the sound of the carriage's wheels on the rocky road filled Petro's head, as there was nothing else to think about, on his front Cosimo was sitting and looking outside, after the exchange they had moments ago non of them were ready to strike a conversation.
Petro was at a loss as he could not stop the engagement from taking place, after a while, he signalled Cosimo with a whistle.
hey, soo I know that at this point I can't stop anything so at least could you explain this whole situation at least tell me what aunt Marietta is brokering a deal with Floares.
you're not mature enough to know, as dad would have said but I'm not dad clearly, why do you think Floares should be interested in us
I thought about it myself, but I couldn't find any conclusion, we aren't particularly influential
now add aunt Marietta and Lanchester into the equation
aunt Marietta is no longer a part of the Medici family.
this is why you're still a kid, age has nothing to do with being an adult
what do you mean
well, you don't know much about internal politics of the nobility so this was expected, Lanchester and Floares were at war with each other, of course, I don't mean warfare.
intrigue
bingo, so much blood has been shed by both sides, of course not from the nobles themselves it is usually the average joe who is cut up in the middle of the war between nobles
Petro then recited a famous saying from an antiquity philosopher, blood of the common men is water blood of the nobles melted gold water is everywhere in this city but gold is hard to come by
so you're saying nobles were murdering each other's subjects and plotting behind one another what else is new
the fact that Lanchester have won
what, what do you mean by that
Floares have lost much of their influence, their outer city properties are all in the mercy of Lanchester debt collector, they're thought as a joke among high nobles, of course, they can't take their role as an elector of the throne, yet
how did this happen?
common sense, Lanchester family controls gold mines outside the city, while the Floares revenue primary comes from farmlands, of course with how little gold there is to mine it wouldn't have given Lanchester an advantage if the war had happened 20 years ago, but after aunt took over the Lanchester house, she did some hefty investment in trade hubs and businesses in the city, you can't find any business which is not partially owned by her or any trader not paying a toll to the Lanchester .
which means they manage to outspend Floares
while the Floares house revenue remained the same Lanchester experienced a boom in revenue, bribes, buying up land better protection for the businesses, and most importantly an embargo.
so you mean they couldn't sell anything inside the city
the city experienced a shortage of grain as Floares are the main supplier, but
she had stored grain and other storable farm products before the war started and released them into the market to stabilize the market price.
sometimes her foresight scares me.
I'm really glad that she is on our side
technically she is a Lanchester now
she won't ever do anything to hurt her adorable nephews and Giuliano, anyway what has this do anything with me getting married to the Floares house youngest daughter.
officially to humiliate them
Petro shouted in anger, why am I some kind of insult
what noble quality do you have
ok fair
whether we like it or not we are not that different from commoners so basically, you marrying a Floares house would humiliate them
what is the actual reason
to make an alliance with Floares, or more precisely to control their electoral vote, other houses would panic if a Lanchester boy married a Floares, but you're not a Lanchester
and she can control them by her adorable nephew, but that would require them to trust me beside the Floares spoiled brat will probably never accept me as her husband
I would have gone with make connections now worry about consolidating them later but it is that woman she probably has something in mind
sir, we have arrived at the harbour
this is where we part away
what I'm not going to be in the room while talks about my marriage are happening
she forced me to she said with her children shouldn't get caught up in adult businesses
Cosimo she wouldn't like it if she finds out you portrayed her tone
I will call for you when you're needed for now go play in the harbour
Petro got out of the carriage he then headed to his playing spot, he still didn't want to marry some rich oblivious sheltered kid but it was inevitable when her aunt wanted something she would get it he was desperately searching for ways to cancel the engagement until he reached a conclusion, his last chance if he bullied the Floares girl before the engagement take place he could make her protest her parent, forcing her to marry someone who bullied her Floares would gain sympathy among the nobility which makes it a risky move for his aunt, but there was a problem he did not know where the girl was, if she was with his aunt then it was game over for him but there was a slight possibility for her to be around the harbour, he could easily spot her, after all, she was a noble and nobles would get guards when coming down to the harbour, so he clung to his last opportunity
he walked around the harbour but he didn't see anything, must be with aunt Marietta he thought, so instead of clinging to false hope he wen around the harbour to enjoy his last day of freedom
as he was walking he noticed something, a kid was being bullied by a group of children he was the kind who normally didn't care but when one of the kids picked a rock and threatened to hit the kid with it he knew that the bullies were taking it too far, so he interfered
hey Piero
hah
Petro filled his hand with dirt and splashed it on the bully's face, he then took the hand of the boy who was being bullied and run with him, after losing them he then turned to the boy, the boy was in tattered clothing, he was probably a bagger child, he had a good face though he looked like an angel,
after looking at his face and saying why does god give people who can never use his blessings his gifts he then said
who are you, I haven't seen you around these parts
I'm ehhh
why are you silent, probably the shock from your encounter with Piero gang
he then said in a soft voice yes
do you have anywhere to go
again in a soft voice, she said no
your parents,
they've sold me
Petro shouted in confusion.
