Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 276: Engagement – The Returned Prince
275. Engagement – The Returned Prince
A carriage traversed the gray city. It bore the emblem of the House of Viscount Brina. However, the person riding inside was far more than just a mere viscount.
The true owner of the carriage, Viscount Brina, was actually riding alongside it on horseback, almost as if he were guarding it. His corpulent figure was far from suited for such physical activity, and one could easily imagine the disaster that would occur if he were to fall off.
Wobble, wobble.
The citizens of Barnaul couldn’t help but stifle their laughter at the sight of a pig atop a horse. They dared not openly mock a noble, so they coughed awkwardly to disguise their suppressed snickers.
He knew he would be subjected to such humiliation.
If only he had prepared two carriages from the start. Had he done so, he wouldn’t have had to ride a horse in this ludicrous manner, becoming a spectacle for the commoners. Yet, it was Viscount Brina himself who had insisted on using only one carriage.
The carriage, providing an amusing spectacle for the citizens, made its way toward the royal palace. Upon arriving at the palace, the sweat-drenched viscount quickly dismounted and announced, “Your Highness, we have arrived.”
Emerging from the carriage was none other than Arnulf de Klaus, the heir to the throne, with his distinctive dark blue hair.
With a somewhat awkward expression, Prince Arnulf said, “Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to travel comfortably. I apologize for the trouble.”
“Trouble? Not at all, Your Highness! It is utterly undeserved of you to say such a thing. It is shameful that I can only offer this small service to Your Highness, who has returned after suffering insults at the hands of the impudent Kingdom of Bellita.”
Oh, is that so? I will not forget your kindness. — Such words would have been polite, but the sight of Viscount Brina was simply too pitiful.
His sweat-soaked curly hair and the delicate silk clothes that were too fine to be rubbed against a horse saddle were a sad sight. The prince knew well why the viscount had come to greet him and why he had insisted on placing him in the only carriage, but he felt compelled to say something.
“No, really. I was greatly accommodated. The duty of a prince is to collect the grievances of the people and present them to the king. I’m on my way to see the king now, but is there anything you wish to ?”
Without hesitation, the viscount replied, “As someone who cultivates a small piece of land under the shadow of the Klaus royal family, it would be negligent of me not to have something to . Of course, I do. My second son is currently entrusted with governing a castle on the outskirts, a strategic point called Avril Castle, adjacent to the Holy Kingdom of Jerome. However, the previous overseer was so negligent that the situation there is deplorable. My son is deeply concerned and lamenting that there are many expenses but insufficient income.”
… I knew it would come to this.
The prince folded his arms behind his back and furrowed his brow. The request Viscount Brina was about to make was a concern among all the nobles of the kingdom.
Viscount Brina continued, “For the sake of the kingdom’s defense, as a noble, I cannot remain idle. However, as you know, it is strictly forbidden for nobles to interfere with land entrusted by the royal family. I understand the principle, but given the circumstances, I humbly request that the law be relaxed so that the House of Brina may repair Avril Castle. Since my estate borders Avril, it would be beneficial to consolidate the administrative districts.”
The Klaus royal family had many lands that had reverted to them after losing their lords in the civil war. The Kingdom of Astin and the Kingdom of Aster had divided the Kingdom of Aslan in half, and after the truce, the Kingdom of Astin had expelled the nobles who supported the Kingdom of Aster.
They then annexed the remaining lands, nationalizing estates that amounted to half the territory. It was impossible for the royal family to directly manage such vast lands under the constraints of a feudal system with a rudimentary administrative structure. Hence, the royal family filled these administrative voids by appointing representatives to oversee the lands.
So far, so good. The problem was—
The absence of public education. The only candidates qualified as representatives were nobles. Although the decline in nobility had centralized power, there was no educated class to support the consolidated authority. As a result, second sons or illegitimate sons of noble families often ended up governing these lands.
Though it would be recognized in the future, this was essentially a rehash of the old system under the guise of a new regime. The feudal system, based on agriculture, took much longer to be supplanted by the commercial class, and for now, nobles were employing every trick to incorporate lands governed by their sons into their own estates.
Just like the fat man standing before him.
Arnulf de Klaus let out a faint sigh.
His intentions were obvious, but as the request was framed as a defense issue, it deserved an appropriate response.
“I see. I was unaware of such difficulties. However, it is not within my authority to arbitrarily interpret or relax a law established by the king, so please compile and submit the specific documentation.”
“Do-do you mean specific documentation?”
“Yes. I need details on the maintenance status of Avril Castle, the estimated repair costs, and the current income and expenditure. Since your son is the one managing the castle, it would be quicker to obtain these directly rather than going through the bureaucracy. Also, if there are villagers residing within the castle’s jurisdiction, I’ll need their consent forms regarding the consolidation of administrative districts.”
The prince rattled off the requirements without even pausing for breath, as he had dealt with such requests countless times.
Undoubtedly, the viscount would conspire with his son to fabricate the documents. Even though the prince had diplomatically rejected the request, should they still proceed, he was prepared to dispatch an inspector to cross-check the documents. There were already more than seven pending requests for similar consolidations.
Moreover, obtaining the villagers’ consent would require a considerable amount of money. If the viscount were willing to go to such lengths to annex the territory, it wouldn’t be a loss for the royal family to approve it.
Since gaining independence from the Arcaea Empire, the native populace (the northern barbarians), classified as freemen, had shown unwavering support for the Klaus royal family, descendants of King Maunin and Queen Reti.
Prince Arnulf de Klaus understood better than anyone that the empowerment of these people directly translated to the strength of the royal family.
‘Damn it.’
