Consort Helena’s Pregnancy?!

At Dr. Salosa’s bewildered appearance, Ian felt dumbfounded. To think he had directly developed something that they had thought was the secret possessed by the Republic of Promance, and even the power of a ruin site.

‘This man can be called a genius among geniuses.’

“Um, what is it about the Republic of Promance? I truly do not understand.”

“It has not yet been revealed to the public, but there is a fact that probably most relevant people know. That is…”

As Ian continued his explanation, Dr. Salosa’s expression could not help but turn strange. To think the phenomenon he had developed and revealed already existed in the world. For some reason, he felt as if the work he had achieved had been stolen.

“So, you are saying it may be a device from an ancient ruin? And even one using the method with the White Crystal that I just wanted?”

“That is what we are guessing.”

“Then I am not the first…”

“Are you disappointed that you are not the first?”

“To be honest, yes. I worked so hard to think of and develop this…”

At Dr. Salosa speaking as if he felt wronged, Ian wondered if he did not know just how amazing what he had done was. It already existed, but he had discovered and developed such an amazing technology on his own without any help.

“Do not be too disappointed. Do you not know very well yourself how amazing this technology is?”

“It is amazing. It can amplify matter itself. If there is only a small amount of material, it can be turned into several times that amount of material. It should even be possible to promote the growth of plants.”

“You did such a thing on your own. Even if it has existed since the distant past, you developed such a great technology by yourself.”

At the king’s words, as if saying that he had done something amazing, Dr. Salosa’s face brightened. Although he was not the first, he had revealed and made the same thing from a state where he had known nothing. Since he could say that he had developed this technology by thinking on his own and had not seen such a thing and copied it, he felt proud.

“Continue improving it from now on. If a device using that technology is completed, your name will remain for a long time in the history of the Polia Kingdom, and even in world history.”

“It is a little regrettable that I am not the first, but I like the idea of my name being engraved in history. And I am confident I can make it perform far better than it does now. No, I will surpass it.”

At Dr. Salosa speaking with sparkling eyes, Ian felt that he was reliable. Meanwhile, he also thought that Salosa’s security level, as well as his protection, should be treated as special grade. In a way, he was a genius with a brain that was like a treasure to this country.

‘More than that, it seems similar to what the Republic of Promance said, yet also different.’

For now, they had used the word production. That literally meant creating something from nothing. However, Ian thought that was probably not the case. Though they described it that way, in reality, he thought it was closer to an amplification function.

In any case, if this technology was properly used and operated, the amount of resources and grains that were mined and harvested would definitely skyrocket several times over. An increase in resources and grain was a good phenomenon for a country. Of course, it was also important to release them into the market properly.

Since the prices could drop if things went wrong, they needed to be released in a controlled manner. Meanwhile, it seemed that they would have to wait at least several years for this technology to be developed enough to be properly utilized. Judging from the phenomenon shown now, it looked like a basic level, and a great deal of research would still be needed for proper adjustment.

‘Dr. Salosa will do well. He is a genius, after all.’

Ian’s trust in him was growing stronger and stronger.

Even as September passed and October arrived, the world continued turning as if flowing leisurely. The Polia Kingdom, which had once been noisy because of the explosion incident in the capital, was continuing its peaceful days.

Amid this, Ian wondered whether there had ever been a time when luck came to him as much as it did these days. It was none other than because a very joyful piece of news had been delivered to him.

“What did you just say? Pregnant? Are you saying you are pregnant?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I am pregnant. I was just examined by the royal physician and am on my way back after confirming it.”

“Congratulations! This is truly wonderful! Hahaha!”

Following Ian’s joyful laughter, joy also settled in the heart of Consort Helena, who was blushing. In a way, as if it had fallen perfectly into place, she had held her wedding in October of last year, and now, when nearly one year had passed, she had become pregnant.

She had been anxious all this time because she had not become pregnant, but at the fact that she had finally come to carry His Highness’s child, she was able to escape the pressure she had been receiving until now. Now she, too, had a child.

