Chapter 43: Shall We Start Vigorously Today as Well? (7)
“What is this?”
“Jay, hands off. Old Man.”
“Yes, Master.”
Jay grumbled and Old Man quietly reached out.
The box was a plain wooden box, 30 centimeters wide, 20 centimeters long, and 10 centimeters high. Old Man opened it, and his slightly narrow eyes widened a little.
“This is……?”
“Operating funds. To be honest, that’s the last of my savings. It’s the final payment for the 300 platinum coins I promised to give you earlier.”
Old Man slapped Jay’s hand reaching for the contents and lifted the contents with a white-gloved hand. In his hand was a pearl the size of a finger joint. A pearl with a bluish tint on its white surface.
“A pearl harvested from the Arsaha Sea. Also known as ‘Tears of Arsaha.’ Originally intended for a necklace, it has a scratch, so its value has dropped a bit, but it’s still expensive.”
Actually, that’s my father’s.
When I was young, I accidentally broke a long pearl necklace that my father received as a gift while playing with my mother.
My father was furious at his careless son who broke his gift in less than three days, and my mother gave it to me with a gentle smile.
After giving them 100 platinum coins as a down payment in Ast, I handed over a pearl worth 200 coins, thus fulfilling all the terms of the contract.
“Since you have ID cards, there’s something I need you to do with them. That alone will last you more than a month, and you can buy ID cards for those outside as well. But be patient. That’s our capital.”
“Capital? Are you going to start a business?”
Jay tilted his head. I grinned and shrugged.
“Well, it’s a kind of business.”
You’ve worked hard coming all this way, but I’ll need you to work a little harder. Because we need to acquire the most necessary thing to take over the back alleys of the Imperial Capital.
I explained it to them as quickly and concisely as possible. Just like when I told them to take over the Imperial Capital, it was quite a sight to see their eyes widen.
After finishing the explanation, I got up from my seat. And left a meaningful word.
“Then, enjoy the festival.”
I have a heart too. I should at least give them a vacation.
If you ask if it’s a real vacation, I’ll say no. Hehe.
Imperial Calendar Year 372, August 19th.
Carriage, carriage, carriage, carriage, black tea……Oh, the last one is not.
Orknesia is a collective term for the five regions of ‘Omun’, ‘Keuchian’, ‘Nenmat’, ‘Sidonko’, and ‘Ado’.
Each has a slightly different terrain and the people have slightly different personalities, but there is a common denominator.
They are all vassals of Duke Ecaledon.
Ah, Ecaledon is my father’s name.
The great lords who rule the five regions are all Counts. According to Imperial law, nobles with territory have the authority to freely grant titles two ranks below to their vassals.
Under those five Counts are ten Viscounts, and below them are about thirty Barons.
Out of a total of forty-five vassals, only about twenty visited this founding festival. Including their families, attendants, and escorts, the number swells to roughly 30 times that.
In that sense, the current number of visitors to the Herduke family is close to 600.
“Welcome back, Father.”
In front of them, I accurately performed my duties as the head of the Herduke family, albeit temporarily. Since I’ve already received etiquette education in the past, manners come naturally.
Father’s eyebrows twitched, and my brother next to him subtly twitched his face, but he didn’t seem to want to show the dysfunctional Duke family in front of numerous vassals.
All preparations are perfect.
With the help of the head butler and mobilizing all the family connections we had, the Herduke family has prepared all the supplies to accommodate all the current visitors for about a week.
The servants and maids lined up, the two guests took their places, and I stood in the middle.
Father spoke with a silent expression.
“You’ve worked hard, my son.”
“This is also my duty as a member of the family. I will return the heavy duty I was temporarily carrying to its rightful place.”
I knelt on one knee in front of my father and offered the key to the family, a platinum key that didn’t fit anywhere in the house. Father received it and handed it over to my brother, saying solemnly.
“You have fulfilled your heavy duties admirably. Anyone who tries to find fault with my second son, Arisein Herduke’s actions will face my wrath. Rise.”
Father grabbed my shoulder and lifted me up, and I rose from my seat with my head bowed.
He went inside like that, and my brother followed him. For a moment, it seemed like my brother was looking at me, but I couldn’t see anything because I was bowing my head. But it’s obvious what kind of expression he’s making.
I followed behind him. And behind me, the numerous vassals and their entourages entered, each according to their rank, and my father assigned them rooms one by one.
The Herduke family mansion is absurdly large for a family to live in.
If we use all the annexes that are not normally used, the maximum capacity is close to 1,000 people. I usually think it’s a waste of land, but sometimes a huge number of people come like this, and above all, size symbolizes authority.
There are about 30 guest rooms used as VIP rooms, excluding the numbered rooms. Father had memorized them all.
In other words, it’s like this.
“Count Estiang Kou Sidonian of Sidonko and his family to the western ‘Fire Room’.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Count Harajak Kou Einmaten of Nenmat and his family to the eastern ‘Wind Room’.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
And the nobles being guided exchanged glances and either moved away or closer to each other.
The five regions of Orknesia are subtly repeating cooperation and antagonism.
They basically show uniform loyalty to the Herduke Dukedom, but they repeat cooperation and antagonism with each other. To put it nicely, it’s competition.
The purpose of the fiefdom inspection is to closely observe whether the competition has intensified and whether there is a need to recommend reconciliation. And rooms are assigned according to the subtle composition shown between them during the inspection.
That’s why the Duke personally assigns the rooms. I gave my father a little hint to avoid the rooms where Aila and Namias were staying.
Father finished all that work as smoothly as flowing water. I watched from behind my father as my brother fulfilled his duties as the head of the family.
After assigning rooms to the last remaining Baron’s family, Father looked at Mother and Sera, who were standing behind me and my brother, and the guests. His expression hardened slightly for a moment.
