Chapter 195
“Then, why do you think a peace treaty should be signed?”
Lea thought of the Crown Prince of the Leonis Empire. Unlike the third prince, he was someone who hadn’t wanted the war from the beginning.
Unlike the Cantabrian Imperial Family, the Leonis Imperial Family had three children, and the Emperor of Leonis encouraged his children to compete with one another. No matter how secure the position of Crown Prince, there was always the possibility of being pushed out. That meant he couldn’t openly oppose the war that the Emperor wanted.
Lea began to answer, then trailed off, lost in thought. Would it take more time to make them reach out first?
Still, they couldn’t be the ones to propose the peace treaty first. Whoever makes the first request is inevitably in a weaker position.
Then, what could they do to make the Leonis Crown Prince propose a peace treaty first?
Deep in thought, Lea was pulled back by Derek’s voice.
“Lady Lea, your wish to end the war quickly is no doubt partly out of concern for the Commander-in-Chief, but more than that, it must be for the sake of the people of the Empire. It’s natural for the lives of the people to become impoverished if the war drags on.”
Derek continued in a calm tone.
“The supplies we enjoy come from goods provided by the nobles. And the nobles, in turn, offer goods collected from their own subjects.”
Since starting to run a trading company, Derek had become familiar with the economic flow of nobles, commoners, and the empire as a whole. He once again felt grateful to Lea for giving him this opportunity.
“…Actually, the reason I want to return to the palace as soon as possible is because I’m worried about Your Highness’s safety.”
At Lea’s sudden words, the four men listened intently. Among them, Calix was both pleased and unsettled by what she said. In a blunt voice, he asked,
“You’re still only worried about your younger brother, I see. For some reason, it makes me feel like a fool.”
Despite his teasing tone, Lea replied with a resolute expression.
“I won’t be able to relax until Your Highness ascends the throne and secures your position. No, even after that, I might still worry.”
Her honest words made Calix want to forget about conversation and just take her to his tent and show his love with his body. As his fingers itched to touch her, Lea spoke again.
“I will worry about Your Highness’s safety until my mother makes a move.”
Her words, which sounded almost solemn, made the four men’s eyes darken. Zion, especially, empathized deeply with her, having seen up close how Bianca had treated her.
“I still feel like you treat me too much like a child.”
Calix spoke in a subdued voice, his heart, which had floated at her concern, suddenly sinking. Lea looked up at him from an angle.
“No, I said that because anyone would worry if there’s an enemy in their own home. What if there are enemies in the Leonis Imperial Palace as well?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Lea thought of the person she knew through Bianca. She didn’t know the details, but at least knew who it was. And the fact that Leonis had three successors was, in fact, lucky for them.
“As Your Highness knows, rumors are a terrifying thing. Even things I haven’t done, once rumors spread, can end up being accepted as truth.”
At her words, the three men excluding Ilion wore expressions of realization. Seeing Ilion, who alone looked puzzled, Lea gave a gentle smile.
She was reminded of someone as steadfast as Ilion. She hadn’t been able to confirm that person’s fate, so she asked,
“Among the Leonis soldiers who were taken prisoner, there was a lion beastfolk soldier who pointed his sword at me, wasn’t there? Do you know what happened to him?”
“…Ah, that stupid lion beastfolk!”
Ilion responded immediately. Remembering that guy, who had barely survived the battlefield, he spoke harshly.
“After sparing his life, he made a huge fuss, asking why I hadn’t killed him, saying he couldn’t face the Crown Prince even in death. Ironically, he was the only one who desperately wanted to die, and yet he’s the one who survived.”
“It seems he isn’t one of the third prince’s men. Even at the time, it looked like he would rather die than become a traitor for the sake of the Crown Prince. We should send him back safely. To the Crown Prince of Leonis, just as he wishes.”
As she finished speaking, Lea fixed her gaze on Derek. It was a moment when she needed his skills.
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