Chapter 99
“A… million?”
The Empress’s voice trembled at the end. Anaka shook his head again. The Empress, her lips stiff as if she had never smiled, spoke firmly.
“Not a single coin more. Do you think a hundred million just grows on trees?! Hundreds of billions have already flowed into your kingdom! You useless leeches, failing your mission and still daring to ask for more?!”
“That attitude is the problem, Your Majesty.”
“What?!”
“You don’t treat us as allies—you treat us as subordinates. Since you see us as mercenaries swayed by money, we’ll act accordingly.”
The leaders of the two nations were on the same ship. But the Emperor and Empress wanted to reach their destination without lifting a finger, using only money to command Ahyul.
Ahyul was no ferryman. But since he couldn’t refuse, money was all he could ask for.
Of course, that was Anaka’s perspective. His incompetent father, Ahyul, was the kind of man who would row for nothing but coin. That’s why he had accepted this absurd deal ten years ago.
Those who thought they could control a king with money were no different from a father who believed he could rule his people the same way. Birds of a feather, truly.
But there was no use resenting his father now. The deal was already made. Had Helion simply died in the kingdom that day ten years ago, everyone would have been happy. Yet he had survived.
Growing desperate, the Empire had waged war just to kill him on the battlefield. Even that had failed. Now, all that remained was the kingdom’s ruined land and the Empire’s empty treasury.
“The Empire’s troubles are none of the kingdom’s concerns. A superior may pity an inferior, but an inferior has no reason to worry for a superior.”
In the end, it all came down to money.
A hundred million vel—enough to give each starving citizen a single bowl of porridge, to rebuild scorched homes and fields.
The sad truth was that even that staggering sum was the bare minimum. No matter how much capital was poured in, the kingdom would never escape poverty.
Yet the kingdom had named its price.
This was the kingdom’s final offer to the Empire. The last courtesy to those who had once been allies.
If they paid this money, the kingdom would quietly withdraw. But if they refused, a cornered beast would have no choice but to bite its master.
What else could it do? With nothing left to eat, it would have to tear into its master’s flesh just to survive.
The Empress couldn’t answer, only clicking her long nails together in a sharp, rhythmic sound.
Anaka rose from his seat.
“Do not grieve too much. Consider this assassination attempt a gift from the kingdom.”
“You mean… even if we don’t pay, you’ll still make the attempt?”
“Yes.”
“Why? We are hardly on such close terms to exchange gifts.”
“If it eases your mind, you may think of it as compensation for a broken contract.”
Anaka offered a faint smile. The Empress stubbornly held his gaze, as if trying to decipher his intent. But Anaka gave her no time.
“Then I shall take my leave. I must prepare for the welcoming banquet this evening.”
A sharp gaze bore into his back. Yet Anaka did not turn around. He simply unfolded the fan he had brought with him, fluttering it lazily as he walked away with measured steps.
* * *
“Anaka. Is it wise to provoke the Emperor’s temper like this?”
Zrot whispered urgently, pressing close to Anaka as they followed a maid through the palace guest corridors.
“If you whisper that close, everyone can hear you. Would you mind stepping back?”
Anaka unfolded his fan and pushed the man’s face away. The distance between them was uncomfortably intimate – close enough to make even a woman uneasy, let alone a brawny man like Zrot.
“You’re worried someone might hear?”
“Imperial humans don’t have hearing as sharp as beastfolk. More importantly – were you eavesdropping on my conversation with the Emperor?”
“Ahem. It wasn’t intentional eavesdropping.”
“That’s what everyone says.”
“I mean it this time. Both the Emperor and Empress were practically shouting. Even those hearing-impaired Imperial humans must have heard the Emperor’s outburst.”
Anaka glanced at the servants lining the corridor. He’d noticed all the servants they passed wore unpleasant expressions. He’d assumed it was contempt for beastfolk, but apparently it was resentment for angering their Emperor.
‘Or perhaps both.’
Just then, Anaka locked eyes with a glaring attendant. He winked playfully with one eye. The flustered attendant looked around nervously before realizing the wink was meant for him, then flushed bright red.
“How embarrassing.”
“That was clearly a hostile reaction. More importantly, are you sure about this, Anaka? You seem to have made a bad impression on the Emperor immediately after arrival.”
“The alliance is already broken anyway. No need for further caution. We even paid compensation earlier.”
“So you revealed the plan.”
“Yes. But I never said we’d succeed. Only that we’d attempt it.”
At that moment, the maid guiding them turned to look back. Anaka and Zrot immediately fell silent as if they’d never been speaking.
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