I Will Become the Queen of the Enemy Country

[From what I’ve observed, he is a very quick-witted person. And he has a strong desire for recognition. He also has the ambition to do great things. If only the Countess could satisfy that part, he wouldn’t cause a big accident.]

[Miss Elise…]

At that moment, when it seemed like Rosh would immediately refuse, Elise raised her hand to stop her.

[Thanks to him, I learned a lot about the Dex territory. And with his base and accurate judgment, we were able to go to save His Highness and the Countess.]

Elise briefly told about the efforts Kram had made to organize the support team. He was prepared to be branded a swindler, a thief, and opened the Countess’s storeroom.

[The method was not right.]

[But everyone survived because of it.]

It was a consequential argument, but sometimes the result proves the process. Like this time.

[I’m not saying to employ Lord Kram unconditionally. Can’t we give him a chance at least once? The sin was committed by his father, not him.]

The conversation ended like that. Even when the meeting started, Elise didn’t think Rosh would give Kram a chance.

Because Rosh’s expression when she looked at Kram was too cold.

But Kram got a chance. And eventually, he caught Rosh’s eye.

Being able to seize the opportunity when given is also a skill.

“…That’s all.”

In the quiet conference room, Kram sat down after making a chic bow as if he had finished a play.

Rosh exhaled a long breath. Now only Rosh’s decision remained.

Feeling everyone’s gaze on her, Rosh lifted her gaze that had been cast down. Determination rose in her serious eyes.

“According to Sir Kram, it’s beneficial to go out unconditionally. Then there’s no need to worry anymore.”

Kram’s face brightened like the sun. Rosh quoted his opinion and made a decision!

Trish gave Kram, who was overjoyed, a signal with her eye. Kram bit his lip and turned his head. The topic of the meeting was too heavy to be happy for personal reasons.

When the surroundings were evoked, Rosh asked Karan.

“How much scale should we prepare, Your Highness? After deploying the minimum security personnel in each village, there are only a hundred knights left in the Dex territory.”

“Are you asking for a simple opinion? Or are you thinking of entrusting me with the full authority to subjugate the gate?”

“If Your Highness accepts, I would like you to take charge of the gate subjugation.”

Rosh had definitely realized when she followed the reconnaissance team. That her life as a warrior was over.

Then the only person to lead and command the subjugation team was Karan. There was no need to consider other alternatives, considering him, the best warrior on the continent.

“Okay. I’ll gladly accept.”

“We have three people who are combat-disabled, two are recovering. Including Your Highness and me, there are 15 people.”

Haltbin explained the situation without even Karan asking.

Usually, more than 300 troops move to close one gate. Including magicians. If not, a disastrous defeat would be predicted.

Even if you combine the Countess’s military and Karan’s warriors, it did not reach 150 people.

“The number is too small.”

Haltbin said. It was a desperate number. Dark clouds hung on people’s faces.

“That’s enough. No problem.”

Karan grinned.

“What do you mean by enough, Your Highness?”

Haltbin said with a gloomy face.

“Do you have to use the right method to close the gate? Try using tricks.”

“I need a little more explanation.”

Usually, closing the gate means going into the entrance of the gate, dealing with monsters popping out from various places, piercing the maze-like path, and infiltrating the central part to catch the boss monster, the owner of the gate.

There are several problems at this time, first of all, you don’t know what kind of monster will pop out. Secondly, it takes a lot of time to infiltrate the central part because the inside of the gate is like a maze.

Of course, as the time spent inside the gate increases, the number of battles increases and the damage proportionally increases.

“Do you mean there’s a trick, Your Highness?”

Rosh showed the most interest.

“There is.”

“What is it? Please tell us.”

At Haltbin’s question, everyone nodded. Everyone had a face that was dying of curiosity.

Karan glanced at Elise. Without anyone knowing, the two exchanged glances.

“Try using a shortcut.”

“What does that mean…Does it make sense? How do we know the shortcut, Your Highness.”

Haltbin, who had high expectations, drooped his shoulders.

“I know, I do.”

“Huh?”

“I have a way to know everything.”

When did our Highness become a bluffer. Haltbin completely turned his gaze away.

Rosh, Kram, and Trish couldn’t openly swear, but they all had similar thoughts to Haltbin.

“Just trust me. I’ll never disappoint you. Just form a team of exactly six people.”

“Your Highness…”

Haltbin let out a groan-like sound and looked at Elise. It was a gaze asking for help, to stop this nonsensical plan. But Elise pretended not to see it, even though she clearly met his gaze.

‘Did the two of you decide together?’

If so, there was no one to stop Karan.

“I didn’t know my grave would be the gate.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already looked into the sunniest place in the capital for your grave. It can’t be there.”

