.

Trade with them only helped the merchant class or the Imperial family’s financial power.

Well, now Duke Jamoti’s fate is to not even be able to eat half his meal properly while watching the other party’s mood.

The King of Basmach was cutting his steak and putting it in his mouth when he looked pitifully at Duke Jamoti, who was choking and coughing, then turned his gaze to the Emperor.

“For that reason, I am very grateful that the Empire extended its hand first.”

“I know we also bear responsibility for this matter, King of Basmach. And as you must have heard from Duke Lopez, this affair is embarrassing to call the achievement of either myself or Duke Lopez.”

His Majesty the Emperor is showing humility that doesn’t suit him at all.

While I was inwardly criticizing, the King of Basmach’s gaze soon turned to me.

It seemed he had gathered information in various ways over the past three days.

“Duke Lopez told me in advance. How surprised I was to hear that you’re a young lady who debuted only a few years ago.”

“I think the same way, I’m often surprised myself. This time too, it was she who caught the suspicious aspects in the applicant examination.”

“I offer my thanks, Clupea Margrave.”

At the King’s straightforward words of praise, I shook my head and showed proper courtesy.

For some reason, the Emperor made an incredulous expression at my appearance.

I decided to pretend I hadn’t seen that face and spoke to the King of Basmach.

“However, as conveyed through Duke Lopez, final confirmation is still needed.”

“Yes, I heard that child still refuses to acknowledge it even when presented with solid evidence.”

“That’s correct.”

At my words, the King of Basmach let out a big sigh.

“Even after more than ten years, he seems unchanged at all. I get the feeling we won’t even need to conduct the test.”

The King of Basmach shook his head as if his head was throbbing.

But it wasn’t a refusal.

“That’s all the more reason why showing my inadequate younger brother reality is my proper duty as his older brother.”

At the King’s words, when I gestured, Gillard Basmach entered with his hands bound by thin chains.

He had been the person who shared old times with Duke Lopez at the dinner and spoke with a gentle impression about building a future together with the Emperor…

As soon as Gillard appeared, the King of Basmach’s face turned cold.

“You insist on bringing someone like me, who committed only a minor crime, to such a precious occasion, don’t you? Advisor Salice.”

Gillard, who had habitually tried to speak rudely to me, unusually read the atmosphere and at least maintained proper speech endings.

The problem was that his tone toward me was too impudent.

Crash-!

Upon hearing those words, the King of Basmach stood up abruptly as if astounded, causing his chair to fall backward.

“Still, still! Haven’t you grown up at all!”

He was clenching his fists as if he might throw a punch at any moment.

“…I don’t understand why you speak as if you know me, Your Highness.”

Of course, Gillard Basmach still couldn’t let go of his attachment to his concept.

“I am merely Baron John Seling, who was imprisoned in the underground prison for causing a disturbance while blaming others for my lack of skill.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know that no such baronial house exists!”

At his absurd story, the King of Basmach became even more furious.

As if his rational appearance from just moments before was a lie.

So I said.

“Your Majesty the King, you don’t need to exhaust yourself too much. With this, we don’t need to prove it with words.”

I took out the blood relation identification relic I had requested from Wesley Morel.

“This is a relic made directly by Saint Wesley Morel. If you put one strand of each other’s hair and it clumps together, you’re blood relatives; if it separates, you’re complete strangers.”

The face of the man using the alias John Seling hardened completely.

It seemed he realized he could no longer escape with words.

“Since the Saint’s certification is here, if you wish to dispute the results, you may complain directly to the Temple.”

At my words, the King of Basmach nodded refreshingly, while Gillard Basmach had the expression of someone pondering what to babble to get out of this situation.

So I kindly added additional guidance.

“If you are not blood relatives with His Majesty the King of Basmach, we plan to apologize respectfully and release you as of today. Of course, if you are not-.”

When I showed him a bright smile, Gillard Basmach showed a stiff expression like an animal trained over several days.

It seemed he was finally learning.

That when I smile like this, it’s when he’s about to get thoroughly beaten.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

At my words that sounded like a sentence, Gillard Basmach struggled desperately to avoid having his hair taken.

But that didn’t last long either.

Because Casian Artez, who had been quietly standing beside us.

“I could cut it myself, though of course that would be an option if you want to lose all your hair.”

Casually uttered words that chilled him to the bone.

*

The result came out all too predictably.

I don’t know how Wesley made it, but.

-Brother! It’s! Me! Fighting is bad, since it’s clear who’s wrong, hurry up and apologize.

The blood kinship detector accurately identified the relationship between the two even before their hair could properly intertwine.

It was also the first time the blood kinship detector had ever made sounds in that manner.

Unable to make an enemy of the Temple, cornered Gillard Basmach suddenly turned his head and shouted out of nowhere.

“First Consort Your Highness! You must protect me! I only did everything as you instructed!”

To none other than the First Consort.

“Wasn’t it all First Consort Your Highness who proposed the deal to me over ten years ago!”

His voice sounded aggrieved as if filled with nothing but the absolute truth.

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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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