Chapter 6: The Month After…

"Here..." Count Coisenmo throws a letter from the temple to me who just sits on the floor and stares at the floor. It was much better than looking at the face of the person I hate so much.

"Huh, how can you still be alive and not dead? Ah, never mind, it's none of my business, but I'm curious, why a fool like you is still alive!" slurred Count Coisenmo, I still can't believe I was being deceitful by this type of person that I went blind and obeyed his words regardless of everything. After a few insults directly to me, he ruffled my head before leaving the room and threw the door so that a loud sound echoed in the room as no one came into my room again.

Three days later, Count Dryden and Viscount Palarine barged into my room, dragging me to sit on my desk, then told me to try to write the reply to the letter using what they prepared since not responding to a letter from the temple can be called blasphemy. I can’t remember what I was doing since I loved to see the floor.

I tried to write down a few words, but because I hadn't eaten all day and hadn't written for a long time, my hand wasn't strong enough to lift the quill to write something.

"Ah... it's taking too long, you useless child, I still have a wife I have to take care of, she needs me," Count Dryden growled as he roughly took the paper and quill from me, then he took out a piece of paper, that seems to be prepared beforehand. I can see there's a duchy's seal on it.

He approached Viscount Palarine who had brought the Albright family seal, "How's your wife?" asked Viscount Palarine in a sad tone as he stamped the paper using the family seal.

Count Dryden replied with a harsh sigh, "Still nothing has changed, her condition is in the middle of between alive and dead, I still can't believe that I have to leave my wife and children to take care of this damn family residence, by order of that duke. I should present at this residence five days a week, with one day from this house to my place and I can only have 6 hours to meet with my family before I return to this freaking deserted place!" at the end it echoes.

Viscount Palarine patted Count Dryden's shoulder while trying to console him, "Let's hope for the best!"

"I swear to God, if my wife passes away and my child hates me, I will torture that useless child!" he pointed his finger towards me who just went silent.

As if they thought I didn't exist, I was also reluctant to ask them because they would only hate and be angry with me even more, they slammed the bedroom door so hard that some dust started flying.

It's been two months since the incident, I already adapted to the banging sounds and the insults, maybe I was a quickly adapted child? Who cares?

Since the day that I regretted my life, my mind has been in a denial state, and I just turned my fate to become a freaking useless child. Ah...I should say no to that bastard, why do I say yes? Why do I expect affection from someone who is just using me? Why am I so blind just because of that fake affection?

Why...why...why...why...why...why?

I grabbed or squeezed then turned into pulling my hair, I wanted to scream but what could I do, this was my fault, why did I say that? Oh, God, take my life if you can...my grab on the hair got stronger as I pulled my head left and right again to release the tightness and stuffiness inside me. Every breath I took felt like it was getting tighter in my chest want me to throw up but would people care if one more light of life would be gone?

“It…was…my…fault…my…fault…why…why…my fault…why…why…my…yes….fault…yes…it was…my fault…” tears are running down the cheeks, “yes…it was my fault…it was my fault…it was my fault…ah…my fault…ahhh…fault…ahh…hhaha….yes…my fault…my fault….fault…fault…fault…fault…fault…my…fault…yes…fault…fault…fault…my ….its…its…my fault…it was…my fault…my fault…why,...why…why…why…why…why…why…wyhy…it was my fault….my fault…my fault…it was my fault….”

That's the only word that spins endlessly inside my head that I kept muttering all day long. My body fidgets in fear, feeling guilty, and regret for ever saying that. I look at the letter that Count Coisenmo sent to me, I weakly took the letter, my body became weak like this because I was rarely fed, I was only given a half loaf of bread every two days with cold water in the basin to drink.

I opened the letter, and the letter was written in red ink, which is the ink used to curse someone to death. Just as I thought, a branch of the temple branch in Solunoct Duchy chose to condemn me because of the action I took. As a result, the branch of the temple will be merged.

Suddenly the writing slowly began to melt and a red liquid dropped to the floors and a fishy smell began to emerge. I just looked sadly as the liquid increasingly flooded the paper towards the table then all the rooms were flooded by these red liquids. Out of nowhere, a pair of long, white hands covered in fishy-smelling ink, I just stared flatly when a face slowly began to appear from the letter.

