Chapter 236

“It hasn’t been decided for certain yet.”

For now, they were only discussing it. Still, as Vetrin had pointed out, marriage was the simplest way to ensure a steady supply of iron.

“Hmm.”

Seeing the slightly resigned look on Princess Nailia’s face, Ceres couldn’t say anything more. It didn’t seem like something she should get involved in any further.

Still, there is one thing I’m curious about.

“Where is the mine?”

I don’t remember hearing about a new iron mine being discovered recently.

Then again, she didn’t really pay much attention to things like that, so maybe the news just hadn’t reached her yet.

“Mount Keltzo, in the County of Rainje.”

“...Where?”

“Mount Keltzo. It’s famous for being a mountain where monsters live.”

“......”

She knew the place. It wasn’t quite as dangerous as the Ice Tree Forest in the Principality of Persia, but it was still crawling with monsters.

“For some reason, the monsters there have nearly disappeared recently. Then an iron mine was discovered there.”

Ceres knew that too. She already knew about the iron mine. But one thing didn’t make sense.

“That mine belongs to the Imperial Family.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“......”

“......”

Princess Nailia had no idea what she meant. Ceres tilted her head in confusion as well.

The Imperial Family bought the mine on Mount Keltzo.

It was a very long time ago.

.

.

.

Chapter 65: The Owner of the Mine

“Guess what this is.”

“What is it?”

“Take a good look. What do you think?”

“.....?”

Grace examined the document the Emperor held out to her.

“A sales contract.”

And it’s been magically notarized, too?

“But...”

As Grace looked over the details, her brow furrowed slightly.

“Isn’t this the mine on Mount Keltzo?”

“That’s right.”

“......”

Grace stared at him in disbelief. Everyone knew about the mine on Mount Keltzo. It was no secret that the mountain was home to an enormous amount of iron.

But...

The problem was that no one could get near the mine anymore. At some point, Mount Keltzo had become overrun with monsters.

Count Rainje, whose territory included Mount Keltzo, had tried to drive out the monsters to keep the mine running, but eventually gave up after suffering countless casualties.

In other words, both Mount Keltzo and the mine were abandoned long ago.

“Did you buy it?”

And yet the Emperor had paid money for that abandoned mine. A mine no one could even enter. Who would risk their life going in there just to dig for iron?

“I did. For a steal, too. Count Rainje was more than happy to sell it.”

“...I see. Good for you.”

It’s his money. He can spend it however he wants.

Grace merely nodded, her expression indifferent.

“You never know. The monsters there might disappear someday.”

“Right, right.”

“Come on. I thought you’d praise me a little more.”

Emperor Devrica put on a wounded expression. Grace gave him a flat look before noticing something odd about the mine’s sales contract.

“But the buyer’s name is blank.”

The space where the buyer’s signature should have been was completely empty.

“Yeah. I left it blank on purpose.”

“Why?”

“It’s a worthless mine right now.”

At least he knows he paid good money for something worthless.

“Wouldn’t it be great if the name could be filled in once the monsters are gone?”

“Not really.”

“Come on. Our Grace has no sense of romance.”

What does romance have to do with this?

“Think about it. Someday, the mine becomes valuable, and someone happens to find the contract I hid away. Wouldn’t they be thrilled?”

“...You’re going to hide it?”

Why bother?

“Is that why you used a magic contract?”

“Exactly. Even after hundreds of years, no one will be able to dispute it. The contract itself won’t be damaged.”

Unlike ordinary contracts, magic contracts don’t deteriorate with time. More importantly, once a magic contract is signed, no one can destroy it.

“Aren’t you curious where I’m going to hide it?”

“Not at all.”

“Oh, come on! You have to be curious. You are curious, right?”

“Not particularly.”

“Then, where should I hide it...?”

Oh, seriously. I’m not curious at all!

***

“It’s been a while, Princess Nailia.”

“......”

Princess Nailia simply gave Count Rainje a slight nod in response to his greeting.

“Have a seat.”

“Yes.”

Emperor Devrica, who offered her a seat, looked more serious than usual.

Securing a steady supply of iron was important to the Empire, but he still couldn’t help wondering if it was right to marry his daughter off to someone she didn’t even want.

“Do as you wish, Father.”

“Nailia.”

“I don’t mind.”

She said she didn’t mind marrying Count Rainje’s son, but seeing his daughter’s resigned face only made him worry more.

But I can’t give up the mine.

He didn’t actually need to own the mine. He could simply buy iron from Count Rainje.

The problem was...

“House Aricas somehow found out and has approached us about buying iron. They want to buy everything our mine produces.”

House Aricas was one of the leading noble houses opposed to the growing power of the Imperial Family.

“Other countries have been making offers as well.”

“Are you not a citizen of the Empire? How can you even think of supplying iron to other countries first?”

“I’m a merchant before I’m an Imperial citizen. I hope you’ll understand, Your Majesty.”

“......”

“Haha. I told them I’d think about it, so I’ve put off the decision for now. Business is important, but surely, our children’s marriages are more important.”

It was a subtle threat. If the marriage to the Princess fell through, Count Rainje was saying he would sell all the iron from the mine to the anti-imperial faction and foreign countries.

A bill was already being prepared to ban iron from being traded with other countries, but it would take time before it could officially take effect.

Will it pass this time?

They had been trying to pass the bill for a long time, but the fierce opposition from the anti-imperial nobles had stopped it every time. There was no guarantee this time would be any different.

Even if it passed the council, it would be useless if Count Rainje signed a contract with another country first.

He’s planning to use this marriage to expand his influence.

House Rainje was an old family, but its influence had always been limited to the provinces. Its political presence in the capital was particularly weak.

But the discovery of an iron mine in their territory had given them a new opportunity. Through a marriage to the Princess, they planned to extend their political influence into the capital.

“To be honest, I’m not particularly happy about this marriage either. My son is just so eager for it.”

“Father.”

Vetrin, sitting beside Count Rainje, pretended to stop him. Yet the corners of his mouth kept twitching, as if he were enjoying the situation.

“As Your Majesty knows, there have been some rather unpleasant rumors about the Princess circulating in high society lately...”

Count Rainje trailed off and shook his head. Emperor Devrica’s expression turned cold.

He was making it clear that he was only reluctantly agreeing to the marriage between his son and the Princess. They were getting far too bold over a single iron mine. They seemed so caught up in their newfound confidence that they hadn’t even realized how far they were going.

Perhaps they’re relying on the anti-imperial faction.

If their ties to the Imperial Family were cut, they would likely side with the anti-imperial faction. That must be why they were acting recklessly.

Tsk.

Emperor Devrica’s worries only deepened.