He first greeted Mother and Sera with a light kiss on the cheek and then stood in front of the two guests and called me.
“Risel, introduce the guests.”
“Yes. This young lady is Sermaila Hind of the Hind family. And this is High Priest Benamijan from the Light of Origin, the Lynin Grand Temple of Azot, who has been dispatched for a pilgrimage to the Empire.”
Father nodded and greeted the two.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Ecaledon Uck Herduke.”
“I am Sermaila Hind. It is an honor to meet the Duke of Orknesia. I am staying here for a while thanks to the consideration of Sir Arisein Pen Herduke.”
“May the blessings of light be with you, noble one. I am High Priest Benamijan. I am staying here at the invitation of Sir Arisein.”
Father’s expression hardened slightly, in a way that only those who knew him would notice, at the title the two used for me. However, Father didn’t question them separately.
“If you are Risel’s guests, you are naturally guests of the family. Stay as long as you wish. And Risel, follow me for a moment. Theron, rest from your journey.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Yes, Father.”
My brother looked at me with eyes that asked what was going on. It’s natural, since I’ve gained a title in two months. I grinned and shrugged, passing him by.
Father walked briskly to his study, unlike someone who had been away from home for three months. The servants we encountered on the way all stopped and bowed until my father and I passed.
I always think this, but there’s no one who suits receiving people’s greetings as well as him.
Before entering the study, Father told a passing maid to bring drinks.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
In the middle of the study was a desk, and in front of it was a sofa and a table. Father comfortably sank into the sofa. Naturally, I didn’t commit the rudeness of plopping down on the sofa like I did when I was young.
Father closed his eyes for a moment and then looked at me and said,
“Sit down.”
I bowed slightly at the waist and head and sat down in a spot slightly off to the side in front of my father. Father looked at me with an unchanged expression and said,
“You have good manners. I heard the diplomatic mission ended successfully.”
“Yes. The Azot Royal Family initially wanted friendship, so our intentions aligned, and everything went smoothly.”
“And I heard rumors. They reached my ears even here in Orknesia.”
I wanted to sigh. Damn Orange. His spies must have spread the rumors in the meantime. Father was about to say something, but the maid who brought the tea interrupted the conversation for a while.
The fragrant scent of tea mingled with the smell of old books. The steam that rose leisurely and then disappeared without a trace indicated the passage of time.
Father lifted his teacup and said,
“Your name has grown. ‘Pen’ you say?”
“It’s an honorary knighthood I received from the Azot Royal Family. I received the undeserved title of Knight of Peace.”
“Indeed, Azot would welcome the diplomatic mission. Was the mission well-received? Did you do something deserving of it?”
“Yes. Some members of the diplomatic mission showed a camaraderie that went beyond friendship.”
The camaraderie of soldiers that makes you feel hot just by looking at it. The atmosphere at that time eloquently showed that if you ordered them to attack each other, they would either desert en masse or fall backward with their swords in their mouths, but they would never attack.
“Hmm. That will put my mind at ease. As the Imperial government as well. So, what about the rumors of marriage with Princess Mideijel Leajotian?”
I suppressed the urge to sigh. I couldn’t make such an undignified gesture in front of my father. Instead, I smiled and said,
“It was a false rumor. It caused me quite a bit of embarrassment.”
“Groundless……But there’s no smoke without fire. There must have been a situation that warranted such a rumor.”
Father asked with a serious expression, which, although it didn’t change much from his usual expressionless face, was a noticeable change in expression.
I watched my father lift his teacup, waiting for an answer, and said,
“Actually, I received a formal marriage proposal from the Azot Royal Family for Princess Mideijel.”
“……What?”
The movement of bringing the teacup to his mouth stopped abruptly. Father’s neck was completely stiff, and he only lifted his head stiffly. I answered with a still smiling face.
“His Highness Crown Prince Lymant, the representative of the Azot Royal Family, proposed marriage with Princess Mideijel.”
“Hmm……”
Father’s expression became serious. No matter how I looked at it, that wasn’t the face of a father flustered by a sudden marriage proposal, but rather the displeasure of someone who is being forced to reveal their secrets to someone they can’t.
“It was half a joke, though.”
“……”
“It’s true that we became close enough to joke about such things, but the rumor was distorted through the palace officials.”
Father looked relatively relieved.
“I see. Of course, the Azot Royal Family wouldn’t easily give away their princess.”
“Still, they said they would give her to me if I wanted. Princess Mideijel didn’t show any signs of dislike either.”
“……!”
Father’s expression hardened again. If he’s this stiff just from the marriage proposal being brought up, I think he’ll really show a solemn faint if I accept it.
It would have been fun to see that face. But I have no intention of getting married yet. I can’t even manage myself yet, and the path I’m taking is rough and secretive. I don’t have the luxury of having a companion.
Father coughed lightly and said,
“I heard rumors. After the arrival of the diplomatic mission, the corruption of the anti-Imperial nobles was revealed all at once, and their activities were suppressed. Thanks to that, the diplomatic mission’s activities were unrestricted.”
“That’s right. For some reason, it happened that way.”
“Furthermore, now there’s talk of marriage with an Imperial noble. Strangely, your name was mentioned a lot in the rumors. Sir Arisein, who appeared in the Empire bringing the winds of peace. What have you been doing?”
A strange light flickered in Father’s eyes.
I did what I couldn’t do before starting over.
His eyes were filled with curiosity and doubt mixed with a little distrust, but there was none of the natural affection that should be in a father’s eyes looking at his son.
Looking at those dry eyes devoid of love, I smiled slightly.
Right. Father was always like this.
I said with a smile,
“Nothing. I just built friendships.”
In quite many ways.
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