NOVEL NEXT chapter 11
11 – These funds are now mine (6)
Gibraltar and Morgania join hands.
If this fact spreads to the world, the royal capital will be ruined that day.
Therefore, this alliance must be kept secret.
“I am in a position to keep Gibraltar in check externally. Of course you know that, right?”
“Yes. It would be foolish to let it be known that we are in an alliance.”
“Yes. So even if I give permission for this business, I have no choice but to play around.”
It’s a joke.
Once you consider that gratitude will come later –
“Are you planning on giving it directly as supplies rather than budget?”
“Ho.”
Queen Carmen raises the corners of her mouth playfully.
“To swallow up 50 billion won? You are already trying to embezzle money. Does 50 billion gold seem easy?”
“Sometimes they give you cash in the name of material costs.”
“The Earl of Gibraltar is buying construction materials? Oh my gosh. There are probably a lot of people trying to beat up the price of the innocent margrave.”
That is correct.
“How will your father respond to merchants who use their tongues as swords?”
“Even if I were behind, I would just say, ‘Proceed on your own,’ and it would end.”
“Yes. There are no people who would dare attack the Margrave, but those who call themselves merchants are the ones who take care of their own interests whenever they have the chance.”
After declaring business in Gibraltar, if you gather merchants and call them, they will definitely capture Gibraltar.
“So, I can’t give you all 50 billion. Everything related to construction will be supported by Morgania, so you can use the operating funds as you see fit.”
Queen Carmen took out a piece of her chocolate, broke it into very small pieces and handed it to me.
“Don’t feel resentful? This is natural.”
It was a piece smaller than her fingernail, and Queen Carmen took a big bite of one piece.
“Don’t be greedy for too much money. Maybe it’s about 500 million won, but you can’t entrust 50 billion won worth of national treasury to a child who hasn’t even been verified yet.”
“Are you unable to do that much for your secret political son?”
“Isn’t this all you’ve shown so far to appeal for recognition?”
Queen Carmen lightly brushed her porcelain lips with her finger.
“Words are flashy and clear-cut, but the reality is colder and colder than that.”
“In other words, will you wait and see what happens through this?”
“Of course. If you achieve results, of course I will match them.”
“…I’m glad.”
I swallowed the small piece Queen Carmen left behind.
“I was wondering what would happen if the queen entrusted 50 billion won to her 10-year-old son.”
“Are you confident that you can eat it all?”
“It is true, but the story will probably come out later. The Margrave has changed. He has become picky about money. The son next to him is annoying. Something like that?”
“If you’re a genius like me, it might be possible, but then I guess I’ll have to intervene more here.”
Queen Carmen fingered her chocolate with her serious face.
“You shouldn’t stand out too much from a young age. Assassins are everywhere.”
“Are you saying it as if Queen Carmen was almost murdered?”
“Yes.”
In the past, Carmen was almost assassinated because she was a genius princess.
“Do you know the outline?”
“The daughter of a foolish count dared to quarrel with her princess, and when she was insulted at a party, the count suddenly called an assassin and tried to kill her.”
“Yes. He was a crazy person. He is now extinct. But you know better than I thought.”
“Yes, of course I know. That was your first meeting with your father, right?”
“…Okay.”
Queen Carmen smiles like a girl.
“Your father saved you from almost being killed by an assassin. Even though he wasn’t even a master, it was because a knight had to protect a lady.”
It’s worth crushing on.
“Ha, really. He is….”
A young, handsome, older, cold-blooded knight risks his life against an assassin to protect himself?
‘Is that why I am?’
Suddenly someone came to mind, and I let Queen Carmen enjoy being lost in her memories for a moment.
“…Um. I’m sorry. I’ve been thinking for a long time.”
“No, it’s okay.”
Queen Carmen adjusted her posture and sat down.
Cross her legs, clasp her hands, and gently straighten her back.
“All materials will be transported to Gibraltar within a month. Hire workers until they arrive. You can do that, right?”
“The iron ore needed for construction will be extracted from the Morgania mine.”
Queen Carmen’s fingers twitched slightly.
“The royal family issued an order to extract iron ore, and the family that responded happened to be Morgania.”
“Aren’t you blindfolded?”
