How about episode 181? You just got it, right? (1)
Although the entire Kingdom of Rutania was suffering from drought, the situation in the north was more dire than other regions.
This is because Leipold and Desmond, who sit on the northernmost granary, have completely banned food exports.
The damage was even greater because it was a barren and poor region from the beginning. The central nobles were also busy taking care of themselves this time, so it was difficult to expect support.
As the lords were struggling to find a solution to the situation where many people were dying, one rumor spread quickly.
“They say there is so much food in the Fenris territory.”
“I heard that the immigrants were wiping out food supplies to the point that prices were going up.”
“There must be some room left over. I have to get at least that.”
All eyes in the North were turned to the Fenris Estates.
The Lord of Fenris was a young and incompetent man with a weak military force, so just looking at him made my mouth water.
If we can just take over that place, we can get through this difficult time right away.
But even though they wanted to take over the Fenris territory, the lords could not wage war.
“Damn it! Behind that little brat is the Marquis of Branford!”
“What a lucky kid! To be favored by such a big shot just because of cosmetics!”
“Why on earth did the royalist faction accept a guy like that?”
This was because the Marquis of Branford and the royalist faction were behind Giselle. Attacking Fenris would be tantamount to turning them into enemies as well.
There were no lords in the North who could afford to take that risk.
Since it was obvious that starting a war would lead to self-destruction, the lords decided to propose a deal instead.
For a lord who believed that power equals justice, his response was unusually peaceful.
In this way, envoys were sent to Fenris from various lords and numerous groups.
Naturally, they thought they would be able to obtain food easily.
“You will have no choice but to treat us very well, if only for the sake of my father. After the drought is over, you will need to receive support from us again.”
“That’s right, the North has always been a place of strong loyalty! To be honest, Ferdium has been surviving thanks to us.”
“If you have a conscience, you can bow down to us without hesitation! Ahem!”
Although supporting Ferdium was the natural price to pay for protecting it from the barbarians, the lords were pretending as if they were helping generously.
And that was with only the barest of support, barely enough to breathe.
Even in the last war, they had pretended not to know Ferdium’s request for help, but that had already been erased from their minds.
But their arrogant judgment began to crumble as soon as they arrived in Fenris.
Claude first asked for their understanding when welcoming the messengers.
“Unfortunately, we have too many guests and there is no place to stay.”
“There is… no accommodation?”
“Yes. Instead, we have a very large, beautiful, and impressive tent ready for you. Would you like to stay there?”
The messengers did not hide their anger at Claude’s words.
“How can you treat a messenger like this! I am a person who has been given all authority by the lord!”
“This is an act that goes against the law and etiquette!”
“What kind of rudeness is this! Disrespecting my territory?”
Despite the vehement protests, Claude just listened with an annoyed expression. What can I do when I really have no place to stay?
The small castle was overflowing with envoys, so there was no room left for them to stay.
Claude was initially willing to provide shabby servant quarters, but Giselle opposed it.
― We can’t let our people suffer because of the dark-hearted outsiders. If there’s no place to settle down, at least pitch a tent outside.
What could he do when the lord said that? But he kept getting protests, so he was starting to get annoyed.
“Oh, I don’t want to do this either, but what can I do if there are no seats? There are too many customers coming in right now, so I can’t help it. It’s not like it’s a famous restaurant, so why are there so many people? Oh my, I’m dying from annoyance.”
The governor was acting like this, so the envoys had no choice but to do nothing.
“Ugh… … Let’s do that for now.”
The messengers who arrived a little late actually had to pitch tents and stay outside.
Living in a tent that was big but had nothing inside, instead of being impressed, I just cursed at it every day.
Their bodies were sore from the uncomfortable sleeping conditions, but Giselle did not even meet them right away and made them wait. They were furious at the unimaginable treatment.
“You don’t know how high the sky is, just because you’ve stockpiled some food on the topic of children!”
“You are such a scoundrel who doesn’t even know the etiquette of a nobleman! Let’s see how much more arrogant you are!”
Complaints poured out, but no one turned back.
Because there was nowhere to get food right away other than the Fenris Territory.
The one who feels sorry has no choice but to grit his teeth and endure it.
As time passed, when it seemed that enough people had gathered, Jiselle called them all together at the same time.
The Daejeon was so narrow that only a few people in charge could enter, leaving out the envoys and their attendants. Nevertheless, the Daejeon was bustling like a market street.
The messengers were furious, but they hid their feelings as best they could.
Jiselle looked around at them, smiled leisurely, and opened her mouth.
“How much research have you done?”
“… … ???”
The messengers were all speechless at the words of Jiselle, who was like a merchant.
According to their original plan, they had to somehow squeeze as much food out of Aesongi using a little persuasion and threats.
‘No, how can you negotiate in this kind of atmosphere?’
‘Damn it! How much should I charge? The other guys must be after the food right now too.’
‘This is driving me crazy. We have to compete on price.’
All transactions between territories are conducted in secret. That way, when dealing with other territories, there will be no gossip about ‘you agreed to this condition’.
But if you gather people from various territories together like this, there is no need for negotiations or anything.
The one who bids the highest price gets priority.
The confusion was short-lived, and before the mood shifted to an auction, several of the messengers exchanged glances and stepped forward.
It was a response befitting those who have lived off the food they have earned in the harsh north.
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“Ahem, we’re from the Zimbar Estate. We’d like to formally request food aid from the Fenris Estate.”
“request?”
“Yes. We have been supporting Ferdium for a long time. I don’t think you can deny that it was thanks to that that you were able to grow to this extent. Now that our circumstances are difficult, we would like to ask you to consider the sincerity we have shown you… … .”
