The earnest persuasion of Izuel went on for quite some time. His words did not feel like a spur-of-the-moment statement, but rather a conclusion reached after thorough calculation and planning. I chose to listen quietly to Izuel, wanting to hear his true intentions without interruptions.

"… I desire an everlasting friendship with Duke Jared."

"I have long admired Duke Jared as well," responded Princess Maira, echoing Izuel’s sentiments. Her words struck deeply into my heart, revealing the unsettling thoughts she held.

[Common traits: determination, sacrifice]

This inner reflection revealed that these keywords had become representative of Maira’s mindset—indicating they filled her thoughts at this moment. Determination, sacrifice. From these words, I sensed no feelings of love. Even if she did have personal feelings, my answer would have remained the same.

I carefully began to speak. "Your Majesty the King, and Your Highness the Princess, may I have a word?"

"Of course. Speak freely."

"I cannot accept this proposition."

"…."

Rather than vague words, the certainty of my response caused Izuel and Maira's expressions to waver. I understood their feelings well. Both Izuel and Maira had incurred a debt to me—Izuel during his ascent to the throne and Maira in her efforts to crown her brother. Moreover, given the internal turmoil weakening the Cinders Kingdom, their anxiety was entirely justified. Recently, dozens of military leaders, previously aligned with Prince Jeth, had been purged. Restoring order and filling those positions with competent figures would take an immense amount of time and effort.

Should I decide otherwise, the safety of the entire northern region would be in peril in an instant. I knew the overall situation of the Cinders Kingdom well. Unlike the fertile southern lands, the north remained underdeveloped and barely activated.

If I pressed without consideration, I could easily seize control of the northern territories, or so my calculations led me to believe. Naturally, this was merely a fantasy in my mind, for I had no intention of turning it into reality.

The Cinders Kingdom was of higher value to me while it existed, rather than being shaken or destroyed—it served as a shield.

"I do not wish to be entangled with any political forces. This is also the wish of my late father."

I used my father as an excuse. Though he had never said such things during his lifetime… Father, you will understand, won’t you?

"The wish of the former lord…"

"Yes. Of course, I will actively collaborate in building a frontline against the Anti-Umbral Alliance with the Cinders Kingdom. I will spare no effort in rooting out and suppressing the remnants of the Umbral Cult."

"So you're saying you wish to engage in strategic cooperation but avoid any deeper ties?"

"Indeed. Additionally, I believe it would be better for Your Majesty to pursue your grand ambitions without being tethered to me."

"Duke Jared…"

The hint of sadness in Izuel’s trailing note was palpable. Maira's expression was darker still. It was as if she had been turned away from a marriage proposal, inflicting a blow to her pride. Of course, I had never thought less of Maira; she was indeed remarkable, beautiful, and capable.

"It is not that I think highly of myself. It's simply that in comparison to the greatness of you, Your Majesty and Your Highness, I find myself infinitely small and lacking."

"I do not see it that way, Duke Jared." Maira interjected, seemingly still clinging to hope. Yet I knew that prolonging our conversation would not yield positive results.

"Your Highness, I do not desire a political marriage. A union without love holds no meaning for me."

I hit the nail on the head, aiming to prevent our conversation from dragging on. It seemed my words struck a chord within Maira, rendering her momentarily speechless. Yet she mustered the will to continue.

"Then… what about a marriage based on love?"

"If it’s a marriage born from mutual understanding, then that would be fine. If two individuals love each other and wish to be together, it seems only natural."

“…”

Maira fell silent there. I did not believe she felt genuine affection for me. However, I felt deeply the sacrifice she was willing to make for her brother Izuel. She was ready to give everything.

"From now on, my priority will be the Cinders Kingdom. As long as Your Majesty and Your Highness do not abandon me."

As I paused for a moment, I could hear the two of them swallow hard. They were anxious and cautious, aware of the weight of the situation. This was the logic of cold, hard power. There was no need to feign angelic kindness here.

"I will not abandon you, either. However, should the weapon’s edge turn towards me… I will respond with all my strength. I speak without hiding my sincerity."

"I understand."

And thus, our conversation came to a close. The exchange could hardly be considered one between a king and a duke; the balance of power had shifted. It mattered little to me. The Cinders Kingdom held significant value to me now. If I could use it, I would. Of course, it would be wise to keep the right balance between carrots and sticks. I believed Izuel, being the wise person he was, would know how to navigate this situation. In fact, I had been playing the role of a kingmaker all along to assist him in gaining the throne.

