Chapter 54

“Is that why you gave me wine as a gift? As a bribe to get a seal.”

It felt like every word was digging into me.

Besides, there was nothing to refute because that was true.

He looked down at me with innocent eyes that seemed to give off a strong power.

“From the beginning, the purpose of visiting me was not pure.”

Was there anyone who put people in front of them and gave them such sharp embarrassment?

I cleared my bewildered heart and slowly lifted my eyes.

“I’ll admit it. It’s true that I came here for that purpose.”

His expression darkened bitterly.

“It’s disappointing.”

“But I didn’t come here solely for that purpose.”

“…….”

“I wanted to speak with the Archduke.”

It wasn’t just for lobbying. This was the truth.

Because I desperately wanted a conversation with Johann more than anyone else.

He sighed softly and looked at me with fierce eyes.

“Since I’ve already figured out your intention, I don’t know if it’s going to be a pure conversation.”

I sat down first. And invited him to sit down.

Then I looked up at him with clear eyes that were not deterred at all by his ferocious eyes and said,

“I’m not here for a pure conversation, but for a political conversation.”

“……”

This time, Johann seemed a little perplexed.

It was because I laid it out in the open.

In the first place, I wasn’t even an honest and innocent person like Johann.

Hence, I had no intention of pretending to be like that.

“…I’ll listen to it first.”

As soon as he sat down, I started talking.

“The Archduke has been advocating ‘Spinel Conquestism’.”

“……”

“As you know, Rixus and I will implement a strong pacifist policy after marriage.”

“……”

“The Archduke can be seen as a dangerous person since you have the exact opposite view from us.”

I didn’t know what Johann was thinking in his heart due to my bitter expression.

He said quietly, rubbing his chin.

“My views as a scholar do not really endanger Spinel, Your Majesty.”

He must have said it with the intention of not being an antagonist or a threatening person.

And to some extent, his words were true.

But–

“Archduke, some have taken that view as a focal point, making swords and shields that will actually harm Spinel.”

“……”

“…Don’t pretend you don’t know that.”

“I am aware of it.”

Johann was also very candid. Being able to speak without going in circles made me feel more comfortable.

“Wait, please look at these materials.”

I held out the thick stack of papers I had prepared.

Johann accepted them with a slightly bewildered expression.

They were the things I had been preparing all night. Personally, these were the materials I had put a lot of effort into.

I made them for today. Just to persuade Johann.

“What is this?”

“These are the materials that prove that Aktoum thrives a lot more when ‘pacifism’ is implemented than when ‘conquestism’ is carried out in Aktoum.”

As a scholar, Johann advocated conquest.

Aktoum’s happiness and prosperity was his top priority.

So, what I gave him was a research that showed there were more benefits for Aktoum to unify with Spinel as compared to attacking. 

I had carefully prepared it for a long time, but… Johann shook his head even before he read it.

“It’s a physically impossible claim.”

“…….”

“If Spinel is subjugated, all of its resources can be used preferentially by Aktoum.”

“I know. It’s because I’ve read all the books on conquestism that the Archduke has published.”

He looked at me in surprise.

He seemed to have come to the realization that it was not a claim I was making without knowing anything.

“But the Archduke’s conquestism is missing something really important.”

“What is it?”

“Permanent loss caused by war.”

“……”

“It’s about the trauma of the people of Aktoum.”

Johann’s eyes shook slightly.

“It is not just material and tangible resources that make a country happy and prosperous.”

“…….”

“Sometimes, intangible resources have a greater impact. Psychological factors are the barometer of people’s happiness.”

“……”

“Only when they are satisfied can they be happy with their lives and be more diligent in their work.”

At my words, Johann looked suspiciously at my data and muttered as he turned the pagers over.

“The reason why intangible resources are not considered in professional research is….”

I intercepted his words and finished it.

“…Because it’s difficult to quantify.”

My eyes met Johann’s exactly as he raised his head slightly. 

“But I succeeded in quantifying it.”

“!”

I began to explain the research data to Johann in detail.

He occasionally nodded and admired it.

He listened to what I had to say very seriously and was attentive the whole time I was explaining it.

There were no loopholes in the logic as the data was analyzed and reviewed over and over again, actually ‘to the point of vomiting’.