Little by little the look on the paper turned similar to my mother's face. Her face moved left and right as if he wanted to try to escape from the paper. After her face was partially visible up to her ears, she suddenly stopped moving and looked at me, ”You…” with a low sharp tone, her lips shook, and tried to make words, just as she seemed calm suddenly, she screamed with her mouth open wide as if she wanted to swallow me and with an angry face but her eyes were black and empty, "WHY YOU AGREED WITH THAT...."

"No mother, I'm sorry, I thought if I handed it over then the father would..."

With her face getting so angry that her veins were visible, my mother screamed again, causing my face to be splashed with blood that came out of her mouth, "YOU STUPID CHILD, WHY YOU AGREED WITH THAT....." the screams got louder and louder until it made my ears feel like they were going to burst, but I didn't let go of my grip on the paper to cover my ears that start bleeding, my nose and eyes also bleeding. There was a flash of light that dazzled the eyes and every second the mother changed her form but her screams became even more deafening.

Seems satisfied with expressing all her emotions, my mother's figure disappeared, leaving me whose ears, mouth, nose, and eyes were bleeding quite profusely. While smiling, I let go of the letter which was still bleeding as it fell to the pool of blood. Trembling, I turned my head towards the table where I looked to the side and found a knife stuck in the rotten apple in the fruit bowl, "Wait for me mother, I will follow you soon..."

When I approached the table with the fruit bowl, suddenly the door opened, and the maid who looked like my mother came in and shouted the same thing, "WHY YOU SAY YES!!!!" their word started to echo in the room, and my head.

I can feel my stomach starting to churn, like a ringing sound inside my head it makes my visions become blurred and my body starts to limp. Why are you still angry mother, I was going to follow you, why…mother...

Slowly I could feel the wind start to swirl between me and their shadows as if pulling oxygen from me. Ah...so you wanted me to die this way, mother?

The corners of my lips began to lift, "I can't wait to meet you, mother," for a moment the feeling of calm that death would come to me felt more relieving than continuing life. I smiled a little, feeling that I would live to be 12 years old before death came to me due to my stupidity.

As the feeling of tightness began to surround me, it felt tight, this was because I agreed to this stupid thing. How could I agree to that bastard's offer? I coughed and coughed up blood because the feeling of tightness was getting worse. The faces of the counts and temples who looked down on me filled with anger make it even worse, “It’s my fault…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…It’s my fault…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…It’s my fault…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…It’s my fault…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…It’s my fault…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…It’s my fault…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…It’s my fault…It’s my fault…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…It’s my fault…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry it’s my fault……I’m sorry…It’s my fault…”

Their screams and shout about how stupid am I keep echoed inside of my head to the point it was hurt.

Just before that, I could feel my eyes closed and my body went limp from the unbearable tightness, suddenly everything went silent.

Even though the atmosphere suddenly became silent, I was afraid to open my eyes, but the heat suddenly felt all over my body, slowly I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was the brown roof of my bed. The deafening sound keeps lingering on my ears until I couldn't take it anymore.

***

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the head of my bed, "Huft...what? Where? Where am I?" while panting for breath, my body felt wet with sweat, even though it had just entered spring. I raised from position and could see the mark of my sweat on the bed cover.

It seemed like I had been a nightmare that thrown me back into my previous life at this damn world. I moved slowly to the edge of the bed; I looked around it was still a bit dark. I push my feed into the slippers, I walked towards the table located near the window, I feel my throat was burning and dry, it was hard to swallow, the room also started to feel suffocate. I took one of the glasses, then poured water from it and a teapot made from porcelain made by the duchy itself. As the water went into my throat, I need to take another glass before my stomach started to feel churned that I decide to open the curtains at the same time as the window.

The morning breeze felt very refreshing yet even though the temperature was currently very cold and I was in my pajamas enjoying the cold water earlier. I have to tell you that the morning breeze which is not suitable for children my age was so good, I don't care about I will catch cold. As the sun began to rise and show its warmth and light, I made a vow that I repeatedly said, "I would not follow the path of my previous life or become the final boss of the game, I would make my own route, and I will make sure I will be at the survivor on this hellish world.

“Everything is considered to be able to survive, no matter what!” this chilling feeling is again being felt, is it from my past or something?

