Chapter 161

Chapter 161

***

A little over two months had passed since Rickart left. It was the time from the beginning of summer until the beginning of autumn.

A little over two months also meant enough time for seeds sown in a place to sprout and crops to grow somewhat.

The seeds Rickart had sown in his own way while coming and going through Beringen before leaving were also germinating and creating some changes.

Adelibari, which used to be a King's resort, was bustling with outsiders. From Nord mercenaries and peddlers to large-scale war merchants, the suppliers providing goods to them, and day laborers.

War meant massive amounts of money and manpower moved. And because that inherently caused chaos, maintaining order and harmony was very important.

Conflicts between city dwellers and peasants, locals and outsiders, numerous contracts and fulfillments, the problems erupting amidst them, the differences in legal consciousness coming from different cultures, and complex and subtle interests.

Soothing, settling, and encompassing all this chaos was Marie's job. Of course she was said to be helped by friends and comrades, but ultimately taking responsibility and making decisions at the end was what she had to did.

This was never an easy job. For example, if a fight broke out between a Nord mercenary and a certain merchant guild and someone was severely injured, a verdict couldn't be made.

What that meant was, one side claimed it was fair only if the perpetrator was beheaded, and the other side took the stance that they did nothing wrong.

No matter how rationally the verdict was made, one side could think SHE WAS TAKING THEIR SIDE and just leave.

It was a society where there was no such thing as an individual and everything centered around the community. A community wasn't just a village community but variously combat communities like the Nords, guilds like the blacksmith association, merchant guilds, blood relatives, etc.

Feudalism was a very simple structure formed in steps on the outside, but looking inside, communities according to all sorts of classes, occupations, and statuses were complicatedly intertwined.

Therefore, rational and logical handling of affairs was also important, but more important than that was the charisma to make people follow one's words.

She couldn't unconditionally threaten to kill them, nor could she be dragged around making regretful sounds.

Here, what gave Marie the most strength was ironically her lineage. The blood of the Imperial family she had considered so accursed at least carried some weight to the words she spoke.

Although she had the unique and tremendous background of being a Sword Master, that alone couldn't make people follow her. If she lacked lineage, she might have been ignored precisely because she was a woman.

Perhaps encompassing people was more important than actual battles engaging with spears and swords.

To say it a bit harshly, stably uniting people and maintaining order was a very complex, headache-inducing, and stressful task to the extent that she thought fighting risking one's life was rather better.

If combat troops were the tip of the iceberg, beneath the surface there were an immense amount of money, people, desires, and energy supporting the iceberg.

It was around the time the red and yellow autumn leaves were dyed, and fallen leaves piled up on the ground. It was right before the time Rickart fought the decisive battle against the 2nd Imperial Prince.

"They say the Nords are recklessly cutting down surrounding trees and building cabins. To prepare for winter we must stockpile firewood from now, but at this rate the people outside the city might freeze to death."

Mayor Macquin, sitting in front of a large table, said.

In the meeting room where comfortable white light entered, several other people besides him were sitting at the table.

Bremen who used to be a guide was seen, Bori who acted like Marie's secretary was there, and Herbert who was originally the Northwest Border Army of Adelorn but now led something like a security maintenance force, and Ranger Captain Lester were also there.

They each took charge of duties and played the role of helping Marie, but on the other hand, they were also representatives of various interest groups, that was, communities.

For instance, Mayor Macquin inevitably played the role of conveying the locals' complaints and demands. He wasn't appointed like that intentionally, but it naturally had no choice but to become so.

And whether presenting solutions or mediating conflicts, one of Marie's important jobs was listening to the people's voices. But this was much more agonizing than expected.

Though she didn't show it on the outside, that was.

With her hair neatly combed up, Marie said with an unwavering gaze.

"Instead of cutting their wages, we said we would provide them the right to reside and housing. In order to properly build houses we would have to buy construction materials again, but the Mayor surely knows that's impossible. Them cutting trees to build cabins is no different from what I guaranteed, so please persuade the residents well."

From the perspective of the Nord mercenaries, they endured a lot uncharacteristically. Having promised them previously, she couldn't tell them not to cut trees now.

And conveying the words and persuading them was surprisingly done by Roy.

The Nords were blunt and it was hard to deal with them not knowing when they would turn violent, but bizarrely they listened well to Roy's words.

