The Royal Knights came with a mission, accompanied by a full escort of the princess. However, not only did they fail to bring back the taxes, but they also failed to bring the princess back.
Gernilongden could already foresee the scene that awaited him. The king would strip him of his title, tear off his armor, and drive him out of the imperial capital. The king only cared about results, not the process.
"Your Highness, the King might kill me if I return like this," Gernilongden said.
"No, he won't. I've already written a letter. You've got nothing to do with this anymore. You can return and report back without worry," the princess replied.
Did she write the letter? Was it approved?
While others didn't know the deeper identity of Princess Angelia, Gernilongden, being a senior Royal Knight, knew well.
Angelia wasn't just the third princess of the empire. She was also the key to the seal in the war between the empire and the Demon City.
In the battle between the empire and the Demon City, aside from the lower-tier forces, the top-tier powers were sustained by sacrifices. They used these sacrifices to summon demons into the princess's body, thus forming a seal. This almost "trick" strategy was the only way the empire could achieve even the smallest victory in the war. The price of these victories was the royal daughters.
Only young girls with royal blood could bear the seal. Ordinary people would be instantly corrupted by the demon.
Angelia had a demon sealed inside her. How could the king allow her to stay here privately?
"Your Highness..." Gernilongden began.
"Shut up, Sir Gernilongden. From now on, you are not allowed to speak to me," Angelia snapped.
With that.
She quickly walked toward the village outskirts.
Romon watched the princess's back as she headed toward Stone Town, a place that used to be part of the Thune Territory, but which had since been divided among other lords.
...
Soon, Romon realized he had been mistaken.
In the span of a short time, the princess returned, and she was not alone. She brought with her the president of the Stone Town Merchant Guild, the man who was now half-paralyzed.
He was being carried on a stretcher, closely following the princess.
"These ores are all mine. I'm going to use them to trade for something," Princess Angelia continued, ignoring the wide-eyed stare of the Merchant Guild president. "I intend to build a manor in the forest over there, according to royal specifications."
"Your Highness, that forest..." The guild president hesitated. He knew that Romon had purchased that land and had even discovered a labyrinth within it.
According to the lordship laws, the land belonged to the lord, and even the princess couldn't claim it for herself.
"I know that forest belongs to Lord Romon, and he has already given me his permission. You don't need to worry about that. Just tell me, how long will it take to build?"
Angelia stood with her hands on her hips. In her view, since Romon had agreed to let her undergo daily trials in the maze, it seemed only reasonable to build a manor near the maze to make the trials more convenient.
"Your Highness, according to royal specifications, even if we work day and night, it will take around three years to complete," the Guild President responded.
A royal manor wasn't just any large structure. If you considered it properly, the large forest would need to have enough space to accommodate such a manor.
If the maze was located right in the center, choosing a site for the manor would be tricky. To keep it away from the maze, there wouldn't be enough space. Either the size of the royal manor would need to be reduced, or land from other lords would have to be taken. If they didn't do that, the manor would end up being too close to the maze, and adventurers would be wandering around the entrance every day.
"Three years?" Angelia didn't care about the details. "That's too long. I can't wait. I want it built before winter comes. If you can't do it, find someone who can."
"This... with such a short time frame, it's impossible without magic..." the Guild President hesitated.
"Hmm?" Angelia's eyes narrowed.
"Apologies, Your Highness. I will summon artisans and adventurers from other cities in your name to work on the manor. With that, we might have a half-finished product ready before winter... although, according to royal specifications, we can't afford to be sloppy."
"Fine. Start by building my bedroom," Angelia said.
"Of course, Your Highness," the Guild President replied. "I will now consult with Lord Thune and ensure that my workers can move freely."
"Go ahead."
Two of the Guild President's employees lifted him on the stretcher, making their way toward the castle on the mountainside.
At this moment.
Romon was still studying the total amount of magical power when he heard the request from outside the castle. He finally noticed the presence of the Stone Town Guild President.
He stood up and walked to the door, looking at the Guild President, whose face showed clear signs of distress. "Gresla, what brings you here?"
"Lord Romon, it seems that it wasn't your idea after all."
"What do you mean?" Romon asked.
"Princess Angelia intends to build a royal manor in that large forest. She promised me a substantial amount of magic crystal ores as payment, but I know that land belongs to you, so I thought it best to consult you before making any decisions."
The Guild President sat on the stretcher, and his employees made sure to raise him to a height that was as close to a normal person as possible.
Heard that.
Romon pondered for a moment before realizing the situation's complexities.
The princess had unilaterally withheld the royal taxes and intended to use those taxes, originally collected from Thune's territory, to build a manor on land that belonged to Thune.
Romon would soon control a sizable property, and it would be done under the royal banner.
However, wasn't the princess supposed to live in Stone Town? Why would she want to build a manor in the forest? Wouldn't living there be far more dangerous?
"Gresla, I don't think you've come to me for a decision. You're here to ask for my permission to pass, aren't you?" Romon saw right through the Guild President's intentions. He couldn't possibly resist the temptation of such a large amount of magic crystal ores, and he certainly wouldn't have run to him for a decision if he hadn't already agreed to the princess.
Only by agreeing to the princess would Gresla have come here; if he had refused, he would have left by now.
"My lord, I clearly have no secrets in front of you. After all, she is the princess, and her command is not something a small-town merchant like me could dare to defy. I had no choice but to reluctantly accept her request and gather a construction team from other cities. However, these artisans and adventurers from different territories will need your permission," the Guild President explained.
Romon thought for a moment and realized there was no real way out.
Although it was more dangerous for the princess to live in the forest, the benefits were substantial—namely, a royal manor.
Furthermore, during the construction of the royal manor, a large flow of people would come into the territory. At that point, all they would need to do was set up some food service points, and he could help the villagers prosper.
Not to mention, collecting fees for guard services, management fees, and this fee and that fee…
With so many advantages, it was hard to resist.
And besides, he could intentionally delay the manor's construction. The slower it went, the longer the princess would have to wait before moving in. By the time the manor was finished, his territory would have developed further, and the vast forest would have been thoroughly cleared.
"Go ahead, Gresla. But I need one firm condition: the craftsmen and adventurers you bring must behave properly. If anyone violates the laws of my territory, they will be permanently expelled. Also... the food services for these people will be contracted out to my people," Romon said.
The Guild President didn't hesitate for a second, immediately agreeing.
Food services weren't the main profit of this deal; they would only help boost the local economy for ordinary villagers. He had to get something out of it, after all—Romon hadn't shared any of his own share.
"Pleasure doing business, my lord Romon."
"I need an exact start date."
"Tomorrow, my lord. Tomorrow! Tonight, I'll organize a survey team to do a detailed survey of the foundation. Tomorrow, they will be the first craftsmen to enter your territory. At that time, please extend your hand and send some knights to protect them. I will cover their costs. Of course, if you're too busy, I can hire some extra guards tonight."
Romon understood what the Guild President meant and replied immediately, "There's no need for that. My knights will be enough to protect them."
"Then I'll leave it to you and your knights, Lord Romon."
"You'd better write up a detailed plan. We'll cooperate according to that."
"I will, my lord Romon. I've already arranged for manpower tonight. Tomorrow, I'll head out to other cities to recruit craftsmen. The detailed plan will be in your hands by tonight, no later."
This business was so big that Gresla couldn't handle it alone. He would need more help, possibly even forming a guild of craftsmen to manage it.