The Reality Of The Independent Kingdom

Through the window, white curtains hanging on one side of the room fluttered in the breeze. In the midst of this, Ian and Adrina, who had fallen asleep on the bed, were sleeping while embracing each other.

At the moment they were sleeping with such happy smiles, it was Ian who opened his eyes first. He woke up to the hair tickling the tip of his nose. It had happened as it fluttered in the wind.

‘Ah, it wasn’t a dream?’

At the presence of Adrina held in his arms, the moments they had spent together all day yesterday finally came back to him. As if exploding everything he had held back, they had continued their relationship several times from the daytime until the late hours of dawn.

‘What should I do about this? They say late-learned habits are a problem, and I think I’ll be the same..’

Thoughts of “How can I tease her?” did not leave his mind from time to time. Even now, as she slept in his arms without wearing anything, it made him think that he wanted to do it. Only the shoulder line was revealed as she was covered by the blanket, but even that felt attractive.

Chu, he lightly kissed her cheek. She flinched at this action, but she did not wake up, perhaps being tired. At that appearance, Ian playfully continued, this time with a chu on her forehead, then followed with kisses on her nose, lips, and chin in succession. Only then did Adrina open her eyes at the sensation she felt.

“Uwoong, Ian?”

“Adrina, did you sleep well?”

“I’m so tired. Yawn.”

She yawned while embracing him as she was. That appearance looked so lovely. At the same time, the thought occurred that it was only natural for her to be tired. Since they had continued their relationship from the very first time until dawn, she was bound to be exhausted.

‘I guess she isn’t even embarrassed anymore? Heh heh.’

Adrina, who would have been intensely embarrassed yesterday, was now hugging him tightly as if that were no longer the case. At that appearance, he lifted her face as it was and gave her chu-chu-chu kisses. He showered her with kisses in succession. She seemed to accept it as if she didn’t dislike this action. With that, he spoke with a smile on his lips.

“Shall we go one more time?”

“Hieek? Again?”

“I can’t help it because your current appearance is so lovely.”

“Your Highness, really. Then just.. only once?”

“Of course.”

Fwhip—the moment he pulled back the blanket, her naked form began to fill his vision again. At that appearance, Ian could not help but feel his libido being activated uncontrollably. Was I always like this? Was my stamina always this good? Such thoughts kept occurring to him.

‘Whatever. It’s good if I can keep going.’

He climbed on top of Adrina as he was and immediately continued the kiss, meeting her lips. From the way even their tongues moved, one could tell how much progress they had made in a single day. In the midst of the intensity gradually rising, the two became heated, and before they knew it, they merged into one.

In an instant, a hot heat began to rise in the room, and it returned to a state filled with groans.

If one starts, must one see the end? Their relationship continued not only through the morning but until late in the afternoon. Looking at this state, it seemed that the plan to return immediately would be delayed slightly.

February 15, World Era 1917, Beyru, Capital of the Vincent Kingdom.

Poong—

While the sound of ship whistles was heard repeatedly, there were large vessels entering the port. Many people were out to greet these vessels.

Of course, they were not there voluntarily but had been mobilized; they were merely waving their hands mechanically. Of course, for those who could not see such appearances in detail, they could only think, “They are greeting me grandly?”

At any rate, the Polia Kingdom Army was situated on the ships that arrived amidst such a large-scale welcome. Following the requests of various nations, they had moved here to prevent disturbances on the Colonial Continent.

Currently, thousands of troops are boarded on each ship. Because they had to transport as many as 30,000 troops at once, as many as 30 transport ships had moved. Furthermore, because they had to transport various tanks and military supplies, a large-scale transport fleet numbering about 40 ships had arrived.

Of course, that number was just for the transport fleet, and it could be said that a single fleet followed to provide escort and protection. Fortunately, they were able to move for a full month without any incidents and arrived safely like this.

Before long, the ships were docking one by one. In fact, the Polia Kingdom Army that disembarked here was scheduled to board trains and move immediately. They intended to move to various places, 10,000 troops each, to prevent disturbances in the colonies of each nation.

