Road to the Crown

As soon as Al finished introducing my full name, the girl's cheeks covered in blush as she realised what sort of mistake did she make. But it all was nothing when compared by the force of the faceslap to the cheek of her haughty companion!

Claiming to put my nobility into doubt, only to learn that not only he had no right of doing so, but my administrative title as the governor of the entire province was also actually higher than his own employer who only owed a single city!

While I had to admit that a quick scan on the map that I performed upon hearing a proper name of the location showed up that in this day and age, this city that in the future only has the similarity of its name to the brand of a popular beer going for it, was actually quite an impressive trade hub of the area!

Located right on top of the existing trade route from the Capital to the ruthenian eastern provinces, it was actually way richer that Tarnow, even if in the future it would have less than five percent of its population!

"There is no need to stand on the ceremony. After all, all nobles are equal. But its quite surprising how I got to meet a neighbour just like that."

With only twenty kilometres separating our towns, the rural region around Pilzno actually bordered my own lands! Even if her family only owned the city - after all, most of the land in that area belonged directly to the crown - that still made us more or less, a pair of neighbours!

"If that's the case… Or nevermind. I couldn't possibly impose on you as much as to ask you to let us accompany you all the way to the Tarnow…"

At first, Eila's cheeks turned red from agitation, but almost immediately after her expression turned sour and troubled. She had to realise that after admitting that it was her trouble that hit us by accident, asking for even more of our help would be unbecoming!

"As to whether or not that request should be made, solely depends on your side, my lady. I heard a lot of positive rumours about your city after all…"

There was no denying her power. Even if it could be compared to a local powerhouse like me who could rally the troops and tax the immense amount of crops produced by the entire province, her strength lay simply elsewhere!

With how I was going to introduce a system-made beer as the new backbone for the completely revamped economy of my own city, before spreading its influence outwards, as long as I managed to strike a good deal with her, the plans that I calculated to take years at a minimum, could be all implemented even before the escape of the King!

"My lord, it's not very catholic to take advantage of a damsel in need, isn't it?"

Sitting on the wall of the couch, this girl actually started swinging her legs while looking at me with her head lowered! Was she trying to seduce me or something? I couldn't deny that she had some sort of tomboyish charm, I was way too experienced with the ways of mister thumb and his four mistresses that were guided under the watchful eye of the experts from all over the world skilled in the arts of ars amandi! She was way too inexperienced and lacking make-up to tilt the balance of my rationality!

"My lady, from your own words, I can safely assume that giving you a hand with such a task, would put the safety of my own people in great jeopardy. After all, the coronation feast should still be going at the Wawel castle, so travelling under the banner is out of the picture. And that puts us on the spot. I can either parade with my banner raised, most likely bringing the wrath of the King for acting rebellious, give you a hand and expect a turmoil to come my way during the remaining few days of the travel or just escort you to the city, where I will be able to rest easy knowing that a fellow traveller is safe. I'm not greedy, I just need to have something to gain in order to risk!"

There was no such thing as a free meal in this world. If I were some sort of magnanimous magnate or even a lesser-state governor, I could help this girl out of sheer kindness of my heart, but looking how we were attacked by a unit of mounted bandits, someone was investing great sums to make sure Elia wouldn't return home anytime soon!

In reality, helping her out right here would force me into this internal family conflict of hers, putting me at odds with the other side. Without even knowing what faction supported her enemies? No, I had to put my cards in the open and secure my own gains before even considering whether I would help her! Many of fellow nobles fallen from the grace because of the results of chasing after a skirt. I wasn't going to join their infamous ranks!

"What kind of promises do you want from me then? Tribute? Carriage filled with gold? Land? Marriage?"

After hearing my words, the blush of excitement disappeared from the girl's face, replaced by a serious expression. Her eyes were now looking directly into mine, as she jumped out from the carriage and stood straight in front of me. Only at this moment did I realise how petite she was!

Speaking of which, if not for the fact that a marriage was actually a powerful political tool that I wanted to use to its full potential at some point in the future, looking at her rather cute face surrounded by the storm of perfectly brown hair, I might seriously consider her last proposal. I was already twenty-five years old both in my original world and in this one, meaning I was in the ripe age for marriage, with my advisors eager to force a descendant from me.

Looking at Elia, I couldn't say it was free from its imperfections. Several moles scattered over her face, modest chest or the slim figure itself, put her far away from the image of the perfect woman in my head, but at the same time, it was what made her slightly adorable!

"Trading rights, and tax exception for ten years plus a land withing the walls for a single business I will set up in your city."

Shaking my head lightly to brush aside those thoughts that she forced on me with her earlier suggestions, I got to the point. As long as I could use the trading influence of her city to promote my wares outwards, even going as far as to create a chain of breweries, just a single investment like that could very well double if not triple the weekly income of my family!

My answer had to surprise Elia, making her squint her eyes at me as if looking for some sort of loophole in my proposition. By making such a deal with her, I was basically saying I was willing to stay on her side in the internal conflict she was currently in, at least for the sake of securing my own benefits. What might be problematic for her to swallow though, would be the lack of losses on her side!

New business? Trading rights? Exemption from the trade? Those were the trading cards any city could use in order to pull more valuable people like craftsmen or merchants in! It was as if I asked the swimming pool owner for a glass of water!

"Are you sure that's all you want from me?"

The flickering light of the torch made the whole situation as serious, as suggestive. Looking at me with her upturned eyes, while fidgeting from excitement despite how hard she was trying to hide it… If someone didn't hear what we were talking about, he could say with all certainty that either one of us was asking the other one on a date!

"Yeah, trading rights in the city of Plizno, small plot of empty land inside it, and tax exemption for the period of ten years. In return, I will not only guarantee you a safe passage to your hometown but also make sure to… mediate in your family conflict. Even if your lands are already outside the borders of lesser-Poland, as the greatest direct neighbour of the province, I don't think I will have any problems with inviting a local governor for a cup of wine and persuading him to stay out of the matter."

Even though I didn't know what this conflict was all about, I was sure that with my standing and a generous… gift… the governor of the neighbouring province would accede to my request!

"Okay then. I don't have any paper on me, so let's do it in the old way. Deal?"

Extending her hand as she stood firmly on the ground, she reminded me of some kind of idol coaxed into agreeing to work for some shady company. Raising my own hand, I grabbed her delicate fingers and shook her arm.

But instead of enjoying the feeling of her soft and warm skin, I felt a strange feeling inside me. As if the history was made in this very moment.

Well, it's not like a small deal like that could change the direction of the entire world, doesn't it?

Shrugging at how ridiculous that thought would be, I let go of Elia's hand while trying to ignore suggestive Al's whistles.