The Book Of Flowers
A Countess' Offer
-- Andromeda City Square --
Several residents, the majority of whom contained men, gathered in this area
It seemed that they took the time to secure most of the women and all the children in this city first, and these men gathered to hear firsthand what Eleanor wanted to discuss with us
They might as well have done something behind the scenes, based on the expression they were aiming at their Countess. Expressions of doubt and rejection. Maybe because they thought that we should go, but Eleanor asked for a discussion so that their anger was finally fixed on Eleanor
Worst of all, the residents of this town had already sent someone to secretly go out and report to the nearby soldiers regarding my whereabouts and my friends
Instead, I even assumed that Eleanor had deliberately asked for a discussion to buy time until the royal soldiers came here
"... I'll keep it short. I just want you to carry out a wish from me" Eleanor said
...!
"What's that?" I asked
He then swallowed his saliva slowly. But for sure and in front of his people, he said things I would never have expected at all in a tone that showed no lies,
"I beg you to finish off all the members of the kingdom"
...
I was so shocked to hear his words, let alone the inhabitants
A resident then began to protest to him
"Countesses. If any royal warrior listens to it, then-!"
"I'm aware of what I'm saying. But this was much needed by Andromeda and the rest of the city" Eleanor cut off the man's words
"... Stop your joke it's human... The bottom of the creature is unclear" Zaphir muttered in a furious tone
"Zaphir. Shut up" I'm affirming
"I'm sorry, but I refused" I said to Eleanor. "We had a purpose to come here, but that did not include killing the king of this kingdom. If we could, we would avoid even the slightest battle"
"Currently, the barbarian can say so too apparently"
"I'll cut your tongue, you bastard...!" Zaphir insisted on a resident denouncing us
"I'm not afraid of you dirty creatures. But don't think that I'm going to be silent without a fight" the man said again, making Zaphir even more annoyed and began to call out his weapons
But I also directly called out to my staff and hit Zaphir's head until he collapsed and fell to the ground
"I beg you to shut up and listen to us. Cutting someone's conversation was completely disrespectful, and even a 'barbarian being' like we knew that basic thing" I said to the man, making him furious half-dead
I then asked Veskal to lift Zaphir to a comfortable place before returning to focus on Eleanor
"You've heard our answer. I want to hear your response"
Eleanor then sighed, and walked closer to me. Later then...
He was prostrating in front of my feet
All the townspeople who witnessed it were immediately shocked and forced her to get up, but Eleanor remained silently prostrating before my feet
I was forced to kneel down and wake him from his bow
"You're out of your mind? You cannot have just bowed down before the greatest enemy of your people" I said
"I'm very sane. You also have a loyal friend of the human race behind you, don't you?" Eleanor replied, looking at Verdea and Veskal who looked anxious. "If they can consider you a friend or a trusted person, then I can't?" He added
"They have conditions so they have to join me. You and your city on the other hand, will endanger yourself if you join me"
"... Mr. Oberon. I have one question. What do you think a leader should do for his people?"
"... Everything they're capable of la-"
I stopped talking in shock at what came to my mind, which was also a clear answer
...
So that's why he begged me...?
He no longer cared if his city would be hostile to one of the most glorious empires, even to the point that he would beg the devil if necessary, as long as the inhabitants of this city remained alive
And all that is just for this town...?
In order to save his city, he considered that uniting forces with the Elves could be enough to save his people. This woman is beyond my expectations
"You understand that, don't you? Whatever I do, it's all just for this place"
"... But why do you think that the Elves can help your city? We're hunted by humans and have a bad reputation"
"But you have the power. You have power over your own people. And you don't depend on anything but yourself"
"... You could endanger the whole town"
"The whole population of this place is already in danger, Mr. Oberon. The Crux kingdom no longer wants to consider us part of them as long as we can't pay the uninspired taxes"
"... So that's why they won't try to restore this place? Even though this town is one of their resource havens?"
"They don't need this city anymore thanks to outside help. And I'm sure it's the Hortensian kingdom, considering that Yuriel always goes in and out of the kingdom for business"
Them again...
It makes sense that Crux would get help from Hortensia, but I don't think that they would trust Hortensia that much to the point of ignoring a city as important as this
This place used to be the largest tomato plantation in the whole world, but never once did I think that they would release a source of income like this
I also wonder why they raised the price of taxes. Is that for recovery elsewhere? Or the...
...
Or is the money used as payment and tribute for Hortensia...?
"You seem to have caught all the answers you need" Eleanor said, then helped to stand by a female resident. "We need your help, Your Majesty Oberon. There's not a single strong person in the world who can help us but you"
...
"Mrs Countess! We must reject your opinion!" A resident man exclaimed
"We will never agree to cooperate with creatures like them. You don't remember what they did to our people?!" The others argue
"What is the evidence that they did this?" Eleanor asked a question, making the atmosphere instantly silent
"The Great Judgment of Yuriel has shown the evidence to the whole world. The black magic was indeed possessed by the Elves, even the magic marks of that person were also present and clearly shown! You should also remember what that Hortensia princess said when she used transmitter magic in the sky back then right!?" One can still answer later, followed by the approval of the other
"... Yuriel and Hortensia. It's a coincidence, isn't it?" Eleanor replied calmly
"!!!"