Cheok-cheok-cheok—

It was the appearance of the Polia Kingdom Army disembarking gallantly along with the sound of military boots. Many people were watching that appearance with peculiar faces. In reality, although they were the Polia Kingdom Army who originally would have been soldiers of the same country, they had now become soldiers of another country.

In the midst of their appearance moving in lines, many reporters were capturing such scenes with their cameras. In truth, this matter was not just a matter for the Polia Kingdom but also for nations around the world. As such, the place was crowded with reporters from various countries, showing a feverish heat for news coverage.

Meanwhile, all the Polia Kingdom soldiers were wearing military uniforms in dark gray. This was because it was realized during the last Great War that wearing uniforms that stood out too much made one an easy target, so by the time 1914 arrived, it was officially adopted as the service uniform, and all soldiers came to wear it.

Since the steel helmets also bore the same color, they presented a sense of unity overall. Amidst their appearance, something else made its appearance: the tanks being unloaded from the transport ships.

Kkiririk—

At the sound of the caterpillar tracks turning, the gaze of many people gathered toward the appearing tanks. These were tanks that could be said to have been produced and sold in massive quantities during the last Great War, seeing much action on the battlefield.

Of course, as time passed and each empire developed and produced their own tanks, they became mediocre tanks by the latter half of the war, but if there was one certain thing, it was that this tank named ‘Frei’ became the benchmark for tanks in the current world.

Grrrr—!

It was the appearance of the tanks moving in lines while turning their caterpillar tracks along with a loud exhaust sound. In reality, since they were tanks weighing only 15 tons, there was almost no sense of bulkiness, but in the eyes of the people now, it was an appearance sufficient to give a sense of intimidation.

Deureureureuk—

The number of tanks moving while treading on the road reached several dozen. These tanks would move straight to the train station and would be loaded into separate cargo cars to be moved. Following the appearance of these tanks, various calibers of field guns were being moved while attached to trucks.

It was certainly an appearance that revealed the presence of a powerful nation as it was. Amidst this appearance, fighter aircraft also began to fly over the skies of this capital, Beyru. In fact, it was a matter where even fighter aircraft did not need to fly, but they were launched from the aircraft carrier that came with the fleet as a show of force.

Boong—

At the appearance of about 15 fighter aircraft moving here and there as if performing aerobatics, many people looked up at the sky and watched. In reality, even those who were forcibly mobilized were now genuinely amazed and watching such a sight as if entranced.

Meanwhile, there was someone watching this scene with a heavy expression, none other than Vincent, the King of this country. He was looking at the appearance of the fighter aircraft flying across the sky and the Polia Kingdom Army moving in lines with envy. Someone who saw this beside him spoke.

“Are you envious of their appearance?”

“Yes, I am very envious.”

“Someday, we too will possess a proper army.”

At these words from Duke Gwens, who once held the status of a duke in the Polia Kingdom, Vincent nodded. They too would possess such an army someday. The problem lay in the fact that it would take a very long time.

With the current economic power and industrial capacity, it was a matter that would take a long while.

‘Even the population is too small. What can be done properly with a population of only a few million..’

“Sometimes I think. It originally should have been mine, so why did it turn out like this?”

“Indeed. Reality changed too suddenly.”

Everything was changed by the individual who was the Ninth Prince named Ian. If he had known his hidden intentions earlier, would the result have been different? He ponders such a question, but the thought occurs that perhaps it was already too late even if he had known. Besides, who would have even suspected after seeing such a course of action?

Meanwhile, another thought occurred. What would have happened if his maternal grandson and King before him, Vincent, had become the King of the Polia Kingdom? Watching the situation of the last world-class Great War, the thought occurred that he might have suffered massive national damage along with erratic judgments.

‘If I consider Vincent’s temperament, he would have pushed forward with the fleet and troops blindly.’

He might not have even thought of neutrality itself. Look, having reached the present point, the Polia Kingdom was growing as a powerful nation as a massive military buildup was achieved along with massive economic gains.

