Land disputes and other things often happen in a government. Duke Kleo didn't have to step down directly if only the matter wasn't too big of a deal. He had to deal with a landlord who was squandering because his neighbors were dredging up borderland, which he thought was his land.
Yeah, that problem finally had to be solved by showing the land deed, then re-measurement, as well as sticking a more permanent stake as a land boundary.
A man followed Duke Kleo, a government employee who often helped him with land matters.
"My Lord," he greeted very politely. His name was Mr. Brick, a man in his late thirties filled with passion. "Are you going to rush to the East region to deal with tax matters?" he asked.
Duke Cleo nodded. "Yes, is there a problem?"
"I just need to let you know that maybe Lord Helmut is also there. Maybe that will help you."
"Isn't he the one who is responsible for dealing with taxes in the East?" Duke Kleo's voice became even stiffer and colder than before. "But thanks for telling me. Make sure you take good care of the land around here. If you can do it in three months you might get a promotion."
Mr. Brick's gray eyes shone with joy. He quickly bowed repeatedly as he ushered Duke Kleo off. "Thank you, My Lord. Thank you." His lips curled showing his teeth, his eyes watching the duke's departure cheerfully. "Wos, today Lord Kleo is very generous. His face also looks more cheerful than usual. Has he finally found a girl he loves?"
He shook his head quickly after realizing how crazy he was. "Oh, that's impossible. Lord Kleo doesn't like women." And then he came back to continue his work.
Duke Kleo continued his journey to the East while checking the documents that had been handed over to him. It seemed like the day was going to be quite a long one, stifling his concentration which flew far away to Wereal, where a girl who had imprisoned his attention was.
The horse-drawn carriage he was in moved along the road, occasionally shaking as its wheels hit a rock, but that didn't wake him from a deep and sweet dream. His face turned red again as he remembered Lyra holding his hand this morning.
"Am I too cheesy for being able to flutter just because she touched my hand?" he muttered to himself.
Shortly after that, the horse-drawn carriage stopped. The coachman had to check whether Duke Kleo was asleep or not, an impossible thing to happen. Then when he saw the duke lost in thought, his brow furrowed sadly.
He thought, 'Oh, is Lord Kleo daydreaming because he doesn't want to meet Lord Helmut?' Yet he was an ignorant person. "My Lord, it's time to get off," he said, relieved that Duke Kleo finally came to his senses and nodded, then dashed off the horse carriage majestically.
As soon as he came down, an earl greeted him, his name was Earl Bernard, who was involved in solving a mysterious tax problem.
"Sorry for making you have to come, My Lord. I am not very reliable," said Earl Bernard, bowing humbly. He was a twenty-four-year-old young man, who was given an important assignment because of his family's influence. Even so, he still tried to carry out his responsibilities to the best, a point that Duke Kleo liked about him.
"Doesn't matter. You've done your best. Now how is the case progressing?" They entered a tax collection building in the East.
"Currently, we have finished recording the number of suspected tax payments. We are still trying to find the starting point of the difference between the calculation of the factual results and the number reported."
"What about the reports of the village heads? Have you listed it?"
"Yes, My Lord. I have asked them to double-check the amount they have deposited."
"Then?"
"Then the farmers in Simfill asked for relief for the taxes that were deposited. They are suffering crop failure. In addition, the game at Drownhill has also decreased dramatically. Wolytone is being attacked by a plague so that the meat of the livestock that is sent rots easily."
Duke Kleo massaged his brows, feeling the dizziness that hit his head.
"Have you solved any of those problems?"
"I've sent experts to check on Simfill and Drownhill."
"What about Wolytone?"
"I have not dared to send anyone before you have seen the harvest, My Lord."
Looking at the response given by Earl Bernard it seemed the current problem was quite serious.
Duke Kleo arrived at the tax deposit warehouse, which was located on the innermost side of the building. There were already gathered several other nobles, one of whom was Marquess Helmut, who was standing on the far side in gray clothes, matching his mysterious expression.
"My Lord!" Someone greeted Duke Kleo, Viscount Darwin, his close friend. "Finally you came," he continued. "You have to see this."
Everyone who was clamoring immediately stepped aside, like a swarm of ants hit by drops of water, inviting Duke Kleo to take a look at Wolytone's cattle. It turned out to be worse than he thought.
The meat was very rotten and unfit to eat, with lots of maggots and a pretty strong smell.
"Representatives from Wolytone sent it today, My Lord. They said the cattle were just slaughtered this morning, and then they were sent here immediately."
Duke Kleo's eyes stared intently at the one basket full of rotten meat. "When they slaughter it, don't they notice any discrepancies?"
"The oddity they found was that their animals had the plague." Suddenly Marquess Helmut answered. Everyone immediately turned to him. "My Lord," he continued mockingly. "Didn't you get reports of the cattle plague going on at Wolystone? I heard they had asked for sudden assistance. Were you so busy taking care of your Mother's funeral that you forgot to take care of your people's problems?"
Duke Kleo's supporters glared at Marquess Helmut. Meanwhile, Marquess Helmut's supporters stood up to protect their role model. The tax deposit warehouse was instantly split into two camps.
"I have indeed heard the complaints about the cattle plague, My Lord," Duke Kleo replied, looking straight at his cousin, who had always had a hatred for him for something. "However, the report only comes from Balona, which is quite a distance from Wolytone. I've banned all kinds of transactions related to livestock there, and now Balona is clean from the plague."
"Even so you shouldn't be careless, My Lord."
"Then did you ask Lord Kleo to inspect all of Eastlandor, Lord Helmut?" Viscount Darwin interrupted, deliberately helping Duke Kleo who was being cornered.
Marquess Helmut snorted, seeing someone who had a title below him interrupt as if giving him the most vicious insult. He's sick of it. "Why not?" he said, looking mockingly. "A duke has authority under the king and queen. He should be able to dispel any problems that arise so as not to trouble Starion."
Starion is the kingdom where they live.
"Then if Lord Kleo has to do everything, does that mean we are unemployed with no obligation to do anything? Is that the definition of a good noble, Lord Helmut?" Viscount Darwin's eyes narrowed, infuriating Marquess Helmut.
"Haven't you always respected the caste of a noble, including his right to occupy a government? Then if the title does not benefit many people, what is the point of being proud of it?" he continued.
A supporter of Marquess Helmut had almost punched Viscount Darwin if Duke Kleo was not immediately interrupted and mediated the endless debate.
"Lord Darwin, thank you for giving us valuable lectures," he said meaningfully to his close friend. Then his eyes turned to his cousin, and all his supporters. All of them, except for Marquess Helmut, took a stride backward.
"And thank you for providing me with very meaningful advice, Lord Helmut. I'll be sure to check out all the places in Eastlandor after this. And I will give you the task of checking in your territory first," he continued. "Of course, I will make a formal warrant."
Then he left after nodding at Earl Bernard. The two of them walked away, walking side by side while discussing something. Duke Kleo's followers also drifted away, leaving behind both cunning and vile foes, choosing not to get involved with them.
Meanwhile, Marquess Helmut clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. "What happened to that jerk? Why does he look happy today? He can't be happy, I won't let him."
***
NOTES:
Here's the nobility rank after king and queen
Duke/Duchess
Marquess/Marchioness
Earl
Countess
Viscount/Viscountess
Baron/Baroness