Chapter 1442 - 613: Lost the Match, Won at Life

Chapter 1442: Chapter 613: Lost the Match, Won at Life

Inside the Imperial Palace, the banquet was still going on. Emperor Carl Franz, Griffin Duke Ivan, and Empire Countess Emmanuelle (that is, Amelia) were sitting together, chatting idly about the Emperor’s proposal.

Amelia swirled the Avey Territory red wine in her glass. This fine red wine from the agricultural powerhouse Avey Territory was called Condé, and this was the top-grade "Aged Classical Condé". However, to Amelia, this kind of drink was nothing special. The Empire Countess maintained her ladylike posture as she chatted with the Emperor and Laine’s godfather. The coldness and impatience on Amelia’s face had eased a little; she had simply brought her habits from the Nuer Court into the Imperial Palace banquet out of reflex.

From a certain angle, Amelia really wasn’t doing anything wrong. Just like she said, if you go around with a smile all day, it’s easy for people to think you’re a pushover—especially if you’re a woman.

With men, it was different. If Laine was smiling all day, it meant someone was about to be in deep trouble.

"So, what do you think of my proposal?" Emperor Carl Franz kept his hearty, trademark smile. "Emmanuelle, give it some thought?"

"That was quite an opening thunderbolt of a statement." Amelia gave the Empire’s Emperor a sidelong glance, her tone not only utterly devoid of respect but dripping with contempt. "My Emperor, why don’t you worry about your own Rick Territory instead of sticking your nose into my business? This isn’t wartime, and we’re not in the Imperial Council. I have absolutely no obligation to obey your orders. None at all."

"No need to be so hostile, my Lady. His Majesty wasn’t ordering you; he just asked you to consider the proposal." Griffin Duke Ivan spread his hands, stepping in to help. "We’ve never forced you to do anything."

"Just like Carl can’t order you around either, huh?" Amelia snapped back, clearly unwilling to give even Laine’s godfather any face. "Lord Ivan, or perhaps you’d like to tell me what terms our Emperor offered you when he asked for your help this time?"

The sharp bite of her sarcasm made both Carl Franz and Ivan Ferdinand a bit embarrassed. Emperor Carl coughed a few times and could only lower his voice: "Emmanuelle? This isn’t the right time to bring that up. We agreed not to talk about it... All right, about my proposal, can you give me an answer?"

Amelia’s fine brows knit together.

Just moments ago, Emperor Carl Franz had put a proposal on the table: a territorial exchange.

This exchange wasn’t between Carl Franz’s Rick Territory and Amelia’s Weisen Territory, because there was no need and it was impossible to swap those. Carl Franz’s proposal was that Amelia’s Weisen Territory and Laine’s Duchy of Musillon exchange a piece of land, in order to strengthen their mutual goodwill and deepen the alliance between both sides—between Laine and Amelia, and between Brittania and the Empire.

Territorial exchanges weren’t rare. The most famous example was the city-fortress of Calon Castle between the Rick Territory and Midland Territory. This city had switched ownership back and forth between Rick and Midland several times. In the end, both sides reached a compromise: Calon Castle belonged to Midland Territory, while the nobles of Calon Castle were allowed to swear fealty to Emperor Carl Franz.

And now, what Carl Franz meant was that Laine could, in his capacity as Duke of Musillon, exchange a piece of territory with the Empire Countess as well. That way, the alliance would be even more solid, it would promote cultural exchange and consolidate the alliance between both sides, and it would also make command easier when the Alliance Army assembled. Sending reinforcements wouldn’t require so many excuses anymore.

Amelia instinctively felt a bit annoyed, because the Emperor’s idea was obviously to use her to tighten his relationship with Laine. Everyone knew that when dealing with Laine, going through the wife route was the easiest.

If Surya and Mogiana were the two ropes with which the Lake Fairy and Brittania had tied Laine down, then Amelia was the key link keeping the alliance between the Empire and Laine solid.

The little maid didn’t like this. She had always believed that her feelings with Laine were pure emotions that started back in Marinburg. Back then, their interactions had been very simple. Now things had turned into a situation where their personal relationship directly affected national interests and diplomatic relations.

But thinking it through carefully, Amelia’s political acumen and sharp mind immediately realized that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. It was a good idea, and it suited her as well. She had no reason to refuse. After years of tempering, Amelia understood very well that personal likes and dislikes were one thing, while overall interests were another.

"My Emperor, instead of spending your days in the Imperial Palace thinking about our great Empire’s many problems, you’ve chosen to devote yourself to pondering how to swap territories for me and my subjects? I really ought to thank you!" Amelia still didn’t let the Emperor off the hook verbally. She said with a mocking smile, "To have an Emperor who worries so much about his subjects—what a blessing for the Empire!"

"Then what should I be thinking about?" The Emperor knew Amelia well; since she’d started talking like this, it meant she was already tempted. So Carl Franz cracked a joke. "As Emperor of the Empire, I only have seven days a week. Should I be wrathful on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, weep on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and then spend Sunday thinking about how to hang those treacherous merchants of Marinburg?"

"Pff!" Amelia was caught off guard by the Emperor’s black humor and burst into laughter. The Empire Countess covered her mouth with her hand, unable to hold it in. "Carl, is this how you cheer up Helena at home too?"