Meanwhile, Ian could not help but feel overwhelmed by the fact that another child of his existed inside Consort Helena’s belly. Though it was the second time, having a child always had something that made his heart swell and become excited.

“May I hug you once?”

“Of course.”

“Then let me hug you tightly.”

Ian pulled Helena into his arms in a tight embrace and naturally felt grateful. In truth, he himself had also felt sorry and worried while looking at Consort Helena, who had not become pregnant over the past year. But now, he felt relieved that there would be no need for that anymore.

“You have had a hard time emotionally all this while. Be careful from now on and keep your heart at ease.”

“I will. And thank you so much.”

At the fact that he comforted her, she thought that there was nothing left for her to envy. In any case, this news of Consort Helena’s pregnancy was immediately delivered to Ian’s mother, the Queen Dowager. When she heard this news, she was greatly delighted.

In a situation where there was only Princess Karina, a royal descendant, she had inevitably been wishing for a new royal descendant.

This news quickly spread inside the royal palace as well, and everyone offered congratulations. On the other hand, they secretly held the expectation that the royal descendant inside her belly might perhaps be a prince. Although Princess Karina existed, since there was still a tendency to prefer a male child, they could not help but hope for a prince.

Amid this situation, Queen Adrina also heard the news about Consort Helena and offered congratulations, while also temporarily halting the Royal Welfare Foundation activities they had been doing together, meaning that Helena should spend her pregnancy comfortably. From now on, the only thing she needed to know was to keep her body comfortable.

At a glance, some people said that perhaps Queen Adrina might feel jealousy because Helena might give birth to a prince, but Queen Adrina showed no such sign at all. Rather, she showed that she was truly congratulating her and visited her every day, telling her about her own experience of pregnancy.

This news of pregnancy soon left the royal palace and began to become known outside as well. Everyone was greatly delighted when they heard that Consort Helena was pregnant. They, too, held great expectations at the fact that perhaps a prince might be born.

Amid such reactions, several more days passed, and Ian was listening to the words Mardin delivered.

“Who says they wish to meet me?”

“It is Crown Prince Meteor of the Doicheun Empire.”

“When did he come here? I do not think I heard news that he had come to the kingdom.”

“It seems he just arrived today.”

Perhaps that was why there had not yet been a report to him that the crown prince had arrived. More than that, Ian felt puzzled that Crown Prince Meteor had come so suddenly like this. Originally, there were almost no situations where someone came so suddenly like this. In most cases, they sent word in advance before coming.

“Is he trying to offer congratulations on Consort Helena’s pregnancy? But did he not already send congratulations through the embassy before?”

“Since the crown prince came personally, might there not be another matter?”

“For now, I will need to meet him.”

“However, he says he wants a private audience with Your Highness.”

“A private audience with me?”

A private audience with him made Ian feel even more puzzled. Would that not be a burden on Crown Prince Meteor? That was what Ian thought. Since the defeat, they had been receiving all sorts of interference. Naturally, if he had a private audience with Ian, suspicious eyes would be sent toward them, and people would try to find out the contents of the conversation by any means.

‘Is there a reason for the crown prince to personally bear the burden and meet me privately? Since he is prepared and requesting a private audience, I suppose I should meet him first.’

“Call the crown prince to my office.”

“Yes, understood.”

With that answer, Mardin immediately went to the installed telephone and made contact. Since communication could be conveyed in real time right away through the telephone without needing to move, there were more and more cases where the telephone was used. Like that, the message was sent, and about ten minutes later, the crown prince of the Doicheun Empire entered with a knock.

“I greet His Majesty the King of the Polia Kingdom.”

“I greet the Crown Prince of the Doicheun Empire. It feels like it has been a long time since I last saw you.”

“Yes, I think it has been a year since I saw you at my younger sister’s wedding last year.”

“It seems you have been well during that time.”

He had red hair and red eyes like Ian. If there was anything different, it was that he had a delicate impression and wore glasses. In any case, his complexion looked somewhat better than before.

“Thanks to you, things have become easier.”

“What have I done for you to say that?”

