Common Sense of a Duke's Daughter

Koushaku Ch 255 - Negotiations

…… The next day, I returned to work.

They told me that Tanya has been worried about me and her eyes were always with tears, and Merida was the same.

Not everyone of the management department knew the details, but they were equally concerned about me. At the end, they thought I fell ill because of work exhaustion.

And they were pleased with tears when my return.

Every day I do what I have to do, though I still feel a deep sadness.

My wounds cannot heal and I'll never forget his existence.

No matter how much I bury my head in business, no.

We spent time together in this mansion.

While still buried in work, he still talked about his future dreams with me.

When a new idea popped up, we were happy.

When we hit the wall, we held our heads together.

… This house has too many memories with him to bury him into the past.

So it can't be helped.

And what's wrong with that?

Because I still think … I love you.

Thinking about that in one corner of my head, I worked on the accumulated documents.

Then, after some days passed, I recovered the intuition over business that had been cultivated all these years.

The day of the discussion with the Kingdom of Acacia, which is a big job for me, has come.

Tanya stands behind me and my mother is beside me.

Both of them look the same as usual, but they seem to be armed.

They would move immediately if something happens.

Lyle and Dida were asked to protect the house, so this time they were not at my side.

Even though it was a peace negotiation, it was prudent to have an escort at the side.

Tanya came closer to me.

"… He's here my lady."

I reaffirmed Tanya's words.

"Welcome, Kaadir."

I greeted the man who entered the room with a smile.

Prince Kaadir, wearing the Acacia kingdom's nobility wearing, had a soft smile on his face.

…… I think it's a terrible smile, but what does it matter anyways.

"I would like to express my heartfelt joy to see you."

Saying that, Kaadir took my hand and dropped his lips over it.

I smiled at the gesture as if this was a theater's play.

"Nice to meet you, Prince Kaadir."

Kaadir smiled bitterly at my words.

…… Because I saw through your thoughts in the first match, you will make a little concession after this? It seems that my thought was conveyed to him.

He would like to keep a secret that he had been here as Hafiz last time.

With that thought in mind, I emphasized that we met for the first time today.

"Please, Prince Kaadir, have a seat over there."

I encourage him to take a seat and I also sit in front.

I stared at him.

…… Invincible smile. Coupled with his neat face, it had an elegant and harsh atmosphere.

The impression he gave should be of a king seeing his subjects.

"… This is a good territory. The people are rich and there is no political instability."

"Well … thank you"

There was a feeling of anger in my heart.

Of course, I won't show it.

"But until recently, this territory was hit by a terrible situation."

He utters a sad voice while turning his face to the side.

"Oh …"

I felt like his eyes were shining.

"People from other countries attacked my territory."

"That's a shame …"

"Yeah, it's very disappointing. Even more, to be attacked by a country that asked for marriage."

A moment of silence came.

I was asking him about where he was going with the talk, and what he would point out next.

"If I have to give you an explanation … that'd be because the former king made a secret agreement with the Twil's country. It was not my intention."

I breathe out and decided to ignore the excuse.

"It was not your intention… was it? However, the fact that the Kingdom of Acacia attacked my territory is undeniable. How will you take responsibility for your country?"

He laughed. ……

I got goose bumps for a moment.

"… my excuse is a personal feeling … I don't want to be hated by you. My intention or not, but as a king I will first give you the answer of the country. It was a necessary move… This was due to the former king and some of his entourage. The country was not willing to attack your territory but it was necessary. "

"Well … just changing the wording, it doesn't change the content."

"That's painful to hear"

Kaadir smiled.

"I'm amazed … my important partner and queen candidate was attacked."

"It's scary …"

"Well … do I have such a scary face?"

"No, no. It's terrible because what you say is not reflected in your face. You aren't moved by emotions in the least. Those kind of beings are the more dangerous ones."

He didn't respond to my words, but I said it from my heart.

It's hard to make negotiations with such individual….

"Now, Acacia's country has prepared an appropriate compensation for those who have suffered damage in this attack. The contents are on this book… all you have to do is sign it. "

An old man who was behind Kaadir gave me a document.

I pick it up and look at the contents.

"… It's not enough"

Roughly reading it, I nodded.

"… What?"

Kaadir-sama looked at me with narrowed eyes.

Combined with that atmosphere, I must be more nervous than in any of the previous meetings.

"Kaadir… Actually, Jarral, the first prince of your country, is here for protection."

His intimidation increased with my words.