Kaien could barely hold back the smile that nearly escaped his tightly closed lips.
It would be fine if she stayed calm, but no, even though her beauty was obvious to anyone… he couldn't get used to it when she made such an expression, making her face wrinkle like that from time to time.
Swish, Swish.
When their eyes met, April blushed, and she waved her hand at him as if telling him not to pay attention.
“Um, Your Highness, Duke Blair?”
Tonals, who had been ignored due to Kaiyan's preoccupation with April, cleared his throat.
Finally, Kayan's gaze turned to him.
Cayan noticed the envoy from Salt, who had gathered around them, and surveyed them with a smug look.
"Let's keep it short. I just arrived, anyway."
"Sure. If we're bothering you during your busy time, we apologize. It's just urgent."
Even after being alerted to his presence without any prior notice being sent, the Count, with a bright smile on his face, suddenly changed his tone and lowered his voice.
“The reason we came is because of the food shortage in Salt City.”
Perhaps sensing that Kayan did not like to prevaricate, the Count went straight to the point.
However, Kaiyan's expression remained unchanged.
“What does that have to do with me?”
The envoys shuddered and exchanged nervous glances at the rather sharp response.
However, Count Tonals, despite the awkwardness of the situation, maintained his smile and approached Kayan.
“Honestly, Your Highness. In fact, we came to the Magic Tower urgently to request measures and assistance regarding this matter, but… we were refused.”
The Count's tone revealed the problem that Salt was currently facing.
A slight smile appeared on Kayan's lips.
“So, you've reached a point where you need help, right?”
It was exactly as he intended.
Salt, a small kingdom with unfavorable agricultural conditions, is surrounded by seas on both sides.
They relied on importing most of their food, but with the Klitan food export ban and recent trade fraud in the wheat trade, they have no other options.
It was as if Count Tonals's firm voice came in response to his guess.
“The subjects of our country have received an order from the King to find a way to rescue the starving citizens, and we solemnly request Your Majesty’s assistance.”
As soon as those words left his mouth, the envoys lowered their heads in unison.
It was a humiliating act, but it was proof of how desperate they were.
Kaiyan looked at them with a slight smile on his face, and spoke gently, as if he was touched.
“Did you say count the notes?”
“Yes. I am currently working under Princess Lemia in Salt, helping to solve the food crisis as her deputy...”
“I refuse.”
"…Excuse me?"
The positive atmosphere was so palpable that it was not surprising to receive such a bewildered answer.
But Kayan's facial expression did not change.
I said I refuse.
"Huh? W-why…?"
"Let me ask you instead. What does this have to do with me?"
It was a good question.
It would have been understandable if Kaiyan had dismissed them angrily, but still, he was here, giving them a chance to show up. That was a huge favor in itself.
The excuse of urgency was plausible, but as a Duke of the Empire, with power comparable to that of a nation, how could they barge in without any prior notice and demand food immediately?
“Ah, but…Princess Limia…”
Mentioning Limia's name again made it seem like they believed some rumors about Raiden's good faith, but unfortunately, they came to the wrong person.
Although Kaien and Raiden shared lineage, they were never more than business partners. Mentioning Limia's name would not have any effect on him.
“Ha.”
Kaiyan let out a short sigh that made Count Tonals realize his mistake. He quickly changed his style and lowered his head.
“People are starving.”
“They may soon start starving to death.”
“If Your Highness refuses, perhaps the Crown Prince...”
Amid the panic that gripped the envoys, the conversation took a dangerous turn.
Kaiyan, who was about to laugh at their attitude, gave a sarcastic smile.
"Help yourself."
His calm voice had a tinge of sarcasm.
As Kaiyan openly mocked them, Count Tonals' face turned bright red as he leaned closer.
“You misspoke. It was meant to show the urgency of the situation… Your Highness, Duke Blair, we sincerely implore you.”
jingle.
Finally, the Count knelt.
“It is a pity. We are also suffering from a wheat shortage because we are looking for the wheat that was ‘stolen’ because of your mistake in Salt.”
Kaiyan had been trampling on the envoys, but now he was about to issue an order to separate them.
There was no point in listening any further – it would only worsen the situation and create more resentment.
After all, on Crown Prince Raiden's will, Soult was destined for destruction.
With the Emperor in a coma for an extended period, Raiden was desperate to make a name for himself and claim the throne.
Furthermore, he appears to have chosen to destroy Salt and capture Limia as a backup plan after the kidnapping.
So, whatever was going to happen would happen. Whether it happens sooner or later, it doesn't matter.
but…
……
Kaiyan, who was walking towards another area, suddenly stopped, unable to take another step.
Looking down, a small hand, as if holding a hook, was holding his pants tightly.
April salt.
The princess, with the pitiful look of a wet dog, was clinging to his trousers as if her life depended on them.
Could you help me?
Her lips were moving as if she was saying that.
Somehow, he felt like he heard April's trembling voice in his head, and Kaiyan subconsciously shook his head.
'No.'
His decision was firm. He couldn't allow such behavior, because they would become more persistent if he went easy on them.
But stubborn April did not give up.
Kuah.
Where did all this strength in her little arms come from? Kayan could see the veins in her hand as she held his pants.
It was a very difficult situation.
‘This…’
...Most of all, it was causing physical problems.
Why do you ask? Because his pants looked like they were going to fall off at any moment.
Even though his belt was tightened tightly, if April continued to pull with all her might, it would definitely end in an embarrassing situation.
If he shook his leg here, Salt's envoys would realize that there was someone hiding under the desk, and Kayan certainly didn't want this kind of ridiculous situation.
'Please...'
April's face was full of despair. She pulled his pants again.
'Enough!'
Kayan frowned and motioned for her to stop, but April did not stop her bold actions. She grabbed the pant legs and began pulling each one in turn, as if she were ironing out the wrinkles.
At this rate, his pants would either fall down or get torn.
This is crazy...
The princess might not have thought about this, but Kayan, as the person in question, could only think of the worst-case scenarios.
After a violent internal struggle, he let out a sigh, quietly and unnoticed.
“Okay, Salt’s envoy.”
Finally, he spoke.
“If the people on the border are starving and resort to stealing, that will be a problem for us as well. I will send knights from my kingdom to collect food.”
Once the conditional permission was granted, the envoys looked puzzled, and their faces were filled with confusion.
Except for numerical tones.
“You mean personally? But...”
“You better accept that before I change my mind.”
"Yes! Of course! Thank you, Your Highness!"
Although they would no longer have the opportunity to take some supplies for themselves, at least an immediate crisis had been averted.
Fearing that Kayan would change his mind, the envoys hastily withdrew.
“Okay, we will go now. Thank you, Your Highness!”
explosion!
As soon as the door closed, Kayan's angry gaze turned towards the desk.