"The young one did what?" King Sigmund said as he coughed, while one of his Royal Guards told him of the spectacle that was Liam selling every of his possession of.
"I can confirm it, the auction hall is very active and happy at the moment to have a big customer."
The King looked at the man who spoke, his friend and long time confidant, Raymond Hicks - Raymond headed the Ministry of the Interior, which specialized in collecting information. Raymond looked every bit the playboy, dashing good looks, charming to the ladies and annoying when it comes to his pursuits of the finer things in life, despite looking a bit on the older side.
"What's wrong? Last I checked he wasn't in debt." King Sigmund asked as he frowned and Raymond shrugged as well. There was genuinely no reason for him to get rid of all of his possessions. No debt, continued allowances from the Royal Family (despite the Minister of the Economy's strong reluctance).
"Perhaps he is liquidating his assets to run away?" Raymond suggested and King Sigmund frowned. Of course, his friend was suggesting that Liam is preparing to take off with the money when the Crown Prince takes over. Sigmund didn't like to think that this would happen but he can't help but admit that maybe Raymond will be right.
"The Crown Prince will do no such thing." Sigmund retorted and coughed once more, this time more violently and it took a while before it stopped.
"If you insist." Raymond replied as he sipped his wine and waited for his friend to stop coughing.
Sigmund wished he had a few more years to set everything in order. Just a few more. The Empire of Freiden was causing trouble again at the border, the Free States of Nasser was raising prices for salt again - He just wanted to hand the nation over in a more prosperous state.
"You know, if you don't sort out the family affairs now - There will be a bloodbath in Halheim, just so you know."
"Raymond, for goodness sake, what do you want me to do? I can't defang the Crown Prince nor arm the other one!"
Raymond leaned forward and whispered, "By the way, the Minister of Economy wants to see you after this in private."
"Grant it to him. That stingy fox might not see me for much longer anyway."
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After a week, the maids and butlers were noticing a change in Prince Liam - He had brought back the 500 gold coins he had earned from the auction hall, forbade new spendings on furnitures and the likes and chased back with the help of the rather indimidating Head Butler, debts from other nobles in the city that amounted to another 150 gold coins.
Not only that, he had asked the Head Butler to bring him the daily news reports made by the Court Scribe. Aside from this, the biggest change was that Liam had started saying "thank you" and "sorry" - The more religious among them had approached a witch who had confirmed that he was not possessed.
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Suddenly, Prince Liam who never left the luxuries of large cities, had formed a small group of guards and maids to tour the barren coastal town of Validor and he had told the other maids and servants that he won't be back for at least a few months and to find his older brother, the Crown Prince for anything that needed his attention.
However, what people didn't know was that Liam had brought his entire wealth with him to Validor - And the month long journey that was hard and arduous was something that would pay off many times more.
The tavern they were staying in was packed to the brim - The entire royal entourage crammed into the poorly lit and damp rooms but Liam was pleased. A backwater that could develop into something much more
"Morgan, I want you to hire as many people with hands as possible, men, women or even children. I have some work I want them to do." Liam said to his butler who was dressed as a traveller. Liam had insisted that the party travel as incognito as possible.
Validor was one of the poorest regions in the Kingdom, with a rocky, hilly terrain that made it hard to grow crops reliably or sustainably on. Aside from that, frequent raids by mountain bandits found trouble for the population consistently. However, there was something here that Liam wanted to control - The sea salt. If he could use it just to increase his personal wealth, he could at least abscond with more wealth and realistically, even bribe his way to a position here where he could live out the rest of his days.
Morgan had outfitted the Royal Guards knights which numbered a dozen without the usual insignia or sigils upon their armour and shields while the maids were dressed with peasant clothings and he himself favoured the robes of a traveller, with a thin layer of leather underneath the cloth. At Morgan's insistence, a chainmail was worn under Liam's slightly finer clothes.
They had taken up room in the local (or rather, only) inn known as The Hanging Fish. The proprietor, a burly man who introduced himself as Fitch, got all starry eyed at the prospect of a single gold coin, let alone two. He had roused his wife, his daughters and his sons to prepare food for the sudden merchant entourage.
Liam, now sitting at the bar counter, ate the smoked fish that Fitch had personally prepared. In fact, it was delicious - Something that people thousands of years after in the Age of Torment could only salivate about.
"You know, it has been a long time since we had this much life in Validor." Fitch beamed as his booming voice rung out from behind the counter and Liam smiled, "I'm sure there will be more life here soon."
Fitch poured more water for Liam and asked, "What are you lot doing here though? Fancy pants over there with suit of armour won't even drink anything while he is standing guard." The proprietor nodded at a Royal Knight who is leaning against the wall, eyeing the conversation.
"We're here to setup a business. Call it a gamble, if you will. Tell me, can you tell me about the things here in detail?" Liam asked and Fitch, eager to please this whale of a merchant, began his tale.
"I came here about 15 years ago - This place used to have more fishermen but the pirates that were fleeing the Free States wound up in the mountains here. The local knight rallied the militias and fought them off a few times but he died and everything just fell apart."
"The army never really tried to get rid of the bandits - I think too much trouble and there's nothing here."
"Then how are you guys still alive?" Liam asked and Fitch could only offer a weary smile.
"Tribute. Someone needs to cook for them, you know. And once in awhile, they come out of their hidey holes for women. You know how it is."
"I see." Liam replied simply and finished his smoked fish and setting down his mug. As his eyes glanced at the platemails of the heavily armed and armoured knights, he grinned.
The blood had to start spilling somewhere - It may as well be here.