“Should I thank you for looking into my bright future grave already?”

“It’s not there, so rest assured. Not just Haltbin. Rosh, you have to lead the peace of the Dex territory, and Sir Kram has to restore his family. I’ll make all of you achieve your dreams, so don’t worry.”

“But Your Highness…”

“Don’t argue. The Countess has made a decision to go out, and she has delegated full authority to me. From now on, if you argue with me, it will be considered rebellion. How about it, Haltbin? Do you have anything else to say?”

Rebellion is death. Haltbin immediately shook his head.

“Then let’s disband.”

Everyone left the conference room with faces full of questions.

“Now, Ellis.”

In a situation where only Karan and Elise were left, Karan leaned his face right in front of Elise.

“I did as you told me. So, is it time for me to receive my reward?”

Elise taught Karan the strategy for the gate when he woke up at dawn.

As always, Karan believed Elise’s words without any doubt.

Elise, who was pricked by conscience, rather made an excuse.

“I did a lot of research because I was interested. There are many ancient books in Bedrokka…as you know…”

“For Chase?”

Karan misunderstood, but Elise didn’t correct it. Because that was the explanation that gave the most credibility to the current situation.

Thanks to that, everything went according to Elise’s plan.

Thanks to Karan, not Elise, the plan to take a shortcut was passed.

So the reward was certain.

Elise nodded her head.

“I have a proposal before that.”

Everything was going according to Elise’s plan. So Elise was optimistic. In the end, it was all as one wishes.

****

Karan was busy running around all afternoon. It was to select the warriors for the subjugation team.

“Let’s eat, Elise.”

Karan appeared in the dining hall, even though Elise thought she wouldn’t see his face because he was busy preparing for the expedition.

Elise thought it was a good opportunity to tell her second plan.

The two ate together, and Elise told her plan.

Unlike usual, Karan just listened quietly.

And he went up to the room.

“Wash up first, Elise.”

Elise quickly washed up and came out. The water he had boiled for her hadn’t cooled yet.

When she came out after washing, Karan was looking out the window. He seemed to be deep in thought and turned his head as soon as he felt Elise’s presence.

And he took the large towel in her hand and wrapped it around her dripping wet hair.

“It would be better to dry it properly.”

Coldness dripped from his voice. If she caught a cold, she thought it would be because of Karan’s coldness, not because she didn’t dry her hair.

“Your Highness, are you angry?”

He took her to the dressing table without even making eye contact with Elise.

He naturally sat Elise in a chair and started drying her hair, something he had been doing for a very long time.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

His touch was very careful, as if he was worried that even a single strand of Elise’s hair would be damaged. It didn’t match his rough hands and blunt expression.

“Your Highness…”

“I’m thinking for a moment.”

Elise opened her mouth and then closed it. Elise peeked at Karan through the mirror.

It was hard to gauge his emotions, whether he was thinking or angry.

Elise was not used to silence. It was even more so after her regression.

In order to make the situation favorable to her, she willingly became a talkative person.

That way, she could gather information and know the other person’s sincerity.

But Karan kept his mouth shut and only moved his hands, leaving her unable to speak.

Even though she hadn’t done anything wrong, Elise felt like she was being scolded and just fiddled with her poor skirt.

Elise’s mood gradually sank.

“Why do you have that expression?”

When she cast her eyes down, Karan asked.

“What about my expression?”

She was trying not to show her emotions. Elise looked up at her face in the mirror.

Another eye and gaze met, looking at her face in the mirror.

With Karan’s deep, ocean-like eyes.

Sometimes Elise found his gaze burdensome, unable to gauge the depth contained in his eyes, which were like a cave or sea where not a single ray of sunlight entered.

“You look full of dissatisfaction. Did I pull your hair? I apologize if it hurts.”

Her hair was fairly fluffy. Karan threw the towel into a corner.

His touch, which had been drying Elise’s hair, was now rough and violent.

Elise thought that was a sign of dissatisfaction with her.

“The one who seems to be dissatisfied is rather Your Highness, not me.”

“Dissatisfaction…”

Karan muttered.

“It seems so.”

His tone was filled with a sense of loss, as if he had realized it too late.

“If you have any dissatisfaction, if it’s about me, please tell me.”

“Will you listen if I say it, Elise?”

Karan crossed his arms. His posture was clearly reflected in the mirror.

His tone was very polite, but his slightly raised eyebrows and slanted posture were extremely delinquent.

It might look more so because of the shirt that he carelessly buttoned up. It contrasted with Elise’s attire, which was buttoned up to the neck.

Karan’s unique raw atmosphere became clearer.

It’s dangerous.

Elise tightly clasped her two hands on her knees.