Chapter 66

# 66

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Nikan examined the letter he received from a secret guest.

Failure.

Bang!

"This useless insect!"

He slammed his fist on the desk before leaving for the palace, still fuming.

'Just failed to kill an eight-year-old? These scoundrels are even worse than dogs!'

Why would they pour 20 million gold annually into a casino they don't even enjoy! Nikan grumbled for a while, venting his anger, then frowned.

'Wait a moment.'

Does the failure of the assassin mean that someone is protecting Navia?

'Schleman Jeneger? Or Margaret Romanov?'

They were powerful wizards who had swept through their era.

Such individuals might have the ability to stop an assassin.

However, there was a more important issue.

'Why would they help Navia?'

To them, she was just an unknown child, even his adopted daughter.

"…I suppose I need to go there today and see what they're thinking."

* * *

The Imperial Audience Hall.

Yulri, seated at the head of the table, looked alternately at the two people on either side.

On the left, Nikan Agnes.

On the right, Schleman Jeneger.

And beside him sat his wife, Diana.

Nikan had visited the palace again after claiming to have discovered a cure for the mana reflux disease.

"Your Majesty… The incident with the Ezelred Dukedom has erupted."

Emperor Yulri was so taken aback by the absurd statement that he paused in thought.

If he had been a person from 300 years ago, he might have thought, 'Here we go again with these nobles,' but now, territorial disputes were extremely rare.

And while it was grandly named a territorial dispute, in reality, it was just a squabble between nobles.

Such an incident in Agnes?

'Especially with Ezelred, who even offered to send his daughter?'

After hearing Nikan's explanation, Emperor Yulri nodded.

'It was just an accident caused by Wood.'

Nikan blamed the entire incident on Navia, defending his son.

Apart from the absurdity of the event, it wasn't really a big deal.

The children were the ones who caused the trouble, and Ezelred suffered no actual damage.

The Emperor, inwardly mocking Nikan for his poor parenting, pretended to believe him and arranged today's meeting.

"Let's start the discussion, then."

The territorial dispute was quickly resolved by refining the terms of the ceasefire agreement prepared by both sides.

There was no choice, as this incident was simply a one-sided mistake by Wood, and the only matter to discuss was 'let's not fight.'

The crucial point was the compensation.

Nikan said solemnly,

"Agnes will pay 10 million gold and a year's worth of mana stone mining output as compensation."

Mana stones are consumables.

Once all the mana in the stone is depleted, it becomes an ordinary rock, making them extremely valuable.

Therefore, a year's worth of mining output would be an astronomical amount.

To offer that along with 10 million gold was quite a significant gesture.

Both the Emperor and Empress were quite surprised.

Schleman also raised an eyebrow at the unexpectedly high compensation.

Nikan maintained a dark expression as he continued.

"I don't know why Navia did such a foolish thing. Given the nature of the matter, I believe it is appropriate to impose a severe punishment."

Schleman nodded quietly.

The inevitable events that Navia had spoken of were now unfolding.

When did Navia start drawing this picture in her mind? And how lonely a battle had she fought alone?

Schleman spoke.

"Is it necessary to be so harsh?"

The three people who had been watching him closely suddenly changed their expressions at his casual remark.

'They're like a pack of wolves.'

Emperor Yulri, who had been observing the situation with a somewhat bored expression, now seemed interested, his voice changing in tone.

"I'm not sure how to interpret that, Count Jeneger."

"This incident is indeed regrettable. However, Miss Navia is still a child, isn't she? The Ezelred family believes that a more cautious approach is necessary."

He didn't say anything definitively.

Instead, he gave a hint of sympathy for Navia, leaving room for negotiation.

Everything was as Navia had demanded, and it was her will.

Diana, who had initially thought that sacrificing an innocent child would resolve the matter, now wore a faint smile, having discovered an unexpected possibility.

'Could it be because of Theorvan?'

A few days ago, Diana received a letter on a golden plate.

To the esteemed Empress.

I, Theorvan Alvin, as the acting head of the Ezelred family, have a matter of urgent petition.

Currently, Duke Lark Ezelred is unmarried and has no children, which is surely a crisis for the family's survival.

Therefore, I, Theorvan,

Have one daughter, and I am willing to register her under the head of the family.

As a cousin of the current head of the Ezelred family, I am a legitimate Ezelred bloodline, and I believe both the dignity and tradition of the family can be preserved.

Please consider this request.

The astute Diana saw through Theorvan's true intention: to make her daughter the Empress.

Thus, Theorvan planned to rule Ezelred as its master.

'How amusing it would be to tell Nikan, who is already acting as if he has secured the position of the Crown Princess, about this news?'

To gain the most valuable thing, one must endure hardships and adversities.

Diana, as if just remembering, brought up the topic.

"By the way, speaking of which, Count Theorvan Alvin has sent a letter regarding the succession of Ezelred."

This statement sharpened not only Schleman's gaze but also Nikan's.

"The Count wants to register his daughter under the head of the Ezelred family."

Schleman was flabbergasted upon confirming Navia's words.

"It's not as if a child will suddenly appear out of nowhere for an unmarried Duke. It seems like a reasonable suggestion. What do you think?"

Nikan felt indignant that Theorvan dared to compete with him for the position of Crown Princess.

He was also extremely annoyed that the Empress seemed to be enjoying this situation.

If Theorvan's daughter became the successor of Ezelred instead of Navia, Nikan would lose any opportunity to intervene.

However, this wasn't entirely advantageous for the Empress either.

'If I make Vivian the Crown Prince's main wife and Theorvan's daughter a concubine, I will have two ducal families as in-laws.'

If she could fully absorb their power, it would be fine, but otherwise, the royal family would be caught in power struggles between the two families.

But if Navia became the successor of Ezelred, the situation would be different.

'If I make Navia a concubine and leave the position of Ezelred's successor vacant, I can create a pretext to fill it with a suitable person.'

Thus, it was beneficial for both Nikan and the Empress to make Navia the successor of Ezelred.

Amidst the tense negotiations and complex calculations, Schleman provided a clean and advantageous response for Ezelred.

"This seems to be a matter that should be discussed internally within Ezelred first."

Schleman thought of the next person to discuss this with.

'Navia.'

He needed the picture that child was drawing.