140 – Before and after (3)
“How are you?”
When I return to my room late at night, Chloe, who had been waiting in the room beforehand, stands up to greet me.
Wow, looking at this smile relieves all the irritation I’ve accumulated over the years.
“Today? Yes, it was very difficult, just say hello and go quickly. Why are you talking so much?”
Why are you complaining to me about people fighting?
No, since I am their lord, I have the right to intervene in disputes between vassals. However, the authority is only words, and the scope of application increases and decreases like a rubber band, and the standards are extremely ambiguous.
In a word, when the vassals are at an advantage, [My sovereign act is my absolute right as a vassal, so lord, please do not abandon your duty to protect your vassals!] You have a duty, so please don’t abandon that duty!] He said this sh*t.
And the nobles appeal to me with each such claim separately. Assuming that there is some dispute between vassals over territory, interests, cause, succession, etc., The weaker side whines for me to intervene, while the stronger side has a duty to protect the vassal’s autonomy. They whine and ask not to be thrown away and suppressed.
Why did you bring the fights to me and it’s a plague, you guys have to figure it out on your own. Without giving anything
“Ahahahaha… Looking at your brother’s expression, I can understand the hard work very well.”
“Is it so obvious?”
“Yes, the blood on your face has completely gone. Get a good rest from now on.”
“Thanks, Chloe.”
As Chloe said, you should rest as much as possible. Tomorrow, as well, I have to meet 14 nobles, and even assuming that each person takes at least an hour, it would take 14 hours.
What’s even more terrifying is that each hour is the same from one place to another. The ceremony of the oath of allegiance, raising taxes, lowering gifts, having conversations, listening to complaints, and so on, etc. Are completely the same, so I get tired of it.
It doesn’t matter if I’m simply tired of it, but if that noble suddenly grabs my clothes and whines at me, I just want to have a double bath. When did you tell them not to interfere??
Whew, that’s it. I’m off work now so don’t think about it.
…………
“…So, would you like to apply?”
What is this again?
I thought I only had to deal with domestic aristocrats… Oh no.
“Yes, Your Majesty. This is a small request from Laurel to You.”
“…Yes, I got it.”
Since an envoy came from the Duchy of Laurel, I thought they were only celebrating the victory, but it wasn’t.
It’s generally rude to ask for something outright like this, but it’s certainly not rude among close friends.
And the relationship between me and Laurel is, of course, as close as it is based on blood.
“I’ve been helped a lot by Laurel in many ways. Shouldn’t I return it?”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
When I blocked the border to prevent my uncle who had caused a rebellion, when I designated Holy Empire coins as the official currency, when I interacted with the powers of the Holy Empire, I received Laurel’s help in many places.
However, ignoring so much help and refusing Laurel’s request is more than a lack of prudence, it is a lack of something as a human being. Of course you should listen.
The problem is that the request is a bit…
‘Funds and alliance requests aside, but…’
“Through this, our Laurel will also be rich in products and become very wealthy!”
“Ha ha ha…”
Laurel is now asking me to teach her how to build a factory.
Perhaps they made this judgment because they thought that the importance of the factory was not so high… The problem is that the factory is a thing that should never be leaked.
Besides, the other side is not a domestic aristocrat, but an imperial aristocrat. Soon, handicraft-style factories could spread widely throughout the empire.
Of course, there is a limit to continuing to block it, and it is a factory that will spread widely someday, but the longer the period is delayed, the better.
“Of course, Laurel requested funds and military alliances. I will also prioritize supplying products to Laurel from now on, and at a lower price than the products sold to the Empire.”
“Your Majesty?”
The delighted merchant is taken aback after hearing my last words.
That…Sorry? I wanted to listen to it as much as possible, but the factory really can’t do it.
If you want a factory to enrich your produce, you might prefer giving it away rather than building it.
“Jim would like to grant Laurel’s request, but he can’t because the law strictly prohibits leaving the factory out of the country. In return, Laurel will continue to buy and sell so many items cheaply that the factory will no longer be necessary. Please forgive me.”
