Chapter 25 – 2. Marginal Reconstruction Period (5)
Knights move based on a thorough plan. Orianne Lemoang, who was staggered for a moment by the series of dizzying sounds, soon decided to hear from him an explanation of what she considered nonsense.
So on the outskirts of the living space, in the room that was now Rome’s stateroom, the two faced each other while sitting at a table. Just in case, I started talking with my hips pressed together so that I wouldn’t collapse again like before.
“A crisis is an opportunity.”
He did not forget to hand over the sword of the deceased Marquis Gerard Lemoyn to a certain soldier, and send a telegram to the Britannia Trading Company in Saint-Buch.
“It is often said that people who have nothing to lose are afraid. But the world has always been driven by the powerful rather than the powerless. Nevertheless, the aphorism I have given is widely spread because it has been somewhat misused.”
“A misuse?”
Ouch, Rom lightly brushed his hair back and immediately placed his hands on the table.
“The truly scary thing is not a person who has nothing to lose, but a choice that has no backing.”
“Isn’t that the same thing after all?”
“No, it’s different. A person without power has little influence even if he goes wild.”
However, the story is different when it comes to Toho, the province of the most prosperous kingdom in the Danggeum Continent. That’s why the adventures of Margrave Lemoang are rightly fearful. No matter what the success or failure of the work, everything on this land will show a different appearance.
“As you may have guessed, the future of the frozen land here is bleak. It is because they cannot be free from exploitation and exploitation by the royal family. Therefore, it would be a good choice to resist fate with all your might, rather than accept the noose that slowly tightens your breath.”
“I agree that pioneering trade routes in the snowfields can be our way out. But Sir Dior, on the other hand, I am concerned that you are pushing things too far. Just look at what you said. They are so ignorant that it would be better to bet borrowed money on a gambling house.”
“Betting your life on a gamble is a sin of indolence, but betting your life on an opportunity is a brave challenge.”
Rom laughed lightly. No matter how predestined, turning the Gallic royal family into an enemy was never something to be taken lightly. It would not be easy for the royal authority to extend to the Marquis of the border like Lemoang, but even so, the warriors of the north in the past were subjugated to this country.
What is the secret?
From Oriane’s point of view, Rom wasn’t the type to do something without thinking and then see it. Contrary to the prejudice that his professional knowledge would be lacking, he was very wise. His resourceful nature was evident even when he suppressed the rebellion of Corbin and the four barons.
“Then, please explain your plans in more detail.”
“I’d love to, but I’m running out of time, so I’d rather see it for myself.”
“Did you see it yourself?”
Rom shrugged lightly and changed the topic. He felt it every time, but he really was a smirk. That’s why it was better, and on the other hand, to the point where it was nasty.
“Do you have any debt?”
“I-I do, but…”
“I know that the round trip from Havre to the citadel takes about an hour on horseback. Antoine should have left by now, so in an hour I will be able to meet with the manager of the northern branch of the Lucerne Chamber. If you don’t mind, I’ll meet you in the office after a light meal.”
Oriane made a rather absurd expression.
“Well, since it’s a summons issued in my name, I won’t be lazy…”
Havre is the largest city in Marquis. A long time ago, for some reason, the margrave’s family stayed at Lemoang Fortress, and the nearby village also prospered and became what it is now. And in the same vein, the distance between the two places is certainly close compared to other towns or villages in the manor.
But still, an hour?
“It’s not like I’m sending an urgent message, and what you said isn’t very wrong, but it’s only possible if you run without stopping. You will also need to get the news and prepare to leave.”
“Originally, it would have been. However, this time is an exception. I am sure they will rush to the citadel as soon as they receive the news.”
A confident attitude really seemed to be like that. Lady Marquis Baek, unable to dare to ask any further questions, shut her mouth. Soon after, she swallowed her saliva with a nervous look on what role she was given.
“Do not worry.”
“I believe you.”
“Everything will be fine.”
“Yes, yes.”
“…”
To be honest, it didn’t look very believable.
* * *
In front of the citadel.
“Stop, stranger!”
The courser, which galloped from a distance on the well-paved road, eventually stopped in front of the checkpoint. She must have been running without a moment’s rest. Neither the horse nor the person riding it looked like a young horse.
“This is the castle of Mrs. Lemoang, the legitimate owner of the Northern Marquis. Outsiders who do not reveal their identity are not allowed to come in and out. If you want to go in and out, get off your horse and answer the check.”
The man on horseback did not blink an eye even when he heard the guards’ cries. I just put my hand into my chest, and as the surprised soldiers pointed their spears at me, I took out a scroll and opened it.
“I am Marcel Poincaré, general manager of the Gaul Northern branch of the Lucerne store. We have received a summons from Orianne Lemoin, the famous leader of the north and the wife of the Marquis, and we are responding to it.”
“Are you Mr. Poincaré of Havre?”
After a while, the most senior-looking soldier came out of the checkpoint. He was handed a scroll of courtesy by Marcel, and he skimmed through it briefly.
“I heard about it from above. Then you don’t have to get off the horse, so please answer only simple questions.”
