Chapter 167
Lulak"s eyebrows rose upwards as if surprised.
Looking at the figure, Jovannes swallowed the accusation.
The first time the Empress suggested it, it was fine.
He wasn"t interested in Astana"s wedding, and Lombardy.
It was also awkward to deal with Lulak.
But on reflection, it wasn"t such a bad thing.
No, he liked it.
This old arrogant Lulak granddaughter becomes a daughter-in-law.
Lombardy is also of indisputable n.o.ble blood, which will greatly help maintain the Royal Lineage.
For once, Jovannes agreed that the Empress had come up with a pretty useful idea.
It"s worth being greedy for.
That"s how the Emperor judged it.
"If you give me something else as a condition that prevents marriage, I wouldn"t know again."
He is here today to see if Lulak is willing to make a deal.
Jovannes asked, trying to seep a smile from his face.
"I guess you didn"t know about the marriage because you were surprised."
Above all, it was very fun to get on Lulak"s nerves.
"You look very surprised..."
"No, I"ve heard about my granddaughter"s marriage."
Sitting in a comfortable position, Lulak shook his head and said.
"I didn"t expect you to seriously consider it. Oh, my G.o.d."
Lulak laughed as if he was surprised and dumbfounded.
"I can guess whose idea it is. There"s no way your Majesty would be interested in this sort of thing."
Lulak"s voice sank low.
"The reason you"re saying this is because you"re trying to get something out of Lombardy on the pretext of my granddaughter"s marriage."
The eyebrow of Emperor Jovannes was twitching a little.
It was an unpleasant feeling from the fact that all his thoughts were read.
Talks with Lulak Lombardy are always like this.
It was the same when Jovannes had just become Emperor, and now he was middle-aged.
Staring into the frowning eyes of Jovannes, Lulak slowly rose from his seat.
"It was a great attempt to weigh Lombardy and Angenas in both hands. I"ll compliment you. But..."
Lulak shook his head slowly as if warning.
"Not my blood, Your Majesty. My blood is not a deal."2
Lulak"s brown eyes glowed coldly.
And left a message before leaving the Emperor"s office.
"Don"t be swayed by the Empress"s words and do anything you"ll regret later, Your Majesty."
Lulak walks out slowly.
Jovannes, who was left alone, drank a liquid.
He couldn"t stand Lulak"s rude att.i.tude.
But there wasn"t even a sharp move.
It was long ago realized that the Emperor of the Lambrew Empire did not stand above everyone else.
Empress Rabini came to the Emperor, who was grinding his teeth all by himself."How did it go?"
Jovannes was even more annoyed by the Empress, who already knew and pretended not to know.
Instead of answering, the Empress said that she was sorry for the sight of the Emperor drinking another sip of liquor.
"Oh, my G.o.d, Lombardy has angered you again. The insolent one who doesn"t know the Imperial fear."1
The Empress had a knack for reading exactly what the other person wanted to hear.
Even now, with a few of those words, Jovannes felt his irritation toward the Empress disappeared.
"Push on this opportunity, Your Majesty. Astana"s marriage could be a turning point for Your Majesty"s relationship with Lombardy."
"A turning point?"
"Think about it. Lombardy can"t be as arrogant as they are now when his granddaughter is in the Imperial Family."
"Indeed, he is strict when it came to his blood."
Jovannes murmured, recalling the eyes shining blue, saying, "My blood is not the subject of a deal.", just a moment ago.
"There will be a backlash, but it"s all about marriage. In addition, Seral and Viese Lombardy have already agreed to their daughter"s marriage. There is no reason for the Lord of Lombardy to stand strong."
The Empress smiled inwardly at the Emperor.
It was too easy to sway an angry Emperor with a crushed ego.
But Rabini"s face hardened at the Emperor"s next word.
"So, what will the Empress give me if I push ahead with this marriage?"
"...Yes?"
"Yeah, I think I"d be fine with Angenas" iron mine of the West River."
This time Empress Rabini winced greatly.
Her body could be seen shaking at a glance.
"In the name of the Baraport family. The mine they bought more than a decade ago, stealing from Lombardy through Viese Lombardy."
"Your Majesty, it"s just a little shot..."
