Life didn't get easier, even in another world

107 Taking one step back

The man looked at his assistant and signaled him to come closer. The assistant walked to the man’s desk and placed a bunch of documents on it. He hesitantly opened his mouth to report to his boss.

“...There were no improvements in negotiations. They still insist that they must send their agents here.”

BAM

The man slammed on the table, making the assistant flinch and take one step back.

“Do they even understand what they are saying? What makes them think that we would let them step foot in our land? Those arrogant-”

The man took a deep breath and massaged his forehead. He raised his head to look at the assistant once again and said in a tired voice.

“Inform everyone that the meeting will be delayed by one hour. I have to finish this first.”

“Yes, sir.”

The assistant answered respectfully and turned to exit the door.

.....

Knock Knock

The assistant stopped moving after hearing the sound of the door knocking and turned to look at his boss.

“Open it.”

“Yes.”

The assistant opened the door and moved away.

The man that was sitting at the desk stood up as soon as he saw the person on the other side of the door. His eyes widened and his lips gaped after looking at the person’s face again and confirming that he wasn’t mistaken.

The man on the other side of the door smiled and opened his mouth.

“Greetings, president.”

The man called president frowned slightly and started to approach his guest.

“What brings you here, your highness?”

“I wanted to have a chat with you.”

The president completely opened the door and invited the person on the other side, the prince, inside.

“I thought the prince would be busy. I didn’t expect you to pay me a visit.”

The young prince sat down on a chair and looked at the president while smiling gently.

“Right. I am quite busy these days. I’m sure the president is busy as well. And that is why I don’t want to beat around the bush. President, I’d like to ask you for something.”

The president sat across from the prince and ordered his assistant to bring something to drink. Once the assistant brought some coffee and left the office, the man started talking.

“I’m listening, sir.”

The prince looked around the room with a smile. He looked at the walls, the bookshelves, and the desk. His eyes stopped moving once he saw the documents on the president’s desk. He smiled even more and started talking.

“I want to request you to act less strict in this manner.”

The president tilted his head, still frowning.

“Act less strict in this manner? I’m afraid I didn’t understand your words, your highness.”

The prince picked up his cup of coffee and looked at the president’s face.

“The problem with Hainston. Please, be more considerate and don’t pressure them too much. That’s what I wanted to ask you.”

The president raised one of his eyebrows. He tried to control his annoyance and talk as politely as he could. He took a deep breath, then opened his mouth while suppressing his irritation.

“Your highness, do you even understand what you are saying?”

The young prince nodded his head, still a gentle smile on his lips.

“I do fully understand, president. I want you to let them do whatever they want this time. Just this one time.”

“Do whatever they want? Do you really want me to let their special agents enter our country? To let them walk freely in this land? Do you know what dangers that might bring upon Bordkly? Do you know what those agents are capable of?”

The prince looked at the president’s clenched fists and sighed. He placed down the cup of coffee in his hand, though it was still completely full.

The prince looked at the president’s face with a serious look and opened his mouth.

“Mr. President must be aware of the situation more than me. Three mascry mines were looted. A huge amount of mascry was lost. I’m fully aware of the problems that will appear after that. However, is that too big of a thing to make such a fuss about it? You are treating Hainston as if they are thieves. They had also lost a lot of resources because of those thieves. The two countries are both victims, yet you requested compensation from Hainston without there being single evidence that they were involved in the incident. President, you know that the situation in our borders isn’t good. Small fights break out from time to time and people die. The current issue is only adding up to the problems. You must also know that at this rate, there is a possibility of a big war breaking out between the two countries. This isn’t a joke, president. We are talking about a war. Do you think our country has a chance against Hainston? Who do you think would win the war in the end? Us? Hainston? That doesn’t matter, does it? We will both suffer from the war. I don’t think some mascry is worth enough to go so far as to increase the chances of a war breaking out. Mr. President, we have to take one step back if we don’t want to bring upon a disaster to this country.”

The prince lowered his gaze and continued.

“So please, stop being stubborn. There might still be a chance to prevent a war. If we can stop such a thing just by letting a few agents visit some mascry mines, why not?”

The president looked at the prince’s face. What he saw was a young, handsome face with a gentle smile. That was how the Bordkly’s prince was. Young, handsome, and gentle.

The president clenched and unclenched his fists a few times and took deep breathes. He didn’t want to accidentally say something offensive to the prince due to anger, though he knew that the prince wouldn’t mind much even if he said something.

“That’s right, your highness. There is a high possibility that a war would break out between the two countries. That’s also true that we will suffer great damage if that happens. Even though, you want to let the enemy country’s agents enter our lands? Even while you know that it might be dangerous?”

The president tapped the armchair while glaring at the young man’s face.

“Do you think Hainston thinks the same as you do? Do you think they also want to avoid this war? Why would we trust them and let them enter our country? What do you think they would do once they are inside the country?”

“You can at least stop pressuring them so much, president. You want the thieves, right? Do you think you could capture them by doing political war?”

The president scoffed.

“I want the thieves, and I’m pressuring the thieves.”

“Presiden-”

“Prince!”

The president stood up from his seat.

“I can’t quite get what you want from me. I am this country’s president who was selected to lead the government. I was legally elected to be the head of this country. I’m sorry to mention this, but you are not even the king, so please stop trying to meddle with things. I sincerely apologize, but I’d like you to remember that you don’t have such political rights, not the powers, prince. No one in the royal family has that much authority to order me around, so can you please stop it?”

“....”

The prince looked up at the man. He bit his lips and lowered his head.

“I didn’t mean to order you, president. You are right. I was acting thoughtlessly. I apologize.”

The prince stood up.

“Sorry to take so much of your time. I’ll take my leave.”

The young man apologized with a bitter smile and turned to exit the president’s office. Just when he was about to exit the room, he heard the president’s voice from behind.

“Take one step back to prevent a disaster, was it?”

The prince turned back and looked at the man with a confused face.

“If they really want to avoid a war as well, why don’t they take one step back?”

“What do you mean...?”

The young prince could see the president bursting into a smile.

“I’m sorry, your highness. I guess your suggestion just now wasn’t completely bad after all.”

The president ignored the prince’s puzzled face and walked to his desk. He picked up a pen and started writing down something on a piece of paper.

“Why us? Why doesn’t Hainston take the first step, if their goal is really achieving peace?”

The president smiled towards the prince while picking up the phone.

“Thank you, your highness. You were a big help for me.”

“Ah? Your welcome...”

The prince looked at the man once again before exiting the office. He didn’t have a good feeling about what was going to happen next, but what could he possibly do? He was only a prince, without any power or authority.

The prince sighed and left the building, wishing that everything would be fine.