Reincarnated Prince just wants a quiet life

Part 16: The Emerald Guard

As the day went on I sat and spoke with Setria and tried to gain any information that I could. The Dragonnewt Nation was a small nation that was nestled in the mountains that bordered Whilhelmin. The nation was more like a large city in terms of population and size. They were independent for the most part but only had to pay the same taxes that the rest of the empire had to pay. Within their borders their law was what ruled and it was absolute. Although the laws of the Dragonnewt Nation were almost identical to the laws of the empire, they had the right to change them if they so choose.

Apparently the nation had remained in the mountains for centuries undetected and untouched by the outside world. Chasing a rumor my grandfather sent an expedition into the mountains and made contact with them. There were a few skirmishes between some of the more obstante nobles but after a time an agreement was reached and the Dragonnewt Nation agreed to serve the royal family and join the empire.

Thus Setria was actually a citizen of the empire and in some ways my subject. She, like many others, had heard my speech and decided to volunteer for the division. She had argued with her father the King but he reluctantly agreed to let her go on the condition that after her training I come to the Dragonnewt Nation to meet with him. Apparently my parents had only received the request after I had left for the island.

"I apologize for my fathers unreasonable request, my Prince." She said, bowing her head.

"Please you needn't apologize, your fathers request isn't all that strange or unreasonable." I said

"Really?" she asked

"Of course. You are a princess and a beautiful young lady. I am not sure you would be able to find any father that wasn't at least a little hesitant in letting such a daughter go out on her own, let alone letting her go and serve a man he knows very little about" I said.

Setrias cheeks turned almost as red as her hair as she looked at me with a shaky smile, "Well when you put it that way it does make sense."

"Plus it would be rude if I didn't pay your father a visit. As someone so important to the empire I am ashamed that I had no idea that the nation even existed." I said

"Please, my prince, it is okay you have been asleep for quite some time and you had a war to deal with after you woke up. It is understandable if you are unaware of certain things." she said then in a softer voice that I could barely hear, "Like saying things that would make a maiden's heart race."

I felt my cheeks flush and I quickly turned away from her to stare in the direction of the beach, "Ahem ... Well at any rate I look forward to working with you."

"As do I, my prince," she replied.

"Well, you don't seem tired but perhaps you are hungry. If so please visit the mess hall and get yourself a warm plate of food. I wager more recruits should be showing up any minute now and I would like to avoid any confusion or rumors of me playing favorites. So if you'll excuse me princess Setria, I have much work to do." I said with a smile, "And I do look forward to meeting your father and seeing your homeland, the way you describe it makes my curiosity run rampant."

"Of course, my prince. I look forward to it as well." she said as she stood and bowed slightly before turning and walking across the camp.

What an odd encounter. To think that I would gain yet another powerful ally so soon, and another beautiful woman at that. Is this world just filled with beautiful women or am I just lucky. To think my parents would so easily agree to this meeting with her father, I suppose her power and the Dragonnewt nation is that important. Wait, my parents would not have agreed to this with the thoughts of me marrying her would they? I thought as I watched Setria walking away and felt my cheeks flush once more. Turning around and walking back into the building where my office was I shook my head. I can't think of such things right now. I have too much to worry about to think about marriage. Although, I feel like Setria would be a wonderful bride, and she has such a pretty smile.