"Don"t lie to me that it"s just a coal mine, Empress. I don"t want to be mad at you today."
Jovannes said with a smiling face.
The corners of the Empress"s mouth trembled slightly.
The mine, which the Emperor refers to, was secretly bought by Angenas in the name of Baraport about a decade ago.
Angenas had no Royal permission to own an iron mine, so they couldn"t help it was inevitable.
The mine, which is no longer mining coal and contains only a little iron ore underneath it, was being forgotten even in Rabini"s memory.
Rabini looked at the Emperor.
Though not unusually intelligent or learned, Jovannes was smarter than anyone else in his profit or loss.
Just like right now.+
Since when have you known about the iron mine.
The Empress was horrified by the still smiling face of Jovannes.
"What do you say? If Astana could marry Lombardy"s Lady, it wouldn"t be such a loss to Angenas."
Empress Rabini regained her composure and began to calculate.
The unstable finances of Angenas now, the dowry of Larane Lombardy promised by Seral and the benefits of it in the future.
And she nodded.
"I"ll give it to you, Your Majesty."
"That"s very nice."
Jovannes smiled with satisfaction.
"Tomorrow, turn the mine to the name of the Red Top. I want to start mining right now."
Emperor Jovannes was quite excited.
The presence of the Empress sitting next to him was already beyond his interest.
* * *
"Here you are, Lord."
John, the butler who greeted Lulak, who returned from the Palace, immediately noticed something unusual.
The atmosphere of Lulak getting off the carriage was terrifying.
Sure enough.
"Call Viese."2
Lulak, who left only that brief message, went into the office by himself.
"Did you call me, Father?"
After a while, Viese came into the office.
As if he already knew the reason he was summoned, Viese stood still without sitting on a chair.
"Viese."
"Yes, Father."
"Let the marriage of Larane and the First Prince never happened."
"I can"t do that."
"Are you going against my orders now?"
Lulak"s eyes became fierce.
But Viese also stood up.
"Larane is my daughter."
"Yes, but the original family marriage must follow the will of the household Lord. Don"t forget that you and Seral"s marriage were also the will of your predecessor."
If it had been Lulak"s choice, it would never have happened to tie Viese to Angenas.
"...I just made the best choice for Larane. It"s definitely a great opportunity to be a member of the Royal Family."
"A great opportunity?"
Lulak slammed down the desk.
"Speak straight, Viese. It"s a chance for you, not for Larane!"
"It"s...!"
"Don"t you know who Astana is! You mean that"s the best for your child?!"
Lulak was more furious than ever.
Viese has made many small and big mistakes.
But this time, Lulak has never been more furious.
"I have overlooked your faults because you are Lombardy and my blood. However, even if you are, I will not allow you to benefit from the sacrifice of your child. Last warning, Viese."
Lulak"s gaze gave him a chill.
However, Viese gritted his teeth and turned around, and left the office.
It was already warned by the Empress.
His father"s opposition will be severe.
But there was also a promise that if Viese held out, Larane and the First Prince"s marriage would take place.
"Last warning, Viese."
The words his father rang like thunder in his ears, but Viese tried to shake off his fear.2
* * *
Pellet Corporation"s office.
Clerivan and Violet"s reports are over.
I asked two people to organize the doc.u.ments.
"When is the next cruise schedule?"
"Three days later, it departs from Chesire Port."
Clerivan replied.
Oh, Of all the things.
"Then what"s next?"
This time, Violet said.
"The newly introduced ship is getting ready for the last-minute preparation. The scheduled departure date is in 10 days."
If it"s 10 days.
Maybe that"s enough.
"What"s wrong, Lady Florentia?"
"I might have to pick up a special guest on the cruise. I"ll explain the details later."
I smiled at Violet and Clerivan, who looked at me curiously, and then hurried out of the Pellet Office.
I have a special schedule today.
I hurried back to Lombardy"s mansion.
Then first, the person who was waiting for me welcomed me.
"Here you are, Lady Florentia."
It was Avinox, dressed up in great style.
I looked at such Avinox and asked.
"Are you ready, Sir Avinox?"
Avinox smiled and nodded at my question.
"What about the ring?"
"Here it is.”
Avinox replied, tapping the pocket inside his chest.