Book 12: Chapter 45
“Onii-sama, we currently have a few plans for your coronation. Please choose one.”
I smiled then accepted the pile of documents Freya handed me: “It’s only been two to three days and you’ve already found so many? I actually don’t think there’s a need to make it so grandiose. The finance issues in the North haven’t been completely resolved. We have to use the money we loaned at the moment. If our expenditure is too high, even I would feel my heart ache.”
Freya pinched her chin. Somewhat worried, she said, “To be honest, there is nothing that can be exported from the North at the moment. The craft work standard in the North is awful. Though the structures built by the anthropoids are acceptable, their handicraft is actually poor. Humanity has adequate production abilities, and they can even export goods here to us. The elves can satisfy their requirements by trading with the humans. I think that the only people we can export our goods to are humans. But what would we sell to them?”
I looked at her and answered in a serious tone: “Firearms. Mommy Elizabeth may have never mentioned it to me before, but she’s very interested in our repeated firing guns, so we can export them to her. As we are the only one to possess them, we can decide on the price.”
Freya thought about what I said for a moment before smiling helplessly: “Onii-sama, have you forgotten something? I remember explicitly telling you we can export firearms to the elves, Karana and Nara… under the condition that the two of them have the courage to purchase firearms right in front of Empress Elizabeth… However, we cannot sell firearms to Empress Elizabeth. Onii-sama, you trust Empress Elizabeth, right? In spite of that, your Luna still ended up dying. No, I am not blaming Empress Elizabeth, for it was not her fault. But, Onii-sama, you must understand that humans are not as pure as elves. Humanity does not have absolute respect for you, and they are not friendly with the North. From their perspective, the North belonged to them, while we are here controlling it. There is no doubt that they are hostile towards us. If we sell firearms to them, how are we going to win once war breaks out? What will we use to win?”
“That… It’s not that bad, is it…?”
“Did you forget Luna?”
I had no counter for Freya’s question. That was also true in the past. Mommy Elizabeth was the ruler, but those who served her weren’t as obedient as the elves. Humans have their own designs. The subordinates always tampered with things. Sometimes, it was too late by the time Mommy Elizabeth found out. Luna’s misfortune was a prime example. Who would’ve predicted Alice would go after one of my people? She was Mommy Elizabeth’s bodyguard.
“You’re right… But, what else can we export, then?”