After handling all my appointments, I was returning on the road to the Cribia territory. Though there was a military teleportation magic circle to carry me to the kingdom’s borders, I chose to walk on the first day to survey the current condition of the kingdom at a relaxed pace. I had no escort, having sent everyone back to the territory to rid myself of unnecessary attention.

Swoosh. Swoosh.

"Now that I think of it, the rainy season should be starting soon."

As I watched the raindrops begin to fall, I realized the rainy season in the northern continent was upon us. Every July, the northern areas would experience about a month of heavy rains. Last year, I hadn’t paid much attention to the rainy season due to the small size of my territory. At that time, my domain was limited to the northernmost tip of the continent, and therefore, it had not been affected.

But this year was different. Having merged multiple territories, my influence had expanded greatly, and with areas near rivers now part of my domain, the potential for flooding was an added concern.

[Title Effect: The Great Lord—immediately grants divine blessings and protection over the entire domain. For the next 2 years, the probability of experiencing natural disasters such as droughts, floods, pests, and strong winds is reduced by 90%.]

‘Thanks to this title, the threat to Cribia itself has greatly diminished, but the problem is that we aren’t the only ones near the river.’

I recalled the map of the area. There was a large river starting from the southern part of our Cribia territory and flowing northwest into the Cinders Kingdom. The Optatio River. Last year, a massive flood had occurred along this river. Fortunately, the rainy season had been short, so there hadn’t been a significant outbreak of disease, but it did cause a considerable number of displaced individuals and patients.

‘With so many undeveloped regions in northern Cinders Kingdom, flood control is poorly managed. If this rainy season ends up worse than expected, the number of affected areas will surely rise.’

Disasters wouldn’t be limited to just the Cinders Kingdom. To put it more broadly, the range of influence from the Optatio River extended to the neighboring Malus Kingdom and Bonus Kingdom. All cities connected to the river were less developed, making them very vulnerable to flooding.

‘I should prepare master potions against waterborne diseases. It seems they will soon be in demand. A great opportunity for profit.’

Prompted by the sudden downpour, I resolved to begin work to prepare for the future. This was not just about saving lives from illnesses, but also to make money from selling cures. Money was always a crucial element in managing a great territory—it could never be overstated.

"I need to find some shelter from the rain."

The heavy downpour had made it difficult to move, so I sought refuge in a tavern that also served as an inn. No one recognized me there. Yet, I was aware that gossip about me circulated persistently.

“Did you hear? The guy who played a major role in wiping out that vile Pthalin gang!”

“Is it Lord Jared, or is he now a Duke?”

“Exactly! Just a few months ago he was a country bumpkin in the far north, and now he's become a noble overnight!”

“Come on, a bumpkin? Helping the King suppress the rogues? That’s quite a feat!”

“Sure, but that wasn't the case back then! They said he was a glutton, living on nothing but meat and chocolate! I don’t know what wind blew his way, but now he’s become a muscular handsome man!”

The unfolding civil war was certainly a hot topic among the drinkers. They gossiped about me, someone whose face they’d hardly seen. None of their remarks were particularly unpleasant. But a recurring theme in their conversation was keen interest in our territory, which had rapidly risen to prominence. Their attention was filled more with hope and curiosity rather than criticism or disdain.

“Sir, the room you requested has been cleaned and is ready for you. Would you like to go straight in, or would you like to order something first?"

"A beer, please."

"Of course, right away!"

The attendant was polite and courteous. This seemed to be a recent trend. In the past, taverns were often staffed by burly, rough-spoken individuals due to the need to deal with rowdy customers. However, thanks to the ‘friendly service’ movement initiated from my territory, such practices had spread here as well.

Instead of the old burly staff, charming and polite attendants had replaced them, while armed soldiers patrolled inside and outside the tavern. They had established a dual system where kindness was met with kind service and misbehavior was met with strength.

Just then…

“Ugh, what disgusting weather! Huh? There’s not a single seat open? Let’s see... Excuse me?”

A drenched man shook the rainwater from his hair and directly walked toward me.

Puzzled, I looked around and realized every table was occupied. The only seat available was at my two-person table where I sat alone.

Before responding to his request, it was my habit to subconsciously scan his stats with my divine eye. It had become an ingrained habit to assess my surroundings for precautions.

However, I was met with an unanticipated obstacle.

[Special Trait: The blessing of Lunaticus is currently in effect. Special trait examination is not possible.]

A special trait that I had never encountered before manifested. To be precise, it was a defensive mechanism that completely blocked the scanning of my divine eye. And the name associated with this blessing bore the name of Lunaticus, one of the gods of Paradiso.

‘Could it be…?’

Am I going to meet the true protagonist of Paradiso here?