The messenger went on and on about how much effort they had put into Ferdium. It was a long story, but in short, it meant, ‘You’ve been living thanks to us, so now give us some.’
The other messengers also began to pressure Jiselle accordingly.
“The North has always shared the pain and lived together. It was because Ferdium was with us that we were able to endure the difficulties we had been through.”
“Now is the time for you, Baron, to give.”
The messengers were all competing to say, ‘Anyway, you have to take responsibility.’
It was an incredibly arrogant remark, one that was hard to believe came from people who had come to seek food.
It was a habit that had been in place for a long time when dealing with Ferdium.
The positions have changed a bit now, but as time goes by, they will inevitably gain the upper hand again.
Because poor Ferdium will have to receive support to survive.
So, thinking about their future relationship, I decided that Jiselle wouldn’t be able to act cruelly.
But that judgment was completely shattered by the words that Jiselle spat out with a cold smile.
“You should go and tell my father about that. Why are you asking me for payment? I’m not receiving any support.”
The messengers, who were momentarily taken aback by Jiselle’s words, went out again strongly.
“Isn’t your Highness the successor there? In the future, you will need support from us anyway.”
“Yes. The drought is temporary, but what are you planning to do in the future? Don’t pretend not to know the loyalty of the alliance we have formed so far. Aren’t we all allies with a long history?”
“Are you saying that we don’t need support? If support is really cut off, not only the Baron but also Count Ferdium will be in trouble.”
The messengers were convinced by their own words and regained their confidence.
Yes, even if this little guy tries to gain the upper hand with food now, it will only be for a moment.
What happens after the drought is resolved? Do they think they can block the North on their own without their support? With only that much production and manpower?
That’s ridiculous. If that were possible, Ferdium wouldn’t be having such a hard time.
Jiselle continued speaking in a cold voice, glaring at the confident faces of the messengers.
“Those who emphasize alliance and loyalty so much, pretended not to know us during the war?”
“… … .”
At those words, the messengers kept their mouths shut.
Frankly, I didn’t care who took over Ferdium. There was no fool who would get involved in a war like that and waste troops and resources.
That’s what politics is all about. This kid is still young and doesn’t know that, so he’s stuck in the past.
When the messengers were about to refute, Giselle blurted out:
“20 thousand gold.”
“Huh? 20,000 gold? Is that the price of food?”
“No, regardless of food, the territories that support Ferdium will pay me 20,000 gold per year in defense expenses. For territories that do not pay or are behind in their payments, I will open a path for the barbarians to enter.”
Count Ferdium would never allow such a thing, but the people of the other fiefdoms do not know exactly what kind of person the Count is.
So everyone couldn’t help but be shocked by Giselle’s declaration.
“What, what are you talking about!”
The defense budget of 20,000 gold is ridiculous, but threatening to open a road! He was completely crazy.
‘But in the first place, shouldn’t the defense budget be received from Perdium? Why are you saying you’ll receive it? What are you?’
The messengers immediately retorted with a mixture of embarrassment and humiliation.
“No way! We already have enough support!”
“Count Ferdium is a count who must protect the border. That is his duty!”
“That is a fact stipulated by the laws of the kingdom! That is why you receive so many benefits!”
Despite the messengers’ strong protests, Giselle didn’t even blink an eye.
“The benefits are nothing, everyone pretended not to know when we were in danger.”
“So at that time, everything was… … .”
“Even mere mercenaries receive compensation for their actions. From now on, I intend to receive a fair reward for my sacrifices, so don’t argue. I’m sick of you swinging your weight around in our territory with your shabby support.”
“What rude words… …!”
“Stop it. If you keep talking, I’ll kick you out without even trading food. I don’t want to talk too much. Oh, I told you I’ve become really good. I’ll listen to you even if you talk so much.”
“Hey, profit!”
The envoys were silenced by the threat of being kicked out. For now, obtaining food was more important.
But inside, the fire was burning and they couldn’t stand it. Some people winked at each other and ground their teeth.
‘Let’s just wait and see, once this drought is resolved, I will never leave it alone.’
‘That bastard Aesong is trusting the royalist faction and is acting too harshly. Defense expenses? Do you think we’d pay something like that?’
‘If we join forces, it won’t be a problem to slowly kill someone like you.’
It was an idea that could be done because I didn’t know how fast Fenris was developing.
In a territory with a weak military and nothing special to offer, they think it was just a stroke of luck that they had stockpiled food because of the immigrants.
The other messengers remained silent as they watched what was happening to them.
Even those who can make excuses about Ferdium are being treated like this, so those who have nothing to do with it will only see a harsh punishment if they try to step forward.
Jiselle smiled as she looked around the quiet Daejeon.
“Okay, so shall we start trading now?”
One of the messengers who had been observing raised his hand quickly as soon as the words were spoken.
“I will give you ten silver coins for a sack of wheat!”
Before the famine, a sack of wheat was worth an average of three silver. After the harvest, it dropped to one silver.
If it was 10 silver, it was several times more expensive.
Then other people joined in and shouted.
“We will give you 11 silver!”
“We are 12 silver!”
“I’ll give you 13 silver!”
Everyone was in a hurry and started to raise their prices one after another.
Rumors abound that food supplies were stockpiled in the Fenris domain, but it is not known exactly how much there was to spare.
Everyone raised their voices, fearing that if the other side bought first, they would not have enough to buy.
In the middle of Daejeon, which was as bustling as a market street, someone spoke quietly.
“1 gold.”
“… … !”
Everyone turned their heads in surprise at the outrageous price.
There stood a middle-aged man in a robe, with an arrogant attitude.
Giselle looked at him and smiled coldly.