"Wouldn't it be better to rather buy firewood from outside? Because we can't exactly move stone materials."

Bremen added to Marie's words. Macquin spoke again.

"Ah, I spoke in a way that caused a misunderstanding. The problem is not the residents, but the merchants. Because there are already signs they are raising the price of firewood. Due to that thing last time......"

Macquin trailed off his words. However, even without deliberately saying it, the people in the meeting room all knew what those contents were.

It was none other than referring to the incident where one Nord mercenary beat up a guild master. There, Marie had raised the hand of the Nords' side.

Looking into the incident, both sides had done things wrong to a certain extent, but the reason Marie raised the Nords' hand was because they were an irreplaceable combat power.

Receiving goods at good prices from good suppliers was also important, but as for merchants, she generally could find other people if she tried to find them.

Of course, that didn't mean the merchants had no complaints, and it wasn't that there was no noise caused by it.

"Did they harbor a grudge against Marie?"

Bori asked.

"If it's a grudge, it's a grudge, but merchants are not that simple. They could act like that purely because of profit."

"No, I mean when did they talk exactly as if they would take out their liver and gallbladder saying they were from the same hometown."

The merchants supplying daily necessities and food to Adelibari were merchant guilds from the Kelbron region, sharing the same hometown as Marie.

"From their perspective they might have thought she would look favorably upon them since they were from the same hometown, but since it was different from their thoughts they might feel betrayed."

"Haa......"

Marie, who had been showing an unwavering appearance, finally sighed and rested her hand on her forehead.

Bori looked back at her worriedly once, and then, to still find a breakthrough for the matter, asked again.

"How did looking for other suppliers go?"

"Ehrenberg is too far, and the other side already has war clouds hanging over it so goods prices have risen early on. If they are worse than the Kelbron merchants they are worse, they won't give us good prices."

It was frustrating. She couldn't kill them all just because it was disgusting either.

Because merchants were a sort of symbiotic relationship, without them they couldn't bring goods in from outside.

If she killed them all, the problem of making a living right now could be threatened. Furthermore, if her reputation worsened among merchants, it could become difficult to find merchants to supply goods.

While Marie was holding her head in anguish for a long time, something came to mind.

"How did it go with the Benicio Merchant Guild side? The people who delivered a letter to me from Tugis, that is. Didn't they say they requested to meet soon."

"Well, exactly what soon means is not exactly a precise word so...... And isn't there an old saying not to associate with southern merchants? That you can't know their insides."

"Now is not the time to be bound by things like old sayings. Try sending them word. It's not that we will change suppliers right away, but our side must also have a card we can weigh with. Otherwise we have no choice but to be dragged around."

"Before that, how about making a communication channel?"

A communication channel was none other than referring to an existence connecting with the merchants, exactly like how Mayor Macquin conveyed the voices of the local residents and conversely conveyed Marie's intentions to them.

Currently Marie didn't have such a person. A person to tune opinions well with the merchants or align stories.

"As we talked about last time too, didn't you say you couldn't find a suitable person. Above all a person who can be trusted is important, but since no one can be trusted......"

She was receiving decent support from the security maintenance force, mercenaries, and local residents, but the problem was the merchants. And a more fundamental problem was being tight on money.

It was a situation where she borrowed money from the Beringen Academy, and even from the Viola Clan. They helped as much as possible considering their old ties, but even those funds were revealing the bottom in an instant.

"But, since I don't know well I'm saying this, isn't the most urgent problem right now not the merchants but your husband, Sir Rickart?"

Lester, who had merely occupied a seat blankly throughout the meeting, opened his mouth and said.

Currently it was a state where they had heard the news that Imperial Prince Lotharius blocked the bridge and was preventing Rickart from coming.

In an instant the meeting room became quiet. Because Lester's words were correct. If Rickart couldn't return, all of this was simply meaningless action.

As the situation arrived at the end and became like this, everyone felt exactly like a thorn was stuck in their throats. To think he truly brought the knighthood with him. And achieved that tremendous feat in just two months.

"Probably if they negotiate it seems it will take a long time."

Macquin cautiously brought up words. That was a common sense opinion. Because if he blocked the bridge with the river in between, there was no breakthrough other than negotiation.

Even if they didn't know well about military affairs, other people all thought like that too.

"First shouldn't we convey a message? I'll go and come back."

Bori said to Marie. However, Marie shook her head.

