The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 166

Chapter 166: The Lord’s Proposal and the Merchant’s Bewilderment

Potatoes are an exceedingly common crop.

Even in relatively poor soil, as long as it’s tilled well and gets enough sunlight, a decent harvest can be expected. They preserve well, and unlike wheat, they can be eaten as is.

Due to the ease of its harvest and its rustic appearance, nobles rarely deign to eat it; it is considered food for commoners and the poor. That’s just how it is.

As he stared blankly while Ed and the maid pushed the cart out of the room, Renato became aware of an unpleasant sweat slowly breaking out on his back.

Rumors that the lord of the Enkar region was a capable woman had been gradually spreading among merchants, along with tales of her success. As it was located at the very edge of the north, few bothered to make the journey to confirm it, but for some time now, it had been rumored in all seriousness among his fellow merchants from Romana that it even had the potential to one day become a great city, second only to the Great Flower of the North.

It is not uncommon for such rumors to turn out to be greatly exaggerated once you look into them. The more years one has been a merchant, the more one is likely to take such a tall tale—that a region where development had stagnated for many years could achieve dramatic success the moment a single young girl, who wasn’t even from the north and had just married into the family, took over as lord—with a grain of salt.

Among the merchants’ rumors, there was even one that the Duke of Oldrand, the ruler of the north, doted on his young wife and was providing an enormous budget for all her ventures.
At this point, among those who knew of the Duke’s fierce political skill, there were some who would laugh bitterly, wondering if the success of the Enkar region itself wasn’t just someone’s fantasy that had been blown out of proportion.

Renato did not know what the truth was. However, the potato dish served before him demonstrated that the lord of the Enkar region was an extraordinary being.

The potato blight that began last summer had spread across the entire continent in an instant and still showed no signs of abating. Last year’s harvest was almost a complete failure, and the few remaining seed potatoes that were planted with a glimmer of hope were said to have rotted in the ground in the same way.

The potato is a crop that multiplies very easily. But without that first one, nothing can be done.
A year had already passed since the blight began. Having likely decided that the seed potatoes were all gone, the north had given up on potatoes and had instead started planting corn, which should have been met with some success.

As a merchant, Renato knew that most things in this world could be obtained if one paid enough money.

But the most valuable things are those that cannot be bought, no matter how many gold coins one piles up.

Something that should not exist is right in front of him. If the lord had calculated how that fact would appear in the eyes of a man who makes his living from commerce…

The door opened, and the lord who had so thoroughly overturned that perception entered gracefully. Startled, they all stood up, then knelt and bowed their heads.

“Thank you for gathering today. I am Melfina von Oldrand. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”

It was the high-pitched voice of a still-young woman. When they raised their faces at the permission to be at ease, they saw a girl with an even more innocent air than they had imagined.

It is common for nobles to marry young, but the girl, who seemed unlikely to have crushed veteran merchants with a pane of glass, several types of wonderful ale, and three dishes, said calmly, “Please, sit,” and took a seat herself opposite the sofa where Renato and the others were sitting, with the table between them.

Beside her sat the girl who had introduced herself as the chief secretary, and beyond her, a bureaucrat with a stern face. Behind the lord stood a knight with a scar on his face, and behind the bureaucrat stood a boy who was likely the youngest person in the room.

“I apologize for the delay. I have a mountain of things to do, and my work was running behind.”

“Not at all. We are grateful for your wonderful hospitality today. My, I’ve never had such a delicious potato dish! The first one, that crispy fried dish, was an especially outstanding match for the ale!”

“Huh, it has an interesting texture, doesn’t it? It’s a common snack at the lord’s mansion these days… often served during the afternoon break. Though it’s very simple to make.”

“I surmise it’s potatoes sliced thinly and fried in vegetable oil, but I never imagined it could become such an enjoyable food. It makes it all the more regrettable that potatoes are not easily available now. I would love to have my wife make it.”

“Truly, I wish the blight would end soon… How was the second dish?”

“That use of pepper was a revelation! I believe the potatoes were steamed, then carefully mashed and seasoned with a mix of boiled egg and salted cucumber. There was an acidity, so it seems salt and vinegar were also used, but that smooth texture… was it cream, or perhaps animal fat kneaded in?”

Likely thinking it wouldn’t do to let Heinz monopolize the conversation, Rainer cut in, sounding slightly flustered. The lord laughed lightly with a “Huh.”

