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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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The next day…
I was awoken by the sensation of something poking my cheek. Eleanor was lying next to me, gently prodding my face.
We were alone in bed. The other women had given us the night to ourselves after hearing her plan to stay behind.
“Eleanor.”
I beckoned to her, and she immediately snuggled into my arms. Burying her face in my chest, she looked up at me.
Even at such a close distance, her smooth skin was flawless, without a single visible pore.
She lightly placed her hand on my chest, stroking it as she mumbled something.
“I wish time would stop.”
“I, too, wish I could spend all day in bed with you, endlessly exploring your body, leaving my marks on you to claim you as mine.”
“Hmph… Wasn’t last night enough for you?”
“It’s your fault for being so beautiful.”
I guided her hand from my chest to my groin. Her eyes widened as she looked up at me.
-Gulp.
“Ah, again…?”
“We still have time.”
It was still a while before our scheduled departure. No one would complain if we were a little late.
“No. I don’t think I could bear to let you go then.”
Eleanor shook her head and, after a light kiss, got out of bed. She wrapped the blanket tightly around herself and headed for the washroom.
I got up and embraced her from behind, burying my face in her neck. Her familiar, comforting scent filled my nostrils.
“Eleanor, I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“I’ll be waiting, my love.”
After another kiss, she slipped from my embrace and went to wash.
Only then did I leave the room.
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Anya was waiting for me, leaning against the wall by the door.
“There’s nothing more blissful for a woman than to have a child with the man she loves.”
Anya brought up the issue I had dismissed as unimportant. She immediately linked arms with me as I opened my arms to her.
“If Eleanor had a child, she would have been happy even if she were left alone.”
“Eleanor’s ability could harm the child.”
Eleanor didn’t know it, but her ability had driven her mother to her death. Her child might meet the same fate.
Anya shook her head.
“A child of you and Eleanor would be fine.”
“How do you know that?”
I stopped and faced Anya. She smiled sweetly, but her eyes glowed with a red light.
“Because that’s their destiny.”
“You…”
“And it’s not just Eleanor. Adelia wants a child too. No, she’s desperate. You know, she’s not as young as she looks. She doesn’t have many chances left to conceive. If she misses this opportunity, she might lose herself forever. Imagine her, watching your other women happy with their children, all alone.”
Anya spoke as if she had witnessed the scene herself. The image of a lonely, isolated Adelia flashed through my mind.
“And this time, too. She didn’t say it, but she must have had high hopes. About the marriage.”
I was originally scheduled to marry Adelia before the expedition to the Northern Continent. The marriage alliance with Dressten was a prerequisite for the expedition.
The plan had changed because the unexpected mock battle had tightened the schedule, and because I had shown that I was at odds with the King, reducing the need for a marriage alliance.
“What about you? Do you want a child too?”
“The existence of our child is already inevitable. It’s a truth that won’t change even if the world ends.”
Anya’s bright smile made her look like a mother already.
I urged Anya, who was pulling on my arm, to quicken her pace.
A child… The Star Witch wouldn’t easily release the leash she held over me, her only means of control. I would probably have to save at least half of the seven witches before I could even bring it up.
‘I’ll have to negotiate with her after the expedition to the Northern Continent…’
If I saved the Northern Continent’s witch, that would be exactly half. However, her hostile attitude, for a supposed collaborator, bothered me.
What if negotiations failed? The answer was simple. I was a greedy man who would do whatever it took to get what I wanted.
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“This is my sister, Anya, and Dame Fiore, who will be our escort on this journey.”
I introduced Anya and Fiore to Archbishop Racheni. His eyes trembled slightly as he was about to greet Anya after Fiore.
“You are a beautiful woman.”
“Thank you.”
The archbishop, after a brief reply, couldn’t take his eyes off Anya as she boarded the carriage, even though she was wearing a black veil that only revealed the outline of her face.
He then turned to face me and began to pray, making the sign of the cross.
It seemed that even the combination of a veil that suppressed her beauty and the archbishop’s devout faith couldn’t completely negate Anya’s fraudulent beauty.
‘It’s still a remarkable feat compared to ordinary people.’
It was impressive that he could resist Anya’s beauty, which could seduce even a king in an instant.
After the introductions, we immediately set off. Our destination was Phalanx, the capital of Baron Debussy’s territory.
