I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 447 Gift
The heavy oak door to the study closed silently behind him, completely shutting out the cold and prying eyes of the outside world. The flames in the fireplace danced merrily, dispelling the chill the Baron had brought from outside, and casting the shadows of the other two people in the room onto the bookshelves covered with ancient maps.

There were two guests, both wearing dark woolen coats commonly seen on wealthy businessmen in Taiwan. Although they were upright, their eyes were very lazy, lacking the shrewdness often associated with businessmen, as well as the composure and competence that comes with rigorous training.

They were the eyes and ears of Bagnian intelligence in Minicia, and to Baron Nehari, they were also messengers from the true Lord.

"Your Excellency, Baron."

The head envoy bowed slightly, while his deputy stood quietly to the side, with two rather heavy-looking copper-inlaid wooden boxes at his feet.

"You must be tired from your journey, and it's still hard for you to travel in this weather."

Nehari smiled sincerely and strode to the small table by the fireplace, where a warm wine jug was already prepared.

"Have a drink to warm yourself up first."

"The duty lies."

The chief envoy took the wine cup, but did not drink it immediately. Instead, he gestured to his companion. His deputy immediately knelt down and skillfully opened the two wooden chests.

In an instant, the warm and dry air in the study seemed to be infused with an exotic and intoxicating fragrance.

The first thing that catches the eye is a set of porcelain that gleams with a warm luster even under the flickering firelight... a tea set.

They are as white as jade, with a body so thin as to be almost transparent. They are decorated with intricate floral and bird patterns in the Bagnian style, painted with extremely delicate brushstrokes. The colors are vibrant yet elegant.

Although Nehari was not a ceramics expert, he could tell at a glance that these were exquisite pieces that could not have been made in Minicia or any other kingdom in the surrounding area. They could only have come from distant overseas and been obtained through precious trade routes controlled by the Bagnian royal family.

Baron Nehari couldn't resist picking up one of the ceramic teacups and admiring it under the light, feeling its delicate texture, its movement in the fireplace firelight, and the mysterious square characters on the teacup... Shiwan Made GB/T 10816-2008.

Although he couldn't understand it, that didn't stop Baron Nehari from being captivated by the text, and the longer he looked at it, the more he felt his cultural literacy was improving.

Then, the messenger took out several small boxes carved from exotic woods or ivory from a compartment lined with soft velvet.

As the lid was gently opened, a rich, warm, and exotic aroma immediately filled the air.

It was a mixture of spices that Nehari couldn't name, some grains as clear as amber, others ground into a fine, golden powder. Just smelling it made one feel as if they were in a legendary feast in the kingdom of the gods, with images of rare and exotic animals roasted to a golden brown and glistening with oil appearing before their eyes.

In the current wartime environment, the value of these spices is almost equal to, or even exceeds, that of an equivalent weight of gold.

Therefore, after receiving these spices, Baron Nehari was reluctant to eat them. He either kept them or used them to bribe some high-ranking nobles to gain certain advantages so that he could better serve the Kingdom of Bagnia.

The last thing the messenger unfolded was a piece of silk, which was carefully carried out of the box as if it were a stream of flowing moonlight.

With a gentle shake, the silk unfurled like mercury spilling onto the ground, almost without a single wrinkle, its smooth, cool touch palpable even from a distance.

Its color is a deep and pure indigo, but under the light of the fire, it refracts a subtle and changing purple luster, like the starry night sky.

Compared to the relatively stiff and thick velvet that the Miniese nobles were so proud of, this exquisite piece of velvet, as thin as a cicada's wing and as smooth as milk, was enough to drive anyone who saw it crazy.

Nehari's breathing quickened involuntarily.

He slowly stepped forward, almost reverently running his fingers across the cool silk surface, carefully examining its translucency in the fireplace light. Finally, he picked up the small box and took a deep breath of the air filled with the scent of expensive spices. After doing this, a satisfied glow spread across Nehari's face, and his eyes burned with undisguised greed and joy.

“Your Majesty…Your Majesty is always so generous, remembering even his most insignificant servants.”

Nehari's voice was slightly hoarse with excitement. Each of these gifts precisely met his desires.

They are not just wealth, but also symbols of status, taste, and access to a higher lifestyle.

In the cold, impoverished, and treacherous land of Minicia, these warm gifts from Bagnia were as sweet as poison, making him willing to pledge his utmost loyalty to His Majesty Chris.

"His Majesty Chris has always remembered Baron's merits and hard work."

The leader of the envoys spoke calmly, as if he were only sending out ordinary local products.

"Your Majesty wishes you good health. The cold and damp weather of Minicia should not take its toll on a loyal subject like yourself."

Nehari understood the implication of those words. The Lord was not only bestowing gifts, but also caring about whether he could enjoy the fruits of these gifts as soon as possible.

The sense of inner satisfaction was quickly replaced by a stronger sense of anxiety and urgency.

Nehari had just been plotting how to hasten the collapse of the country in the carriage, and now these lavish gifts were like a silent whip, lashing at his ambitions.

He put down his teacup, his smile fading slightly, replaced by a serious and focused expression.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty. Please be sure to convey my sincerest gratitude and unwavering loyalty to Your Majesty."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the gifts before finally settling on the envoy's face, and lowered his voice.

"You've come at the right time. I've just received some... extremely important news. The winds in Taiwan may be about to change."

The messenger's gaze instantly became more focused, like a hunting dog that had caught a scent.

Baron Nehari took a deep breath of the air, thick with spices and ambition, and began to give his lord’s informants a detailed report on the chilling conspiracy brewing under the snowy night against King Charles.

His own plan, how to exploit and twist this conspiracy to make it the fuse that completely destroys the Kingdom of Minicia, gradually becomes clear in the narrative.

The crackling fire in the fireplace illuminated the figures of the three people whispering secrets in the study.

"...Now there is a problem that I cannot solve."

Nehari frankly told the messenger about his predicament.

"I don't have any trustworthy and capable people to carry out my plans."

The messenger's eyes lit up.

"Our intelligence agency can solve your problem."

(End of this chapter)