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Normally, it was unwise to exchange words on a balcony like this. But with Arnold, he would immediately notice if there was even one person approaching them carelessly.

Knowing this, Rishe quashed her presence to the maximum extent possible. Even when she was wearing high heeled shoes, she could still walk noiselessly.

She paid careful attention and listened from behind the pillars, keeping an eye out for Rovine’s movements.

“Garkhain is indeed a wonderful country. The country has prospered so much is probably due to the skill of His Majesty and Your Highness Arnold.”

Kyle’s voice had a solid timbre to it.

He might be trying to cut it out of a casual conversation, but that wasn’t good enough. There was no way Arnold would tolerate that voice, which was imbued with tension and resolve.

“There’s no need for a roundabout preamble or flattery that is so transparent in its social nicety.”

As she had expected, Arnold simply cut him off.

“Let’s get to the point. For what reason did you push your sick and frail body all the way to this country?”

“… Your Highness.”

Hearing those words, Kyle took a deep, shallow breath.

“That wasn’t a social nicety. I sincerely respect your achievements as Crown Prince. I know that your government cares about and reaches out to the most vulnerable people… I am speaking to you here, not to your father, because I believe that you can understand my thoughts.”

“…”

“Will you please help our country, Koyor? — Not in the form of money or medical assistance.”

Kyle told Arnold.

“We need military support from Garkhain.”

Rishe gasped.

Why in the world would Koyor?

The snow country, Koyor, has never been active in war.

The reason behind it was obvious – it lacked military strength.

Located in a frigid region and surrounded by great powers, Koyor’s diplomatic relations were based on the art of diplomacy and its abundant financial resources.

“As you know, Koyor has very little military power… but that doesn’t mean because we didn’t want to raise soldiers. It’s the result of a long history of continuous pressure from neighboring countries that we don’t have a military force. We have been allowed to exist without being invaded, provided that we don’t have the power to fight and continue to provide gemstones to neighboring countries.”

When was the last time Kyle had spilled those same words with regret?

How many times in her life had that been the case?

“The royal family has always handed the fate of the kingdom to other nations under constant threats that they would destroy the kingdom whenever they feel like it… I want to get out of that ball game, decide my country’s fate at home and do my best to protect my people. Will you please help us to get there?”

Arnold asked in a slightly lower voice than usual, “You mean to say, Koyor wants to break alliances with other neighboring countries and make a pact with Garkhain instead?”

“You’re right.”

“…”

The balcony fell silent for a few moments.

The silence of the place was accentuated by the buzzing of the evening party nearby. With it, Kyle’s nervousness was palpable.

“… If you’re wondering what I’m suggesting…”

After a while, Arnold’s voice rang out.

“I doubt that this thing called peaceful royalty has any value in existence.”

“Huh…”

At that moment, the air became even more tense.

Even Rishe, who was only eavesdropping, instinctively tensed up. Arnold continued in a tone that didn’t hide his dismay and mockery.

“Although it’s foolish for this country across the sea to ask for forces to fight neighboring countries; if we were to proceed, what does Koyor intend to bring to the table in exchange for our country’s provision of military power?”

“… Let me assure you that Garkhain will be given top priority over the gemstones, gold and silver we have been exporting to our allies so far. The profitability of our country is out of the question and we will offer them to you at a lower price than the ones you can mine at home.”

Upon hearing that offer, Rishe understood.

… So that’s what it was about.

If you were to consider the surface of what Kyle said, it was a self-serving act of giving national security precedence.

But it was clear that this wasn’t the case.

No, Prince Kyle.

Rishe looked down and spoke to him in her mind.

You’re a very honest person… Not suitable for lying.

“Don’t make me laugh.”

Arnold, as expected, didn’t miss the flaw in Kyle’s statement.

“If I’m in your position, and if I were to make such an offer to another country, I would make sure to put a validity period on the terms of exporting gemstones. You can’t continue providing gemstones, your largest source of revenue, without regard to profits. That would only be gradual self-inflicted harm.”

“That’s…”

“It’s obvious that you know you don’t have to bother breaking up the duration. That appears to be an unconscious blot on your mind.”

Arnold was right.

And in Rishe, there was knowledge to back up that speculation. She pictured and thought what the export circumstances would be like in Koyor from this point on to a few years later.

“Koyor is already running out of gemstones, am I right?”

“…!”

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