Viscount Diallo Brina’s shoulders slumped. The effort he had put in since morning was all for naught, and he struggled to maintain his composure as he said, “Your words are most reasonable. I acted rashly. I will prepare the supporting documents promptly.”
“Please do. Thank you for your dedication to the kingdom’s defense. I will review your request favorably.”
The prince sent the viscount away with empty reassurances.
But as the viscount turned away, Prince Arnulf did not notice him perk up upon overhearing the citizens’ murmurs.
“What? Noel Dexter?!”
The viscount ran off excitedly. Meanwhile, the prince proceeded into the palace.
This marked the return of the prince, who had left the previous year at the invitation of the Kingdom of Bellita. The fanfare sounded, and the royal guards lined up to welcome him, but Prince Arnulf’s expression was far from bright.
Visiting the greatest power, the Kingdom of Bellita, had been an invaluable experience.
He had observed their culture and trends, taken note of their legal and administrative systems that had evolved from the Arcaea Empire, and witnessed an immense market that dwarfed that of his kingdom. He even had the chance to meet the head of a major trading guild that owned hundreds of carriages.
This experience would greatly aid him in leading the kingdom when he eventually ascended the throne.
And that was not all.
Arnulf felt the political atmosphere of the Kingdom of Bellita keenly—it was nothing like his own.
The nobles of Bellita were ancient, with histories that spanned from mere hundreds to thousands of years.
Unlike minor nobles such as Viscount Diallo Brina, Bellita was dominated by powerful great noble families.
Among them, one family stood out.
Comparable to Klaus of the Kingdoms of Astin & Aster, Isadora of Aisel, Yeriel of Conrad, Lognum of Orun, and the Frederick Royal Family of the Holy Kingdom of Jerome, was the mighty House of Marquis Tatian.
The current head of the Tatian family was Benar Tatian, often called the ruler of western Bellita. Prince Arnulf de Klaus found it hard to dismiss the notion that Benar was vastly underestimated.
Arnulf knew about House Tatian. In fact, it was a history well known among royalty but obscure to most nobles. The Tatian family, which had its origins as a merchant family, was once known as the "Masters of Gold Coins" during the Arcaea Empire.
It wasn't just because they were rich.
It was because they minted currency.
The Tatian family was responsible for the monetary system of today, including gold, silver, and copper coins. They had managed the minting of currency for the Arcaea Empire.
They had since ceased minting coins due to the scarcity of the brass required for copper coins... Regardless, it was a family that had an immense impact on human history.
During his visit to Bellita, Arnulf de Klaus met with Marquis Benar Tatian.
His icy blue eyes and the tilted green scales left a strong impression. He was clearly planning something new.
‘Astin, Aster, and Bellita… He seemed particularly interested in the borderlands between the three kingdoms… He tried to hide it, but it was clear.’
Whatever it was, it was undoubtedly connected to commerce. Even when casually inviting any available guild master for a talk, Marquis Tatian’s name was mentioned, a testament to his influence on Bellita’s commerce.
Yet, such an influential family was keeping a low profile. They had relinquished power to a mere knight family like the House of Count Forte.
But whether or not they held power wasn’t particularly important to a family that already controlled the kingdom behind the scenes. The question was, what lay behind it... That was the crux.
‘It’s none of my concern.’
As long as Arnulf didn’t become hostile with the marquis, that was enough.
To Arnulf, the marquis was a formidable figure. He cautiously negotiated with him, trying to understand his ambitions. However, the incident that pained Prince Arnulf de Klaus was something else entirely.
The princess who had invited him had kissed another man right in front of him.
Did it enrage him as a man?
Of course not. As a prince bearing the future of his kingdom, he couldn’t afford to be swayed by such personal emotions.
But he was furious.
And he expressed his anger.
To insult a prince of the Kingdom of Astin! This was not merely a slight against him as an individual but an affront to his entire kingdom. He could not let it pass.
Princess Chloe.
He didn’t care what she was thinking when she insulted him. Although her brother, Prince had tried to console him by saying that his sister often behaved irrationally, spilled water could not be put back into the cup.
He wouldn’t say that he didn’t like her. She was beautiful. But Arnulf harbored a war in his heart.
He had left their capital, hoping to see her kneel in the mud of the Asgard Plains and beg for forgiveness. He wanted to punish those who dared dismiss his people as savages. Though her kingdom was more powerful than his, he had vowed to make this his life’s goal.
However…
The people were not at fault.
He realized that his beloved countrymen—his kingdom’s sons, daughters, and brothers—should not have to die for a meaningless honor. He had learned that it was the king’s duty to protect their lives.
His late father had taught him this as a child.
The late king had been a great man. If not for his untimely death, he would undoubtedly have been a wise ruler.
But he was gone, and it was Arnulf’s fate to inherit half of the land his father should have governed. So, Chloe, he would forgive her. No, he would forget her.
—That was his resolve.
But when he returned from Orville to his homeland, he found the border under inspection by Jensen Byley, the second Knight Commander, and Baron Byley, the Grand Commander who had led the Nine-Day War to victory. They were not there to welcome the prince.
It was a clear sign of war preparations.
When he heard that the king’s command had already been issued and that it was too late to reverse course, Prince Arnulf de Klaus sighed.
Ah! He should never have accepted the invitation in the first place. If only he had known this would happen. He had hoped that a union between him and Princess would heal the long-standing animosities between Bellita and his kingdom since their independence from the Empire! But instead, it had sparked a war!
Win or lose, many would die. Overwhelmed by the gravity of his responsibility, Arnulf steadied his breath and made his way to his father. Soon, he was granted an audience with the king, who enjoyed sitting on his lofty throne.
The king who loved anything that glittered. Pablo de Klaus looked down at his son with indifferent eyes.
.
!
Chapter 276: Engagement – The Returned Prince
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