what last time I checked slavery was banned in this godforsaken city, loopholes I guess
eh
oh sorry, I scared you
no, it is just
you won't survive for a minute in this city with that attitude
he then sat on the ground and grabbed his feet it looked like that he was about to cry
Petro clutched his hair, ok let me think. I can't help you escape but at least I can give a rundown on how to survive here.
Petro then began to give him a tour of the harbour
here is the docks, ships unload here, don't get too close to the sailors, they sometimes spend days on the sea, and lack of the women in the sea can do things to high testosterone men that can be quite dangerous to boys things that better left unexplained any question fellow street kid
what is testosterone
would you believe me if I said that I don't know, I sometimes say something that I have no clue where they originated from, anyway let us continue
here is the bar the lesser I say about what happens here the better
here is the main square fountain people offer coins in exchange for good luck personally I think it's a good place to gather some change for food stalls
isn't taking offerings for vintous a crime
if you think that's a crime I better skip the next place we're going to, you're surprisingly soft-spoken for a bagger
I'm not a bagger
but your clothing says otherwise, you're being bought/adopted right
the boy was going to say what is that but before he could they ran into the same bullies who were tormenting him just a while ago
Petro, Petro, Petro you're putting me in a hard spot here
oh Piero sorry for stealing your pray but you were out of your turf, therefore, I had the right to do as I please
Romeo recite the street code article 15
yes boss, bullying and harassment are banned outside of one's territory however if the beginning of the act began outside one's territory, they shall be allowed to continue with the condition that the party whose territory is being used be paid half of the spoil and prestige
but you engaged with him in the harbour it was clear
how could you say you only saw us there
Piero you know that your claim is hard to defend in the street court
believe me, I can buy the best street lawyer with the spoil I get from this kid
Petro quietly told the boy, be ready to run and don't look back, I can protect you from them, for a while
hah
when I give you a signal run to the harbour HQ it is the building with the white roof
no one will attack you there
hey Piero I never liked you face
me neither
hmm an interesting outcome, anyway let me fix your face with my fists, now run
Petro ran towards Piero, Piero ordered one of his goons to go after the boy but before they could a carriage cut the road and blinded them when the carriage had passed there was no sign of the boy, Petro himself was subdued easily as he was outnumbered Piero grabbed Petro's chick,
why do you have to be such a pain in the ass, we were this close to a hefty payment
a beaten up Petro looked at Piero and asked
who would want you guys to pick a fight with a bagger kid
I don't know and I don't care as long as I'm being paid, you interfered in the business of another gang you know the rules and so do I, boyz it is time for a fear tunnel
do your worse it wouldn't be my first time, just as they were preparing to strike him a familiar voice called them
I wouldn't have interfered normally but I'm sorry kids I have to take my brother somewhere
Petro got up and looked at the source of the voice it was Cosimo and behind him the boy he had sent to harbour HQ, holding his pants
so you alerted Cosimo, but how did you gain entry into the HQ
because i
don't worry I take care of him you carriage will soon arrive, my lady,
my lady? asked Petro with a confused face, Cosimo then with a straight face told Petro
why shouldn't we allow our future bride in our business
a dumbfounded Petro clutched his hair and said hah