“Ha-ha-ona… We, Laurel, want to get rich by selling and selling things we make ourselves, not spending money.”
“In that case, wouldn’t it be fine to sell cheaply imported goods at a reasonable price? It should be enough to make a profit.”
“Your Majesty…!”
The envoy’s voice rises.
Until now, everything I’ve asked for has been answered without words, and I can feel the resentment of how they didn’t listen to such trivial things as they are.
“I’m really sorry. The law against leaking abroad was enacted by Jim himself, and if he violates the law he enacted, wouldn’t it be considered an act of ridicule as a monarch?”
“Overseas… You mean?”
“Yes, overseas.”
“…”
Okay, looks like you got it right.
Until recently, the face of the envoy was full of resentment, but now the expression of the envoy has changed to a very subtle expression rather than resentment.
I can’t explain it clearly, but… Yes, it’s the look on the face of a person who realized that the gas valve at home had not been turned off until he went to the company parking lot.
…………
“I’m glad you’re here, then enjoy yourself in Dijon for the next three days.”
After everyone finally gathered, the banquet to commemorate the victory began as scheduled.
Following the nobles of Rotaling, a large number of Carolingian nobles who had just pledged their allegiance to me had gathered.
Of course, not all of the domestic vassals gathered, but only influential nobles, but this would be enough. Since each of them has their own power, I will be able to pass on my undistorted image to their power as it is.
I have to make them have positive thoughts about me while taking care of all the conveniences as much as possible.
“Nice to see you here!”
“Oh, how are you?”
It seems that large-scale banquets like this, especially banquets where only influential nobles gather, have not been held well.
Because the work of the territory is more important than the work of the outside world, nobles rarely go out of the territory, and because of that, most nobles do not pay attention to the outside world and often live a life of confinement in the territory. .
Of course, with the establishment of universities and social gatherings at universities, such customs will soon disappear, but there are still such temperaments among the old aristocrats. So, I was a little worried that the banquet would become boring due to the nature of people who are reluctant to talk with strangers, but looking at their reactions, I don’t think I need to worry too much.
I don’t want to go out of the territory, but everyone likes it because I made a place like this.
“This… Well, it’s very sweet! But it doesn’t have the flavor of honey, even though it’s made with honey…”
“It’s made of sugar. There’s a lot of it, so take turns taking some.”
“Who… Oops, Her Majesty—”
“Ah, you don’t have to. You can’t do such complicated greetings at a banquet.”
From nob le mtl dot com
Meanwhile, the Duke of Aquitan, who was enjoying a pie sprinkled with sugar and filled with grape jam, was shocked to see Ines who suddenly appeared and was about to say hello, but was stopped by Ines.
It seems that the other nobles in the vicinity also noticed Ines’ arrival after hearing Duke Aquitan’s spittle. The banquet hall, which had been noisy until just now, became quiet in an instant, and everyone was looking only at Ines.
‘…Was this what you were aiming for?’
Ines himself said that he wanted to attend the banquet late, so he didn’t know why he wanted to do that, but he said he knew, and he thought it would come back like this.
Ines, who has a body that is unthinkable that she has given birth to two children, wears a pure white dress and shows off her beauty, and others admire her as they look at her.
If Ines had been in the banquet hall from the beginning, everyone would have gotten used to Ines’ appearance, so there would have been little or no such reaction, but her sudden appearance in the middle of it really highlighted Ines’ beauty.
Everyone is looking at Ines in admiration, but this feels surprisingly good.
“Ines, are you here?”
“Your Majesty!”
“?!”
When I approached Ines and pretended to know him, Ines, who had just been speaking solemnly to the Duke of Aquitan, rushed at me like a girl meeting her lover and grabbed his arm.
And other people who saw it were admiring Ines’ looks just a moment ago, but now they admire it in a different way.
They are making faces as if they are seeing a young couple who can’t choose where to go and show affection even outside.
That… The bad image is going to get better, but it seems to bounce off in a bit strange way.
Well, it’ll be fine. Because no matter where you go, in all ages and places, couples who have a good relationship are looked upon favorably.