Verest
Verest looked at his 'ministers' with great interest. The only other Adept stage powers that they currently had, they were two very strange specimens.
"I do not think allowing us to become a pawn in the Countess' hands is a good idea." Jerus stated. Iron Hand Jerus, an orphan from the slums of one of the largest cities in the world, had a healthy distrust of nobles.
"A pawn? How are we a pawn if we can refuse? Yes, we are following the Countess' plans, but it is quite beneficial for us." Melinda, the Bastard Lady.
The product of love between an Elven lord and a human woman, she was one of the few of their kind that was truly accepted by her parents. The pride of a minor noble, she had moved here with her entire family. Elven and human.
Verest had to say, he was a bit jealous. Melinda's father had given up his title, his heritage, his wealth just to follow her into the unknown. Just because he loved her.
"Are you sure about that? How much of the port business will we get? What happens when those humans show hostility towards us? Do we even get to pursue legal measures?" Jerus asked.
"That can be negotiated. With assurances and directives, things can be resolved." Melinda said. "If we take part in this project, that means that we can open trade with numerous places around the continent. Do you know what that means? That means we have an economy. And something to do with the ships we have."
"The ships we have? The ships are there for a navy! A navy we will need if we are to defend ourselves against others." Jerus exclaimed.
Melinda just waved his protests away. "Yes, yes, I know. But the navy is a net cost, a massive one even. And we still don't know how much the Countess is going to subsidize us.
But if we start trading, then we can try to cover the costs. And there is still food, clothing, and so many other things that we have to manage. The island has what we need to survive, but we will require more if we are to prosper."
"The Countess has also shown that she is inclined towards cooperation between our races." Verest said. "I doubt that we will have to worry about attacks from them."
Jerus turned to him, looking betrayed. "So you are siding with her, Admiral?"
Verest just looked at him. "I am also the Prime Minister. And Melinda is right. The ports will provide employment, an opportunity to trade, and more than that. The ports will allow us to be an integral part of the county.
If we can become the official navy of the county, then we will be something that cannot be disposed of. That means that we will have the full support of the Countess going forward."
"The support of the county!" Jerus raised his hands in exasperation. "To think you, the Lightning Swordsman is talking about becoming a slave to a human! What happened to being free and finally living by ourselves? Didn't we want to live free when we came here? To not have to live on the whim of others anymore? What happened to that?"
Verest sighed.
"Yes, I know. But what do you want us to do? This continent has owners, Jerus, owners that are not happy that we are here. If it were another noble, we would already have become pawns in their hands. The Countess is offering a hand, a cooperation when we are both weak."
Verest gestured around him. "Just look at what she is offering, what is happening. The island has transformed into a city. The herb business has ensured that we won't starve. The port business will help us prosper.
The county lacks strength, something we can provide. If we help her now, when the county is on the verge of expanding, then we will be in a position to be accepted. The Countess isn't an ungrateful person, Jerus, and she has proven to be true to her word. There is little trust between us, but if we do trust her, then there is a lot to gain."
"If we can get her support when the county has grown, the struggle might finally end." Melinda finished. "And this isn't a final decision, we can still step back, refuse even after the ports are built. I vote yes."
Jerus looked at Verest, but shook his head once he saw that he had lost. "Ok, fine, but I am going to make sure the Countess doesn't play any tricks."
Verest looked on as Jerus walked out. Now it was the Countess' move, he had done what he could, but she was the one that had to gain his people's trust. And if she succeeded, then he would give Isa the manual.
sc
Nathan
The journey to the Bern march didn't take long, and they were even a few days early. The reason was simple. The Countess wanted them to search for Vanessa's parents. Even if the chances of finding them were low, it was nice that she remembered.
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Vanessa and Isa rode ahead as they entered the Bern mansion, a large entourage tailing along. A youngish man was waiting for the at the mansion gate.
"Viscountess Marile. Viscountess Vanessa." the man greeted, servants pouring out from the mansion door behind him.
"Viscount Jerin." Isa greeted. Nathan realized who he was now. The eldest son of the Marquis, the one that had become a Master. Jerin was the viscounty he governed as the heir to the march, and hence he was referred to by that name.
"Just Lord Johren, Viscountess." he said. "I have given up the Viscount title."
So, the Countess was right, as usual. The first young marquis wasn't the heir to the march anymore.
"Lord Johren it is then." Isa smiled. "A pleasure to meet you."
The servants that they had brought with them drove a carriage forward. "On behalf of the Countess Guarding Diery, myself, and Viscountess Vanessa, I congratulate you on your breakthrough."
Lord Johren smiled. "I am happy to receive her grace's gifts, your ladyship. And of course, those from esteemed ladies such as yourselves gladen me as well."
Isa just smiled as they stepped into the mansion.
Lord Johren turned to him with a slight smile as he extended his hand. "I fear I do not recognize you, Lord…"
Nathan just gave a small smile as he shook Lord Johren's hand. "I fear I am not a noble, your lordship. Just a commoner. Nathan."
