Chapter Nineteen: Princess Dou Lvtai
“Brilliant! Baron Komer, it seems I need to reassess you after not seeing you for three days.” The carriage had stopped in front of an official residence in the fortress, but Komer was so engrossed in his conversation with Javier that he didn’t notice a clear voice from outside the carriage pulling him back from his thoughts.
“Princess Dou Lvtai?” Surprised, he pushed open the door and stepped down. At once, he saw Princess Dou Lvtai riding a fine horse right beside his carriage. Dressed in riding gear, she no longer carried the gentle demeanor or delicate appearance of her days in Cyprus. Her sleek riding suit accentuated her long legs, firm and elastic beneath the fitted breeches. Her purple cloak couldn’t conceal her graceful figure, and Komer even caught a glimpse of her rounded, firm hips beneath it—a sight somewhat unbecoming of a noblewoman. It also made him realize that since Lome had offered him her virginity, his mindset had undergone a strange change, as if some long-suppressed desire had suddenly been unleashed, influencing every move he made.
“I was wondering who might visit Tamber Fortress—turns out it’s Baron Komer. Are you here as a guest to our Principality of Rosenburg? If so, I think both Thomas and I will be very pleased.” With a slight shift of her leg, the young woman handed her riding whip to the knight beside her and dismounted.
“Hehe, Your Highness. Do you still remember the agreement between me and Prince Thomas? I’m not one to make empty promises. I’m here today to fulfill that promise.” Gently taking her hand, he gave her a proper noble-style kiss. His gaze fell on her cheeks, flushed from exercise, and her radiant smile dispelled much of her confusion.
“An agreement? A promise?” Dou Lvtai tried hard to recall every word she had exchanged with this young nobleman back in Cyprus, when her fate was still uncertain. To be honest, aside from the gift box crossbow that won Thomas’s favor, she couldn’t recall any agreements or promises between her brother, her, and this young man.
Seeing the other party’s awkward expression, Komer also sighed inwardly. Those without strength would never attract attention. It seemed the other party hadn’t taken his promises seriously back then. But now, he was no longer the Komer who could be easily manipulated. As the lord of the Caucasus, though his status might still not compare to the other party’s, he was at least the ruler of his own territory—even if that territory was seen by these people as just a remote land.
“Princess Dou Lvtai, do you still remember the request I made to Prince Thomas and you before the banquet in Cyprus? If I could find a way to navigate through the Catalonia River, could the Kingdom of Rosenburg meet the Caucasus’s food needs? I remember Prince Thomas clearly telling me that if it were possible to use the Catalonia River, all conditions could be met. Do you recall that?” Komer noticed the surprised and puzzled looks from his companions, but it seemed not the time to explain to them. He decided to wait until later to explain everything in detail.
The girl’s gaze immediately became intense, her delight evident. “Baron, are you saying you can navigate and transport goods through the Catalonia River controlled by the Jellyfish People? Are you sure?”
“Princess, I can’t be absolutely certain yet, but I’m very confident I can do it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have traveled such a long distance from the Caucasus to here. What I want to ask is whether all the promises made by Prince Thomas are still valid?” Komer smiled, a smile filled with absolute confidence, which made Dou Lvtai even more excited.
“If what the Baron says is true, I can promise on behalf of Thomas and the Duchy of Rosenburg that as long as the Catalonia River can be navigated, there will be no obstacles to trade between the Caucasus and Rosenburg. Whether it’s food or other supplies, Rosenburg will provide them at the most favorable prices.” Without hesitation, Dou Lvtai agreed firmly. “But we need to know how the Baron plans to ensure that the Jellyfish People will allow ships to pass through.”
“Hehe, Princess, rest assured on that point. I can’t give you a definite answer now, but it won’t be long before I can provide you and Prince Thomas with a satisfactory explanation, before I leave Rosenburg.” Komer didn’t directly answer her question. Before he could interact with the Jellyfish People, he couldn’t guarantee success 100%.
