Chapter 7: Meeting and Meeting Again…

In an empty temple, this event should have been held with great fanfare. Yet, because of the foolish mistake I made, neither the nobles nor the people were willing to attend. Ever since the news spread, they’ve slandered and blamed me, calling it the worst decision of my life. Only two priests came to lead the ceremony—no nuns, temple administrators, or even the faithful.

The two who remained were Archbishop Terion from the Duchy of Winshire and Deputy Archbishop Ulrich. Even the room that was used for these events was not in the main hall.

"May God open the eyes of Noah de Albright, heir of the Albright family, who foolishly handed over his responsibilities to his so-called father!" Archbishop Terion sneered as he spoke, deliberately spilling the holy water over my bowed head. I remained kneeling, soaked and humiliated, praying. My fate as their puppet was only just beginning.

After my failed suicide attempt—when my father’s faithful maid and yet his other mistress in the house dragged me from the window to Duke Winfield—I was punished. I was told that if I dared to try again, I would only anger my mother more. Duke Winfield said she wanted to see me suffer in this hellish world.

But I can’t let that happen, can I? If I make her angry again… I’ll be able to see her. Ah… what a foolish thought. Of course, I’ll see her. But maybe, if I keep on like this, I can meet her sooner. Should I speed things up?

My head began to spin with these thoughts.

"With this, the coronation of Noah de Albright, the front head of the Albright family and heir to the Duchy of Solunoct, is complete." the priests didn’t linger. Without another word, they left the mass hall, abandoning me in that same prayer position inside the empty mass hall.

Am I truly unforgivable? A thin grin crept across my lips. If I am, then why bother seeking forgiveness at all?

I lifted my head to gaze at the statue of St. Hurios, the patron saint, enlightener, and protector of the Terones Empire.

St. Hurios, am I even unforgivable in your eyes? I chuckled, my grin growing wider.

How useless I am.

“Hahahahaha..." despite that, tears keep running down my cheeks.

‘I’m tired…’

***

Returning to the banquet, my gaze focused on Archbishop Ulrich who was also looking at me with probing eyes. The reason I am holding this banquet is that apart from introducing a new taste to the cuisine in the duchy, I also plan to use both the nobles and the temple to spread new knowledge about these plants and how to use them that not many people know about.

Apart from that, I am also trying to reduce dependence on food, agriculture, animal husbandry, and trade from wheat. I also intend to provide food rich in nutrients and vitamins to the priests, monks, and nuns so that they don't fall sick easily, since they can only eat plain wheat porridge with bread without yeast and can only drink plain water. Living in the temple was harsh, no wonder they could be blind easily for what they’ve been through, also not to mention that I don't want to be called heretics by the temple.

Another reason for me to recommend this food is because besides that they are still considered wild plants, if I managed to build a farm and monopoly this trade then I would be the one who put the price on it, and for the temple, I would gain a favor from them since Archbishop Ulrich was the one of the disciples from the former archpriest. Unfortunately, the previous archpriest election was won by a very conservative figure who could even be said to be a fanatic and believed that he could hear the voice of the holy spirit. He was the same age as Archbishop Ulrich, around the 50s of his age but somehow he still looked very fit at that age.

As the result of the cardinals and archbishops who elect the most conservative candidate as the next archpriest. The temple is being hit by other reform issues, starting from former priests who were expelled for violating strict rules that were even made stricter within the temple itself, to many nobles who were sometimes treated differently due to their mixed blood or the archpriest who always said that commoner should take a bath to be ‘cleansed’ especially the child. While the voice of reform continued to brew among unsatisfied people who were constantly under hardships and never-ending unfair treatment by the noble, like best friends, the imperial family didn’t try to intervene and even take part in it when it was called from St. Hurios for people to be pure and purified.

But, not everyone can be fooled, those who lead the reform factions in the temple, one of the leading figures of reform is Archbishop Ulrich. In my previous life, Archbishop Ulrich lived until I was 15 years old, he died of old age and burnout beyond his age. As a result of the merger of the leadership of the two duchies, a merger between the temples was also inevitable, this made Archbishop Ulrich's position weak before he was finally demoted and his voice for reforms was forgotten. Meanwhile, at the imperial level, the call for reforms is no more, as moderate and progressive one was evicted or moved into rural borders where they will become easy targets to be eliminated. There would be no more reforms enforced by the temple until the war of domination when the temple became the holy sacrificial scapegoat for the survival of the imperial family. Well, you can already guess where that story goes.

