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Chapter: 64

I returned to Wolhan Fortress from Pyeonggwang Merchant Guild and headed to my quarters. However, from the moment I stepped into the pavilion where my quarters were located, the atmosphere felt strange.

A subdued air hung heavy.

Did something happen? The question arose and then quickly vanished. The only thing that could cause such a somber atmosphere in my quarters was…

"Your Highness."

Lee Gyeon-ui stopped me in my tracks. His expression was troubled. An ominous premonition washed over me, but I tried to maintain a calm facade.

"What is it?"

Lee Gyeon-ui approached.

"Did something happen while I was away?"

When I asked, Lee Gyeon-ui replied cautiously, his eyes darting around.

"Well..."

His hesitant attitude made me anxious.

"The Wolhan Fortress Lord visited Your Highness\'s quarters."

The Wolhan Fortress Lord came to my quarters?

"Why did he enter without a word? It\'s my room, and I wasn\'t even there."

I frowned.

"And you didn\'t stop him? Were you so preoccupied with something amusing that you didn\'t even know the Fortress Lord was coming?"

"No, Your Highness. I apologize."

Despite his words, I doubted they hadn\'t intentionally allowed the Wolhan Fortress Lord\'s visit.

"Be more careful next time."

"Yes, I apologize."

I had a bad feeling about this. I quickly walked up to my quarters on the second floor.

Creak

As I opened the door, I saw the Wolhan Fortress Lord standing in the middle of the room, just as Lee Gyeon-ui had said.

"...Fortress Lord?"

But the atmosphere was unusual.

A suspicion arose within me.

After all, I was a man with a guilty conscience, so it wasn\'t easy to act completely innocent.

Perhaps because I had rushed up the stairs, my back felt damp.

"Fortress Lord."

It didn\'t seem like he hadn\'t heard my voice or the sound of me opening the door, yet he didn\'t turn around. This behavior fueled my anxiety.

I called out to him again, my gaze fixed on his back.

"Fortress Lord."

Finally, the Wolhan Fortress Lord stirred. However, he only turned his head to look at me, while the rest of his body remained still. Especially his feet, which seemed to be rooted to the floor, didn\'t move at all.

My back straightened involuntarily. There were few people who could make me nervous, but it seemed I had to add the Wolhan Fortress Lord to that list.

"Why...are you standing like that in my room, Fortress Lord?"

Suddenly, I noticed that the Wolhan Fortress Lord\'s hands, hidden beneath his long, flowing robe, seemed to be holding something.

Don\'t tell me…

Suppressing my unease, I spoke casually.

"You should have let me know beforehand. My room might be a bit messy, but it\'s not always like this. Please don\'t judge me too harshly."

The Wolhan Fortress Lord, who had turned his head to look at me, closed his eyes.

He didn\'t strike me as a frivolous person, so his actions seemed strangely weighty.

I clasped and unclasped my hands behind my back, trying to ease the tension.

"Your Highness."

"...Speak."

The Wolhan Fortress Lord spoke with a sigh.

"May I ask a question?"

He seemed about to clasp his hands together but then slipped them beneath the sleeves of his robe. I tried to see what he was holding, but not even a fingernail peeked out from the sleeve.

In any case, it seemed that my worst fear hadn\'t come to pass.

That is, the worst-case scenario where the Wolhan Fortress Lord discovered the bellflower in my belongings.

That would be truly disastrous.

The wastrel prince would be branded a drug addict as well.

As long as that didn\'t happen, I didn\'t really care if he entered my room.

"I\'m embarrassed to have shown you such an unseemly sight."

"It\'s alright. If it\'s uncomfortable for you, I’ll summon a servant to tidy up."

"Don\'t bother."

I glanced around the room and then changed the subject.

"But what brings you all the way here?"

The Wolhan Fortress Lord lowered his head.

"I apologize for visiting unannounced."

"There\'s nowhere in your fortress you can\'t go. Well… I thought you\'d be busy. Deokbong must have already reported to you, so there\'s no need to see me, is there?"

Come to think of it, I haven\'t seen Deokbong since I returned. That timid fellow must be terrified after nearly dying.

I should check on him later.

"I came to check on Your Highness\'s well-being."

"You\'d already seen me, so why again?"

"Signs of an incident don\'t always appear immediately, so we must pay close attention."

I laughed awkwardly.

It sounded like he was scolding me, implying I was the cause of the accident.

"If you need me, you can send someone. You don\'t have to come in person."

"If that\'s what you wish, I\'ll send someone in the future."

"Indeed."

After my reply, the conversation came to a halt. An awkward silence hung in the air.

…Although I\'m not that close to the Wolhan Fortress Lord, it didn\'t seem like this before. Why is it so awkward?

I cleared my throat and asked, "Was that all you wanted to say?"

"Ah, the captainof the main fortress guard requested to express his gratitude to Your Highness."

"The captain?"

The captain? He seemed like someone who wouldn\'t want to encounter me even by chance. I had already experienced how the castle guards, including him, disliked me and my companions.

If he\'s the captain of the guard, he must be their leader. Why would he want to see me?

Besides, didn\'t most of those who went on the demonic exploration with me abandon me and flee?

