Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 57

“Then, while we discuss, let’s have them prepare a meal. You won’t be able to eat properly when you return, will you? I hope you fill up enough here.”

Squeak, bang!

“That, that, that noble….”

As soon as the door closed, Romandro grumbled, grabbing his neck. At this rate, the border counts might really develop a prejudice.

Ian took the documents he was looking at and checked them one by one.

“The prices are one thing, but the list is not to my liking at all.”

“Exactly. There are hardly any famine relief crops.”

Expecting a tough winter, what they needed now were famine relief crops that had a short harvest time and relatively large yields. However, what Mereloff presented were only high-end food ingredients mainly consumed by nobles.

“This is absurd. Did he have a bad relationship with Derga?”

“I don’t know about that. But regardless, he probably wouldn’t be happy about the trade itself.”

They barely have enough to eat themselves, and now they have to provide food just because an advisor from the Imperial Palace came. Moreover, they must have suffered losses from the battle in the Bratz territory, whether they know it or not.

“During the battle, some tried to flee to Mereloff. The butler of the Bratz mansion was also beheaded here. They couldn’t open the doors and go outside during that period….”

With the forest in front of them, they couldn’t get firewood, hunt, or gather fruits. There must have been disruptions in trade as well. It was impossible to know exactly what inconveniences they faced while isolated, but it was easy to guess.

Romandro groaned and clutched his head.

“Advisor.”

“Hmm?”

Ian tapped the table a few times, then slowly called out to Romandro. In fact, even if they didn’t secure food supplies here, Ian had a way.

“Excuse me, but the support fund is estimated to be around 3,000 gold coins. Is that correct?”

“Well, it’s a sensitive matter, so I can’t tell you.”

“I know a way to use it much more effectively than buying cream and olives here. If you trust me and follow my lead, Romandro.”

Gula, called the grace of God, which eliminated the great famine in Bariel. Ian had four sacks of such Gula seeds.

Compared to other famine relief crops, it had an overwhelmingly short cultivation period, abundant yields, and nutritional benefits.

With such perfect food, why would they buy such things with this money?

“What do you mean?”

“We cannot use the precious support fund sent by the Imperial Palace like this. It’s a waste, and furthermore, a luxury.”

“I think so too, but what other way is there?”

Ian flipped the documents over as if there was nothing to see and pushed them aside. Then, he asked Romandro’s subordinates to check if there were any eavesdroppers. As they went out into the hallway, Ian whispered quietly.

“I’m going to buy something else here.”

“Something else? What?”

“People.”

At the unexpected words, Romandro’s eyes widened and blinked.

“…Slave markets are only held in the center. Is Count Mereloff hosting one?”

“No. That’s not it. I’m going to buy labor.”

Even without using all 3,000 gold coins, it would be enough, Ian whispered. Romandro, who had no idea what was going on, looked back and forth between Ian and the trade proposal documents, pondering.

“Lend me your ear.”

Ian smiled and whispered the existence of Gula into Romandro’s ear. Romandro’s expression gradually changed as if he couldn’t believe it, but it was only for a moment.

* * *

“They’re just leaving?”

“Yes, Count. They said they’re canceling the trade.”

Count Mereloff glanced at the food laid out on the table. Unlike what he had said about preparing a lavish meal, it was centered around a boiled meat stew. A dish that commoners mainly ate, where not a single drop of juice could be wasted.

This was his way of showing that he was displeased with the trade proposal itself. The Count stroked his beard and wrinkled his nose.

“They’ve gotten too big for their britches.”

“Shall I see them off?”

“No need. Just make up some excuse.”

Externally, he hadn’t ignored the help. It was just that they hadn’t chosen it. Count Mereloff had been worried about what to do if they came back saying they would trade at that price.

‘Soon, the Tenryo people, who can’t withstand the cold weather, will return, and there will be no way out when they all starve to death.’

The reason why Mereloff reigned like a king in the border region was mainly because it was a border region, far from the eyes of the Imperial Palace.

A physical and psychological distance where the Imperial Palace wouldn’t know what was happening, no matter what. But what if someone from the Imperial Palace took the position of the lord of Bratz?

‘Damn it. Just thinking about it….’

Mereloff, being the neighboring territory, would also be within the Imperial Palace’s sight. In that case, it would be better for Mereloff to take over Bratz. Geographically, there was the burden of dealing with the barbarians, but it was much better than having the Imperial Palace as a neighbor.

The Count strode over and looked out the window. He saw Ian and the advisor standing in front of the carriage near the main gate. They were facing each other and talking about something.

* * *

“Perhaps they just dislike the fact that someone from the Imperial Palace is in Bratz.”

“They find it burdensome to have as a neighbor.”

“There’s also a moral issue, but isn’t that how it is? Once you’re dead, morality and all that are useless.”

Because he was too far away, Count Mereloff didn’t realize that Ian had seen right through him. Romandro thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement, as it was a reasonable thing to say.

“Yes. That’s right. I didn’t think that far.”

“By the way, the butler is a bit late?”