I still hope I can persuade him to accept the idea I presented to him. He was also concerned about the food for the temple. As I said, despite the good intentions to not live in luxury and understand the living of the poor thanks to the harsh lifestyle and strict rules that are tighter than corsets, they develop a manipulative hypocrite and two-faced behavior as they easily fall to the shining materials.

"My lord," his gaze looked friendly but full of calculation, "...what an extraordinary thing for someone your age, to be able to have brilliant cooking ideas like this! To think that the food you produce comes from wild plants, I suggest this will be a good start for the food resources for the temple!" he tasted the orange drink that I served.

Both of my eyes grew wider and my mouth opened slightly wide in joy at hearing Archbishop Ulrich's decision.

"Does that mean?"

He looked at me again, in return I looked at him expectantly, "...you will allow me to discuss everything from planting to distribution, right?" I continue to clarify.

With a small, thin friendly laugh that was hidden by his beard, he answered, "Of course, my lord, how could I refuse the wishes of St. Hurios, who wants to help the region you lead, it's truly a miracle that you can come up with this idea, it was such a blessing that you can help the people who are suffering from famine and poverty with this delicious and nutritious food!"

"That's right, Archbishop, it is a blessing from St. Hurios who has created so many plants for us humans to consume, it just takes time for humanity to adapt and learn about those plants," I added while enjoying my drink. Although it seems like a gray area, at least his initial approval was enough for me to do more research on the food.

"It would be better if the duchy could provide plant samples and let the cooks at the temple do some exploration on those plants," said Archbishop Ulrich, which can be seen in his eyes that he had already done some calculations about what he could do with these plants.

I chuckled, it seems we had the same intention, "Don't worry Archbishop Ulrich, the duchy will always support the temple and by now, as I promised to you, I would like to send three sacks full of these plants where you can carry out trials to provide the best food for those in need and for priests too,"

His face is beaming with some kind of relief and satisfaction, should I add more generosity? If I remember in the past both I and the archbishop never met personally even after his death, I was only noticed one week after.

While he continued to listen while enjoying the food, it seemed he was waiting for another generosity, "...I would also like to make a donation of two thousand gold coins, six sacks of wheat, some building materials, and laborers for the repair of the temple, orphanage, nursing home, and sanctuary in the duchy. Does that cover the temple's needs, Archbishop?"

This time the archbishop answered with a bright, wide, and warm smile, “Ho…ho…ho…, what an honor it is for us, the Temple of Terones branch in Solunoct to receive such a big favor and unwavering support from the Duke of Solunoct, Noah de Albright,”

‘Yes, he said it!’ cheer me inwardly.

By saying that, the branch temple shows their stance to support by continuing to help your highness as much as they can, also this was a remark that solidified my position as duke both from the temple and nobles in this room. It’s such unfortunate that Count Coisenmo was not here.

"Thank you very much, Archbishop Ulrich, it was such a great pleasure and discussion we had at this table." I scan the faces around the table, they seem to keep quiet so as not to interrupt the discussion between me and Archbishop Ulrich.

"You're welcome, oh, by the way, about the spread of the knowledge of these plants, how about publishing a book about these plants and how to cultivate them?” proposed Archbishop Ulrich.

"How about we talk more about that after the banquet? I believe that will be more appropriate for both of us?" I asked with a smile.

As if understanding what I meant, the council and Archbishop nodded their heads, "Of course, my lord!"

“Now shall we continue?”

“Yes, my lord, let's dig this incredible feast,”

The banquet continued as scheduled. I should say that it can be considered a great success, apart from being able to welcome them like royalty. I was also able to share my latest cooking ideas with them, but I've got all the real prey in this event. One of the biggest challenges is approval from the temple. I'm sure Archbishop Ulrich has given his approval and his remark said that I was the duke. With this, I can start my plan.