I used the opportunity to talk to Anya about the affairs of the territory as I made my way along. We talked about the selection of a new capital.
“Roxwood is not a suitable capital.”
“Why? It’s the largest city.”
“Because it’s a fortress city, built primarily for defense. The only specialty product is the medicinal herbs from the Giant’s Shoulder mountain range. And the surrounding area is all rocky mountains and hills, so it’s not suitable for farming, and it’s difficult to expand.”
I judged that Roxwood’s growth had reached its limit. If it were such a good land, why would the previous King have granted it to Count Bruah? He would have kept it for himself.
“But it’s in a strategic location, connecting the south and the mid-west.”
Anya was reluctant to give up Roxwood’s strategic location.
It was the starting point of the waterway leading to Quaran and Dressten, and a gateway that one had to pass through to go south.
It was a city where people and goods were bound to gather, and its development was inevitable.
“I’m not denying that it’s a strategic location. I’m just saying it has its limits.”
“Hmm… so you have another capital in mind?”
“I’m going to build a new city on the border of the Rasino and Debussy territories.”
The two Barons had been constantly at odds. That was why a proper city hadn’t been built in the area, despite the fertile soil along the Rhine River, which formed the border.
Now that both territories were mine, I had the opportunity to develop it properly.
Of course, it wouldn’t be easy.
“Brother, do you know how much resources and manpower it takes to build a new city?”
“Didn’t you report that the population is rapidly increasing?”
Rumors, they say, travel faster than a running horse. The news that my territory was a good place to live had spread, and people were flocking in from the surrounding territories.
The neighboring lords, who were losing their workforce, had sent letters of complaint, but I had ignored them.
Once the war broke out, they wouldn’t have time to worry about such trivial matters. And by the time the war was over, my power would be so great that they wouldn’t be able to protest.
“Surplus labor is prone to turning into banditry. It’s better to put them to work.”
“The problem is money. Money…”
“It will cost a lot to build a sewage system as well.”
Public sanitation and the prevention of waterborne diseases were essential for building a large city. And to prevent river pollution, the sewage system would have to be extended downstream.
Anya was appalled by my plan.
“Are you crazy? Do you know how much money that will cost…!”
“You’re the one who told me I could just borrow money.”
“Ugh, there’s a limit to everything!”
I smiled slyly. Anya continued, looking sullen.
“What? You have a plan, don’t you?”
“The land along the Rhine River is guaranteed to be fertile if it’s developed. If I offer long-term leases and tax exemptions for a certain period, I can get free labor.”
“What about the cost of materials?”
Before answering, I beckoned to Fiore, who was riding ahead. She had distanced herself when the conversation turned complicated, using the excuse of scouting.
“Why? I don’t know anything~”
Fiore, despite not being stupid, hated using her brain more than anything.
“I’m not going to ask you to handle the administration of the territory, so come here.”
“If you say so…”
Only after I promised did Fiore ride her horse to our side.
“Fiore, your family has a merchant company, right?”
Lords and merchants had a symbiotic relationship. Merchants procured what the lords needed, and the lords granted them privileges in their territories.
What I needed was a merchant who crossed the sea. That was why I needed the help of Fiore’s family, who had a base in Quaran, not Adelia’s.
Quaran was a stopover for merchants on their way to Dressten, a city frequented by those who crossed the great ocean.
“I think so. We’ve needed a lot of rare things since the lord came.”
“You think so…? Why the question?”
Fiore smiled awkwardly at Anya’s question.
“I’m not sure. Ah, why are you looking at me like that? My dad and my brother are in charge of the family’s business!”
“Isn’t it just that you’re not interested because it’s a headache?”
“Anyway, why do you need a merchant?”
Fiore changed the subject, pretending not to hear Anya. Anya looked at her, exasperated, but Fiore ignored her with a brazen expression.
“To make money, we need to use merchants.”
“Huh? The only thing we have to sell to other continents from our territory is Melbourne wine… And you know, it’s not that attractive in other countries.”
Alcohol was a product that sold well regardless of the time or situation. In fact, Melbourne wine was one of our main sources of income.
The problem was that unlike this continent, where there were few good vineyards, the Southern Continent had plenty.
While it wouldn’t be impossible to compete, the expected profit wasn’t large enough to warrant crossing the great ocean.
“That’s true for now.”
“What? What is it?”
