Genius Prince’s National Revitalization from State Deficit ~ Right, Let Us Sell the Country - Book 9: Chapter 7 Ep

In a room of Agata’s mansion…

“Nrghh…”

Ninym was splayed across the bed.

“Cheer up. It wasn’t your fault,” Wein assured her with a smile. He sat down beside her. Consoling the young woman was proving difficult this time.

“I didn’t help at all. In fact, I got in your way…”

Kamil had kidnapped Ninym, but Wein’s rescue team found her before she could break out. They escaped after most of Kamil’s staff had left for the Signing Ceremony. Wein had been hugely relieved to see Ninym safe.

“I want to disappear… I want to become a shell…”

She wasn’t feeling all too glad about it, though.

Everything worked out, thanks to Wein, but…

Ninym’s weakness would likely trip her up in the future. She’d probably end up involving Wein as well, and realizing as much made her squirm irritably on the mattress. She was ordinarily quick to recover and return to business as usual, but her heart felt too defeated.

After Ninym was done twisting and turning, she tried to burrow under the sheets like a small, underground animal.

“Hey, Ninym.”

“Eek!”

Wein suddenly picked the girl up, sheets and all, and sat her on his lap.

“It’s my fault you were kidnapped, too. We both made mistakes. Let’s just reflect and be glad we’re safe.”

“Mm…” Ninym blushed pink and gave a tiny nod.

Wein stroked her pale hair. “Besides, I messed up way more than you. You’re adorably clumsy by comparison.”

“…Now that you mention it, yeah.”

“Wait, you agree?”

“By the way, Wein, I heard something about you becoming Agata’s adopted son?”

“This was supposed to be the part where you’d cheer me up.”

Wein quickly put Ninym down and tried to bolt for the door, but she snared him with the sheets.

“What were you thinking?! King Owen, your actual father, is still alive!”

“Uh, well, it was my only way out.”

“Need I remind you this will be a huge problem when we get home…?!”

“Yeah, that’s why I’d be really appreciative if you helped me cook up an explanation.”

Ninym stretched out Wein’s cheeks as far as they’d go. “Hahhh. Honestly… Everyone’s going to side with Princess Falanya if you keep toying with foreign countries like this,” Ninym half joked, exhausted.

“Sounds perfect. It’s about time Natra’s citizens wake up from their dream.”

The prince slipped out of the sheets.

“Wein…?”

“I’m going to talk with Agata for a bit. Make sure everything is ready to head home. Oh, and remind any slaves who want to come along.”

With that, Wein took his leave.

Ninym pressed the sheets to her chest. They still had his warmth.

“…Diona Croon, the wife of former North Representative Gerde Croon, was my daughter.”

Wein sat in the reception room of Agata’s mansion as its master gave an address.

“She was a lively child and my hope for the future. As Diona grew older, she sensed Ulbeth’s oppressive air and began searching for a way to break the deadlock.”

“And that’s how she met Gerde?”

“Yes. He mourned Ulbeth’s future as well. It was inevitable the two fell for each other.”

Agata’s gaze seemed to be staring at a scene far, far away. At happier days long lost.

“One was a direct descendant of the North Representative, the other of the East. They couldn’t associate without repercussions. Yet to create a brighter future for Ulbeth, they joined forces, married, and had a child. This became a source of confidence for them, and they felt it was their duty to create a wonderful world for their baby.”

“But—they failed.”

Agata gave a heavy nod. As someone who was neither there at the time nor a citizen of Ulbeth, Wein didn’t know the details of the couple’s downfall, but he understood it wasn’t something spoken of lightly.

“I sought desperately to save them from execution. However, when I spoke with my daughter from her jail cell, she told me not to bother.”

“Why?”

“Diona was concerned that Muldu and Altie would destroy each other and knew I’d be suspected of collusion if I defended her. If both cities fell, foreign nations would be quick to step in.”

“She made a choice like that, knowing it would mean her death…” Wein shook his head.

Agata wore an empty smile as he said, “My daughter cared for Ulbeth more than her own life. Even so, she worried about her child. Diona asked me to save him, so I secretly took him out of Ulbeth.”

“To Casskard?”

Agata nodded. “Diona was executed as a traitor. As her father, people were suspicious of me, and my political opponents were always looking for an opening. My hands were tied, and I could never check on the child in Casskard.”

“You’re saying he just showed up here one day?”

“That’s right. It was about ten years ago. He had a different name, but I immediately knew he shared my daughter’s blood… And that he hated both the Ulbeth Alliance and me.”

A heavy quiet settled over Agata and Wein. The prince waited patiently for the older man to regain his composure.

“Honestly, I’m sick of Ulbeth, too.”

“That’s reasonable. It killed your daughter.”

“Regardless, Diona entrusted me with a duty. She said she wanted to leave Ulbeth in my hands despite her own lack of success. Those words drove me onward as I continued to serve as East Representative. But no matter what I accomplish, my daughter is still dead, and Ulbeth hasn’t changed. I’ve failed just as she did.

“That’s why I didn’t care if my grandson, if Kamil, destroyed Ulbeth. In fact, death by his hand was the best end I could ask for. I decided to help him secretly.”

“…I see,” Wein replied. “It’s all coming together. Kamil aimed to annihilate the Ulbeth Alliance, and you aided him from behind the scenes. However, the famine in the West messed it all up.”