***

Oliver POV:

It's midnight now, and everyone has fallen asleep, including, Master Noah, I was walking around while carrying a golden made from metal candle holder with three candles are light up, today the night is very calm and the wind is not blowing hard, just a light breeze, I watching every bedroom door and sometimes take a look inside to make sure that the guest already sleep; when I passed the master bedroom, the bedroom for the duke and duchess, I peeked and saw that the candles were still burning, I slowly entered and saw that Master Noah was already fallen asleep on his table.

I intended to move him, but I can’t do that. I don’t know why but after the trial, he started to show a high level of sensitivity to anything that touches or gets near to him even when he has fallen asleep that can make him wake up immediately. To be honest, until now my curiosity is still unanswered, the day when her mother died, he cried hysterically. I still remember how he cried, he banged the door, he threw tantrums for two straight days as he realized that now he was lonely, being dragged to his bedroom, locked and he hadn't had time to mourn his mother. Meanwhile, that useless piece of human called himself Duke Bailey de Winfield, who was Master Noah’s adoptive father, came along with several imperial officers and was the reason why they locked Master Noah in his room because he had activated that special law.

Such cruel action under the pretext of duchy and family’s continuity, that Duke Winfield immediately activated the law just one day after his wife on paper, the poor unfortunate, lonely, and blind by love Duchess Albright. Master Noah’s mother.

During the lockdown period, both I and all the servants were prohibited from staying more than five minutes in the room where Master Noah was staying. He begged me to be allowed to leave the room but I couldn't do it because of that special law.

Even when his mother was to be buried, he could not attend because he was locked in the room by the imperial officers. The echoing cries every night suddenly stopped, he looked like he was depressed, I couldn't comfort him because he started to stop responding to my words. I begged the imperial officers to allow me to accompany Master Noah but unfortunately, my proposal was rejected by Duke Winfield who was already arbitrarily occupying the Albright family residence like his own.

Forgive me for being rude and impolite, but during the lockdown period, according to the special law, only immediate family can visit including Duke Winfield, since by law, he was the closest one to Master Noah and during this period of lockdown, never once did he set foot into Master Noah's room, he even had fun with the family he currently has. Forgetting Master Noah entirely or they only come when he wants to spread lies to Master Noah to allow them to manage his family’s wealth. They openly, without the knowledge of the imperial officers, had already made plans to live in this residence and throw Master Noah into the military. I can't forgive them.

When his lockdown period ended, I was happy that Master Noah could finally be free from his prison room, but I knew that it meant he must decide his future. I was still afraid that he would choose his stupid money-blind father, but, god let's hope for the best. As I knocked on the door, I politely entered because recently Master Noah had not responded to anything from anyone and his behavior had become unpredictable. I was also given the task of conveying that the trial would begin soon.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

At first, what I saw was different, he was sitting at his desk and seemed like just finished reading something. For some reason he looked somehow mature…yet his eyes seemed to lack light and were dull and empty. When he asked what happened and I said that his father was calling him, he responded somehow, uninterested, does this mean a good thing?

My surprise increased even more when what he did during the trial, and how he changed his attitude, I thought he would run and hug his father but he became a completely different yet distant person that I know. How he with a low yet confident voice decided to lead the duchy alone, against his father’s wishes. No matter how much Duke Winfield tried to pressure Master Noah it seems he didn’t budge, and thank god; he didn’t give or throw the letter that I tied to the bird. By the time the meeting was over, he was like a person who calculated every move on his own, his calm demeanor somehow felt uneasy. I still can’t believe that there's a mole on our prideful servants. As my head prepared to eliminate them, I was also shocked when he found the secret treasure that I didn't know the whereabouts of. While Master Noah seemed suspicious of what I did to them, of course, I couldn’t disclose it except he pushed me to answer honestly. I put the candle holder at the rear of the table. I could only smile and look at our young master now was mature enough.

I took a blanket and covered his back, his body seemed to move a little. Thankfully St. Hurios, it seems Master Noah’s body can feel that I wasn’t a threat to him and he decides to continue sleeping. My gaze turned to the table with many files he was reading, I bet he tried to make this duchy better. I bowed to him and said, “My lord, thank you for refusing to hand over everything you have to the wrong person. I am grateful for your presence.”

I slowly picked up the candle holder I had brought before and left Master Noah's bedroom.

***

Unbeknownst to Oliver, once he left the room, I opened my eyes and looked at the closing door. By its footsteps, I can predict it was Oliver who came to check every room.

