## Chapter 1123 – Royal Palace

Even if you tell me this is an opportunity for the royal family and the clergy to get closer, it’s not something I need to worry about or judge. It’s a matter for the clergy, not for me.

“So? This is the extent of the conditions I can offer. I don’t think you’ll be at a loss. It’s an opportunity to gain both material and spiritual benefits.”

Princess Einphel put the tiara back down and spoke with a confident tone.

Is she also someone high up? Her attitude of speaking has similarities to Kadia. But in terms of influence, the princess seems to have more… No, wait. The princess probably doesn’t have military power, so is Kadia stronger?

I don’t know.

Anyway, she’s offering me a deal right now. That alone is a very good attitude. Honestly, I don’t need anything else, as long as I get the compensation.

The most important thing when dealing with people isn’t bullshit disguised with fancy words, but clear, visible compensation.

“Unless you’re afraid of going as an envoy. There’s no reason not to accept.”
“Hehehe, there’s no way I’d be afraid.”
“You’re brave indeed.”

Even though those elf bastards are deaf assholes, there’s no reason to be afraid. Actually, even though going into the Elven Forest feels unpleasant, I’m not scared.

“But, you know.”

Let’s get this straight first.

“Aside from everything else, meeting the princess privately is something I need to discuss with our Saintess and decide.”

She might have been planning to win me over with talk of private meetings and opportunities to get closer, but unfortunately, it doesn’t work on me. Only naive kids would fall for the princess’s words like that.

More than anything, I belong to the Brass Sanctum Society right now.
If I receive an offer like this, reporting it takes priority.

“Hmm… Is that really necessary?”

Einphel narrowed her eyes as if she didn’t like my answer, picked up her teacup, and slowly drank from it.

“She’s my direct superior, so of course I have to.”
“You’re loyal.”
“It’s a matter of common sense before loyalty. A princess like you should know that, right? Imagine your subordinate listening to someone else and becoming close to them.”

This is just basic.

“Hmm… If you think about it that way, maybe you’re right. Fine. Do as you see fit in that regard.”
“Then let’s do that.”

For now, she says she trusts me, so I’ll let it slide, but I need to ask Kadia about private meetings and such.

As of now, I don’t see any way to gain anything from being friendly with the princess.

In fact, anything the princess can do for me personally, Kadia can do as well. There’s no need for me to build ties with the royal family right now. All I want is material compensation that the princess will provide separately.

If she gives me land, I’ll gladly accept it.

“Getting back to the main topic, about the envoy.”

After talking about that much, I brought up the main subject.

“I also think this is necessary. There’s no harm in forming an alliance. Our Saintess seems to think similarly.”

I heard it was a necessary task.

“I know. We’ve already talked about it. But… I didn’t expect Saintess Kadia to not order you to go as an envoy.”
“She asked for my opinion first.”
“Are you two very close?”

No, it’s beyond being very close.

We’re even rolling around in bed together.

“She’s the Saintess and my direct Paladin. She does a lot for me, and I’ve received a lot. We can’t help but be close. I’m her right-hand man.”
“It’s good to have a loyal and capable subordinate… It’s a shame. Anyway, does that mean you accept my offer?”
“Honestly, if there’s adequate compensation, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
“…Really?”
“That’s what I came here thinking.”

I knew everything already, but the princess was trying to use various tactics to achieve her goal. Whatever. Let’s ask what I’m curious about.

“But before I do this, I’m curious about something. I’m good at killing and destroying things, but I have absolutely no talent for diplomacy. What are you planning to do about that?”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Einphel smiled brightly at my words and answered confidently.

“We’ll prepare everything else on our end. You’re the only one in the kingdom who can receive a VIP treatment from the elves right now, and that’s how they see it too, so we’re just asking you to deliver something.”

I knew it.

To make things easy, we could just send a diplomat to the border and have them deliver documents or agree on alliance negotiations.

But things between countries don’t work that way, so I have to go directly into the Elven Forest to deliver it.

“We’re not going to recklessly send a Paladin who hasn’t proven their diplomatic skills. We’ve already discussed everything. In other words… Just as the elf envoy requested, you’ll simply deliver a royal letter containing our position and negotiation details to the elf king.”
“I understand.”

It’s clear now.

“But why go through all that trouble? Can’t we just exchange it at the border?”
“Hehehe, I know, right? It’s hard to understand. But things between countries don’t flow that conveniently.”

Einphel said it as if it were obvious and sighed.

“Haa… Thank you. You’ve taken a load off my mind. If things go well, you’ll get what you want.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“And for the other compensation… Well, if you ever want to meet me, feel free to contact me.”

Contact?

“Can I just contact you whenever I want?”

Can you do that with royalty?

“You can send it through the Saintess, right?”
“I guess so.”

Anyway, let’s keep that in mind.

“You might think it’s not very useful right now… Which is understandable. But as you live, there will come a time when your connection and trust with royalty, or rather, with me, will be important. Anyone with the sense to think about that time would consider this a good opportunity.”

As she said, it might not be necessary now, but there might be a time when it’s needed.

“And I quite like you.”

