Published: August 1, 2025
This chapter is incredibly unsettling, in many ways.
Viewer discretion is advised during meals.
“You want to buy me… and then what?”
The Princess of Flaria smiled as she spoke. I whispered, my lips still kissing her fingertips.
“Whatever you wish. As your footman, your slave, anything you desire.”
“And the price?”
“…Flaria’s dairy farming technology and agricultural tools.”
“Oh, how surprising. So you don’t want to buy weapons.”
The Princess of Flaria’s voice bounced with amusement.
Indeed, the trade of weapons was a flagship national project supporting present-day Dilz.
That made sense—most raw materials for weapons were precious resources like iron and gunpowder. If the high-level craftsmen, factories, and large transport ships were monopolized, no other industries could develop. The weapon industry was a sinking ship. Instead, Dilz needed to nurture itself.
I had calculated that dairy farming was the starting point. With the advanced agricultural technology of Flaria, dairy farming would become far more efficient. If rural farmers lived more comfortably, their children’s education levels would rise. The number of craftsmen and researchers would increase, and the country could develop industries while supplying food domestically without relying on imports.
That was undoubtedly the way to strengthen the future of Dilz.
“There’s a large dairy farming area not several days’ ride by horse from the royal capital. The lord there is a bit foolish, so it’s depopulated now… But first, we want to restore it to a once-prosperous estate. Even if the agricultural tools are a bit outdated or used, we just need enough to reach every subject. And textbooks to pass on the technology, ideally a few instructors too. We’ll see results in the second year, and within five years, the whole country could change. I want your help until then.”
“—So you want to rent agricultural tools for one rural territory and a few good talkers for five years? That’s your price?”
I nodded. It wasn’t an extravagant proposal. Financially, it was cheaper than weapons.
Yet Mylene frowned, looking displeased. Was it no good? Had it required too many resources and effort?
“Mylene… please.”
Suddenly, Mylene burst into loud laughter.
“Hohohoho! What’s with that worried face? It’s so funny!”
“…Princess.”
“Oh, you’re really such a charming person. Haha. Stop making that face. I will grant your wish.”
I opened my lips to say “Thank you,” but Mylene silenced me with her index finger.
“What?”
“But that price is too low. I’m buying you, my adorable lover (mon chéri). You should have a position and power equal to your worth.”
What did she mean? Before I could react, Mylene ordered me to stand, then rang the bell on the side table.
Almost immediately, the door opened. Led by a butler, a woman entered solemnly. A woman I’d never seen before—no, a girl, or rather a child, barely past ten years old.
“Claudette, greet Prince Ruifeng.”
“Y-yes, Mother.”
The girl said in a barely audible voice and bowed. Her golden, lush curls weren’t shaking in the wind, but rather she was trembling herself. At first, I thought she was just unused to curtseying, but even when she raised her head, she still trembled. Her face was pale blue; she was clearly shaking.
I genuinely worried about her health.
“Are you alright, Lady?”
Just speaking to her made the girl blush fiercely, turning even paler, and she kept looking back and forth between Mylene and me.
Mylene chuckled softly.
“Really, why are all my children so terribly shy? Maybe we should establish a school like Dilz’s, where royal family children can attend.”
“Um…?”
What was this girl’s business here? Before I could speak, the princess suddenly bolted away at full speed.
…What was that about?
“Mylene, who exactly is she?”
“My youngest daughter, Claudette. She will be your wife.”
I widened my eyes.
“…What?”
“Dilz doesn’t have an official concubinage system, does it?”