***

A month had passed since the unusual meeting with the council, now I call them the council with another meaning, yes, they are the combination of council of elders and the administrative council for duchy. Usually, the duchy's system is kind of parliamentary system depend on the existence of the elders who acted like a senate and the administrative council is the cabinet. If you didn't have it then it was an absolute leadership, if you have it as an advisory council, it was a semi-absolute leadership, if you have it as the senate then you have a parliamentary system. Since I used the combination, I would say it was like parliamentary system with administrative council as cabinet and elders as between advisor or shadow cabinet.

Turned out they had come with an invitation letter to the new duke's baptism by the temple branch in the duchy. Since my age was 12, I had to be baptized so that the temple would also recognize me as a duke. The Temple of Terones branch was rejoicing because I refused to hand over all responsibility for the territory and finances of the duchy to that fake father. They promised to hold a mass and a blessing party as well as a solemn inauguration of me as Duke of Solunoct.

I was at my desk, this month has been full of discussions with the council about the new tax assessment and the new office structure that they approved, using the current treasury, I almost spend additional 3 thousand gold coins to repair all the damaged infrastructure, from roads, bridges, tunnel, port, trading post, market, office, healthcare center, water sources (includes filtration, supply, and facilities), sewer and waste using the new materials like steel I mentioned, luckily the purchase of wood also went smoothly as the duchy are now flooded by new lumbers for additional help the temporary road before the steel made one are finished. As a result, hygiene standards in the duchy's capital, Silverwood, and the duchy's largest and port city, Tabarun, became better, the number of people suffering from cholera, fever, and water or food poisoning decreased drastically. Many laborers are quite quick learners about the usage of steel. Thanks to every magistrate the repairs went smoothly.

I also decided to establish new local law enforcement under those magistrates who previously acted as the duke’s representative and observed the policies and administration on their part. Now they also become the leader of law enforcement in the duchy. For now, we used the duchy's and my family’s troops in addition to their security guard if they had to operate this new agency; while the academy to train the civilians into security troops is being built. I called this unit by a temporary name, Internal Corps of Solunoct Duchy, it was a gendarmerie agency on Earth. The troops for now consist of the guards for both duchy and family to maintain law and preserve security. They patrolled 24 hours using shifts from town to village, street by street. There are four units in this new agency, as they’re separated into three magistrates: North, Central, and South. The fourth unit was for capital led by myself. Since they’re military troops, they quickly catch almost all criminals from thieves to bandits to ensure the safety of the roads and settlements. Until now, the Terones Empire has not had a law enforcement agency like the police on Earth. This is because law enforcement has been separated between commoners and nobles. If the nobles go through the Special Investigation and Surveillance Unit in the structure of the Aristocratic Affairs Department. The lower class is usually handled directly by the military in their respective regions, the task of this force is also for surveillance and defense, therefore, the military focuses more on monitoring borders, regional capitals, and important cities or roads. Problems such as theft and others will be handled through the judicial system of each region which is usually unfair. Especially if it involves nobles and lower class people, usually the trial will be biased, the investigation is frivolous and seems fake or not serious, and usually, both the Special Investigation and Surveillance Unit or SISU and the military will not want to accept the case and leave it to their respective judicial regions. Therefore, for the time being, I am implementing the current law enforcement system. In the future, this will become the police.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Today I just got a call that I was being looked after by Count Dryden who was waiting for me in my study, after accepting his request to meet me, we met in my office. I sat face to face with Count Dryden. Of the eight people who came to the meeting yesterday, only one was not seen or rarely showed his face, you can guess who it is.

While of the remaining seven, only Count Dryden often came to see me to discuss various other projects that seemed to interest him. After I approved the food storage program and his meteorological research with Countess Maurez. He became more active in submitting various proposals that were quite reasonable such as not only repairing the road but also expanding it, and proposals to build a dam in the east of Vadici County where there’s a temporary lake that will be filled during rainy seasons. He also supports the idea of using iron and steel in infrastructure development. I can even say that he is very good at summarizing the calculation of the quantity of use of both materials so he can maximize results and cut costs, of course not the labor wages.

I decided to meet with him after meeting with Oliver about upcoming events, the special dinner that I will host by myself for the first time since taking office. For now, we agreed on the theme, time, invitations, and food. I was looking for something else.

