The Evil Emperor’s Fragile Heart - Chapter 280

Crown Prince Mars cursed Raven internally, but didn’t dare to say anything out loud. After all, the boy was already a king, and he had powerful backers in the Emerald Kingdom, the Obsidian Kingdom as well as the Sapphire Kingdom.

And all the other monarchs seemed to be quite determined to support this international trade council…

And if everyone increased their prices just for the Amber Kingdom, wouldn’t the Amber Kingdom be in serious trouble? After all, most of their stuff was imported from the Emerald Kingdom, followed by the Pearl Kingdom, where they paid dirt cheap prices, and then the Sapphire Kingdom.

And, to be honest, Mars personally thought that the idea of this international trade council was a very good one, and it would definitely make it easier for everyone to do business. Mars could easily remember that several times he had not been able to eat his favourite dishes because the kitchen staff said that the fish supplier from the Pearl Kingdom hadn’t turned up or the meat supplier from the Emerald Kingdom refused to make further deliveries until the outstanding invoices were paid and stuff like that.

This international trade council would be useful if incidents like these could be eliminated, for sure!

“I like the idea of the international trade council,” Mars said. “The Amber Kingdom will participate, that’s for sure. However, since the lands are the border lands between the Pearl Kingdom and the Amber Kingdom, I am wondering if there is a chance that the Amber Kingdom could also provide some land and have a share in the benefits that are being accorded to the Pearl Kingdom? I would have to check with my father on this, though, since in the Amber Kingdom, the matters of land can only be decided upon by the monarch himself.”

The four monarchs turned to look at Mana at the same time.

Mana shrugged. “Big Brother in Law Mars is not wrong – given the location of the lands donated by the Pearl Kingdom which are at the borders of the Pearl Kingdom and the Amber Kingdom, it does make sense for the Amber Kingdom to also give some land to the international trade council, and if they do so, naturally, the benefits which are being given to the Pearl Kingdom will also be given to the Amber Kingdom on a pro rata basis. However, I do understand the constraints that bind Big Brother in Law Mars about the lands – so, perhaps, we could keep that discussion for later when we have the second phase expansion of the international trade council. For now, we will keep the Amber Kingdom at par with the Emerald Kingdom, the Sapphire Kingdom and the Obsidian Kingdom,” she said, and turned to Mars and Astra. “Would that be all right with you, Big Brother in Law Mars and Big Sister Astra?” she asked sweetly.

Mars blinked. He liked the words “at par with” very much!

“Yes, indeed, little Mana, let’s go ahead with this for now, then,” he said happily.

“Excellent,” Mana said. “I feel we should have two representative judges from each kingdom, at least, and two experts and two advisors or counsels as well from each kingdom. The costs for these can be borne by the respective kingdoms themselves. For the construction and maintenance and capital expenditure and operational expenditure of the international trade council, this would be split equally between the Emerald Kingdom, the Sapphire Kingdom, the Obsidian Kingdom and the Amber Kingdom. The Pearl Kingdom does not need to pay anything since we are using their lands for free, and the cost of the lands would definitely be much higher than all the other expenses put together. At a later date, if the international trade council wishes to buy out the lands from the Pearl Kingdom, then a full price will be paid for the lands to the Pearl Kingdom, and after that, the Pearl Kingdom will have to pay an equal share of the capital expenditure and the operational expenditure along with the other four kingdoms as well. Does that sound reasonable to everyone?” Mana asked, looking around.

“That’s very fair and reasonable,” Queen Carolina said. “I would also suggest that we consider opening branch offices of the international trade council in each kingdom in the second phase to make coordination easier.”

“I agree with Queen Carolina on this one,” King Jaren said. “There should be a branch office in each kingdom – in the second phase, we can have branches in the capital cities of each kingdom, and in the third phase, we can expand to major ports and trading points.”

“Indeed,” King Corvus said. “I would also recommend the same. I would additionally recommend that three special trade routes be opened between the Obsidian Kingdom and the Emerald Kingdom, the Pearl Kingdom and the Sapphire Kingdom, since these three kingdoms are on the mainland across the ocean from the Obsidian Kingdom. In the second phase expansion, on the other side of the Obsidian Kingdom across the bigger stretch of the ocean, we can create two more trade routes, one between the Amber Kingdom and the Obsidian Kingdom, and the second between the Pearl Kingdom and the Obsidian Kingdom.”

“That’s a brilliant idea, Grandfather!” Mana said happily. “This way, we can connect the Obsidian Kingdom with the other four kingdoms and these trade routes will certainly make things much faster!”

King Corvus beamed at Mana. “The credit for this whole project must go to you, little Mana,” he said with a smile. “We are simply building on the basic premise that you have laid out.”

Mana grinned back in response. “Now then,” she said. “About drafting the laws – I would want the monarchs or the Crown Prince or Princesses to be involved in the process. I can prepare the base draft for the unified policy and the by laws and everything, but I would want it to be finalised by either the ruling monarchs or the heirs to the throne. What do you think?”

“I’ll nominate Crown Prince Jules for the Emerald Kingdom,” King Jaren said immediately. “He is the future of the Emerald Kingdom, and I want him to work on all the new things for the Emerald Kingdom henceforth.”

“I, too, will nominate Crown Princess Isabel for the Sapphire Kingdom,” Queen Carolina said. “I am in complete agreement with King Jaren on this.”

“Same here,” King Corvus said. “Crown Princess Pica will take the lead for the Obsidian Kingdom.”

“The Pearl Kingdom does not have a crown prince or a crown princess, but we do have Regent Prince Yuki, who is the next in line to the throne after me, and I’ll nominate him for this,” Raven said.

“Crown Prince Mars, what do you think?” Queen Carolina asked. “All of us are putting our heirs on this – and you are the future of the Amber Kingdom, so we would certainly prefer you on this instead of your father. But we leave it up to you.”

Mars preened internally while struggling to maintain a straight face on the outside. All the monarchs of the other kingdoms were praising him! Queen Carolina of the Sapphire Kingdom even said that they would prefer him over his father!

“I believe you can do it, darling,” Astra said softly, leaning close to Mars so that other people wouldn’t be able to hear her words. “All the others are putting the future leaders on this task – and it would look very awkward if the Amber Kingdom didn’t put its treasured Crown Prince Mars for such an important project. It will also help you build international relationships with the other four kingdoms, something that your father has not been able to do very well all these years. I will help you every step of the way, naturally, and we will make sure that everyone knows the power of the Amber Kingdom in the future!”

Mars beamed at his fiancée and pressed a kiss to her brow. “You’re right, my dear,” he said softly. He turned to look at the others. “I will be the representative of the Amber Kingdom for this,” he announced.

“Excellent,” King Jaren said. “I believe you will do well, Mars. Astra, make sure to support your fiancé well, all right?”

“Yes, Papa,” Astra replied sweetly.

“Thank you, Papa,” Mars said, smiling at King Jaren. Of course he would do well, he thought to himself.. Jules and Bella would be too busy romancing each other, and that Yuki looked like someone easily bullied, and Pica was too old anyway. Mars was sure that he was the best choice for this! In any case, little Mana, who was just a kid, was making the base drafts – those were bound to be simple and easy, and there would probably be a lot of mistakes, and he would point those out and impress everyone with his cleverness, and then even his strict father would praise him and Mars would have established himself on an international scale!