“Because Your Highness married my younger sister Helena, much of the diplomatic pressure was relieved.”

In effect, because the Doicheun imperial family and the Polia royal family had entered into a marriage relationship, the diplomatic pressure from outside had become relatively lighter. That was possible because the Polia Kingdom’s status and power had risen that much.

“I did not marry for that reason. I merely accepted her feelings.”

“If you say that, then I can also be relieved. And I heard that my younger sister has become pregnant this time. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“I also want to see my niece or nephew who will soon be born.”

“You will be able to see the child next year. More than that, I heard you requested a private audience?”

“Yes. I would like to have a private audience with Your Highness in a place where security is possible.”

Mardin was still present in this office. As such, at Crown Prince Meteor’s words requesting a place where they could have a private audience, Ian seemed to understand and immediately moved his steps toward the wall. Then, when he manipulated part of the wall, a secret space was soon revealed.

“This place is?”

“My secret place. If it is here, security is certain.”

“There was a place like this? Fascinating.”

There were people who already knew about this place, but since Crown Prince Meteor seemed to be seeing it for the first time, he was looking at it as if fascinated. At that sight, Ian thought that there were probably such spaces in the Doicheun imperial palace too, so what was so fascinating, then pointed inside and spoke.

“Let us go in.”

“Yes, let us enter.”

Before long, the two entered the secret space. The door was closing before anyone knew it, and Crown Prince Meteor saw the liquor bottles placed here and there and realized that this was a kind of space where alcohol could be drunk.

At the sight of Crown Prince Meteor looking around inside, Ian said,

“Do you like alcohol?”

“I do not like it that much, but it is not to the point that I cannot drink it.”

“It would have been nice if you liked alcohol. What a shame.”

“I can drink it.”

“No. I cannot recommend alcohol you do not even particularly like. For now, let us sit and talk.”

Like that, the two sat facing each other on the chairs placed there, and amid this, Ian was curious as to why Meteor was requesting a private audience with him in such a secure manner.

“Is it perhaps because you have something to say about the new weapons?”

“…..That is correct. His Majesty is also truly satisfied with the new weapons whose development has greatly progressed this time.”

“Was it not possible because everyone joined forces?”

“It was possible because the Polia Kingdom secretly proceeded with development.”

“No. If not for the great deal of technical help from the Doicheun Empire, we would have only been able to develop such weapons much later.”

“It seems both countries gave each other good influence. And so, about that.”

“I think I can hear the reason you requested a private audience.”

“……Once the development of the new weapons is fully completed, we would like the Polia Kingdom to produce them on our behalf.”

“You are asking us to produce them for you?”

“That is correct. Since we cannot produce weapons right now, we would like you to produce them and separately store our share.”

“Mmm, the problem would be money, would it not? No matter how much we are cooperating and secretly developing new weapons, we cannot produce weapons without any compensation.”

They were in a relationship through a political marriage and had even secretly developed new weapons together, but they could not produce weapons that would clearly require enormous finances while also storing them. In truth, just storing them alone would surely cost enormous storage fees every year.

“I know that. That is why we intend to provide compensation.”

“How do you mean? As far as I know, the Doicheun Empire’s finances are currently in bad shape.”

“That is correct. Money has dried up and is completely absent.”

“If you are perhaps asking for credit, then I have no choice but to say that it cannot be done.”

No matter how much they could receive it later, there was a limit. No matter how much money they had, if they were to mass-produce even the Doicheun Empire’s share, then they would have to store and maintain them as well, so it was clear that they would shoulder enormous maintenance costs.

“It is not credit.”

“If it is not credit, then what compensation are you saying you will provide? Do you perhaps have hidden treasures?”

Perhaps, just as Ian had discovered the treasure vaults of his grandfather and father, they too might have discovered such treasures inside the imperial palace. If that was the case, Ian thought he could do it. Of course, there had to be the premise that the amount was large.

Just as he was making this prediction, Crown Prince Meteor spoke of a completely different compensation proposal.

“It is similar. A treasure is a treasure, I suppose.”