***

"So, you're saying that since there's leftover budget for repairing the northern highway in your county, you want to redirect it toward restoring the port?" I tried to confirm what I just heard from what he said, the Tabarun port improvement project is also currently underway directly under the supervision of Baron Moreno. Despite it being under Count Coisenmo’s territory County of Aynev, Count Coisenmo never wanted to take the project and let Baron Moreno who under the order of the young duke lead the projects. In addition, the port city of Tabarun is a city with a unique situation that is fueled by the greed and pitfalls of Count Coisenmo, where there is also a feud between two families who are at war with each other due to their equal influence in the city.

'It sounds like a story I've read!' I thought as I read his proposals, that this was the tenth time he sent me a proposal for an infrastructure project.

"Yes, this is the crux of the issue, my lord." he said as if uncomfortable to talk about it, "....as you know, Tabarun is the most important port city in the duchy, with a long history as a center of trade and a gateway for cargo ships. Although it is the capital of Aynev County, two years ago, Count Coisenmo moved his seat to a nearby town called Turinova. The reason for this is the fierce rivalry between two baron families, namely the Castellan and Altamira families, both of whom initially guarded their respective territories and their businesses, but as time went by, everything became sour and the hostility between the two families increasingly emerged outside their homes," I continued to read his proposals that turned out there’s two of it.

Count Dryden sighed heavily, "I understand why they fought, but the feud has dragged on for too long. The magistrate is powerless to summon them, especially since Baron Moreno is also a baron, and the duchy is in disarray. Still, they can't ignore an order from the count. As you know, Count Coisenmo also didn’t want to meddle with them, he believed they needed to resolve themselves. What I got was that it all started with the disappearance of one of the Castellan Family's ships that was filled with luxury goods..."

I who heard it immediately became suspicious, then Count Dryden continued his speech, "...the ship happened to be last seen at the Altamira family's private dock because there was a leak in the ship, but when both parties wanted to see the ship, Suddenly the Altamira ship hit the Castellan ship and caught fire, this triggered a fierce argument and since then the two families have become strangers to each other."

“Does Tabarun have a mayor?”

“Yes, I believe Count Coisenmo still wants to hold that title, even though he resided in Turinova. Tabarun City's administrative activities are carried out and carried out by Rodney, the City’s Manager. But he was powerless against the two families. ”

“Then, how’s the situation in Tabarun?”

Count Dryden was a little confused and at a loss for words to express it, "It could... be said to be peaceful enough for merchants to trade freely without fear of disputes but…” he tried to make up some words into a sentence, “...it is quite disappointing from the perspective of merchants who want to trade because they cannot mix the two, it is like having Tabarun divided into two by a transparent wall. Despite of that,” his face quickly turned to be happy, “As soon as word spread about the road repairs and improved security, many traders began showing interest in using Tabarun Port, despite the tensions between the two families.”

Why it's so clear that Count Dryden tried to avert the discussion about the tension, “...and to prevent a surge in traders, we need to expand the port so that it can accommodate the needs of merchants passing through, or moreover how about we create a new port in Hund County?" he explained in an enthusiastic tone.

I raised my eyebrows, ‘So, you also want to be profited by these tensions, huh?’

“Is that why you proposed the construction of a new port from the small fishing town called, Vasenda, to be made into a port with an area around 500 acres? It will be half the size of the Port of Tabarun once the restoration project is done, an increase from 480 acres to 1100 acres. What’s the main purpose of your port then?” you think you could deceive me.

“Hmm…my lord, you didn’t need to be harsh to me,” he smiled warmly to me, “...in my perspective, the port will not be enough, that’s why I proposed to create a second port in Vasenda, I believe it can reduce the burden on Tabarun as the main port of the duchy, and also boost the duchy's economy, or more precisely reduce the influence of the two families who are at feuds and..." he looked slightly towards the door, he turned towards me and said in a small tone, "...I know you don't like him because of his closeness to Duke Winfield, so through this plan, you can reduce Count Coisenmo's influence.”

By this everything made sense, I have no problem directing the remaining budget from the construction of the northern highway, but the problem was Count Dryden’s desire to make Vasenda the second trade port.

Personally, I have no problem directing the remaining budget for the construction of the northern crossroad to develop Vasenda port, I don't think there's a problem with building two ports. Plus, I heard that Vasenda will be a good place for tourism, how about while the construction is being prepared," I made sure Count Dryden couldn't interrupt me.

"Vasenda will be a port for tourists, I'm sure with the group of tourists entering the beautiful natural atmosphere of Vasenda, they will be amazed and will need many hotels and inns to accommodate the tourists."

