novelraw Chapter 163 : Chapter 163
Chapter 163 : Chapter 163
Chapter : 163
She said she needed advice, so I thought she had some hardship related to governance, but to think it was a marriage issue.
The tension that had been built up about what kind of request would come suddenly melted away in an instant.
‘Well, of course, marriage…. is important.’
It was not something I could brush off lightly.
In [Pangea Universalise], marriage was not simply the meeting of a man and a woman, but the union of one house with another.
No, it was like a business over the domains each side held.
If the ruler of the other house died without a legitimate heir, you could strongly claim the right of inheritance over that domain. It was a golden opportunity to expand your fief without war.
And if the parties to the marriage each held their own domain, it was even more so. Most of the time, the woman’s side would hand over her own territory to her spouse as dowry.
“What is with that expression? I am thinking about this seriously.”
“Hm? N-no, it is nothing, Your Grace, the Duke of Aquitaine.”
“Fine. If I suddenly came in secret and said I do not want to marry and asked you for a way to stop it, it would look a little strange.”
“No, it is not that….”
Good grief, this young lady really was impatient. Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine jutted out her lips as she spoke.
“But I have my own reasoning too. If I marry into the royal family of the Catalia Kingdom, the southern region of the kingdom will become the Catalia Kingdom’s sphere of influence, you know? Then wouldn’t that be quite a burden for you too?”
It was an accurate judgment.
The Catalia Kingdom was a powerful force on the Hispenia Peninsula.
No matter how distracted they were right now by fighting the infidels in the south, if they swallowed the Duchy of Aquitaine through marriage, it was obvious they would run wild trying to exert influence over the Elang Kingdom’s southern region.
And if that happened, as someone who had positioned himself as the dominant power in the south, it was obvious I would end up in a very uncomfortable relationship.
The king of the Elang Kingdom might even think this was the perfect moment and quickly join hands with them to press me down.
“It is a misunderstanding. I was thinking about how I could advise you well, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine.”
“Hmmm. Really? It does not seem like it, though?”
“C, cough. I truly was. So tell me. Why can’t you refuse easily? Honestly, it does not seem like something that needs advice that much, though….”
No matter how weighty marriage was, Princess Maceania now firmly held full decision-making power as a ruler in her own right.
She was not someone easy enough to be swayed by outside pressure or anything like that….
“What do you mean, why? It is because of the Basque culture sphere. Isn’t the Catalia Kingdom the one that claims to be the suzerain of that region? The movements of my vassals under me are not good at all.”
“Ah…!”
It seemed there was a sizable pro-Catalia faction inside the Duchy of Aquitaine. With them subtly pressuring her, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine was also in a state where she could not refuse easily.
“Hm…. Then what you want is for me to tell you a way to stop the marriage proposal?”
“That is right, Margrave of Bellua. You are wise, so can’t you help me? I will reward you sufficiently.”
Well, I was not really expecting a big reward.
Since the Duchy of Aquitaine was a region famous for grapes and wine, I only thought it would be nice if she connected me to related trade networks.
“It is harder than I thought. Even if you refuse, you will need a justification that can satisfy everyone….”
“Exactly. Otherwise, why would I secretly come ask you for advice like this?”
As she spoke, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine pouted her lips.
It looked like the recent situation was no small discomfort for her.
“If the betrothal gifts were paltry, I could at least pick a fight over that, but it is not even that. As if they are not a wealthy kingdom, it was incredibly splendid.”
“What kind of betrothal gifts did they give you?”
“A huge chest of gold coins and a white stone? It is a jewel that the infidels across the sea call jade, and they made my family’s symbol with it and offered it. It really was beautiful, very beautiful….”
If it was that much, it would be difficult to dismiss easily.
In a way, they had come with tremendous preparation. It seemed it would not be easy, solving this matter.
“Hm?”
But then, a thought suddenly brushed through my mind.
The symbol of the king’s family of the Elang Kingdom that I knew was a flower.
“They made your family’s symbol out of a jewel?”
“Yes. It was a truly beautiful lily, even matching the color. Why?”
“My. Heh.”
Hearing that, I let out a small laugh.
A lily.
“Seems like it will be solved more easily than you think, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine.”
Was there not a very famous Korean tale?
The story of Queen Seondeok and the peony.
When the Tang emperor sent a painting of peonies as a gift, Queen Seondeok was displeased, saying it was mocking her for having no mate.
I could use that.
Like the peony.
And a flower without fragrance cannot lure butterflies and bees.
“To give a flower without fragrance…. Can’t we use that?”
“Huh? Of course a flower made of jewels has no fragrance.”
At Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine’s words, I shook my head.