"Oh, I see." Lord Johren's face visibly collapsed as he returned his attention to Isa. Nathan just ignored him.
"I am sorry to hear that the Countess could not make it." Lord Johren said. "But recovering Marile from the tide must have occupied her."
"Oh, not at all. The tide didn't break through the city walls." Isa said. "The Countess is merely busy with…the current political situation."
"Oh, I see." Lord Johren replied, looking thoughtful. "I am glad to hear that the tide was so successfully repelled. The Viscountess truly proved herself in the battle."
Isa smiled at that. "I merely helped a little. Prime Minister Verest was the one that made the real contribution. There was no plan I could make that would have stopped five Adept beasts otherwise."
"Five Adept beasts?!" Lord Johren exclaimed, finally having found something to talk about. "I had heard rumors, but there were truly five Adept stage beasts in the tide? How odd."
"The tide was quite odd." Isa replied. "There was even a half-step Grandmaster that the Empress had to personally deal with."
"Yes, that level of a tide would generally be much larger in size." Lord Johren said. "How large would you say the tide was, Viscountess?"
"I did not have time to check in the end, but I expect there were at least ten thousand" Isa replied.
"There were ten thousand and seven hundred beasts affected by my poison." Nathan interrupted. "That should be about two thirds of the tide as a whole."
Lord Johren looked at him strangely. "Sixteen thousand…that is quite large. I do not think the march has dealt with a tide of that level in over a century. And certainly not one with so many Adept stage beasts. Five would have utterly overwhelmed us. I must say, Prime Minister Verest is an admirable warrior. I would like to meet him if it is possible."
"Yes, he is quite admirable." Isa said. "I fear you will have to travel to the Eastern Isles if you wish to meet him."
"The Eastern Isles…that is the new half-Elven territory, isn't it? Has the Countess truly given them autonomy? And a navy?" Lord Johren asked as they reached their destination. Vanessa was looking bored by the noble talk going on.
"Oh, yes. The new navy will be one of the largest in the Empire." Isa said.
"To give such a navy to half-Elves…is the Countess sure that it is safe?" Lord Johren asked. "Please do not misunderstand, I am just concerned as a neighbor-"
"Wasn't Lord Johren expressing admiration towards the Prime Minister just seconds ago?" Vanessa interrupted. "I think if the Prime Minister can save Marile from the tide, he can protect the Eastern Isles."
The smile on Lord Johren's face was stiff. "Of course, I was not doubting the Prime Minister's capability."
No, he was doubting whether he could be trusted. Just because he was a half-Elf. Nathan just rolled his eyes at him. The Countess had already warned them, and he would expect this even if she didn't.
The nobles, and even common people of the Empire, did not trust non-humans at all. To them, they were outsiders here to steal what was theirs. Just because there were people that had done that before.
"I think we will retire now, Lord Johren, the journey here was exhausting." Vanessa said, giving him her best fake smile. "I hope to hear your progress in finding my parents tomorrow."
Lord Johren just kept his smile on his face. "As you wish, Viscountess."
And then he was gone, clearly displeased.
"Well, that was exhausting." Vanessa said.
Isa just stared at her, gesturing at the people around them. The servants, they would still report to their master what they said. This wasn't quite enemy territory, but they still couldn't be careless about what they spoke.
"If you will follow me, my ladies, I will show you to your rooms." A maid stepped forward.
"What about Nathan?" Vanessa asked.
The maid looked surprised at her question. "The living quarters for commoners are in a different area, my lady. I am sure someone can show Mr. Nathan to his quarters."
A footman stepped forward, bowing towards him. "I will show you to your quarters, sir."
Nathan shrugged as he headed in a different direction from Vanessa and Isa.
The room was quite far away, a testament to the size of the mansion, really. The Diery palace was considerably larger, but the mansion was significantly larger in sheer land area. The Diery palace just had far more storeys
"Here we are, sir." the footman said, opening the door to a rather simple room. The room couldn't really be called small, it was still comfortable enough to live in. Just about a tenth of the room he had in the Diery palace.
"Thank you," he said. "Please tell the servants to have my luggage delivered here."
"I will, sir." the footman said. "Please inform me if there is anything you need, I will be your valet for the stay."
"There is no need for that." Nathan said. "I already have one with me."
The footman looked surprised. "Oh, I see. I shall take my leave then."
The door closed with a click of the lock and Nathan sagged onto the bed. The Countess had assigned a valet to him, he hadn't even met him yet. But she had been right to worry that he would be looked down on if he didn't have servants. The way the people here treated him and the way they treated Vanessa and Isa were vastly different.
The county was perhaps the only place where this would not happen. Nathan had just stepped into the normal world now. And there was a lot more of this out there waiting for him.
After all, a commoner was looked down upon, but the bastard half-breed prince was going to be utterly despised.