Chapter 124

After the wedding, which took place over the course of a week, all the nobles, citizens, and serfs of the territory returned to their daily routines.

However, Count Vladimir and the delegation stayed for another seven days under the pretext of discussing post-wedding policies.

When I feigned illness, it was as if all necessary discussions had already been concluded… The fact that they chose to remain here suggests they are definitely interested in digging up information about our territory.

Anyway, now that it’s over, I returned to my ordinary life and began handling my duties in the office.

“Sub-Noble Loren, how much did the wedding cost?”

“We spent a budget of 150,000 gold coins and used 40% of the grain we had stored from taxes.”

“150,000 gold coins, huh? How much do you think other territories would have spent if they had prepared something like this?”

Chris, who was standing next to Loren, replied to my question.

“They would have spent close to 200,000 or even 300,000 gold coins.”

“The difference in costs between us and them is likely due to the key ingredients used in sugar and various luxurious dishes.”

“Yes, just the sugar consumed in this wedding exceeded 100 tons, not to mention the extravagant desserts like jelly and ice cream, which consumed an unimaginable amount.”

300,000 gold coins—an enormous sum, equivalent to our territory’s annual budget.

However, in the standards of this world, where the value of marriage is overwhelmingly high compared to modern times…

“They say a count should spend his territory’s annual budget on his marriage. That’s the kind of expenditure befitting nobility.”

Such rhetoric would be uttered, so it is more than likely that even if I spent 300,000 gold coins, Duke Architel would accept it without suspicion.

Because there is a culture where spending that much is seen as sufficient respect for the family giving the bride and etiquette towards the allied party.

However, the largest part of the expenditure for this wedding was… the gratuity that had to be paid for taking on a member of the imperial family as a wife.

“So, how much did we send to His Majesty the Northern King as gratuity and gifts?”

“The budget used for the pastries and various luxury items gifted to Count Vladimir and His Majesty the King, as well as the nobles, was 2,000 gold coins.”

“Then how much did it cost for the armor and weapons I provided for the real preparation for war after consuming Architel?”

“We sent about 20,000 sets of armor and weapons made from iron produced at the foundry for Captain Brime’s entire fleet, costing 250,000 gold coins.”

I have yet to receive the 100,000 gold coins I agreed to get from that guy Maxburg, and yet expenses like these have already arisen.

No matter how much preliminary work there is to consume the prosperous Architel territory through wine sales and livestock, the expenses are quite burdensome.

Of course, lacking that much money doesn’t mean I have to owe merchants…

But, I will have to spend 80% of the savings I’ve managed to accumulate to prepare for this war…

It took me several years to save that amount…

Given that, I need to ensure the nobles under Duke Architel get convinced by rumors of the sudden wealth of the Croilet family in order to elevate their prestige.

To do that, I’ll need to pretend to go borrow money from merchants just like other nobles for the first time in a while.

“Sub-Noble Loren, I will be going to Hamburg tomorrow with Chris and Walt. In the meantime, please take care of the Nante area.”

“Yes, understood. But why are you leaving now… There are still many tasks to take care of, aren’t there?”

“That’s exactly why I’m going now. While there are many tasks to handle, I need to pretend to borrow money because I can’t manage the expenses from the war indemnity with Maxburg and the expenses incurred from the wedding.”

Loren frowned upon hearing my words and nodded.

He must have felt it wasn’t good for his lord to pretend to be in a dire situation just to borrow money from some merchants.

If Loren, who has been managing Nante well in my absence, seems a bit unhappy, I should cheer him up as a reward for his loyalty.

“Loren, your son’s name is Smith, right? I heard he was commissioned as a second lieutenant a year ago.”

“Yes, that’s correct. But why…?”

“I heard from Walt that due to his abilities and merits, he is assured a promotion to lieutenant when the personnel announcement is made. That’s two years faster than other second lieutenants from other noble families. Congratulations.”

Hearing that, Sub-Noble Loren began to smile brightly.

He must be thinking about boasting about his son at the banquet where he’ll invite other second nobles after the promotion announcement.

“Then I’ll take my leave now. Spread the word that I’ve gone to borrow money.”

Having said that, I left the office.

Now that I’ve spread the rumor about borrowing money, I need to set up something more interesting so that Duke Architel will hear about it.

“Is it okay for people to wage war like this? It should be fought fairly!”

**

The day after I entrusted the task to Loren, I headed to Hamburg with only a minimal escort.

Ten years ago, I traveled in a cheap carriage, getting bruises on my back and hips, but now, thanks to riding in a luxurious carriage, my journey was comfortable.

Just as I was closing my eyes to nap for a moment, I heard Walt’s voice.

“Your Excellency, look. The walls of Hamburg are visible.”

At those words, I opened my eyes and looked out the window.

As Walt said, there were magnificent walls towering several meters high along with numerous houses and people outside the window.

It seemed people were living decently, as there were hardly any raggedly dressed individuals, and even the serfs looked somewhat plump.

Also, perhaps because they often saw luxurious carriages like mine, most people cast only fleeting glances at the carriage before walking by unimpressed.

In Maxburg or the territory of Duke Brussels, such carriages were seldom seen, and even the serfs and citizens would stare at them in amazement.

I guess it is because this is a trading city connecting Romania, Elaline, and Franche that this level of carriage is relatively common?

“Your Excellency.”

Walt said this and soon moved to the seat opposite me, continuing.

“I came here with Ela before. I remember what you said during the return journey.”

“Why are you speaking like an old man all of a sudden, Count Walt?”

“Just call me Walt. Anyway, you said this: that one day, Windheim, no, the Croilet territory would become as prosperous as this place.”

Indeed, after selling a massive quantity of sugar, I did say such things, but… I didn’t expect you would remember that.

“I did say that. Back then, you laughed and said, ‘You can do it, Young Master.’ Thanks to you, I gained quite a bit of confidence.”

Although I said so, back then, I was assured and confident I could do at least that.

However, while Walt’s support did give me a bit more courage…

Walt shook his head as he listened to my words and said, “Honestly, back then, I thought it was just a vague dream of yours. So, in my heart, I believed your utmost capability was selling sugar and raising harvests to feed them about three bowls of porridge a day.”

Indeed, even that was an incredible feat.

Because back then, it was hard for the serfs to eat two bowls of porridge a day; increasing that to three bowls…

In absolute terms, it would have required increasing the income of the serfs by 50%.

Perhaps because of that, after hearing Walt’s words, I didn’t feel even a hint of resentment.

“Walt, you’re not a prophet or anything, how could you have predicted that? Also, most lords say such things when they take office, yet instances of failure are common. It’s natural not to trust a 15-year-old kid saying such things.”

“However, you are now providing serfs with bread and pickled herring, and sometimes meat instead of just three bowls of porridge. Not only that, you have even defeated the atrocious Count Schwabin and have grown strong enough to face a prince on your own.”

As Walt said that, tears had formed in his eyes, but I pretended to be indifferent and changed the subject.

“Is this how you behave? Are you going to ask for some funds for the wedding expenses when we return?”

“Since childhood, whenever I tried to get serious, you’d respond like that. No, it’s just nostalgic, and I’m looking forward to what you will accomplish in Hamburg this time, what kind of results will come out.”

I called Chris over by tapping her shoulder and whispered to both Walt and Chris.

“From now on, we will seize Hamburg without shedding a drop of blood. The success or failure of this war with Architel will hinge on what we do here; so brace yourselves.”