"It\'s surprising that he wants to see me."

"Actually, he is Chaos’s uncle."

Oh right, they all said they were relatives.

"As a relative of Chaos, I should also express my gratitude."

I stared intently at the Wolhan Fortress Lord, who bowed his head once again.

Judging from the situation, he seemed to believe that I had saved Chaos.

It didn\'t really feel that way.

I had to escape with my own life, after all.

But it would be foolish to miss this opportunity.

"Ahem."

I pretended to be modest.

"It was something I had to do."

"Wolhan Fortress does not forget the grace of kinship."

Is that so?

Then, does that mean he\'ll offer me something in return?

"Well, I won\'t refuse the Fortress Lord\'s kindness, but…"

I glanced at the Wolhan Fortress Lord, who was still bowing his head.

"Raise your head."

It was still uncomfortable for someone of the Fortress Lord\'s status to bow their head to me.

The Wolhan Fortress Lord said, "We wish to repay you, so please tell me if there is anything you need."

It would be rude to refuse.

"Ahem. Well, this isn\'t the best place for this. Let\'s move elsewhere and continue this conversation."

* * *

"Now, this much."

If you\'re given an opportunity, you must seize it.

The north was a harsh land for humans, unsuitable for farming due to the cold weather. However, the land itself wasn\'t barren. The dense growth of coniferous trees was proof of that.

This meant that timber was abundant.

And the region was also famous for animal hides. The fur, long and luscious from adapting to the cold, fetched an exorbitant price.

Furthermore, the northern weaponsmithing techniques, honed over centuries of fighting against magical beasts, were exceptional.

What did this mean?

It meant money.

"...Ah."

The Wolhan Fortress Lord\'s face hardened as he read the paper I had handed him.

However, he was the one who offered to repay me first. I pretended not to notice his reaction and looked away.

"...Twenty short bows, ten tiger skins, thirty sable skins."

The Wolhan Fortress Lord read aloud each of the fourteen items listed on the paper. Although his words were intended for me, I stubbornly pretended not to hear.

"...I now realize that Your Highness has a deep interest in the Northern Region."

He meant that I had chosen meticulously.

Thank you for the compliment.

However, the quantity wasn\'t excessive enough for him to flatly refuse. Perhaps because both refusal and acceptance were burdensome, the Wolhan Fortress Lord kept his gaze fixed on the paper, unable to give a clear answer.

Actually I didn\'t necessarily need these items, so I wouldn\'t really lose anything if he refused. However, If he did refuse, I planned to use it as leverage for other demands.

Although it was still early, I intended to request something like a declaration of support for my claim to the throne. Of course, after gaining more trust.

I still had a long way to go before leaving Wolhan Fortress.

Even if the Wolhan Fortress Lord provided everything listed on the paper, I was determined to gain the support of the north.

It wasn\'t a matter of choice; I had to do it.

In any case, I was in a position to gain something either way.

It would be nice if the Wolhan Fortress Lord also benefited in the process, but it didn\'t matter if he didn\'t.

The Wolhan Fortress Lord pondered for a moment, then sighed.

"I will have the supplies prepared according to this list so that Your Highness can take them with you when you leave Wolhan Fortress. We would be honored if you would accept this as a token of our sincerity."

Oh! Acceptance.

"Of course."

I couldn\'t help but feel pleased, as it was like receiving unexpected pocket money. I could either dispose of the acquired goods through the Pyeonggwang Merchant Guild or use them myself.

"While I have you here, may I bring up one more matter?"

The Wolhan Fortress Lord changed the subject. I readily nodded.

"Certainly. Speak freely."

We had moved to the Wolhan Fortress Lord\'s office. He turned his head and looked at the documents on his desk.

"I have received reports from Chaos, the guide, and the others who accompanied them. I believe this matter should be reported to the capital."

I scoffed.

"So they returned."

"I am ashamed."

"Well, I trust that you, Fortress Lord, will impose appropriate punishment."

It was absurd to think about it again. To think they abandoned me and fled.

"I will not betray your trust, Your Highness."

If they were punished, there would be no need to dwell on it further.

"Alright. I will handle the report."

Since I was the one who sent them on this mission, it was fitting for me to make the report. I would need to request reinforcements, but if the Wolhan Fortress Lord, who already commanded a considerable force, were to make the request, the court might suspect him of harboring other ambitions.

Above all, the warriors from the capital would likely be more receptive to orders from a prince of the kingdom, even a dissolute one, than from a lord of foreign blood.

Of course, I wasn\'t even sure if the King would send troops.

"I am grateful."

"While writing the letter, I think it would be good to contact other lords in the Northern Region. What are your thoughts?"

Although I asked for his opinion, I knew he would object.

Gathering nearby Northern forces was something that was to be done when a battle was imminent.

Unnecessary actions could lead to accusations of causing undue alarm.

As expected, the Wolhan Fortress Lord opposed the idea.

"I believe that matter can wait."

Indeed.

"I intend to formally request it at the appropriate time."

"If that is your will."

It wasn\'t the right time yet. There was no need to stir up trouble prematurely.

Because surely the other lords of the North wouldn\'t welcome me either.