Fiore, sensing that I had a plan, whined.
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I remained silent until we reached Phalanx. It was more fun to surprise them.
However, Janbolt, whom I had given the task, was absent. Instead, the scribe acting in his place said, sweating nervously.
“H-He… the treasurer is in Melbourne. He said he had something to do for you…”
“He went to work? Hmm. Janbolt isn’t the type to be so diligent.”
The scribe, meeting my gaze, smiled awkwardly. Sweat was now pouring down his face. I clicked my tongue, having a rough idea of the situation.
“We’re going to Melbourne immediately.” Of course, I didn’t forget to warn the scribe.
“I’m just saying this in case, but if you send someone to Janbolt, you’ll be punished.”
“Yes? Yes, yes! I understand!”
As I was about to leave the scribe, who was sighing in relief, Archbishop Racheni was engrossed in sightseeing, like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city.
I rode my horse to the archbishop’s side.
“Did you find any traces of a witch?”
The archbishop finally noticed me and turned his head.
“I thought Roxwood was unique… but this place is even more so.”
I, too, was a little surprised. The city was even more crowded than the last time I had been here.
There were especially many people who looked like merchants. While it was a city where it was easy to see merchants, as it was the center of the wine trade, it seemed Janbolt hadn’t been slacking off completely.
“Roxwood was the last place we conquered. It’s only natural that there’s a difference.”
“Then your main base is even more prosperous than this?”
“It’s no fun to just explain it. And you wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it for yourself.”
As I turned my horse, the archbishop quickly followed.
“W-Why do you go to such lengths?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Organize your thoughts and ask again.”
“The lords I’ve met have all been preoccupied with how to exploit their subjects. They didn’t care how their subjects lived, as long as they paid their taxes on time. If the taxes were insufficient, they would execute their subjects instead of trying to solve the problem. If a neighbor fled because they couldn’t afford the high taxes, the remaining people had to pay their share. When they couldn’t afford that, another neighbor would flee, and the taxes would go up again. It was a vicious cycle. But you, Baron, are spending money for your subjects. Other lords would think you’re throwing money away.”
I chuckled.
“I’m no saint. On the contrary, I’m more like a merchant. I’m just investing money to make more money. If my subjects live better, they’ll pay more taxes, won’t they?”
“Greed, you’re saying it’s because of greed?”
“Why? Is greed a bad thing?”
“Before I met you, Baron, I would have answered yes without hesitation.”
“So you’ve changed your mind.”
The archbishop turned back and answered.
“Even though it’s a city built on greed, everyone is happy, aren’t they? Like the ideal society in the scriptures.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Would humans be satisfied with just a slightly better life? It might seem that way on the surface, but a closer look would reveal another conflict hidden beneath.
‘There’s no need to tell him that.’
In any case, it was a good thing for me if the archbishop’s assessment of me improved.
“Haa. Why can’t other lords do this?”
“Because the effects aren’t immediate. It will take at least a few years.”
This was an era where people died from a rusty needle prick because there were no proper medicines. In other words, you never knew when you would die.
Death was too close for medieval people, so they tended to focus on the present. I, who was preparing for the future, was an anomaly.
“Preparing for the future… that’s why the Baron’s territory is so full of hope.”
“So, are your misunderstandings cleared up now?”
The archbishop shook his head.
“I’ve only seen a small part of it.”
“You just want to see my main base, which is even better than this, don’t you?”
“What, I’m not… I’m just…”
“Well, it doesn’t matter to me. The result will be the same.”
The archbishop kept looking back as he left Phalanx, as if he were afraid that the city, which was close to an ideal society, would disappear like a mirage.
However, Phalanx was still there, and it only disappeared after night fell.
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We arrived in Melbourne in the morning, exactly a week after leaving Phalanx. Janbolt was sprawled in the middle of the main street, basking in the sun’s rays.
“Gah. What’s that smell of alcohol…”
Fiore, who had been trying to get Janbolt up, recoiled and let go. Thanks to that, his half-raised body fell forward.
He seemed to have come to his senses a little after scraping his face on the ground. His gaze followed the horse’s hooves, which were close to him, and then met mine.
“I sent you to work, and you’ve become a drunkard.”
“Gah… you ruthless employer… hiccup. This is all your fault!”
A foul smell of alcohol wafted from his mouth every time he opened it. Even my horse snorted and backed away.
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