“Feuh…it was a lucky one, I was pretending to sleep!” murmured me as I moved to the bed and covered myself with a warm blanket. A chill ran down my spine thinking about what Oliver just said, but one thing is for sure.

I still locked my gaze at the door where Oliver just left, this chilling feeling kept coming to me, “I will not let you down, sir!” somehow I let those words out before I walked towards my bed and went to sleep.

As the night passed by and morning came, it didn’t take long after breakfast for the council to gather in the same meeting room that we used for the first time and start to discuss their respective ideas. Given that I also invited Archbishop Ulrich to the council, now the number of members in the council was ten members.

“That's a good idea, Archbishop Ulrich, ah..pardon me, your holiness," said Countess Maurez as she heard my proposals about adding Archbishop Ulrich to take part in the council, and again, Count Coisenmo was absent. Should I do something about him? I believe he was absent again to voice his opposition regarding the current council works.

“Yeah with that we can have more perspective from the temple so our policy will not clash with the temple!” added Count Dryden as both of them shook their hands. I smiled to hear it but seeing the warmth of the council, but it got better to see Archbishop Ulrich looked uncomfortable for a moment when he saw the clothes worn by Countess Maurez and Baroness Ruvelia. For a moment the archbishop looked like he wanted to say something but he quickly closed his mouth and tried to keep smiling and shaking hands, occasionally exchanging greetings and laughter.

"I still want to express my appreciation to you for providing brilliant ideas and this time you invited me to be involved in duchy affairs, it is truly an honor for me and the branch temple to act as balance and support for the duchy, my lord!" praised Archbishop Ulrich before his focus changed on other members of the council that greeted him.

“My lord, should I express my surprise for your daring move to invite his holiness Archbishop Ulrich to the affairs of the council?” whispered Baron Moreno as he adjusted the papers he held while standing behind me. He just entered the room.

“I know your concern, Baron Moreno, but I believe it was indeed needed for the current circumstances,” I answered in a low voice assuring him of the choice I made with a smile, leaving Baron Moreno looking at me for my cryptic answer.

I understand their actions despite the warm welcome that they showed to the archbishop. Inviting a person from the temple to get involved in the day-to-day and decision-making of the duchy’s or imperial provinces was a double-edged sword, especially the archbishop which I believed someone would call it a daring yet reckless move or instead was a desperate attempt to quickly create a legitimacy of my position in which if the temple will pressured the emperor. But this move was avoided at all costs since most of the dukes were hesitant to add their council to a person from the temple due to the temple's influence and fear of being targeted or spied on by the temple. Especially under the order of the current archpriest who reinstated the Holy Eyes Squad, special squad members focused on spying under the archpriest order. I received the news as I read the development in the past five years from Oliver and everyone.

“I know that you are trying to get the temple’s voice regarding the decision from the imperial court but, my lord, I believe the relationship between the archpriest and archbishop is not good and I’m afraid it will become a burden for you!” said Countess Maurez which made me look fascinated and left Baron Moreno in a state of shock. Well, ever since I allowed them to wear whatever clothes they felt fit for the meeting at the council. I believe our relations started to grow warmer. Both Countess Maurez and Baroness Ruvelia are quite content wearing men’s clothes in the meeting, except Baroness Ruvelia who sometimes wears more slim dress instead of the dress of the typical 1860s. Both of them longed to fight against societal expectations by embracing men’s fashion over the ornate, voluminous dresses typical of women in the 1860s. Instead of flowing gowns and corsets, both of them favored tailored frock coats, crisp white shirts with high collars, and waistcoats cinched around their slender frames. Their trousers, perfectly fitted and often tucked into polished leather boots, gave her an air of authority that blended seamlessly with their natural grace. A bowler hat or a top hat occasionally crowned her look, and she carried a silver-topped cane more for style than necessity. Their choice of attire, though unconventional, exuded confidence and command, reinforcing their position as someone who cared little for convention and much for personal power.

“Is there something wrong with my clothes, Baron Moreno?” asked Countess Maurez, proudly showing her clothes. I turned my head and saw that Baron Moreno,

“You look beautiful!” I can’t believe those words came out of Baron Moreno’s mouth, a widower with one son; now looked with amazement and stunned gaze towards Countess Maurez, a widow with one daughter who was wearing men's clothes. Hmm... it seems like it will be interesting, right?

