The Courtesan

Chapter 21

KRON

The shimmering white flake landed on my outstretched palm. The camp was far behind me and up ahead was Fort Gracia in the territory of General Reed, the old general that guarded the south. His reception when we passed through was as frigid as the weather. 

Now that it was only me, there was the possibility that he would reject me outright. Thankfully, it was close to Casella day so he wouldn’t be able to reject me, at least not without stirring the people. 

The messenger I sent ahead returned with good news. My escorts moved forward, my horse lagging behind them. Starting with General Reed was certainly difficult but once I get him on my side, winning over the other generals wouldn’t be so hard. 

Fort Gracia was more fortified than the other forts, coming only second to the south border. It was a strategic location with blossoming farmlands and a booming economy. Well, at least I thought the economy was booming until I walked through the street. 

It was close to Casella day yet the ornaments that adorned the streets were stringent. The people gave a cursory bow when we passed by, nothing of a cheer or goodwill message. Whatever was wrong, I was about to find out. 

The portcullis slowly rolled up to reveal the home of General Reed. He stood by the door, a stern look on his face. I jumped down from my horse and greeted him with a short nod, getting one in return. 

“To what do I owe this visit, Prince Kron?”

“I had wanted to discuss something important but what is going on? Why is it so depressing here? When we passed by -”

“It was the same. You just didn’t care enough to pay attention. Now that you are paying attention, you must really want what you came for.”

Reflecting on it, he was right. We thought the cold reception was because he didn’t like us but the area was too heavy and depressing when we arrived. The people who supposedly loved my father didn’t bother too much greeting him when he arrived and left. Whereas I was…… occupied with the thought of a woman. How embarrassing. 

“You must think I’m vile but there were important things occupying my mind then. Now that they have been somewhat resolved, my eyes are opened. I apologize for acting in such a manner.”

“Hmph! It’s not like you can just fix what is wrong in a manner of days.”

“I would just like to know what is going on.”

“Let’s go inside.”

Knowing I was getting through to him slowly made me relieved. I followed him through the dark manor, right to his office. It was a large space choked with weapons, an armour hanging to the side and various parchments depicting strategies on the wall. 

I have loved strategies for a long time and spent all my time studying them. I had seen many in my father’s house but the ones the other generals possessed were a novelty to me. I could spot errors quickly but the ones General Reeds had were harder to nitpick. 

There was a map pinned to his desk, showing the continent and strategic locations in our kingdom alone. The other kingdoms in our continent basically surrounded ours and for that reason, our defense was optimal. With more resources and better strategies, the plan of taking over Uramuth didn’t seem like it was impossible anymore.

“... Highness... Your highness!”

“Oh, pardon me.”

“It’s seems we still fully don’t have your attention.”

“No, no, it’s nothing like that. Your strategies are so impressive, I couldn’t help being carried away.”

“Really?”

He tried to hide it but I could see his stern exterior cracking. 

“Please, tell me what is going on.”

“Alright. Fort Gracia is falling into a recession.”

“What? How?”

“Because of the weather, the roads are blocked and the nearby cities have stopped receiving produce. The crops are not producing anymore till next year and whatever we have left is being sold at a high price throughout the fortress. The normal trade route to Uramuth has been blocked for a strange reason. With all of these, people are scared they’re going to starve this winter and trade has been fluctuating.”

The trade to Uramuth... Come to think of it, why did such a thing stop? Is it my father's plan?

If it was my father’s plan, I was going to use it to my advantage. 

“I have a hundred men here. If some of the men in the fortress join in, we can dig a path to the nearby cities, we can get trade to flow. I send a signed document to the lords in charge of the area.”

“... That does seem like an easy solution.”

“I’ll get to writing the documents right away!”

“Your highness, please sit.”

“Is there another problem?”

“There is a rumor going around that the kingdom is going to war. I want you to confirm if it is true?”

Should I tell the truth? Is that what father would want?

“General Reeds, once the snow clears up, would the trade from the surrounding cities be enough to keep your economy afloat?”

“... No. Most of our income depends on the trade between Uramuth and Casella.”

“That’s right. Uramuth has a strategic location, positioning itself between the next continent, receiving a lot of foreign goods and monopolizing them. If you had access to those kinds of resources, not only would your territory expand, your people would’ve have to suffer for many winters to come.”

I caught him off guard. His mouth hung for a while before he sighed. I kept my face neutral but I was glad that I was driving my point home. I appealed to two weaknesses; his greed and the love for his people. 

“Your highness, war is not an easy affair, especially not a war between a nation like Uramuth.”

“War, no matter the strategies used, depends on luck. If all the generals came together, we would be evenly matched with Uramuth and luck would be our deciding factor. Do you not want to bet on the prosperity of our kingdom?”

“If we lose, our kingdom would suffer instead.”

“If we lose, our kingdom will be fine.”

“On what assurance do you base that, Prince Kron?”

“Let’s just say I’m a very lucky man.” 

He paused, casting a look of disbelief. He shook his head, chuckling. 

“You’re just like your father.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Time will tell. You can be off writing that letter. I’ll assemble my guards.”

I smiled, rising from my seat. When I was about to step out, I heard his voice. 

“This doesn’t mean I have accepted you just yet. Like your father, you would have to prove your worth. I hope you’ll do well.”

“I promise to surpass your expectations.”

Just you wait! I’ll surpass you all, even my father!

A brief inconsequential thought occurred to me as I walked down the hall. 

Would she... be happy?