Chapter 33

July 9, 15th Year

Correction:

"Submit the territory" → "Govern the territory"

"Chairman" → "Chief"

A bundle of parchment was slammed onto a lavishly decorated desk. The man, who appeared to be the master of the room, with a lean, mantis-like face, was breathing heavily, his temples throbbing.

"I-I'm very sorry."

The thin arms of the man being interrogated in front of him were being slammed on the desk so hard that they seemed about to break. The man's rationality had long since abandoned him.

"Ughhh, you Brütselers!"

In the Holy Bandam Kingdom, the sale of sugar was conducted by the large merchant guild, the Roger Guild. This Roger Guild was known to be associated with the Brennan Dukedom. Therefore, the man slamming his fists on the desk and raging was none other than the Duke of Brennan himself.

Until now, it was said that the Holy Bandam Kingdom could not produce sugar and had to import it from neighboring countries. The Duke of Brennan governed the territory bordering the neighboring country that exported sugar. The successive Dukes of Brennan had imposed high tariffs on merchant guilds that imported sugar from sources other than the Roger Guild. In effect, the sale of sugar within the kingdom was monopolized by the Roger Guild.

The right to impose tariffs within their territories was recognized as a noble's privilege, and even the king could not easily interfere with this right. Both the king and the nobles loyal to him were bitter about the arrogance of the Brennan Dukedom.

The situation in the capital regarding sugar changed dramatically when Christoph of the Brütselers Margravate began producing and selling refined sugar domestically.

The Duke of Brennan knew that the king was not pleased with the Brennan Dukedom's continued accumulation of wealth, so he understood that it was no longer possible to secure a sugar monopoly. Therefore, he could see a future where the sale of sugar in the capital would be devastated.

Moreover, the Margrave of Brütselers was trying to expand domestic production.

"Will you oppose me to the end... how detestable..."

After dismissing the Roger Guild's representative, the Duke of Brennan, alone in his office, muttered inaudibly, thinking bitterly of Ernest von Brütselers.

"I won't let this stand... hahaha."

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"Ah, it's been a while since I've been in the capital. The smell is just the same as always."

"Brother, you don't need to shout so loudly. We can hear you just fine."

The scene of an elderly man leaning out of the window of a modest but sturdy carriage, shouting, while another elderly man tried to keep him from falling out, was quite unusual to the passersby.

The noisy carriage stopped in front of the gate of a large mansion in the noble district, and the gatekeeper was hurriedly called to open the gate.

"I'm back!"

"Father, please come home more quietly. Your voice can be heard even from beyond the gate. Uncle, it's been a while."

"Stop worrying about such trivial things! You're always so nitpicky! Where is he?"

"Brother, the head of the household is also troubled. Please behave like a retired person and be quiet!"

The elder man, who was hit on the head, was called "Brother." At that moment, a knock on the door was heard, and when the head of the household gave permission, a beautiful woman in her late twenties entered.

"Father-in-law, it's been a while. Uncle, it's been a while."

The woman bowed gracefully and greeted the two elderly men.

"Oh, Cecilia, you're still as young and beautiful as ever. I hear you're expecting your third child. Is that true?"

"Yes, I'm embarrassed to say, but I am expecting a child at my age."

"Congratulations! That's the spirit, Cecilia. Take care of your health."

"Thank you, Father-in-law."

"Cecilia, congratulations. Brother, don't overexert yourself. Please return to your room and take care of your health."

"Uncle, thank you for your concern. I feel well today, so I would like to tell Father-in-law about my journey."

These two elderly men were brothers. The elder was none other than the current Margrave of Brütselers, Ernest's father, Gorres von Brütselers. The younger was Gorres' youngest brother, Federacio Kudo von Brütselers, the former commander of the Holy Bandam Kingdom's knight corps.

Gorres was originally the third son and was not intended to inherit the Brütselers Margravate, so he had worked as an adventurer. However, after his elder brothers died, he inherited the title without the necessary education or mindset for a noble head. He was later evaluated as a second-rate politician but a first-rate general.

Federacio, the seventh son, had entered the royal knight school early and graduated as the top student, joining the Holy Bandam Kingdom's knight corps. He had achieved several military honors and commanded many subordinates as the knight commander. However, feeling his age, he retired and returned to the Brütselers Margravate.

"So, where is Christoph?"

He wanted to celebrate Christoph's recovery and his enrollment in the Royal Magic Academy.

"Father-in-law, Christoph is staying in the dormitory of the Royal Magic Academy."

"What? ! S-So, when will he come back?"

"Well, he'll come back eventually."

"Ughhhh! How long do I have to wait!"

Gorres, though successful as an adventurer, recognized that he was not a first-rate ruler. He had early on passed the title to Ernest and focused on training the knight corps and fighting monsters in the Brütselers Margravate.

Christoph, who had been ill, often received visits from Gorres while recuperating in the manor in the capital, and he had grown fond of Gorres. However, as Christoph's condition worsened, Gorres, unable to bear seeing his 10-year-old grandson on his deathbed, set out to find a legendary elixir said to exist somewhere in the world. Despite obtaining various medicines through different merchant guilds, he could not wait and set out on his own.

Around that time, Federacio had retired from the kingdom's knight corps and returned to the Brütselers Margravate. Gorres, involving Federacio, set out on a journey with his brother, traveling through the Holy Bandam Kingdom and friendly countries, but they had not found the elixir. However, they heard from an acquaintance merchant that Christoph had recovered and enrolled in the Royal Magic Academy in the capital, so they returned.

If they had not heard this news, they would have continued their wanderings. Normally, they would have maintained close communication with home to check on Christoph's condition, but due to Federacio's inability to stop Gorres from moving around, the information did not reach them.