The expression on the middle-aged man Baron Moreno's face blushed slightly while Countess Maurez smiled confidently as if challenging him. It seemed like their roles were swapped.

Little by little they began to lock eyes like what you often see in comics. But suddenly their movements stopped when Countess Maurez put her hand in front or more precisely put the back of her hand on Baron Moreno's lips who were a little surprised and still locked towards her. If you look at Countess Maurez, she became taller especially since she was wearing boots.

"Baron Moreno, you have to be braver if you really want to feel these lips,” she touches her lips with the right index finger, “...besides it wouldn't be good if this was witnessed by children, right?" Countess Maurez's gaze shifted from looking at Baron Moreno who was blushing towards me.

A thin, calculating smile appeared on her face, then Countess Maurez pulled her hand away from Baron Moreno's mouth, and without me seeing it, she licked the hand that was touching Baron Moreno's lips; the countess's pink tongue moved in circles around her red lips. While I could only gape at the activity that had just happened.

Baron Moreno himself was silent as he was dragged back to meet the archbishop by Countess Maurez, still leaving me who was probably still in shock. How in the world did this event exist at first? Never in my imagination could this happen.

Does this open another path that I didn't know?

After some time of greet with others, Count Handerove came to me and asked me to give some words to welcome the archbishop as he came towards me and I extended my hand to welcome him, "It's also an honor for me, Archbishop Ulrich, with years of your experience in the temple and becoming the archbishop, it will help us to achieve for greater good, let's have great cooperation from now on." we shook hands and I invited the Archbishop to sit in one of the chairs at the round table that had been provided.

"Now, shall we begin the meeting?" asked me as everyone sat at their respective chairs and the archbishop sat face to face with me. Then the meeting starts.

***

Two months have already passed as we enter the peak of the spring in April. The warm breeze and weather despite it still feels cold, but that didn’t make me, who's already feeling hot in the summer due to excited about the results of the monthly progress report of the duchy.

Indeed what the people said in the past was that the five years of the 1860s were the best for everything, just before the storm hit. Right, return to the reports, it’s said that the food resource sectors are abundant for the outcome thanks to the incentives, the seeds, the crop rotation program, massive irrigation projects, and the books are finally started to pay off, as I read the forecast for May said that the yields will increase 34% compared to March as the reform is taking place. Not just agriculture but it includes plantations, husbandries, and fisheries. The number slowly started to increase after some decline in the same period last year.

The Duchy of Solunoct experienced what could be overstock from city, town, and village warehouses ranging from grain, livestock, clothing needs, equipment, and woods, especially with the plants introduced in the book making them full so that some warehouses required widening and expanding the warehouses. The roads are well maintained and secured thanks to the patrolling troops patrolling around to help guarantee the roadways and watch for possible stragglers. Coupled with our existence which now has an excess supply of food and other necessities, this is starting to become an attraction for traders to decide to stop by, pass through, and occasionally settle in Solunoct to trade, buy, exchange, or make transactions for goods they bring with materials available in Solunoct.

However, the impact of this excess supply has caused the price of basic necessities in Solunoct to plummet for a week and it took two weeks to raise it again. I slightly crumpled the paper, it was indeed my fault when some of the plants introduced in the book began to be introduced to the public. Many of them immediately started hunting, I must admit they learned quickly, and because the number of plants and animals in the book was so abundant in the forest it immediately became a hunting den for people to sell and cultivate the plants in their fields. When I compared the price, one kilogram of wheat, according to the national price, is 6 bronze coins. Meanwhile, the price of one kilogram of wheat in Solunoct is only 4 bronze coins by the time the weekly report comes, which I suspect is because they have other food sources so wheat is starting to be abandoned as the main source. When the price of wheat dropped to 2.5 bronze coins on the weekend, of course, I was worried that this would be found out by the empire. I shouldn’t let them know about this golden pot I had.

Thinking about the empire it gives me goosebumps; the fact that they will absolutely force me to hand over the excess food to them, especially wheat. Even if I show it as a good gesture or as gratitude for my coronation as duke by the emperor. They will use it for their own consumption and sell it then turn it into profit. Maybe they will give the bad one for their needs and tell them that it was a great gratitude that the empire could give to its people.