It seemed that Count Dryden wanted to interrupt, but I immediately opened his proposal took out a piece of paper, and wrote down some ideas, "...this is it, how about Vasenda Port accepts trade but the majority of it focuses on being a tourist port, besides that, you can use the remaining budget to build a direct road between Tabarun and Vasenda so that trade can run smoothly between the two cities?" I hand over back his proposals.

I could see Count Dryden wanting to object but the idea of tourists flooding his beautiful area was enough to tempt him. By delivering tourist services, it will also become the catalyst to attract the attention of traders to trade in Vasenda because the small fishing town will turn into a big and luxurious city in an instant.

My heart is pounding as I proposed this brave idea that just came to my head, I was hoping it would get accepted and Count Dryden would not try to undermine me or our relations get sour, like in the past, he put his finger in the chin as he was thinking about my revision of his proposal.

After a few moments, Count Dryden's gaze met me as he started to speak, “My lord, you once again show me your greatest magnificent thoughts that no one else sees. The idea of using Vasenda serene as a tourist attraction was a good idea, I never thought that the town known as the high-quality fish source now is filled with only lobsters, crabs, and salmons,”

“Wait…wait..wait…Count Dryden,” I cut his words.

“Yes?” confused Count Dryden.

“What are you saying that Vasenda is only filled with?”

“Well, the port of Vasenda is located around 5-10 kilometers from the fish source but unfortunately those places are now filled with lobsters, crabs, and salmons, which didn’t have high prices at the market,”

‘No…no…no…you moron, those will become gold once meat is scarce!’

Count Dryden, you just found gold.

“Hmm…Count Dryden, how much budget do you think will needed to enact the project of both the ports and the town's revitalization?” I asked him with a serious look.

“Why, is there something wrong?” asked Count Dryden like he smelled something from me.

“No…not at all, in fact giving how scarce the fish are, I want to give incentive and help to build the port,” I paused as suddenly a thought came to my head, “...Count Dryden,”

He looked at me with eyes of curiosity, “I offered you two contracts, giving you also to lead your own trade company and you will become the pioneer of trade between Vasenda and Tabarun. Here’s the condition of the contract: the duchy will sign a special contract to use all of your workers to support one of your contracts, they will receive salaries from your company and incentive from the duchy's government, don't worry, the duchy will also give you an incentive for your participation on this project.”

I take the cup of tea and sip it a little before putting it back in its place.

“...The first contract required you to use all of your carriages and ships to carry the materials to build the port and revitalize the city of Vasenda so they can accommodate the tourists and your craftsmen and labor to build them, as for the port as they will be built by times; or you can choose the second one, we will still need Tabarun port to deliver the tourist since building a 500 acres port can't be done within a mere three months,”

I turned my gaze to the report that Count Dryden put on the table, “...so, your company will act as travel for tourists to go to Vasenda together with you become the main source for resource, foods, and items for the town's being,” Count Dryden is quick to understand what’s the meaning of both contracts, “...that was your special contract that I offer, Count Dryden, what will you choose?”

For the first time, I saw Count Dryden’s eyes widen, the meaning of the special contract for him must be so substantial to his company, but even for a company like him it must be stretched thin if he agreed on both contracts.

“My lord, thank you so much for this rare opportunity. I would love your contract proposal, but it also came to my realization that my own trading company itself was not large enough, and given the first contract had a vast range from port and city's revitalization. I believe I will kill myself if I go to the first contract even with your support, we still can't manage the development this big. We agreed with the second contract, as for the first contract I believe the duchy's government will manage to do it!”

'Actually, I didn't have any plan on it, but yeah, who knows with 100 thousand gold coins will be enough to cover all the necessities to build all of them,’

“Alright, then it was settled, the duchy's government will agree with your proposals to build a new port and revitalize Vasenda as a new tourist attraction. Given two special contracts you to decide and you choose the second one, leaving you out of the list for any companies that can work to develop Vasenda, that will become the duchy's government responsibility to find the best contractor!” assured me to Count Dryden as the proposals were remade into new ones with the special contracts on it.

“It was a pleasure that we have agreed, although I was quite disappointed that Vasenda was not made into a trading port but it was such a relief that Vasenda can become an important city!” expressed Count Dryden with satisfaction.

