"Recently, there has been some unrest in the north, and a famine has swept through many duchies," said Jacques, a merchant from Connacht. "As a result, some roads are no longer as safe as they used to be."
Sulia nodded, her cherry lips parting lightly: "I am aware of this."
For a long time now, with waves of riots and fugitive serfs, it was impossible for the nobility to be uninformed. In fact, many nobles throughout the kingdom had already received intelligence.
That's why, after discussions among Behrmond, Ryan, and Morgiana, an immediate arbitration was made: the royal family would contribute ten thousand gold crowns, and the rest would be raised by Lady of Castlevaine, with all ransoms for captured knights negotiated between the Bretonnian king's emissaries and the Empire.
Although there were still some objections to this outcome, it was a compromise that everyone could reluctantly accept. Moreover, the negotiations had been drawn out, and continuing them would benefit no one.
Many nobles' territories were experiencing instability and riots, and this year's poor harvest had a significant impact on everyone. The nobility knew that they could not afford to let the unrest continue.
This political storm finally came to an end, and Richard managed to retain his throne amidst the chaos. However, his diminished influence over the kingdom was an undeniable fact.
"So, Mr. Jacques means to say that the blocked northern trade routes are due to the unrest?" asked Sulia.
"Not exactly. The situation is a bit strange. Some merchant ships can pass, and some cannot reach their destinations. According to merchants who have successfully navigated the route, hurricanes have sprung up at sea, destroying many ships," Jacques continued.
"The problem now," Hadrian added, "is that with frequent unrest in the north, even if it's just a coincidence, the security there is only going to get worse, not better. Lady Sulia, we need to establish new trade routes."
The merchants made their point clear, and the future countess quickly understood.
As the risk on the northern sea routes increased, both merchants and nobles were affected, urgently requiring the establishment of new trade routes, the most significant of which was trade with the Empire.
Therefore, the merchants had come seeking Ryan, hoping he could find a new, reliable trade route, as Ryan was the primary beneficiary of this golden trade route.
Also, being the second largest beneficiary, Sulia's father, Francois, would naturally look to assist these merchants out of consideration for his own family's interests.
Ryan, highly esteemed in Bretonnia and with solid relations with the Empire, had met with Emperor Karl-Franz multiple times. Both parties had mutual trade needs.
Having considered all this, Sulia's thoughts became clear. The lady knight, dignified and composed, softly said, "If the northern trade routes are blocked, the only reliable alternatives are through Axe Bite Pass and the Lady's Road, correct?"
"Exactly," Oliver immediately responded. "The problem lies here. The Lady's Road is not safe, and the taxes at Axe Bite Pass are too high—often twenty or even thirty percent. We can hardly bear such heavy taxation."
Sulia nodded. The Montfort duchy relied primarily on tariffs from Axe Bite Pass. Even if they captured Duke Falkard and held a sword to his neck, he would not agree to lower the taxes.
"The Lady's Road is also difficult to navigate, not to mention it's less secure than Axe Bite Pass," said Ismael, a merchant from Bordeaux. "It also suffers heavy taxation by Duke Parravon, albeit less than Axe Bite Pass. But the route is too dangerous, with many Greenskin tribes and dark creatures... It's hard for merchants to ensure they can pass safely."
"I am aware of that. Deep along the Lady's Road, there is a vampire castle called Castle Drakenhof, teeming with dark creatures," Sulia mused.
The lady knight internally admired her fiancé's foresight. Smiling, she said, "In fact, Ryan has already discussed the issue of tariffs with Lord Kasfane in the Imperial camp. Lord Kasfane has agreed that if a caravan holds a trade charter from Ryan, they can enjoy significant tax relief."
"Oh! That's wonderful!" several merchants at the back of the room exclaimed.
This agreement occurred when Ryan met with the captured Kasfane in the Imperial camp. Taking advantage of Kasfane's defeat and demoralization, Ryan proposed his suggestion.
Kasfane also calmly considered Ryan's proposal for tax relief for caravans passing through the Lady's Road under his domain.
Reducing taxes was not unacceptable to Kasfane. Duke Parravon had long been jealous of Ryan's trade with the wood elves.
If Kasfane refused Ryan's request, he would not receive a
penny. If he agreed, while the tax cut would be a loss for him, at least he and his family could profit from this golden trade route.