But, despite that, my other concern was about the book that was published to the people, it was only recognized by the Duchy of Solunoct and the Ecclesiastical Province of Solunoct. If it was found out, I would undoubtedly be accused of practicing witchcraft, especially the current archpriest, I can guess he is a big bigot and fanatic who has lost his mind by calling so that he can hear the angel's voice. Added to that, the imperial family is crazy about respect, arrogant, proud, and overly confident about everything about their leadership, and the archpriest calling the imperial family a divine family from god to the empire would make matters worse. Adding fuel to the fire of stupidity, with the presence of fire like the Winfield family who is a parasite in the empire and the stable or rather supposed to be the chaotic condition of the empire as they began to introduce archaic, reactionary, and segregation policies targeting the poor and disabled. They used these regulations as a way to show the emperor that nobles and rich people were benefactors for the empire, which increasingly made the emperor blinded by their face-seeking actions and it was just a matter of time before the emperor got detached from reality and acted cluelessly but he will maintain his arrogance saying that the country was in a good state.

I can be sure if I follow their leads and show my gratitude, I will be pressured as hard as possible to submit to the empire to maintain my title as duke. Even though I won the trial by Count Marion, all decisions are in the hands of the emperor.

As soon as the reports coming about the situation, I immediately started using my money to hoard excess wheat which is usually always in short supply; then move it into the duchy's or my family’s granary or we sent it into some grain millers so it can be make into flour, bread, or other products which sold well in the market, but it still I anticipate another wave of overproduction of the grain. I also give the excessive grain to the temple as my personal gratitude and help the poor. As the wheat problem was solved temporarily, I changed my focus to the market price, where I had to issue a decree to fix the price of each plant and animal in the book so that the price would not be too high or manipulated by irresponsible people. All those foods like asparagus, lobster, caviar, rice, turnips, oyster, sausage, deer meat, salmon, bear meat, rice, eggplants, cucumber, insects, and other kinds of foods that were unknown to this world yet before the war, I introduce all of them into the book. Since they didn’t have any market price, the prices fluctuated in the market and caused quite confusion among traders in the market. Because of that, immediately I decided to put the price control decree for those items.

It would take two weeks or one month in April to normalize the price of basic necessities but still, the price in Solunoct even though it was below Pinermont, Dimeview, Nortevaleri, and Rilaikata which were the four areas known as the 'Imperial Food Granary Box' at least did not approach the below average or upper average range price limit of the empire which was biased and could make me suspected by the imperial family. If it touched below average then it meant the duchy had an oversupply, if it touched upper average then it meant the duchy faced a scarcity of resources.

Luckily all the reports would end up on my desk before being sent to the capital to do the quarterly report calculation by the empire; I was not like other dukes who did not know how to manipulate the report themselves without having to tell their subordinates and they were more focused on saving their face, dignity, names and showing that their territory was fine, I could manipulate by giving valid reasons to make even someone like Viscount Palerine obey.

While grinning slightly, I took my pen and a piece of paper to make a correction report so it would be recalculated by the finance and trade division. Not many dukes do paper corrections because most do it through harsh orders while throwing papers at their subordinates to recalculate if there are problems in their reports, they think this will cover up the corrections because there is no written evidence but this becomes a trap when they are asked the reason and they cannot answer because once it is in accordance with the duke's wishes, the report will be sent directly to Colilestal, the imperial capital without further examination which always happened unless you quite watchful. They will try to stay in the middle because as long as they are not at the bottom or top of the imperial quarterly report, they will feel safe from the emperor's eyes which could embarrass them in the noble community. Plus considering that the empire has never been in a critical condition for almost seven or eight decades, I'm sure they will lock each other to show their success.