“The Count must be finishing up his business.”

“I don’t know. From what I see, I don’t think he’ll see us off.”

Ian clicked his pocket watch and muttered. Now that he had confirmed Mereloff’s position, all that was left was to return to the territory and introduce Gula to Romandro.

“Oh my.”

At that moment, a woman came out through the back gate of the garden. She was a noblewoman with platinum blonde hair tied up, adorned with all sorts of extravagant decorations.

“…Mrs. Mereloff?”

“Ian! You’re Ian, aren’t you?”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Ian hid his bewildered expression and greeted her by kissing the back of her hand. Unlike Count Mereloff, she was a lively woman. He had assumed she would be middle-aged, like Mary, since they were friends, but she was much younger than he had expected.

“I am Lien Mereloff. Yes, I heard you came, but are you already leaving? At least have a meal before you go.”

The woman was young, but her position and everything else were above Ian and Romandro. It was a very natural way of speaking down to them, and Ian didn’t feel any resistance because he knew it. Just that she was a bit lacking in manners.

“I am grateful for the Count’s offer, but I cannot join you as I have a mountain of work to do. Perhaps another time.”

Swish.

The woman fanned herself with a fancy fan, giving an inscrutable smile. Ian and Romandro glanced at each other, sharing a look. Why was the countess acting like this? Come to think of it, something about the atmosphere was strange.

‘Her dress doesn’t match the season, and even her gaze is off….’

It was the kind of feeling you get when you meet someone in an alley and feel like you should turn back. It was an impression that was not easily obtained from a beautiful countess.

“Advisor?”

“Ah. I am Romandro.”

“It’s an honor. I thought I wouldn’t even get to hear your name.”

“I apologize.”

“Is this all of your party?”

She asked, twirling her fan with a gentle gesture. Half of those who had come with them had already gone down to the center of town to buy the ‘people’ Ian had suggested.

“They left ahead of us because it seemed like it would be late. We are waiting for the butler.”

“Ah, I see. And the Bratz territory has been well taken care of? My husband never tells me anything about that place.”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“Oh ho ho. And I have something I’m curious about.”

“Please, ask, Madam.”

The countess covered the lower part of her face with her fan and moved closer. The servants seemed to be closing their ears and eyes, with their heads bowed.

“Who is using Mary’s room?”

“Mary’s room?”

“I have something I lent her that I haven’t gotten back.”

Shhh. As if telling them to lower their voices, Mrs. Mereloff’s tone gradually lowered. Ian remembered Mary’s last words and exclaimed.

“Ah.”

Mary had said that there was something that could be helpful if taken to Mereloff. She hadn’t told him what it was, but considering she had said that until the moment she left the mansion, it must not have been something that could be easily lost.

Mrs. Mereloff’s eyes sparkled as she urged Ian.

“Huh? Is the room intact?”

“…It should be. She doesn’t go there often. If you wish, please visit anytime.”

“Is that alright?”

“Of course. It’s a room without an owner, so who would say anything?”

At Ian’s words, the countess’s eyes curved with satisfaction. At that moment, the butler came out with a small box, and the countess turned her head as if nothing had happened.

“Madam?”

“The guests are leaving, where is the Count?”

“Ah. He says he is unable to leave his post due to urgent business. He asks for the guests’ understanding, and this is a small token of sincerity from Mereloff. He also said that if there is anything he can do to help as a neighboring territory, please let him know anytime.”

As the butler bowed politely, the countess covered her mouth with her fan and sneered. The butler had a knack for making the Count’s sharp words sound very round. Ian nodded, accepting the box.

“Please convey my thanks.”

“Then, farewell. Ahem.”

Romandro also gave a brief greeting and got into the carriage. As they left through the main gate, the countess kept her eyes on them until the very end.

Clatter, clatter.

“What is that token of sincerity?”

“Judging by the smell, it seems to be dried meat.”

“Tsk, it seems the rumors about the border regions were true.”

He was referring to the social prejudice that border counts were vulgar and barbaric. When Ian smiled slightly, understanding the meaning, Romandro confirmed that the mansion was far away.

“The countess was also very strange.”

“I didn’t expect her to be so young. I thought she would be the same age as Mary.”

“The Count seemed a bit older, is it his first marriage?”

“I’m not sure about that….”

“Alright, alright. Now, tell me in detail. There’s a crop that has a harvest time of about a month?”

Romandro leaned close to Ian with an expectant voice. To think that such an amazing crop that he had never heard of before existed here!

It seemed that there was a saying that if you want to see the center of the world, you should go to the capital, and if you want to see the changes in the world, you should go to the border regions.

“Where did it come from? The Great Desert? Yes, it must be from the desert, so it has good vitality, right? What’s its name? What do you call it?”

“You know it too, Advisor.”

“Huh? What?”

“Gula.”

“…Gula? The weed Gula that I know?”

Unlike Ian, who was smiling slightly, Romandro’s face was filled with dismay. It was clear that the thought of ‘I’m doomed’ filled his head.