It could be said that all of this was because they waged a diplomatic war through neutrality. When thinking of this, King Ian’s course of action was achieving development to the extent that it would not be an exaggeration to say he was leading the Polia Kingdom to its peak.

Even now, as one can see, all countries except the Magnia Empire were requesting help, and they were even dispatching troops like this.

‘They say this is the first wave of troops that came in.’

It is unknown how many more troops will be moved here in the future, but what is certain is that based on this military power, many rebellions occurring in the colonies will be suppressed. Just how much would the profit generated by doing so be? It was a course of action that he could not help but be inwardly envious of.

“Shouldn’t we also import tanks and fighter aircraft?”

“That is true. Coincidentally, they said the Polia Kingdom side would sell us tanks and fighter aircraft.”

“Must we purchase Polia Kingdom-made ones?”

“We could purchase tanks and fighter aircraft from other empires. But to do so, the price is too high.”

In the current situation where economic independence is not great and even the budget used in a year is not that much, bringing in empire-made weapons in smaller quantities at a higher price is an entirely irrational judgment for the nation.

Duke Gwens was worried about King Vincent’s course of action, fearing he might choose to purchase tanks and fighter aircraft from other empires even by being stubborn. But fortunately, it seemed he would not do so.

“If it’s expensive, it can’t be helped. Then how many units do you plan to bring in?”

“I don’t think we can bring in that many. At most, about 12 tanks? I think we can only bring in up to 20 fighter aircraft.”

“It’s too few. At the very least, we should bring in about 100 tanks. I think about 50 fighter aircraft would be good…”

It was King Vincent saying things that were not realistic at all. Even kingdoms possessing populations of tens of millions are currently in a state where they do not possess tanks in units of several hundred. It was not a quantity to be possessed by the Vincent Kingdom, which could only be a small kingdom with a population of only a few million.

“Umm, to do that, the current financial state of the kingdom is too difficult.”

“As I thought, the problem is the lack of money? Really.. I think I feel more deeply these days how difficult it is to have no money.”

At one time, King Vincent was someone who held various interests of the Polia Kingdom in his hands and even moved massive funds. However, now that he had to run such a small kingdom without being able to do even such things, he could not help but feel poignantly how difficult it was to have no money.

“How about bringing in more loans instead?”

“Your Highness, we have already brought in the maximum amount of loans. Just the loans granted by the Polia Kingdom have exceeded ten years’ worth of our kingdom’s budget. If we increase it beyond this, we might end up unable to even pay the interest.”

“Sigh, this way doesn’t work, and that way doesn’t work, so I don’t know what to do.”

“Take it slow. Won’t time solve all the problems in the end?”

“Time, in the end, there is no choice but to wait.”

Vincent thought that perhaps proper growth could be achieved only in his children’s generation rather than his own. The reason he had such thoughts was none other than the fact that, as a condition for independence, they had to send raw materials to the Polia Kingdom at a frozen price for 20 years.

Even at the moment other countries exported at increased prices, his side had no choice but to export raw materials at the same price level. Having experienced it personally, he could tell how massive a loss this incurred. Inwardly, he wanted to declare it null and void right away.

However, since this was a condition for independence, doing so rashly would provide the Polia Kingdom with a justification for invasion, and this could lead directly to a declaration of war. Especially seeing the appearance of the army visible now, such a mind could only vanish further.

In reality, even with just that army that had arrived now, this country was bound to be occupied overnight. Although they planned to organize an army of a few tens of thousands by overextending themselves to join them, the majority of the personnel pulled out were those who were natives.

In reality, they were those who were not even properly trained. He had attended and checked the training state not long ago, and every single one of them not only couldn’t even match their steps but their marksmanship was also pathetic. One might wonder what help sending such an army would be, but in reality, the purpose would be to fill the numbers.

‘They probably just need scapegoats to be hit by bullets instead.’

Despite knowing this, Vincent had no choice but to provide scapegoats under the justification of the country’s future.