“Your wife seems to have an urgent business, so please hurry up.”
“Are you currently carrying on your body any weapon prohibited by the laws of the Kingdom and the Margrave Decree or which could cause harm to others?”
“No, I swear to a heavenly god that I don’t.”
“Remember, if it turns out to be false later, you must take responsibility for what you said.”
Marcel only nodded his head lightly. The guard immediately beckoned his men to let him through. He didn’t forget to tell him which direction he had to go as he held the reins firmly again.
“The guide will be waiting for you by the front door.”
“Thank you, hey!”
He calmed down before even saying hello and headed straight to the front door of the fort. Originally, it was the courtyard of the Marquis, where one could enter and exit only after going through several layers of checks, but today it was a straight flight without hesitation.
‘It’s like the damn north, so after living there, the day will come when you’ll be happy to be assigned here.’
From the moment the messenger soldier who came without warning found me, I knew intuition that it was serious. However, after learning that he was also looking for the Brulin Mercantile Guild and the Britannia Trading Company in St. Buch, he almost fainted.
Smell the money!
A first-class merchant must smell money wonderfully. And Marcel Poincaré, a promising talent of the Lucerne Chamber, was now excited by the scent of gold coins swaying in the Marquis Decree. Now that the rebellion sparked by the five vassals has been suppressed, Madame Lemoang had only one reason to look for me.
‘Looking at the other two, it must be about business, right?’
It was fortunate that I was the first messenger to come. He thought something was wrong, so I asked his destination and mission his, and he was very proud of himself. As a result of putting all the information together, the Marquis of Lemoang was trying to mint silver coins like in the old days.
There must have been permission from the royal family. Come to think of it, aren’t Gallic silver coins going backwards in purity these days? The King Hyeon, who needed a lot of money for a national project, must have found a partner to share the profit.
It’s a scapegoat that will be overturned later.
‘Well, that’s none of my business.’
What else could there be to make money in a barren frozen land? Even if it was a poisoned Holy Grail, he would have had to drink as much as he could.
‘All I have to do is put the money and eat the money.’
Upon reaching the entrance, Marcel saw the soldier and the maid who had come to meet him, and dismounted. He handed over the reins to the soldier and walked through her corridors, informed by her maid that he was waiting in her office for her.
‘I have to be ahead of the others unconditionally.’
Frustratingly, due to the slowness of her maid, it took another few minutes for her to arrive at her destination her. Of course, she should never show signs of haste from here on out, and she had to show a prudent attitude, not forgetting that she was dealing with a noble.
Smart.
The maid knocked on her door her. Soon after she said it was okay for someone to come in, she opened it, then bowed her head and she withdrew. She meant that she was here.
“Mrs. Lemoyn? Indeed, long time no see.”
As soon as Marcel entered the room, he bent his back at a right angle.
“On behalf of the honest and trustworthy Lucerne store, I greet you from Marcel Poincaré, General Manager of the Northern Branch.”
“Sit down, Mr. Poincare.”
But unexpectedly, it wasn’t the soft, pliable voice of the Marquis Marquis. It belonged to a man who was strong and full of confidence even though his upbringing wasn’t that great.
“… ?”
Feeling embarrassed, Marcel finally lifted his head and looked around. And he realized that the person in front of me was not the Marquis of the Marquis, but a man with a scarred face who was rather handsome for such things.
“Who are you…”
“My name is Rom.”
Marcel’s eyes grew cold. When the upper class introduces themselves, they always say the same family name. You could tell just by looking at his ragged, simple everyday clothes his, but this man named Rom was nothing more than a lowly servant.
“Ah, that’s right. Where is your wife now?”
Marcel, who reversed his attitude her as if he were dealing with a subordinate her, saved her face her by clearing his throat. Rome responded with a smile, as if he didn’t care much after seeing that.
“You will be back soon. Until then, talk to me.”
“Talk? Who are you to talk to me?”
“Weren’t you here to make money?”
“… !”
Marcel wriggled. All the merchants who had looked down on me as a young kid and looked down on me were all shot in the back of the head. To such an extent that recovery is impossible. Because it was his creed that those who prejudge people on the outside will inevitably injure their big nose someday.
Marcel Poincaré, who was in charge of the constituency of Lucerne, one of the largest trading houses on the continent, was never lucky enough to sit there.
“You are the steward. If so, would it be okay to say that you represent your wife’s will?”
“As I’ve heard, your calculations are fast.”
“Haha! This is fun. I don’t know since when your wife had a steward like you, but it’s very interesting.”
“What I will tell you from now on will be more interesting.”
“Cancer, that’s right! If it’s okay, would you like me to skip the useless talk and get right to the point?”
“Good. Would you like to do that?”
“I see.”
The two nodded as they looked at each other like good friends, and soon sat down at a table on the other side of the office. The smiling face of Rome was also an expression, but Marcel in particular was very happy that no one else besides me was visible.
“Mr. Marcel Poincaré.”
“I’m listening, come on and tell me.”
It was because of the certainty that he must have arrived first and the anticipation of the story to follow.
“Do you want to follow through?”
“… Yes?”
It was only for a moment, but that was it.