As we exchanged handshakes, I thought the meeting would be over but it turned out I was wrong.

"By the way, my lord, honestly in my opinion, the tax system you introduced is too cheap and greatly detrimental to the duchy's finances, which I can't bear to hear, listen or watch it, that's why I propose to increase the port tax from the previous 3 cents to 10 cents." now he changed the topic to tax.

I opened my ears wide to confirm what he was saying.

"Wait...wait...count, I think that's too much!" warned me, trying to end this discussion soon.

Count Dryden's eyes suddenly widened, "Too much? Too much? Too much you say? My lord, didn't you know, usually a port tax includes stopover fees, luggage weight, and warehouse rental, totaling at least 45-150 cents, and your harbor only costs 7 cents plus you give them an equal size warehouse-free rental. That was a clever move but for me, I will be honest to you, my lord, it's a high risk..."

Did I hear it wrong, I thought he was a businessman who didn't like high taxes.

"... I'm aware that your aim for; by providing cheap tax rates and wide ports and safe road routes is to attract merchants, but I'm afraid that in the future when the port is busy and you try to raise taxes, it will backfire and the merchants will oppose it and boycott our port!"

The explanation given by Count Dryden made me rethink the tax rates he conveyed, 'Well, 5 cents tax for every kilogram of goods they bring and 2 cents for every ship who docks in the harbor still become the cheapest port tax in the whole empire.'

If you are wondering why there's a port tax while previously I didn't mention it, it's because there are two types of tax on this empire. The first one is The Primary Taxes, as I explained previously for example customs duty, free slave tax, etc. This Primary Tax placed more emphasis on long-term needs and to fulfill the revenue requirements for the empire. Then there's a second type of tax, this type of tax came between being used for the duke's family or to develop their own territory, for example, Port Tax, Stamp Tax, Export Tax, Temple Tax, and Religious Tax. I didn't change much of the second-tier taxes, such as rearranging the rates of port tax, stamp tax, and export tax to boost and increase the economic outputs. As for temple tax, I decide to change the rates and eliminate the controversial religious tax for personal reasons. For this religious tax, it is an income tax for those with different beliefs from the empire with a deduction of 10%.

“Then how did you offer the change, Count Dryden? As you already know that, Tabarun is the only main port in the duchy that will heavily voice whatever they thought as too much on their ships and trades, am I correct?” I offered Count Dryden to explore his options.

Seem taken aback by my words, Count Dryden started to daze out as he made the rough calculations while standing in the middle of the room, “My lord, how about you raise the cost of ships to docks at the port if they only bring goods, it’s okay to raise it to 10 cents per day, but if it carried passengers, how about to charge at 4 cents per day?”

"It doesn’t look like a bad idea, very well, Count Dryden, thank you for your in-depth calculations. I will inform you about the port tax decision. I didn’t mean to be rude but, I need to finish some of my things,” said me with a smile. Count Dryden looked up, raising an eyebrow as if asking what I meant. Maybe he wants to push me to address the port tax issue immediately but I know that if I agree with that, he will also be affected and targeted by Count Coisenmo or else the feuding family.

Just as Count Dryden left, now, it was Oliver's turn to enter the room, he said that the preparations for the special dinner were going to be held three days later as invitations were already being sent and they were expected to arrive by at least one day before.

“Oliver, before you leave, do you have any connections to the fisherman's guild in Tabarun or Vasenda?” I turned around the table and took a piece of paper then started to write some ingredients for the dinner.

“Is there anything you want with them, my lord?” asked Oliver with curiosity in his words.

With a faint smile, I said in a cheerful tone while I handed him a piece of paper containing the ingredients and main star that was needed for the upcoming dinner, "Have you ever eaten lobster?"

***

Three days later, on 3 March 1861. Albright Manor.

"Thank you to all my guests, who took their time to attend this simple dinner!" I said as I raised my glass followed by the others.

"I know, it was a rough start for all of you, especially I believe many of you took a detour to reach the capital due to the road maintenance, but I assure you that from now on Solunoct will continue to thrive to its glorious age. Cheers to all of you and the Duchy of Solunoct!" as I raised my glass together with others, and then I drank the carbonated orange juice.

Tonight, I hold a special dinner opening with the nobles, the officials in the office, and the priest from the temple. Thanks to Count Dryden for the invitations and Oliver for managing the house. This dinner also holds some important guests.