“What does that matter? What matters is that by gifting a flower without fragrance, they are cursing you like this, that your line will be cut off.”
“What did you say? Is that really true?!”
At my words, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine cried out, startled.
Her reaction made it look like she really believed it…?
“I, I only mean that in that sense. I am saying we should interpret it that way.”
“Ah…?”
“Doesn’t it already make you feel unpleasant just hearing it? And if you add that they are aiming for the Duchy of Aquitaine, it will become a truly insulting gift.”
It was, in a way, a ridiculous interpretation, but interpretation was up to the receiver’s heart, was it not?
“If you assert that consistently, your vassals under you will also find it very unpleasant.”
“Oh, yes. That is right. It is a very good idea.”
Only now calmed, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine nodded.
It was a solution that suited her tastes fairly well.
But I could not stop there.
I needed a more fundamental precaution.
“In addition, use the influential local houses of the Duchy of Aquitaine to resolve this matter.”
“Those people…. are people influenced by the Catalia Kingdom.”
Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine’s pretty brows pinched again. She was already strained because of them, so it seemed she was worried it would become even more burdensome if she made them lead this matter too.
“Then isn’t that even better?”
Of course, my thinking was different.
“What vassal under you would be pleased when their liege has been insulted? Use them to lodge a legitimate claim against the Catalia Kingdom, and use this matter to bind the inside together.”
When someone you thought was on your side turns their back, it feels even bigger.
“Publicize it within the domain and raise public opinion. The more hostility toward the Catalia Kingdom rises, the more the value of Your Grace, the duchess standing at the opposite pole, will rise.”
And if that happened, the pro-Catalia factions that had, in effect, turned their backs on the Catalia Kingdom would have no choice but to follow Duke Maceania of Aquitaine, whether they liked it or not.
Because she alone was the legitimate sovereign.
“How is it? Do you like the advice?”
“Hmmm….”
At my question, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine let out a long nasal sound.
And then, soon.
-DING-DING!
[The Duke of Aquitaine accepts your advice.]
[Alert: Your Stratagem increases through experience with an old stratagem.]
[Stratagem + 1]
Just as expected.
Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine accepted my proposal.
---
After the brief meeting, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine parted with a very satisfied expression.
As the price of this advice, she declared her full support for me and said she would lend a hand in expanding my trade routes.
For me, it was a very good thing, since with a single sentence I gained huge benefits with nothing bad attached.
‘Still, if possible, I do not want to get entangled in troublesome things….’
If I got tied up in a feud between houses due to a needless misunderstanding, it would be no fun at all.
Of course, if that was the case, I would have to stay quietly holed up inside the annex palace until the Estates-General began….
But the political situation was moving in a very complicated way, so I could not do that.
Since so many nobles, merchants, and clergy had gathered in the kingdom’s capital anyway, I planned to seize this opportunity well. If I could build goodwill with a few words here and there a few times, would that not be a costly investment?
However.
“Welcome. You must be tired from the long journey, but I am truly grateful that you accepted my invitation!”
This attitude of mine was, notably, consistent regardless of status.
“Uh…. th, thank you, Your Excellency.”
“It is an honor. I greet Your Excellency.”
Thanks to that, everyone who came to see me, especially the merchants among them, were puzzled by the inexplicable hospitality.
‘What is this? Does he need money or something?’
High nobles usually despised them.
But this kind of hospitality! Usually, this was behavior people only showed when they urgently needed money. That was what the merchants had experienced.
But it was not like that for me.
I already had enough money. And unlike the nobles of the [Pangea Universalise] era, I did not look down on merchants. Rather, I thought they were people who were needed when they were needed.
“Do not misunderstand. I think you are all excellent. Without you, how would people eat northern fish in the south? And how could we bring and enjoy exotic things from faraway foreign lands all the way here?”
“?!?!”
“Isn’t it all because you risk your lives traveling great distances? I respect you. That is why I opened a relay trade market in my territory for everyone.”
“Oooooo!”
“Truly, the only one who understands our hardships is Your Excellency the Margrave. Waaah waaah.”
Thanks to my simple words of blessing, the merchants who came to see me all shed tears of emotion and fell completely for me.
Especially unlike other nobles who were overbearing or recoiled at the mention of money, I spoke like a merchant, so conversation flowed smoothly.
Why had someone like this only appeared now!
That was what every merchant who came to meet me felt.
One exchange became two, three, and now they were even gathering and calling others. At this point, the merchants present were acting as if they would cut out their liver and gallbladder for me.
“Hah… you really are. A real fox, you fox.”
Of course, Magician Agpiel, who was watching from the side, knew my dark intentions well, so he only let out a hollow laugh.