Agata’s mouth twisted wryly. “Indeed. The idea was to provoke Altie into an armed uprising, take control of the Signing Ceremony, and swiftly finish off Ulbeth with an invasion from Casskard. However, your stunt at the Gathering of the Chosen cost me that chance.”

“Sorry,” Wein replied, not the least bit repentant. “So…you invited me here to team up with Kamil?”

“I’ve seen your resourcefulness. Casskard fell short, so Kamil needed another tactic. That’s why I invited you under the pretext of helping unite the Alliance.”

“No wonder you wanted me to stick around. You were buying enough time for Kamil to make the first move.”

“However, that tactic also failed… Because you raised Muldu’s influence with astonishing skill and speed.”

Agata must have been on pins and needles. He had initially planned for Wein to team up with his grandson, but the prince’s efforts had produced incredible results.

“Your success flustered Kamil, and he soon considered you an enemy… I’ll never forgive myself for choosing such a terrible candidate.”

“You shouldn’t have invited a troublemaker.”

“Ah, so you admit it, then?”

“It’s something I’ve come to realize only recently.”

Wein and Agata exchanged brief grins.

“…I do have one question. When did you first become suspicious of Kamil?”

“Around the time we bought up the slaves and weapons to mess with Roynock and Facrita,” Wein answered. “I shouldn’t have been able to purchase that many. Arms are made for battle, so no one keeps a ready supply unless they’re fighting with a neighbor. Yet somehow, the northern city had plenty. In other words, someone connected to Altie believed that war would break out soon.”

“I see…”

“Plus, Kamil was able to purchase all those weapons for me even though battle was supposedly on the horizon. I figured Altie had decided the threat was gone and didn’t need the surplus, or Kamil had convinced the city to sell them. It was suspicious all around. You can never be too careful.”

“I see… I already knew this, but we truly stood no chance.”

Agata smiled weakly. Wein couldn’t have staged the scuffle at the Gathering of the Chosen otherwise, but the Holy Elite was no less impressed. This young prince was a remarkable character.

“I have a question, too. Did you know from the start that Kamil abducted Ninym?”

“I did recognize that he was acting strange. That was why I expressed my surprise. I was almost certain it was Kamil.”

“Is that what you meant?”

“Indeed.” Agata nodded with a quiet sigh. “And now here we are.”

“Thanks. I get it now.”

“Well then, I believe I have one small, final request.”

Agata rose and bowed his head to Wein.

“Please, forgive Kamil…!” the older man entreated desperately. “I’m an inferior substitute, but burn and boil me if you wish. To Kamil, I am the despicable person who abandoned his parents. However, to me, Kamil is a reminder of my daughter’s legacy. I beg of you…!”

Kamil had sparked Wein’s imperial wrath by daring to lay a hand on Ninym. There was no future for him unless Agata appeased the dragon. No matter where Kamil tried to hide, he would be burned to a crisp as soon as Wein returned to Natra. Agata believed it was his final duty to prevent this fate.

Wein wore a cheeky, sunny expression. “Forgiveness, huh? And you’re even begging… I suppose I’ve tortured him enough, and Oleom gave me the business deal I wanted. I’m not mad anymore.”

“…Really?”

“Ninym said she was treated well, and your input helped us rescue her during the Signing Ceremony. She’ll get annoyed if I lash out at anyone else.”

Wein clearly wasn’t lying. Agata let out an instinctive sigh of relief.

“—But I’ll kill you next time and turn Ulbeth to ash. Don’t forget that.”

That was no fib either. The East Representative felt a chill course down his spine.

“Oh, I’ll also leave you in charge of Muldu, Agata.”

“That’s fine…but are you sure?”

“Yeah, I can’t manage territory way out here anyway.”

Wein’s homeland of Natra was in the far north, whereas Ulbeth resided on the coast. Unless someone had a transportation spell, it was impossible to govern both.

“Besides, while I imagine you don’t want to hear this from me, the Ulbeth Alliance has a rough road ahead. Altie won’t be happy if Kamil doesn’t make the most of his answer key, but the other three cities will grow resentful if he uses it too well. And make sure to remember that sheet will only be good for about one year.”

“…I suppose that makes sense.”

Wein’s answer key was based on current information. Circumstances would change as developments arose, and even Wein couldn’t predict everything. It was incredible enough that he’d plotted things out for an entire year.

“We’ll put any corrections or additions you may have to good use.”

“Take care not to be restricted by obligations like tradition either. Stuff like that shouldn’t mean ignoring a decision you know is right. Such things are no problem for me, but I’m not so sure about Kamil.”

At the end of the day, Kamil was a man with a strong sense of responsibility. He wouldn’t abandon his duty as a representative, even if he hadn’t planned on actually staying in the role. Wein wasn’t certain if that moral nature was for better or worse, however.

“Do your best to support your grandson in my place.”

“Thank you, Prince Wein.” Agata gave a deep, deep bow. “Kamil, Oleom, and Lejoutte… I will spend what little time I have left in this world helping Ulbeth’s young leaders transform our country.”

Wein smiled. “I hope I can enjoy a hearty welcome the next time I visit, Foster Father.”

Agata smiled in return and nodded. “Yes. Look forward to it, my son.”

And so the chaos in the Ulbeth Alliance was temporarily quelled. It was not a major disturbance in the grand scheme of the continent’s history. However, future historians eventually realized the immense impact Wein Salema Arbalest’s actions had on world events. This tumultuous era became known as the “Great War of Kings.”

The climax slowly inched ever closer—