The princess said that and smiled.

“Oh, my.”

Kim Kat is such a perfect man that all the women are trying to line up for him. If she’s really fallen for me, that’s going to be a huge problem.

“I hope this opportunity will allow us to develop a mutually beneficial relationship. It would be nice to get closer from there. It would be even better to get to know each other more deeply.”
“Hehehe, is that so?”
“Because I know you’re stronger than the skilled knights of the kingdom.”
“Hmm.”

That’s true.

“If you weren’t a Paladin, I might have offered you a job.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Then the story is almost over.
I have one last thing to ask.

“But, you know, Einphel?”
“Yes?”
“Was this something that the princess had to personally step up and work so hard for?”
“What?”
“If making an alliance with the elves was necessary, I think they would have told me to do it all without you having to be so proactive.”
“…”

I know this is important, but I don’t understand why the princess is being so blatant. If it’s just to show me sincerity and courtesy, that makes sense, but usually, they would just make an official request.

“Is there some kind of purpose?”
“Hmm… I guess you didn’t become a Paladin with just strength alone.”

You can’t become a Paladin with just strength.

“That’s right.”

So there was something else going on.

“But I don’t think I can tell you the details. Just know that there’s a reason why I have to be involved.”
“What is it?”
“I can’t tell you about royal affairs.”

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Is she just making up some bullshit with appropriate words?

“…”

But it’s not important.

“Anyway, since you said you’d accept my offer, I’ll contact Saintess Kadia in the near future. Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Understood, Princess.”

Einphel put the tiara she had taken off back on her head and stood up. Then, she smiled and bowed her head and waist slightly.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Farewell.”

And so, I left the princess’s office. I wondered if that Sword Master aunt would be waiting for me, but all that was waiting was a person who looked like a servant and two knights.

“Please follow me.”
“Alright.”

I followed them right away.

Princess Einphel Gainsha Karga…

She was a completely different person from the impression I had felt so far. To think she’d suggest we drop the honorifics right from the start. I don’t know what her purpose is, and I don’t know much about the power of the royal family, but I couldn’t deny that she was a formidable figure.

Unless she had incredibly big guts, she wouldn’t suggest dropping honorifics to someone she’s only met a few times.

The same goes for bringing up being friends.

She must be raising a lot of snakes in her belly. There’s no way someone who can show me that kind of attitude would be working hard just for the sake of the kingdom.

Princess Einphel is someone in a similar position to Kadia, and although she has an arrogant disposition, what she pursues is clearly completely different.

That is my assessment of her.

* * *

“…”

Kadia’s face hardened as she listened to my report.

“What, why?”
“…”

With her face still hardened, she looked very dumbfounded and started chain-smoking from her seat.

No, was this such a shocking thing?

—Whoosh.

After chain-smoking for a while, she finally opened her mouth.

“So… Not only did you receive such an offer from the princess, but you also came back having become friends?”
“That’s right. You understand well.”
“And you even spoke casually with her?”
“Yep.”
“…”

Kadia froze as if she had received a very big shock.

It’s definitely a shocking thing. Even I don’t know what I’m saying when I’m talking about it. That’s how amazing it was.

“I can’t… I can’t understand. What on earth is going on? Why would that dark woman show that kind of attitude to the Paladin…”
“Dark woman?”

What kind of assessment is that?

“Did you make some kind of mistake?”
“Mistake or whatever. I did drop the honorifics and talk to her, but I didn’t swear. I didn’t say anything weird either.”

I did drop the honorifics with the princess, but I didn’t say anything that could be a problem. I thought about it again, and it’s the same. I didn’t commit any rudeness. I didn’t make any mistakes.

On the contrary, it ended well.

“Don’t tell me… You didn’t accept that offer to meet her personally, did you?”

Of course, I refused.

“Kadia. What do you think of me?”
“Aren’t you a notorious womanizer who only thinks about catching beautiful women and getting them pregnant if you get the chance?”
“Do you really want to get punished?”

If you keep doing this, I’ll have no choice but to sexually harass you as you wish.

“I’m kidding. It doesn’t seem like you accepted that offer.”
“Of course not. Meeting the princess isn’t a normal thing. I said I’d think about it after consulting with the clergy. Do you think I wouldn’t know that?”
“Haa.”

Kadia sighed.

“Come closer.”

I went right next to her.

“Okay. You did that one thing very well. I’ll give you a compliment. As expected, the Paladin has a very upright character.”

Kadia seemed very satisfied that I had cut off the princess’s offer and said I would consult with the clergy.

But this is common sense, so there’s no need to be praised.

“It’s obvious.”
“Still.”

When I went next to her, Kadia hugged me.

“Anyway, about the princess… This Saintess will think about it separately. But since you said you accepted the envoy offer, this Saintess is relieved. As expected. I only want to do everything for the Paladin.”

In any case, the story itself ended well.
Kadia seemed satisfied with the result.

“Is there anything you want to ask for? If there’s anything this Saintess can do, I can do anything for you.”

Kadia whispered that and gently licked my ear, biting my earlobe. There are a few things I want to ask for.