“They say they will use the highest quality iron in the kingdom, but who will say anything?”
Once again, I feel a sense of disconnect between the kingdom and the empire.
“Do you even take some money from the transaction?”
“No problem. Nothing is free in this world.”
When carrying out a project in the Empire, a system called ‘open bidding’ is implemented.
After at least three related companies submit their business plans, the best company is selected to proceed with the business.
Of course, public bidding can be done as much as you want to get kickbacks, but the kingdom does not even have such a process.
“Rest assured. We are repairing the shield for the empire. There will be no messing around with steel.”
“I don’t know anything else, but if we supply low-quality iron, the Margrave will be truly angry.”
“Of course. Could it be that I do something that offends him?”
I thought he might be sending cheap miscellaneous goods, but he has many advantages after becoming a political son.
“…It’s a scheming smile.”
“Did I laugh?”
“Well, your eyes are smiling. Just like your father.”
“His Majesty the King said that my eyes resemble my mother’s.”
“Ha! That was probably just a saying. Come to think of it…”
Queen Carmen hesitated slightly as she tried to say something, but she soon sighed and opened her lips.
“Our highly accomplished Highness is currently enjoying his hobby, so don’t feel uncomfortable just because you haven’t met him.”
“Hobby life….”
“…You probably don’t know, right?”
Queen Carmen’s eyes are shaking.
That’s right, the king’s hobby, which I’ve talked about as much as possible, is a matter that should not be known.
“If I really need to know, I’ll figure it out, but it’s just about enjoying luxury and pleasure.”
“…….”
“Isn’t that what all the nobles in the capital do? Invite several beautiful women, tsk.”
One problem arose.
‘I don’t think I will have the right time to deliver the letter.’
There is a letter my mother wrote to the king, but there is no time to deliver it.
So you are telling Queen Carmen that?
Shouldn’t we check the contents right away and report it to her father right away?
“Why are you doing this?”
“Hmm. No. I thought your highness might be avoiding me.”
“…That might happen, too. By the way, do you really want to meet His Highness just once?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have something to deliver?”
“I have a message from my father.”
“…….”
Queen Carmen closes her eyes.
Since she made up a ‘false’, there is a possibility that the queen would notice her abnormality.
“…Okay. There would be no reason for him to write a letter to Saint. Can I hear what he was trying to say?”
“Would you like to tell it to me? My father told me to tell it to him personally.”
“…….”
“…Okay. Follow me.”
Queen Carmen tilted her head as if she didn’t want to and raised her body.
“Instead, don’t tell anyone about His Highness’s hobbies. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Despite trying to hide it so closely, despite the political burden of ‘Queen Carmen went to visit her king’.
“Thank you for listening to my request, mother.”
“…It’s still early, so don’t get caught up already.”
The reason she is helping me is because she truly wants to hold my hand.
“Similarly, I am still the wife of Saint Geonostrum. If you become a burden to me or my biological family, the Duke of Morgania, because of her husband’s dishonesty, I will mercilessly get rid of you.”
“I will keep this in mind.”
“Yes. You are his son, not him. Keep that deep in your bones. …Follow me.”
Queen Carmen steps forward.
“Queen. I will take care of you. Give me the lamp….”
“It is done. I will carry it myself. I am on my way to His Majesty the King.”
“Ah, yes…!”
Queen Carmen walked forward, holding a lamp that illuminated her dark hallway, holding back the servants who tried to follow her.
“Here.”
Third bedroom.
“…If you go inside, there will definitely be chaos, but you must behave with courtesy.”
Standing in front of the door to a space I never wanted to enter, Queen Carmen whispered into my ear.
“Still, since you are the king, I cannot protect you even if a drunk and crazy dog approaches you with a sword.”
“I will keep this in mind.”
If you go against your will, you will die.
Regardless of whether it is an incompetent king or something else, in this castle, the person with the blood of Nostrum is the absolute king.
“Your Highness. Carmen is here.”
Knock knock knock.
“Gray Gibraltar would like to see you. May I come in?”
Let’s knock and ask politely.
“……Come in.”
The king’s calm voice was heard through the door from the first words.
Kkiik.
A foul smell wafts as soon as you open the door.
