Chapter 24

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 24

Chapter Title: The Salt Kingdom's Desperate Plea

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Kaian suppressed a laugh that threatened to slip through his tightly sealed lips for a moment.

She'd be fine if she just stayed quiet. No, she had a face that anyone would call beautiful... but every time she pulled that kind of expression, he simply couldn't get used to it.

Swish, swish.

April, meeting his eyes, blushed in embarrassment and waved her hand at him as if to say not to worry about it.

"A-hem! Your Highness, Duke of Brail?"

Count Tonals, who had been thoroughly ignored as April stole Kaian's attention, cleared his throat awkwardly.

Only then did Kaian's gaze finally shift.

Spotting the Count and the Salt Kingdom envoys who had crowded into the room unnoticed, Kaian swept an arrogant look over them.

"State your business plainly. I've only just arrived myself."

"Ah, yes, of course. If we've disturbed you at a busy time, I apologize. But this is rather urgent."

Even as Kaian pointed out their lack of prior notice or correspondence, the Count—wearing a friendly smile—suddenly lowered his voice and shifted his tone.

"The reason for our visit is none other than... Salt Kingdom's food shortage."

Perhaps sensing that Kaian disliked beating around the bush, he got straight to the point.

Yet Kaian's expression didn't change in the slightest.

"And what does that have to do with me?"

The envoys flinched at his sharp retort, exchanging uneasy glances.

But even in this potentially humiliating situation, Count Tonals forced a smile and took a step closer to Kaian.

"Exactly as I said, Your Highness. In fact, we came to the Magic Tower in haste seeking measures and aid for it... only to be turned away."

The Count's tone fully conveyed the dire straits Salt Kingdom was in.

Kaian curled the corner of his mouth upward.

'So, they've finally reached the point where they need rescue.'

It was all going according to plan.

Salt Kingdom was a small nation sandwiched between seas on both sides, making it ill-suited for agriculture.

They had always relied on imports for most of their food, but Kletan Empire's export ban on grains, combined with the recent wheat smuggling scam, had left them with no room to maneuver.

And as if confirming his suspicions, Count Tonals's resolute voice rang out.

"We ministers of Salt Kingdom have been commanded by His Majesty the King to find a way to save our starving people. Thus, we formally request Your Highness, Duke of Brail's, assistance."

At those words, the envoys bowed their heads in unison.

It was a humiliating act, but it also proved just how desperate their situation was.

Kaian, wearing a faint smile, looked down at them and opened his mouth gently.

As if he were truly impressed.

"Count Tonals, was it?"

"Y-yes. Currently, as deputy head in Salt Kingdom, assisting Princess Remeia with food shortage measures..."

"I refuse."

"...Pardon?"

The atmosphere had seemed so positive that anyone would have expected as much.

But Kaian's face remained unchanged.

"I said I refuse."

"Pardon? W-why..."

"Rather, that's what I want to ask. What does this have to do with me?"

It was a perfectly reasonable question.

They were lucky he was even meeting them like this instead of kicking them out in a rage.

"Urgent business" was a convenient excuse, but barging unannounced into an imperial duke's chambers—especially one whose power rivaled a nation—and demanding food outright was utterly insolent.

"B-but... Princess Remeia herself..."

They even brought up Remeia's name, likely banking on rumors of Crown Prince Raiden's favor toward her. Unfortunately, they'd come to the wrong place.

Kaian and Raiden shared half-blood, but even putting it kindly, theirs was merely a transactional relationship. Remeia's name carried no weight with him.

"Hah."

At his short sigh, Count Tonals realized his mistake and quickly changed tack, bowing his head.

"Our poor people are starving."

"If things continue like this, deaths from starvation could skyrocket in no time."

"If Your Highness refuses, then even Crown Prince Raiden..."

Desperate words bordering on overstepping poured from the flustered envoys.

At their attitude, as if ready to rush off to Kletan at any moment, Kaian let out a scoff.

"Do whatever you want."

Beneath his calm voice lurked mocking disdain.

As Kaian openly sneered, Count Tonals flushed beet red and bowed deeply.

"I spoke out of turn. It was just to emphasize the urgency... Your Highness, Duke of Brail, we earnestly beg you."

Thud.

In the end, the Count dropped to his knees.

"Pity. We're short-handed ourselves right now, chasing the wheat Salt Kingdom reverse-imported that was 'stolen due to your mistake.'"

Having ground the envoys down thoroughly, Kaian was about to issue an order to leave.

There was no point in hearing more; it'd only hurt feelings without gain.

In any case, Salt Kingdom would walk the path to ruin by Crown Prince Raiden's will.

With the Emperor in a coma for so long, Raiden was desperate to rack up achievements to secure the throne.

Moreover, he seemed to have settled on crushing Salt Kingdom as a fallback plan to claim Remeia after the kidnapping failed.

What would happen would happen. Whether sooner or later hardly mattered.

But.

'......'

Kaian, who had turned to walk away, hadn't taken a single step before stopping short.

Looking down, a small hand clung to his pant leg like a hook.

April Salt.

The princess, looking as pitiful as a rain-soaked puppy, gripped his pants like a lifeline.

'C-can't you... help us...?'

Her mouthing lips formed those words.

For some reason, Kaian felt like he could hear April's trembling voice in his head, shaking it unconsciously.

'No.'

His resolve was firm. Tolerating even polite persistence would only embolden them to push further without gratitude.

But the indomitable April didn't give up.

Grip.

Where did such strength come from in those slender arms? The tendons stood out clearly on the back of her hand clutching his pants.

It was quite troublesome.

'This is bad.'

...Physically troublesome, above all.

Why? Because his pants felt like they might slide down any second.

He'd fastened his belt securely, but if April kept pulling with her weight, he'd end up in a ridiculous predicament.

Shaking her off would reveal someone under the desk to the Salt envoys, and Kaian wanted no part of that farce.

'Pleaseee.'

April's face grew more desperate. She tugged at his pants again with little thumps.

'Stop!'

Kaian furrowed his brow in warning, but April didn't halt her bold(?) actions. Now she grabbed both pant legs.

And then, as if ironing out wrinkles one by one, she began yanking them alternately.

At this rate, his pants would either come down or rip if they held.

'This is insane...'

She probably hadn't considered that far, but as the victim, he had to brace for the worst.

After fierce internal conflict, Kaian finally let out a subtle sigh.

"Hear me, envoys of Salt."

He finally spoke.

"If the border folk, sharing our lands, turn to banditry from hunger, it'll trouble us too. I'll send knights from the duchy to procure food."

The envoys blinked in confusion at the conditional approval, delivered alongside the duke's suddenly weary face.

All except Count Tonals.

"P-personally, you say? But..."

"You'd best accept before I change my mind."

"Yes, sir! Understood. Thank you, Your Highness!"

Skimming supplies mid-delivery was off the table, but at least the immediate fire was out.

As if fearing he'd retract it, the Salt Kingdom envoys withdrew hastily.

"Then we'll take our leave. We are deeply grateful, Your Highness!"

Bang!

The moment the door shut, the duke's furious gaze turned under the desk.