The Extra Wants To Live

Catherine, who had a history of being suspicious of Carl's orders and not following them, eventually sat down carefully next to Carl.

Unlike Carl, she sat with her back straight and didn't move a single inch.

Carl organized his complicated thoughts with a relaxed expression.

'Mold will be of great help to me, who has no foundation right now. At least there won't be a case of begging for help without the minimum number of troops like there was in Hilfin.'

This is a family that produced knights like Catherine.

Even if the number of people is small and the family is not powerful, there will be talent for great knights within the family.

'If I have the skills, I can attract them by making them knights as a formality. It would look like a childish prince who was so excited about the battle with the gnolls that he was picking up fallen nobles to increase his knights.'

Carl couldn't help but smirk at his own thoughts.

What is important is the 'formal knighthood.' First of all, they are appointed as knights, but of course, there is nothing that Carl can give them. Officially.

'It's reassuring to have Hilfin. Hilfin officially belongs to Fardin. However, it actually belongs to Carl. And the only people who know this are those who are currently under the influence of Azgoth and Carl and cannot open their mouths.'

'If the value falls, it would be enough to pay the salary with silver from Hilfin. But if he is truly worthy and loyal, he is made nominally a vassal of Hilfin and put in charge of the silver mines.'

Management of the silver mine! It would be embarrassing to even tell you how much wealth you could make there!

Carl has no intention of viewing Hilfin as a mere source of money. We will maximize all potential value and utilize it wherever it can be used.

Hilfin will become Carl's base in the future civil war for the right to succeed to the throne and will become a military strategic point where he secretly trains troops.

From a rural estate where no one cares, it will soar with enormous wealth. With a relaxed expression, Carl drew out his fate and future for survival. In order to survive, what can't you do for it?

"… Catherine?"

"Uncle!"

Kurtval became dizzy when he saw Catherine, whom he had raised like a daughter and who had become a knight with great difficulty, sitting astride the railing in a terrible state.

And when he saw Catherine still sitting on the railing without getting up even though he had arrived, all sorts of thoughts came to his mind.

There was no way for Kurtval to know that since she was sitting down under Carl's orders, she just couldn't get up without his orders.

"Catherine, I am very embarrassed. I don't know what happened to you. How can you so suddenly pursue something that will determine Mold's future?"

"Now, just a moment, uncle… ."

"And I never taught you that you could sit in such a place. It was my fault for neglecting to educate you on the etiquette of a noble lady just because you became a knight, but even so, I didn't expect you to act like this."

"Don't scold Lady Catherine too much. She is doing it all because I told her to."

Kurtval, who had been sternly admonishing Catherine, fell silent when Carl, who had been hidden from view by Catherine, stuck his head out and said something.

This small, skinny, fun-loving guy took Catherine as a knight and is the 4th prince, Carl, who will determine the fate of the Mold family?

Kurtval's eyes were spinning in front of him, and he felt like he was going to fall down.

"Lord Mold, please don't be like that and sit here too."

Carl narrowed his eyes and smiled, then patted his side calmly.

Kurtval looked like he was going crazy.

"Ah, father… ."

"… Yes, Prince Carl."

When Bester called in a trembling voice and tapped his arm, Kurtval did his best to control his expression as he answered and sat down next to Carl.

Bester, not knowing what to do, hesitantly followed along and sat down next to Kurtval.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Yes, yes?"

"You too, sit down."

Carl also made a young servant from the Mold family, who looked to be about 12 years old and shaking with a pale face, sit down next to Bester.

The 4th prince, three members of the Mold family who seemed very nervous, and even a young servant were sitting side by side on the railing of the square where people were coming and going.

'Wow, it looks really strange even to me.'

Carl smiled contentedly to himself. How embarrassed will those who see this be? And how stupid and undignified it would look.

In fact, Carl realized the situation the Mold family was in today on the way to the square. Carl decided to leave the imperial palace out of consideration for the Mold family, but that put the Mold family in trouble.

However, since the water has already been spilled, it would be better to just do a clean-up instead of doing the useless thing of picking up the water.

"It's Carl."

Kurtval gasped as he saw the prince sitting next to him slowly narrow the distance, speak calmly, and hold out his hand.

"This is Kurtval, the matriarch of Mold. I am Catherine's uncle."

The prince asked him to shake his hand, so he had no choice but to do it.

Kurtval twisted his body into an awkward posture as he experienced the new experience of shaking hands with the person sitting next to him and was finally able to look directly at Carl's face.

And when he realized that the bright green eyes of Carl, who had committed this absurd act, were quietly observing him, he got goosebumps.

Just yesterday, Kurtval said with his own mouth that he shouldn't be swayed into a meeting without knowing the other person's intentions, but he has already been completely swept away by Carl and can't do anything.

Carl looked at Kurtval's stiff face and spoke with an innocent face, but with deeply sparkling eyes.

"Then let's talk now."

Kurtval thought that maybe the whole thing was already out of his hands.

And that was the correct decision. No matter what happened, Carl had no intention of leaving Mold like this. He has have to use everything he can.

Kurtval took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. This was not how he envisioned meeting the fourth prince. He had prepared for a formal audience, where they would discuss their future in a dignified setting. But here they were, sitting on the railing in the middle of a busy square, and Carl was completely upending his expectations.

"Prince Carl, I must apologize for this unorthodox setting. We had intended a more suitable venue for our meeting," Kurtval began, his voice shaking slightly.

Carl waved his hand dismissively. "No need for apologies, Lord Mold. Formalities can be tiring. Besides, this way, we get to observe life in the capital as it is. Sometimes, it's better to see things from a different perspective."

Kurtval nodded reluctantly, still feeling uneasy. "As you wish, Your Highness. What would you like to discuss?"

Carl leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting over the bustling square. "I want to talk about the future, Lord Mold. Specifically, the future of your family and how it can align with mine."

Kurtval's unease deepened. "The future of my family? What do you mean, Your Highness?"

"The Mold family has a rich history and has produced fine knights like Lady Catherine. However, I understand that recent times have been challenging," Carl said, his voice gentle yet probing. "I see potential in your family, and I believe we can help each other."

Kurtval's mind raced. He had been prepared for negotiations, but this seemed different. More personal, somehow.

"What kind of help do you have in mind, Prince Carl?"

Carl smiled, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of mischief and determination.

"I need loyal knights, skilled and dedicated, to form a strong foundation. In return, I can offer support and opportunities for your family to regain its standing and influence. Hilfin, for example, could be a valuable asset in this regard."

Kurtval's eyes widened. "Hilfin? But that's... How can we..."

"I understand your concerns," Carl interrupted gently.

"Hilfin is officially under Fardin, but I have control over its resources. I can ensure that your family benefits from its wealth. But more than that, I need people I can trust. People who can see the bigger picture and are willing to take risks for a greater reward."

Kurtval felt a glimmer of hope. This was an unexpected opportunity, but also a dangerous one. "What would you require from us, Your Highness?"

"Commitment," Carl replied simply. "Loyalty and the willingness to work hard. I need knights who are not just skilled, but also understand the importance of strategy and politics. Your family has the potential, and I can provide the means."