"Handling the work here well is helping Ricky. And right now I need you."

Since the person who would miss him the most said like that, Bori couldn't exactly put forth counterarguments or the like.

And above all, Marie's judgment didn't blur. That was important.

"He won't get hurt right. I guess that's enough."

"Right."

There was no particular method. At the very least she also wanted to say WE WERE FINE SO DON'T BE HASTY AND COME SLOWLY, but there was no running the risk deliberately because of that either.

As most meetings did, it ended leaving only a frustrating feeling without a conclusion.

But as the meeting ended, Roy's older sister Becca entered. While being Marie's disciple, serving her was her job.

"Master, a person named Paolo from the Benicio Merchant Guild came seeking you. He was escorted to the reception room for now, what should we do?"

If it was the Benicio Merchant Guild it was the place Marie told them to try sending word to earlier. Just as the meeting ended, exactly a person from there came seeking her.

And Paolo was none other than the merchant who traded with Rickart in Tugis. Originally as a branch manager managing the commercial rights of Tugis, he was a person whose status was very high within the Benicio Merchant Guild.

"I'll go see him right now. Check my appearance a bit for me."

Though there wasn't much to touch, Becca smoothed out her attire and hair.

And then she immediately headed to the reception room, but Marie's attire was exactly an outfit like a duelist wearing a sword at her waist.

Though she had status herself and observed formalities, she exactly hadn't forgotten her duty. Exactly a swordswoman, that was.

Arriving at the reception room, a person with a large physique was examining the room with his hands clasped behind his back. The baggy exotic silk clothes looked very expensive, and he wore two or so thick rings on every finger joint.

Feeling a presence, he looked back at Marie and smiled faintly. Perhaps because he worked long where the intense sun beat down, his skin color was almost no different from a Salamander.

Just as Marie received an exotic impression seeing him, conversely in Paolo's gaze Marie was also extremely unusual.

Because unlike women of ordinary noble families, her attire was exactly one that revealed herself as an outstanding swordswoman.

Above all she was a rare beauty. Her blonde hair was exactly like the morning sun, her straight eyebrows, large eyes, sapphire-like blue pupils, nose, lips, ears, and face shape were harmonious without a single angular part.

Her accessories were only the necklace Rickart gifted her and her wedding ring, and there was nothing else at all.

The person herself looked exactly like a jewel. A well-polished jewel, that was.

"It is an honor to meet you. Imperial Princess."

"Nice to meet you. Paolo. But if possible, please call me Madam."

"Is there any doubt, Madam."

"Please take a seat. Becca, bring out tea and cookies."

"Yes."

Though Marie told him to sit first, Paolo waited. Only when Marie took a seat did he sit.

"Do you perhaps know me? Madam."

"I know you are a person who works at the thankful merchant guild that delivered a letter."

"The one who received the request to deliver a letter from your husband directly in Tugis is none other than me. Having had a good transaction with your husband early on, I wanted to see him once again, but considering the current situation, wouldn't waiting here be right? Will you permit it?"

"I can spare about one room as much as you want. But, I truly don't think you came purely because of that."

"You are correct. I came for no other reason than to request protection."

At the somewhat unexpected words Marie felt doubtful. She thought he would propose some business, or say they would supply goods at a better price or something like that.

"......Protection?"

"Yes. We have mainly traded in the south through the sea, but now we're planning to expand our business inland a bit."

"But is it okay to speak that honestly? It's a bit surprising."

"Hahaha...... Hiding intentions and talking in circles this way and that way is exactly what amateurs do. Like the merchants in the north and central regions. I do not wish to commit disrespect to your husband or you, Madam, and I have no desire for the progression of the story to be slowed."

"Good. Since you, Sir Paolo, speak honestly, I will also speak honestly. With my current situation I have no capacity to protect someone or not. Moreover, aren't you a bit far away from the Benicio Merchant Guild?"

"If the distance gets long the profit increases more so that is exactly a matter we will take care of. What we want is merely a word. Just one word. Exactly like this, 'In my husband's name, the Benicio Merchant Guild is guaranteed safety.'"

"......It sounds exactly like a King's edict."

Paolo's head was exactly as big as his massive physique. So his smile was also huge. He merely smiled grin, but didn't add words.

"Good. Then what can you give in return?"

"Everything material. High-quality goods at the cheapest possible price."