All the residents immediately gasped to realize their own words, and shut their mouths as tightly as possible
"But, we also have no evidence that Yuriel or Hortensia alone did this. There might be other parties as well who were involved in the disaster so they had such power"
"... It can't be trusted..." The man who argued earlier muttered, looking down in embarrassment
...
...
I don't believe this, but I need someone like him. A human leader, be it a city or a kingdom that has power and is very careful. He also still has ties to the Crux kingdom, and so I have plans for this
He was also trustworthy because I didn't see any sign of a lie from his words. Although I still feel doubtful, at least believing that woman should be tried first
"Mrs Eleanor"
"Yes, Your Highness Oberon?"
"I'll accept the offer of cooperation"
All the residents there again flinched, especially Eleanor
"So you accepted the offer? Even if we don't have anything to offer?"
"You have his face pay. That's enough"
Eleanor was instantly aware of what I meant by the advance, visible from her wide-eyed face
"That's all?" He asked back
"And I need a leader like you. A careful leader"
"... I don't know what you're thinking, but as long as this city can still continue, I'll accept the offer as well"
"So we're even?"
"We're breakeven, Your Majesty Oberon"
"good. Now I want the residents of this town to go to Miralius"
...
"YOU'RE CRAZY?!" Veskal yelling. "How can we bring in that many people huh?!" He added
But his face changed when he came to his senses with something
I spread out my robe, and ordered the Fae to go out to meet the inhabitants of Andromeda
They hesitantly came out, then hid behind me in an instant, slightly peering at Eleanor
"This one Fae is capable of carrying 10 people. They are that strong. Unfortunately, we only brought 5 Fae per person, except for the child" I said as I pointed at Alf
"Then, the rest who have a powerful Mana should use the teleportation circle. I'll immediately send a message to the Elves in Miralius to draw that circle, it might take 3 days"
"But, why do we have to go to Miralius?" Ask a female resident
"Because I can guarantee that this city will be attacked instantly when I take your paychecks" I replied
"I suggest children, the elderly and the sick should go by using the magic of the Fae. I will ask some Elves from the Sylph clan to come yesterday using the teleportation circle and guard them during the journey later. The rest will go using the second teleportation circle"
"And how do we know that you're not trying to kidnap and hold us hostage?" Ask a resident in a annoyed tone
...
"We won't do it, I swear. That elf can't lie, although we can speak ambiguously" I replied
...
"I trust you, Your Highness Oberon. But why 3 days?" The woman beside Eleanor asked
"Because I have to send that message to the dove. The people who use Fae magic must also learn first"
The woman then nodded in understanding
Eleanor then ordered them to spread the news to all the inhabitants of the city who did not know it, and they hurried to do their Countess's command
Meanwhile, I approached my friends who were busy guarding the unconscious Zaphir
"Your negotiation skills are always good Vainzel" Verdea praised
"I am the king. Such an ability must be possessed by all leaders, whether big or small" I replied in a proud tone
"And it looks like you're making the right path. I don't see any darkness at the end of this path of your decision" Alf said
"Ah, is that it? Thank goodness" I said in a relieved tone
No darkness means nothing bad will happen. The prophecy of the Father is very true, so it means that I can trust Eleanor and the people of Andromeda
"But my son, your road is still very long. And the meaning of this prophecy I saw was very ambiguous"
"... What is the picture of the prophecy?"
"... Flowers that have bloomed will be picked. But I don't know, we're the flowers in this prophecy. Is it plucked for its beauty, or is it plucked for being distracting and unnecessary?
Or rather, we are picking...? But, what's the point of us picking those flowers...? I'm curious about the ultimate answer to this fate..."
He pointed at me after saying the last sentence of his words
"I'm sure we're the ones picking" Eleanor said as she approached us
"I'm glad you want to work with us, Your Majesty Oberon. I look forward to our cooperation going forward" He saluted me
"It doesn't need to be formal like that. I'm not comfortable"
I'm still not used to being saluted by humans somehow
"Oh yeah. Where's your waiter? Albert isn't wrong?" I asked him
"Ah... She was just cleaning up some traitors who wanted to report and be outside this city" Eleanor replied
"... They're not gonna be anything, are they?"
"They will be hurt in some places for trying to betray, but nothing more"
Uwahs... He's too honest...
Let it. If anyone reports, we will also be in trouble
Huff... At least I can already have the certainty of the smooth running of my plan with that advance payment
"Surely, I will have to train the magic users of Fae later so that they can fly" I complained as I scratched the back of my head
Verdea then patted me on the shoulder from behind, and next to her stood Veskal
"For that, leave it to us" He said steadily
Goody. I can rest in peace
"By the way, what advance payment do you want from Miss Eleanor?" Ask Veskal who still looks curious
Verdea also nodded in agreement waiting for my answer with an enthusiastic face
I smiled broadly before saying, "If we go to his house later, you'll see", to the two of them