I sat back down at the table where all the heads of nobles and administration from my duchy were, as expected Count Coisenmo couldn't attend the dinner banquet due to fatigue. While I disregard his letter asking for a change of date of the dinner so he can attend. Of course, I couldn’t do it, like hell I will obey his word. That’s when I moved the letter to the City Manager, Rodney, to attend the banquet and to represent Count Coisenmo. While I could see a staring gaze from both Baron Castellan and Baron Altamira directed at me, they came with their respective families and gosh, it was so tense to see between the two of them. The other’s gaze was on Rodney, a commoner who became the city manager of Tabarun sitting together with other nobles and high-ranking duchy’s officials at the chair that was supposed to be for Count Coisenmo. It seems other officials and counts didn’t mind the absence of Count Coisenmo.

I looked at the 30-year-old young man, he was appointed as city manager of Tabarun, a new position so Count Coisenmo could hold the title of Mayor of Tabarun despite he was not in the city, together with the position of Count of Aynev. That gives me a good idea but for now, let’s forget about that and focus on how the guests still seemed curious about what I served. Usually, as a noble tradition in the Terones Empire, you would serve a guest soup as an appetizer, meat for the main course, and cake for dessert. But what I introduced on this dinner, for the appetizer was Chicken Asparagus Cream Soup, for the main course, there were two dishes, the first one was a mashed potatoes casserole with truffle mushroom and the second one was a lobster risotto, for dessert we have a traditional sponge cake of shokupan. For the children, I provide hot chocolate for them to drink.

"It's the first time I've seen this soup," murmured Count Dryden while he tasted a spoonful of the still-warm soup. The look on his face suddenly changed from previously being a little scared to being calm and enjoying the dish I was serving.

"I'm also surprised, my lord can serve food that I've never seen before!" praised Viscount Palarine while he drank the carbonated orange juice.

Of course, they have never tasted this food because first, this food does not come from this world, and second, all the food stars that I used in this dinner such as asparagus, potatoes, rice, caviar, lobster, mushrooms, and anchovies are still not well known, even though in reality there are very many of them on everywhere and they’re abundant. Unfortunately, the entire human food chain in this world still depends primarily on wheat, so when drought strikes together with the war of domination, the price of wheat soars, and a war breaks out over the available wheat, oats, and maize. Things also quickly turned worse as the war of domination changed its meaning from the war of the strongest to the war for the fittest to see, secure, and contain the food for themselves.

"Honestly, my lord, it never crosses my mind that the taste of mashed potatoes makes me want to eat it again!" praised Baroness Ruvelia as she wiped her lips and then drank the carbonated orange juice that surprised her again, she burped, “Ups, my bad, this drink feels so light and refreshing!”

"Where do you get these cooking ideas, my lord?" Count Handeroven asked as he put in a spoonful of lobster risotto.

"I got this idea when I saw the wild plants around," I said while enjoying the warm asparagus cream soup flowing down my throat, I could hear them murmuring about the main sources of the food. Never in they think that these wild plants could taste so good.

"Ho ho ho, so from wild plants you can produce this delicious dish?" asked Countess Maurez with curiosity shown on her face as she leaned towards me despite Baron Moreno becoming the buffer between us.

"Yes, Madam Countess Maurez, do the dishes served by the Albright family satisfy your taste?" asked me, while showing my cute side.

Smiling, she wiped her lips and said, "Ho ho ho, don't be too sarcastic, my lord, you'll get old quickly, you know!" even though her eyes were closed, I understood what the countess meant.

I turned my gaze and looked around, "Wow, that feels good." said one of the male guests.

"The drink also tastes refreshing," said one female guest.

"It's the first time I tasted this delicious food!"

"Mommy, the food tastes so good!" one of the children eating the soup.

Satisfied with the response of the guests who ate the dishes I served, I looked back at my table, the nobles were also still enjoying their food, I turned my head towards a person who just finished eating his soup, "How does Archbishop Ulrich feel? Is this food acceptable for the taste of the temple?"

For a moment, an old man with gray hair covering his hair, was Archbishop Ulrich, the branch leader of the Temple of Terones in Solunoct Duchy.

He still had his eyes closed as if absorbing the image of the rich taste of the soup. After I called him, he lowered his head slightly and looked up a little, then he lowered his head and opened his eyes and looked at me as if he was making a decision.

To be continued…