“It’s interesting. To conduct research on countries that have experienced war and countries that have not…”

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“It’s 200 years of data.”

I laughed and said proudly.

Even a master conquistador would not be able to conduct such a focused research.

Because this was done by using the smartest scholars in Spinel and my aide, Duke Orléans, who was renowned for his intelligence, as research slaves.

Well, originally, professors didn’t do things like search for materials.

200 years of data was exploited and analyzed by graduate students.

After listening to my explanation and looking at the material, Johann finally expressed his admiration with amazed eyes.

“That’s impressive.”

‘Is this how a professor who publishes a free thesis feels?’

A sense of pride filled my chest.

It was worthwhile to continue to communicate with the scholars of Aktoum while in Spinel and to receive the data by teleport last night.

“But…….”

……But? What’s this ominous word?

Please stop saying that.

Stop talking.

“Research is just research, Your Majesty.”

“…….”

“Results change depending on the direction of the research, and when applied to actual situations, it may be different.”

“…But didn’t it at least play a role in presenting a new reference point?”

“I can’t help but to admit that.”

He nodded politely with a smile on his face.

‘…What, pretending to be persuaded a little.’

He might have pretended to be persuaded to refute it one by one later.

Like how he pretended to be friendly and abruptly became serious.

He was an upright man like the first impression I had when I came to this mansion, and he was also a man who was difficult to predict.

His unpredictable and openly decisive side felt somewhat cheeky.

This cheekiness was slightly different from that of Rixus.

“It is a contradiction to insist on war while being a devout man.”

I asked outright.

“Does God really want war? A war in which many suffer.”

“I am a devout believer, but I am a person who prioritizes the status of Aktoum.”

……How mean.

‘He is so good at talking.’

I was also a good speaker, but he was similarly proficient.

So, the score felt like it was flowing in a 1:1 and 2:2 way.

When I couldn’t hide my slightly annoyed expression, he gently lowered his head and made eye contact with me.

Somehow, those eyes seemed happy.

“Would you like to go up and have some refreshments together?”

Why would I eat with you?

“No.”

Hearing my frigid reply, he smiled softly with the sound of the wind in the background.

When I got up, he knew I was about to leave, and he waved the wine he had been given as a gift.

“Thank you for the drink, Your Majesty.”

I gave him something expensive for nothing. I felt like taking it back.

“Okay. I’m done with my business, so I’ll go back.”

I turned back with a very cold and stiff face.

Then I walked straight to the door of the temple and pushed it with my hand.

But the door didn’t even move.

At that moment, I heard a loud cough and a knock.

“…….”

When I turned around, Johann was leaning against the door on the other side.

“That’s a closed door, Your Majesty.”

…Oh my, at least.

I jerked around and walked to the door.

Then I stopped in front of Johann.

“I’ll admit it. I was a shallow person today. I pretended it was a gift to bribe you.”

“As the old sage said. He who looks at himself like a mirror is successful.”

‘…Can you hit that mouth just once?’

“I’m shallow, but the Archduke is ‘no-jam’.”(TL/N: ‘노잼’ is a slang for ‘no fun’… And I’m wondering, will someone comment about this? Lol.)

“…What is no-jam?”

Without hesitation, I spoke to Johann, giving him an odd look.

“It means ‘the strict Archduke who lost his ability to think flexibly while he was locked up in the temple and praying’, shortened to two letters.”

“……”

“Then, bye.”

Johann’s eyebrows rose slightly. It was an expression showing he had been hit.

Leaving him like that, I calmly exited through the door. As I did that, I slowly looked behind me and said,

“Oh, I will continue to send data as the research progresses.”

“……”

“Think carefully.”

“What……?”

I laughed softly.

“Does the God the Archduke believe in want to protect only the people of Aktoum?”

Deeply stabbing his conscience as a devout believer.

I stopped my sharp tongue and leisurely walked out the door.

Anyway, I knew he wouldn’t be persuaded immediately.

‘How can I quickly break a man who has lived his entire life with opposing beliefs?’

But I had probably taken one step forward?

It was like making teeth marks on incredibly hard bread.

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‘This is enough. I’m satisfied today.’

When would I ever be able to get him on my side completely? I pursed my lips and boarded the carriage heading to the Crown Prince’s Palace.

* * *

……And, on the other hand.

Johann was quietly looking down at her through the window.