I began to think of a suitable reason to make the division of finance and trade do a recount. I tried to remember my secret trip to Silverwood, the capital of the duchy. The streets and markets are being flooded by lots of traders or heard how they are fascinated by Solunoct's unique food menu that can be smelled around the town square and some of the plants that Solunoct makes which they never thought about. Also about the book, I managed to ensure that it was not for sale and it was a training book that couldn’t be profited also with the book without any title and just the name Alden Ragiboth, the creator of the book on the cover, I at least manage to avoid being connected with the book. Besides that, they also praise the ease of opening a business and the speed of service in the duchy compared to some other areas. But when I walked into one of the shops, I could hear some merchants praising how easy it was to get permission from the duchy to open a shop but in this convenience, they felt that the prices in Solunoct changed rapidly and there were many merchants in Solunoct so they didn't have time to adapt. Wait, that's right, I could use that as an excuse to push for a recalculation, moreover in the quarterly report of the empire that was starting to be calculated from now on because once the end of June, the report only needed to be added and the beginning of July had to be sent to the empire immediately. At the beginning of the first quarterly report in April, everything was still going well, I managed to make it look like I was lowering the prices and providing comprehensive assistance to the duchy without raising suspicion, especially about the books, I could only predict those books will be the main red thread between me and the possibility me being executed of witchcraft.

Moreover, the Imperial Quarterly Report is a report that is published every quarter, for example, the first quarter is created and sent at the beginning of the second quarter, and in the third quarter it will be published to the general public along with the Imperial Quarterly Report Announcement Event where the Imperial Court and nobles are invited to come and listen to the conditions empire starting from economic conditions, military, and others. Of course, quarterly reports can be published before the empire in each region and often become an arena for leading opinions, which I will explain later.

For a while, I was busy writing down information on the proofreading sheet. There was a knock on the door of my office and Oliver came in with a tense and serious expression, "Good afternoon, my lord, forgive me for interrupting your time,"

"Yes, it's okay, what's wrong?" I asked while putting the paper containing the reason for correcting the calculations among the other papers; somehow I had a feeling that I was going to meet someone unpleasant.

Oliver said, "Count Coisenmo wants to see you in person, my lord!"

“What?” I was stunned to hear Oliver's words.

“He's downstairs, my lord," added Oliver in a polite tone.

For a moment I could feel my senses started to blurring before they slowly came back and I started to be able to feel my heart pounding and my body tensing up a little. Count Coisenmo? After two months try to avoid me and always being absent from the duchy meetings, he now wants to meet me in person.

I clenched my fist which still felt as numb as when you wake up; I also looked at my paper for a moment before turning back to Oliver who was still standing at the door.

***

“Do you want to see him, my lord?" Oliver asked.

I looked at Oliver, clenched my hand, and said, "Yes, I will meet him," I slowly stood up from the chair and took the jacket I had been wearing since the morning.

“As you wish my lord, I will escort our ‘esteemed’ guest to the living room,” said Oliver as he left the room.

On the way to the room where Count Coisenmo was waiting. For some reason, this strange feeling came back to haunt me as if it wanted to come out and take over me.

Do you want to know what I want to be like?

If I follow this feeling, I can feel my heart beating fast, I want to scream with joy and smile widely. No... no... this is a serious situation, why do I want to smile widely and scream with joy?

I tried to get rid of the crazy thoughts in my head and stay serious in the current condition.

"How could I think of such strange thoughts..." muttered me as I looked towards the yard and then my reflection in the window.

Sharp blue eyes, neat silver hair, my lips that are now not chapped from lack of water and food. Looking at my reflection in the window, I still can't believe that I will end up here. Who would have thought that in the last three months, my life could change completely?

I couldn't stop my lips from making a smile, and this feeling that was about to explode, I wanted to scream with joy to convey how happy I was to be able to avoid my destruction.

"But I can't rest in peace until they're all gone....ah...what a wonderful ways..." I can feel my brain started to create a long plan to achieve them, whether it was long or short-term, whether it was good, bad, gray options, or ah..let...forget it, I just need to write them and begin with it, I need to create branches of plans to drag them down to the ground.

"Hahahahaha..." Still smiling or laughing happily, I spread my arms, and my eyes looked at the ceiling; I started spinning in place with a happy feeling.

"Ahh... how happy I am to be free from that bastard Winfield, I regained my rights...but that emperor would be difficult to deal with if... ah..." when I was acting like a child I suddenly stopped, a smile or grin still visible on my face, I remembered something, "... how stupid of me to leave an important guest in the waiting room, I shouldn't leave him too long..." while chuckling, I walked towards the room where Count Coisenmo was which without me realizing it would make me have a new sense of my personality.

To be continued…