LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 24
Kayan barely managed to suppress the smile that almost escaped from his tightly closed lips.
It would be fine if she just stayed quietly, but no, even though her beauty was obvious to anyone… He still couldn’t get used to it when she made such an expression, occasionally making her face scrunch up like that.
Swish, swish.
When their eyes met, April blushed awkwardly, waving her hand at him as if to say not to pay attention.
“Ahem, Your Grace, Duke Blaire?”
Tonals, who had been ignored due to April stealing Kayan’s attention, cleared his throat.
Finally, Kayan’s gaze turned to him.
Noticing the envoy from Salt, who had gathered around, Kayan scanned them with an arrogant attitude.
“Let’s keep it brief. I’ve just arrived, after all.”
“Oh, of course. If we’re disturbing you during a busy time, we apologize. It’s just that this matter is urgent.”
Even after being pointed out for showing up without sending any prior notice, the Count, with a bright smile plastered on his face, suddenly shifted his tone and lowered his voice.
“The reason we’ve come is due to Salt’s food shortage.”
Perhaps sensing that Kayan didn’t like beating around the bush, the Count went straight to the point.
Yet, Kayan’s expression remained unchanged.
“What does that have to do with me?”
The envoys flinched and exchanged nervous glances at the somewhat sharp response.
Still, Count Tonals, despite the awkwardness of the situation, maintained his smile and stepped closer to Kayan.
“Quite literally, Your Grace. In fact, we came to the Magic Tower urgently to ask for measures and help regarding this, but… we were rejected.”
The Count’s tone revealed the trouble Salt was currently facing.
Kayan’s lips curled into a small smile.
“So, you’ve reached the point where you need help, huh?”
It was exactly as he had intended.
Salt, a small kingdom with unfavorable farming conditions, flanked by seas on both sides.
They had relied on importing most of their food, but with the ban on food exports from Kletan and the recent wheat trade scam, they were out of options.
As if responding to his guess, Count Tonals’ determined voice came through.
“Our subjects have received an order from the King to find a way to save the starving citizens, and we officially request Your Grace’s help.”
As soon as those words left his mouth, the envoys lowered their heads in unison.
It was a humiliating act, but it was proof of how desperate they were.
Kayan, with a subtle smile on his face, looked down at them and spoke gently, almost as if he was moved.
“Did you say Count Tonals?”
“Y-Yes. Currently, I’m working under Princess Lemeia in Salt, helping with the food crisis as a deputy…”
“I refuse.”
“…Excuse me?”
The positive atmosphere had been so clear that it was no surprise to receive such a bewildering answer.
However, Kayan’s expression didn’t change.
“I said I refuse.”
“Eh? W-why…?”
“Let me ask you instead. What does this have to do with me?”
It was a fair question.
It would have been understandable if Kayan had kicked them out angrily, yet here he was, giving them an audience. It was a great favor in itself.
The excuse about urgency was plausible, but as a Duke of the Empire, with power on par with that of a nation, how could they barge in without any prior notice and immediately demand food?
“Ah, but… Princess Lemeia…”
Mentioning Lemeia’s name again made it seem like they believed in some rumors of Raiden’s goodwill, but unfortunately, they had come to the wrong person.
While Kayan and Raiden shared a bloodline, they were nothing more than business partners. Mentioning Lemeia’s name wouldn’t affect him in the slightest.
“Ha.”
A short sigh from Kayan made Count Tonals realize his mistake. He quickly changed his approach and lowered his head.
“The people are starving.”
“They may soon start dying from hunger.”
“If Your Grace refuses, perhaps the Crown Prince…”
Amid the panicked envoys, the conversation took a dangerous turn.
Kayan, who had been on the verge of laughing at their attitude, gave a mocking smile.
“Go ahead.”
His calm voice was tinged with a sneer.
As Kayan openly mocked them, Count Tonals’ face turned bright red as he bowed lower.
“I misspoke. It was meant to show the urgency of the situation… Your Grace, Duke Blaire, we beg you sincerely.”
Thud.
At last, the Count knelt.
“It’s a pity. We’re also in a shortage as we’re searching for the wheat that was ‘stolen’ due to your mistake in Salt.”
Kayan had been trampling over the envoys, but now he was about to issue a dismissal order.
There was no point in listening further—it would only worsen the situation and create more resentment.
After all, based on the Crown Prince Raiden’s will, Salt was bound for destruction.
With the Emperor in a coma for so long, Raiden was desperate to make a name for himself to claim the throne.
Moreover, he seemed to have chosen to destroy Salt and take Lemeia as a backup plan after the abduction.
So, what was going to happen would happen. Whether it happened sooner or later didn’t matter.
But…
‘……’
Kayan, who had been walking toward another area, stopped suddenly, unable to take another step.
Looking down, a small hand, as if it had a hook, was gripping his pants tightly.
April Salt.
The princess, with a pitiful look like a wet dog, was clutching his pants like her life depended on it.
‘C-Can you help me…?’
Her lips were moving as though saying that.
Somehow, it felt like he could hear April’s trembling voice in his head, and Kayan unconsciously shook his head.
‘No.’
His decision was firm. He couldn’t allow such behavior, as they would only become more demanding if he indulged them.
But the unyielding April did not give up.
Kwaaah.
Where did such strength come from in her tiny arms, Kayan could see the veins in her hand as it gripped his pants.
It was quite a predicament.
‘This…’
…Most importantly, it was physically troublesome.
Why, you ask? Because his pants seemed like they would fall off any second.
Though his belt was fastened tightly, if April kept pulling with all her weight, it was certain to end in an embarrassing situation.
If he shook his leg here, the envoys from Salt would realize someone was hiding under the desk, and Kayan certainly didn’t want that kind of absurd situation.
‘Please…’
April’s face was full of desperation. She tugged at his pants again.
‘Enough!’
Kayan scowled and signaled her to stop, but April didn’t halt her bold actions. She grabbed both pant legs and started pulling each one in turn, as if straightening the creases.
At this rate, his pants were either going to fall down or rip.
‘This insane…’
The princess probably didn’t consider this, but Kayan, as the one involved, could only think of the worst-case scenario.
After a fierce internal struggle, he let out a sigh, quietly and without notice.
“Alright, Salt’s envoy.”
Finally, he spoke.
“If the people on the border are starving and resorting to thievery, it will be troublesome for us as well. I’ll send knights from my domain to gather food.”
As soon as the conditional permission was granted, the envoys looked bewildered, their faces filled with confusion.
Except for Count Tonals.
“Y-You mean, personally? But…”
“You better accept it before I change my mind.”
“Yes! Of course! Thank you, Your Grace!”
Although they would no longer have the chance to take some of the supplies for themselves, at least the immediate crisis had been averted.
Worried that Kayan might change his mind, the envoys hurriedly withdrew.
“Well, we’ll be going now. Thank you, Your Grace!”
Bang!
As soon as the door closed, Kayan’s furious gaze turned toward the desk.