It was an absurdly good proposal. No, it was hard to believe. Exactly she felt exactly like he was just throwing things out randomly. What ddid this person see me as? Was he joking?

As an uncomfortable mood revealed itself on Marie's expression, Paolo added words.

"It is worth that much. Your husband's word, that is. Though the greenhorns playing exactly with firewood prices might not know."

At the words firewood prices Marie wondered if he had looked into her current difficulties before coming.

"......Did you do a background check?"

"There is no need for a background check. How could I not know when they are going around the region buying up firewood at random? The merchants here haven't changed much from the past or now. Though inland merchants are all like that anyway."

"Even if that is true, my difficulties don't exactly disappear right this instant, and it's not exactly that I can trust Sir Paolo's words. And my husband is currently in a difficult situation as well so I cannot make uncertain promises for you."

"As befits a prominent swordswoman, you are truly direct, Madam. Good. I will also directly tell you the method to escape those difficulties. The firewood bought by the inland merchants will all be conveyed exactly to you, Madam. Without spending a single penny."

"......?"

"How much do you trust your husband, Madam?"

"What does that mean? Depending on how one hears it, it's disrespectful."

"I apologize. I did not say it with that intention. If your husband fights Prince Lotharius, will he win, or will he lose?"

"He will win."

"When do you think he will win?"

"......That is."

"Do you think it will take a month, or do you think it will take several months? Or a year?"

"That I cannot know. A year seems too long."

"I think he will win within a week."

"I heard exactly a river flows in between and the 2nd Imperial Prince's army has already occupied the bridge. I don't know much about military affairs but that fast is impossible."

"Everyone will surely think like that. Then you, Madam, should bet on the side of winning within a week. Pay exactly whatever price the merchants call right now and buy firewood expensively. Spending all your stockpiled money. And suffer exactly because of that. If you do so, when your husband returns exactly within a week they will return the money on their own, and hand over all the firewood."

"......I trust my husband. But I cannot gamble."

"Do I look like a gambler?"

"Present a basis. So that I can trust it."

"The basis is what I have seen and heard. The battle with the Sultan Yusuf in Sinatria, the fall of the Basque royal castle, the subjugation operation of Snake-eye Ashtad."

The battles Rickart fought, Marie also heard and knew. However, unlike Paolo, she didn't know the concrete progress aspects or processes.

If she merely heard the results, she was bound to think exactly along common sense lines. He defeated 3 times more enemies? Did he use the terrain well? I suppose he snuck into the royal castle in disguise? He can subjugate the likes of bandits easily of course.

Conversely Paolo had informants in various parts of the world so he knew the inside story very detailedly. And hearing that inside story, he could also know exactly that Rickart deviated from the level of common sense.

That he smashed 3 times more enemies in a pure pitched battle, that he perfectly occupied the capital city entirely in a little over 1 hour, and that he completely exterminated exactly over 100 bandits with around 10 personnel.

That was the exactly basis he spoke with certainty. And also the reason he demanded Rickart's 'word'.

"I also do not know well about military affairs. However, as I see it, Prince Lotharius-gong absolutely does not have the ability to endure long against your husband. A week is rather exactly being generous. Real business is not selling what is visible to the eye but buying and selling the future. Madam. You, Madam, exactly just need to buy the future."

"......"

Marie was a swordswoman, and Paolo was a merchant. The two's fields were different. However, if Paolo was a swordsman, wouldn't he be a skilled person equivalent to at least a Sword Master. Suddenly exactly such a thought occurred.

However, no matter how true that was, exactly considering how she had managed funds until now it was hard to readily exactly did such a reckless act.

So Marie exactly fell into a dilemma after finishing the conversation for now. When she consulted Bori, he spoke exactly like this.

"We are swordsmen. When we must risk our fortunes, we must exactly throw our lot. I am in favor."

Hearing those words Marie gained great strength. Still, after agonizing all night long, exactly as morning dawned she released the funds she had managed tightly all this while and bought firewood at an expensive price. Completely disposing of even the rat-tail sized private property she had gathered all this while.

The merchants gleefully sold firewood exactly blinded by immediate profit, and Marie intentionally shed tears and pretended to struggle, and the people were moved exactly thinking MARIE WAS SUFFERING THIS MUCH FOR OUR SAKE.

That exact time was precisely the moment Rickart crossed the river.