Knowing the ransom his family would need to pay for his capture, and that the knightly families in his territory needed money, Kasfane had no choice but to relent under Ryan's pressure. He sealed the contract with his ring and swore an oath to the Lady of the Lake, who immediately ratified the agreement, giving Kasfane no chance to back out.
"Tax relief is good, but we still need to address the security issues on the Lady's Road," Sulia said, not showing too much joy. The knight spoke calmly, "This will require military intervention, gentlemen. We need to launch a war to permanently solve the problem of Castle Drakenhof."
With that, Sulia's sea-blue eyes sparkled with a bright light, speaking calmly, "To deploy troops, we must pass through Parravon's duchy, which we can only consider after Kasfane is ransomed. Moreover, to open this trade route..."
Sulia slightly slowed her tone, sitting upright, her presence exuding the grand authority of a daughter of a great noble.
Her authority was like the tightly stretched silk fabric on her chest, giving all the attending merchants a strong sense of oppression.
"Yes, of course, we will support Lord Ryan and his army in dealing with the threat of Castle Drakenhof. Everyone contributes money and effort. Lord Ryan opens the trade route for us, and we are duty-bound to serve him," Oliver, a staunch ally of Ryan, was the first to speak.
With Oliver leading, Hadrian was the first to respond: "No problem, it's only right."
The remaining merchants, seeing this, also nodded in agreement.
Military power was in the hands of the nobility, and merchants were not indispensable to them. If a merchant could not demonstrate his value to the nobles, being replaced or even killed was only a matter of time. There were plenty of merchants to take their places.
Merchants, no matter how powerful, could not compete with nobles, especially not a Grail Knight like Ryan. Merchants clamored to cooperate with him, and Ryan did not need to beg anyone.
Only in Marienburg did merchants have some status, but when Duke Ivan and his Griffon Knights appeared, they still had to bow down.
"Very well." Sulia's every move made the merchants concede, ensuring a victory in this unequal contest.
After the meeting, the lady knight stood up, performing a perfect curtsy to everyone, and the merchants hurriedly responded with politeness.
"Miss, you are impressive. These merchants are completely subdued by you," Sulia's maid Sylvia said excitedly in the hallway, "It's all thanks to your wisdom."
"Not really," Sulia shook her head, her golden hair swaying as her tall, perfect golden figure moved along the corridor. "The merchants are not afraid of me, but of Ryan, and my surname."
"Miss..." Sylvia whispered.
"It's okay... Sylvia, do you know why I agreed so readily to engage Ryan?" Sulia led her maid to a window in the castle.
In the distance were the cold, fog-shrouded Apocrypha Mountains and Chalon Forest.
"Lord Ryan respects you very much, not just the knightly virtue of respecting women, but... a genuine, equal respect. In the kingdom, the knight's virtue is to respect women, but in reality, most knights don't truly respect women; they do so only because virtue requires them to act according to chivalric etiquette," Sylvia whispered. "But Lord Ryan is different; he is willing to let you take charge and supports you from behind. In fact, many things in the territory are left in your hands."
"That's right, I like it that way."
The lady knight's smile was stunningly beautiful, illuminating the entire corridor.
...
Sulia had stayed by Ryan's side under the pretext of helping with internal affairs. Within Ryan's territory, she commanded great respect, and although not yet married, Sulia had essentially assumed the role of the lady of the house, earning the respect and affection of almost all the subjects, Ryan's courtiers, and knights through her capabilities and formidable strength.
Quiet night, the main bedroom on the third floor of the castle.
Little maid Amelia, dark elf Olica, maid Sylvia, and Lady Sulia were all in the master bedroom. Amelia and Olica, dressed as maids, were making tea for the count and his future wife, while Sylvia sat by the fireplace.
"Is the famine in the north that severe?" Ryan, sitting on a plush white leather sofa, sighed while holding a long list: "In the past few months, we've taken in nearly ten thousand fugitive serfs. Many reports say that with the knightly nobles away at the capital for meetings, many villages have erupted in riots, with serfs killing the village
elders and the stewards left by the knights, looting food and money."
"The climate in the northern kingdom was poor this year, resulting in a poor harvest," Sulia nodded slightly. "It's no surprise there are fugitives, and the riots... should be suppressed soon. Ryan, what are you concerned about?"
"I'm concerned..." Ryan thought for a moment, then shook his head, "Never mind, many things can only be judged when they actually happen. What happens in the north is for the northern dukes and the king to deal with. We have neither reason nor excuse to intervene."
"Mm."
Today continues with the second update!
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