“As you all know, after the price of Patacho silk rose, the price of Astraea silk began to rise as well.
It is rising like crazy.
We need a countermeasure.”
“But silk is a luxury commodity.
Is it really necessary to regulate the prices of such goods?”
"Right.
What's urgent now is to find a new mana stone mine to replace Narut.
Silk prices will stabilize on their own.
Didn't we see the same thing with Batachu Silk?"
Linden Schuyler was silently watching the nobles argue around the round table.
This noble meeting, which is held every month, has never changed.
They were just talking about monopoly and price gouging, and the meeting always ended in fruition.
Most likely because a lot of nobles make profits from it.
'Scum.'
Linden stared coldly at the man who was moving these scum behind the curtain.
One of the barons turned the discussion from monopoly to mana stone mines—obviously taking instructions from someone.
And that “someone” was Elion Corney.
“Since the gentlemen have brought up the matter, it might actually be worth discussing the mana stone mines,” Elion said as he smoothly changed the subject without saying much himf.
It was a snake.
Even worse than a snake—his greed knows no bounds.
The Corneille family was the family of the first prince's wife, meaning they were actually related to the imperial family.
The same applies to the Roshanak family, the Empress's family.
However, they were acting as if they wanted more.
It was clear even without intelligence networks that these two families had allied themves.
Recently, Elion Corneille tried to push Nerys Roshanak to be the wife of the Second Prince.
Why was the Korney family seeking to support the daughter of the Roshanak family?
Even if the Empress was not directly involved, it was clear what kind of calculations had taken place at the family level.
Moreover, since the Mana Stones in Narut, owned by the Roshanak Family, have almost run out, the Korney Family has become desperate in their search for a new mine.
Clearly, this is all part of the same plan.
“What is the point of discussing mines?
The issue is: who will get the exploration rights?”
As usual, Linden stopped Elyon's momentum and stared with narrowed eyes.
The Roshanak family already owned the excavation rights to Narut, and thus had no right to demand more.
So, she was seeking an alliance with the Corney family.
This made it necessary for them not to obtain the following exploration rights.
Because if they did, the empire would become a toy in the hands of Corny and Roshanak.
Current inflation will seem minor by comparison.
Until now, the people are suffering.
Linden will not allow their suffering to worsen.
'I will not allow you to achieve your goals, you bastards.'
Linden gave the nobleman a sardonic look as he darted his eyes around the hall.
“Without exploration rights, nothing can be done.”
At this single remark from Linden, Elion's eyes began to move anxiously.
Until now, he has been working behind the scenes.
But now, with tension evident on his face, he began to speak.
“You're right.
But that's why finding a mine is the key.
Obtaining the rights to a uess site is meaningless.
Didn't you yourf go to Dafa for this reason, Lord Linden?”
“Do you even know where she went?
What a surprise.”
“Don't pretend to be ignorant.”
“Yes, I went to Dafa.
But what is the purpose of bringing this up now?
Are you afraid that I will seize Dafa and leave you in a weak position?
It seems that I am the only one who did not know that this meeting is a game of dividing territories.”
“That's not what I meant… What I wanted to say is that mine exploration should be managed with caution.
You realize how important the rights to mana stones are.
If the wrong family monopolizes them, prices will rise much more than what happened with silk.”
“Hmm.
I didn’t know you were so keen, Lord Elyon.
I was just vacationing in Dafa.”
Linden replied in a lazy tone, stroking his chin as if he were truly oblivious.
Elion's face twisted in increasing anger.
“Are you making fun of me?”
"Of course not.
But let's stop talking about resorts.
Let's move on to something worthy of a real meeting."
"What do you mean?"
“I heard that Astraea silk is only sold these days through companies owned by the Corney family.
Do you mind if I ask: What is the deeper meaning behind that?”
“It's simply that my wife's niece is from Astraea, and she was able to provide it.
I don't think the matter needs clarification at all.”
“Ah, so it seems I misunderstood again.
First the salt, then the coal, and now the silk too.
What a strange frequency.
I apologize for the repeated misunderstandings.
Please forgive me.”
Linden made an exaggerated gesture of apology.
Elion laughed at his behaviour.
“It's nothing new.
I expected petty criticism when I started my business ventures out of love for the Empire.”
“Ha-ha-ha.
Well, it’s a good thing your heart is so broad.”
Linden laughed out loud at Elyon's sarcasm and clapped his knee.
The tension between the heads of the two noble families made the rest of the nobles feel very disturbed.
'Pathetic,' thought Linden.
Then he stood up and rubbed his shoulders exaggeratedly.
The mere fact that he stood up with his tall body was enough to impose prestige in the hall.
He looked around and announced in a loud voice:
"I'm starting to feel stiffness in my shoulders from the long session.
These chairs are too tight for me.
Anyway, I'm leaving.
And since Lord Ilion thinks a lot about the interests of the empire, I'm confident that the rest is in safe hands."
He winked at Elyon, and the latter remained speechless, with his mouth open.
"We've only been here for two hours!
Are you leaving already?"
“Yes.
My wife is waiting for me.”
“You let a woman dictate your actions?!”
Elyon openly mocked him, but Linden completely ignored him and opened the floodgates.
“See you next month.”
“You are a disgrace!”
Elyon's insult flew towards the departing Linden's back, but the latter, as every time, did not respond and went on his way.
As soon as he left the meeting room, the friendly smile disappeared from Linden's face.
He stared coldly at the closed doors.
‘So Corny is after Dafa as well.’
He leaned against a pillar and put his hand into his jacket.
From an inner pocket, he took out a small piece of paper.
“For the Schuyler Family Winter Resort, I recommend Y over D.”
The letter had flown to his office window the night before, tied to a pebble.
No sender's name, no recipient's name.
Just this mysterious sentence.
At first glance, it seemed like a joke.
But Linden did not take it lightly.
The hidden meaning in it was clearly intentional.
“Winter resort...”
He began to think about its meaning seriously.
The Lorentzian Empire is currently experiencing a “winter”—a metaphor for the absence of the emperor.
Recently, he had talked about this matter with someone.
“Second Prince?”
His narrow eyebrows furrowed, and his heavy gaze narrowed.
If the message was from the Second Prince, it deserved deep thought.
“Winter resort” perhaps refers to a place to take refuge from this imperial winter.
In other words, the next Mana Stone Mine.
“D” most likely refers to Dafa, which he had just visited.
“Not D, but Y…”
Linden began to think about places that began with the letter Y.
After a short moment of contemplation, a deep smile spread across his face.
He crossed the palace corridor with lighter steps than before.
"What do you think?
Not bad, is it?
I brought in the weavers from Pataccio especially for the greenhouse.
Especially this tulip garden—wonderful, isn't it?"
Franz gave Crichton's proud face a cold look.
The two were sitting opposite each other on a tea set in the Empress's greenhouse.
Franz glanced at the fresh tulips and said coldly, “Is that why you invited me?
You should have bragged to Her Majesty the Empress instead.
She would have rewarded you as befits a righteous son.”
"Of course I brought it up with my mother first.
But I couldn't ignore you.
We're family."
family.
Franz sneered, repeating the word, and smiling faintly.
Crichton was surprised by his smile.
“What's so funny?”
“You are trying to act like you are normal.
And I myf cannot act normal, even with my wife.”
“What's so strange about that?”
Crichton smiled wickedly and pointed to one of the servants, who began to pour tea for Franz.
Then he crossed his arms and said calmly: “And by the way—about the second prince’s wife...”
“What's wrong with her?”
“Don't feel too sensitive...”