‘It’s an imperial product.’
Among the strong scent of fermented grapes, I closed my eyes for a moment at the faint yet familiar smell beyond the wine.
‘You’re still doing everything you need to do.’
The author, who is sitting slanted on the sofa, with several empty wine bottles lying around, glaring at me with a very red face, is the king of this country.
“Your Majesty….”
“What. Why?”
“…It may be late, but the heir of Gibraltar will greet you.”
“Hmm.”
The king glared at me with a very pale face.
“…Would it be okay if I saw your face? Go away.”
“Your Highness.”
I stepped in front of Queen Carmen and bowed down on one knee to show respect to her.
“Grey Gibraltar, the eldest son of Gibraltar, meets the sun of the kingdom.”
“The sun is a mess. It’s all me….”
Even though I was drunk, I guess I could clearly see the ‘thing’ I was peeking out from in front of my chest.
“…Hmm.”
The King adjusted his posture and sat down.
“Yes. Even though he is that bastard’s son, he is also her son. Come here and talk about it.”
“Your Highness?”
“Go out, queen. Everyone go out.”
“How dare you make the child of Gibraltar serve you wine…!”
“I told you to get out.”
The Incompetent King gritted his teeth and grabbed the spout of the empty wine bottle.
“…Excuse me.”
Queen Carmen bowed her head and walked out behind her.
For a moment, I saw a glimpse of anger, shame, and concern for me in her eyes.
Clutter, rattle.
The door was closed.
Now this room is completely blocked from the outside.
“…Why do you have that?”
The King of Incompetence adjusted his posture and sat down.
“You, really?”
“Up.”
“……?”
“I don’t think there should be any eyes or ears.”
I pointed to the ceiling.
“…Did the Margrave teach you something like that?”
“No. Someone else.”
“……Go away.”
These words are not directed at me.
“Come on.”
Shasak.
Behind the king, a shadow clad entirely in black appeared from head to toe.
“This kid, doesn’t he want to be alone with me now?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Are you also going to ignore the king’s orders?”
In any country, there is someone who protects the life of the king right next to him.
“It’s her son. Don’t you know that?”
“…….”
“Okay. 5 Minutes. Just turn it off for 5 minutes. Please.”
“…I will follow your orders.”
The shadow radiated a sinister, murderous spirit toward me, and disappeared again in the blink of an eye.
“That’s it. Now, it’s just you and me in this space. So, what are you trying to say?”
“There is a letter my mother wrote to Your Majesty. She told me to deliver it personally.”
“!!”
The king suddenly stood up.
“Really?!”
The energy on his face disappears at once, and his eyes tremble like a boy receiving a love letter for the first time.
“Yes.”
I took out the letter and handed it to the king with both hands.
“This is… The handkerchief I gave her for her birthday.”
Thank goodness.
This crazy king was amazingly aware of this.
‘It’s worth the attention paid to the packaging.’
I have conveyed what I had to convey.
There is nothing to talk to the king about anyway, all I have to do is deliver the letter.
And in terms of the purpose of coming to the royal capital, the results have already been exceeded.
“Your Highness.”
“Uh, that’s right.”
The King broke the wax seal on his handkerchief with his own hand and nodded his head as if fascinated.
“Can I just leave?”
“……Okay.”
He lowered his voice, showing some displeasure.
“Indeed, you are a dutiful son. Because of your father, you probably don’t want to even see my face.”
“It’s my mother’s request.”
“Yes. hahahaha, there is no such thing as a filial son. A filial son.”
The King waved his hand towards me.
“Go.”
“Excuse me.”
I bowed and took a step back.
Before leaving.
I saw it clearly.
“Useup, haa. Charlotte, hehehe. hehehehe….”
Imperial Mountain.
‘I didn’t know about this even in the future. ‘It’s a good thing you came to the royal road.’
Not the wine, but the white powder lying next to the wine.
‘You used medicine.’
She had a vague idea why her mother was like that.
Still.
‘Even if I use it, I have to use cheap stuff.’
The saying that mixing it with red wine is the worst thing almost came out of my throat.
“Whoa….”
Is it because it’s night?
I feel like my mind is becoming clearer and clearer.