Dou Lvtai also realized she was becoming too anxious. The Duchy of Rosenberg was landlocked, forcing it to rely on other countries for foreign trade. High transit tariffs and shipping costs had long restricted the flow of goods in and out of the duchy. The most devastating war the Duchy of Rosenberg had experienced was one triggered by tariff disputes with the Kingdom of Bohemia. Its trade with the nations of the Northern Alliance mainly went through the Kingdom of Bohemia, but the high transit tariffs imposed by Bohemia greatly affected Rosenberg’s trade. Despite numerous negotiations with Bohemia, nothing was resolved, eventually leading to war.
In the end, Bohemia’s powerful mage corps inflicted heavy damage on Rosenberg’s elite infantry formations, while their knightly orders took advantage of the situation to break through Rosenberg’s defenses and push the battlefield all the way to the capital city of Rosenberg. This forced Rosenberg to sign a humiliating surrender treaty, keeping the tariffs unchanged and forcing it to pay huge war reparations.
Rosenberg regarded this as a great disgrace. However, given Bohemia’s strong magical forces and the flat terrain to the north, which was ideal for Bohemia’s knightly attacks, Rosenberg invested heavily in building the Tamber Fortress there. All of this was due to the duchy’s single trade route and Bohemia’s unreasonable tariff system. Until these conditions could be changed, Rosenberg had no choice but to endure the losses and inconveniences caused by the high tariffs. Once the Catania River became navigable, goods could be transported via water, avoiding Bohemia’s high tariffs, reducing shipping costs, and freeing Rosenberg from Bohemia’s control. The benefits were unimaginable, which explained why Dou Lvtai was so excited.
“That’s good. Baron, I hope you can bring us a surprise. I have matters to attend to and must return to Rosenberg City first. Thomas and I will be waiting for you there the day after tomorrow.” Dou Lvtai’s tone became much more friendly and polite. Given the huge stakes—this development could even lead to subtle changes in the duchy’s political landscape—she had to go back and consult her brother first to maximize its benefits in these changes.
The Art Palace in Rosenberg City, privately owned by the Grand Duke of Rosenberg, is located on the slopes of the Alehan Mountains. It has always been a favorite spot for members of the Grand Duke’s family to hold important events and relax. Outside the palace gates, a vast marble terrace can accommodate three hundred people without feeling crowded. Exquisite red and jade fences are adorned every ten meters with lifelike animal heads—statues of the winged tiger, the symbol of the Principality of Rosenberg. These fierce-looking animal heads, through artistic treatment, have been transformed into humanized decorations, evoking an indescribable sense of familiarity. From here, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Rosenberg and the surrounding landscape.
Warm sunlight bathes the terrace, with umbrellas scattered along the fences. Sitting here to savor coffee or afternoon tea and chat with friends is truly a supreme pleasure. However, not just anyone is allowed to enjoy tea and conversation here. Though the Grand Duke is amiable, he is not so lenient as to allow ordinary commoners to rest here. Those who come here for relaxation are mostly close relatives of the Grand Duke’s family and guests, including some nobles and officials with significant status in the principality.
The sound of leather boots stopped in front of the young man who was engrossed in reading. The young man looked up and glanced at the girl whose chest was rising and falling rapidly. Surprised, he raised his eyebrows. “Dou Lvtai, didn’t you say you’d be back in two days? Did the magic competition in Prague end early, or did it disappoint you?”
Glancing quickly around, the girl saw that no one was paying attention to her. There weren’t many guests on the terrace today—aside from a few distant relatives of the Grand Duke who had come to Rosenberg for vacation, playing cards, there were no other strangers.
“Thomas, do you remember that guy we met when we were in Cyprus?” Dou Lvtai tried hard to suppress her excitement, her light green eyes shining with joy.
“Oh? Hoffman?” The young man frowned in confusion. He didn’t understand what could make his usually calm sister so excited. He could tell she was both excited and nervous. “Did Hoffman and Tracy break up?”
“No, no, I’m not talking about Hoffman. It’s Komer, that baron, that minor noble who was appointed to the Caucasus.” Dou Lvtai was somewhat dissatisfied that her brother still harbored feelings for that inexplicable unrequited love, but she didn’t want to discourage him, so she patiently explained.
“Kummer? Oh, I recall him somewhat. A strange guy. He gave me a gift that was supposed to go to Hoffman—a magic crossbow. I really like it.” Thomas nodded and raised his head in confusion. “Why, is there something about this guy that deserves your attention?”