“My head chef is very skilled. Everything he makes is delicious. It’s not fair of me to make you wait and then take up your time with small talk, is it? —Helmut.”

“Yes. In that case, please take a look at this.”

Documents written on plant-based paper were placed in front of each of them. They detailed the number of trial runs connecting the Orlay River flowing through the Enkar region to the Lacray Canal, the weight of the cargo, and the number of days it took.

“The maximum load on the test vessel is currently seven tons, but I believe it would be best to limit loads this heavy to the dry season to minimize accidents. We envision a standard operating capacity of four and a half tons.”

“…That is quite a high-performance vessel. Which workshop built it?”

“It was made by the hands of woodworkers from the Enkar region. We will be keeping the identity of the designer confidential at this stage.”

“That is most reasonable. Hmm, in that case, is it correct to assume that what Your Lordship desires are boatmen and their management?”

“That, and the recording of the buying and selling of goods using the water transport.”
“In that case, I shall take on the task. The terms will be the same commission rate as the ducal house—”

“Wait just a moment! This was supposed to be a bid. Lord Heinz, you can’t just leave us behind.”
“Weren’t you two just planning to buy some ale and head home?”

“How malicious of you. Lord Renato, why don’t you say something as well?”

“…You have a point. My ships are mainly ocean-going vessels, so I was thinking that participating in the launch of a water transport guild to the extent of building new small boats would be a significant risk, but…”

He reread the contents of the document over and over, groaning, “Umm.”

He had predicted that he had been summoned not so much for his practical involvement, but because his financial power had been noted. Indeed, if it were a matter of procuring helmsmen for small boats, Heinz, who already managed a water transport guild, would be the most suitable.

But could it be that the lord, who had so thoroughly astounded them, had summoned the three of them for a reason other than a simple bid?

—I’ve also heard tales of those who have had a bad experience with a young female lord.

Even so, this was the first time he had dealt with a noble whose moves were so unreadable.

No, he felt that he himself was not thinking as calmly as usual.

“Speaking of which, you drank three kinds of ale, didn’t you? I was the one who brewed them, but I wonder if you enjoyed them.”

Rainer and Heinz were a little taken aback by the sudden change of topic, but they immediately replied with a hearty “Yes.”

“Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve ever drunk such delicious ale!”

“The refreshing aftertaste and the sharp bitterness were in harmony, and yet it had a clean finish. I could drink that ale forever. It was on a level that made me seriously consider building a villa in the Enkar region.”

“Huh, Rainer, you usually reside in Elban, don’t you? If the water transport goes well, you can just drink it in Elban.”

“It would be expensive, but that would be best. The port city sees many ships heading to various countries, and if we could transport it as far as the Kingdom of Luxen or the Kingdom of Britannia, it would be a wonderful business opportunity.”

“You can transport it.”

At the simple reply, everyone in the room fell silent for a beat.

“No, Your Lordship. Ale is something that does not keep well. It simply won’t last two weeks after being uncorked.”

“The ale the three of you drank is specially made. As long as the keg is not tapped, it has been made with the calculation that it will last a maximum of six months. This is just a calculation, of course, so it’s always better to drink it sooner, but two or three months should be no problem at all.”

“No, surely, that can’t be.”

When the guard knight behind the lord cleared his throat with a “ahem,” Rainer snapped his mouth shut.

“In fact, the kegs served today were prepared in the spring. To be precise, ninety-eight days ago. The date was clearly written on the kegs as well.”

The girl’s tone was calm, showing no signs of arrogance whatsoever. And yet, it was a tone filled with confidence.

Faced with this shattering of conventional wisdom, even the bold and magnanimous Heinz fell silent. The lord placed a hand on her cheek and sighed, “Huu.”

“It’s a little warm, isn’t it? Lloyd, could you open the window?”

“Yes, right away.”

The boy who had been waiting behind the bureaucrat bowed politely and went to the window. After the click of a metal latch, the seamless window opened outwards.

It is common knowledge that windowpanes are fixed in place. No, not just Renato, but likely none of the three men summoned had ever seen any other kind of window.

“The breeze feels nice, doesn’t it? All three of you were looking rather flushed, so I was a little worried.”

“Ha…”

“You should drink some water. Lloyd, could you tell Ed to brew some tea for us?”

“As you wish, Lady Melfina.”

“Entry is forbidden to anyone but craftsmen and those with permission, but beyond the window, you can see the brewery that was just completed the other day.”

At those words, Renato became convinced that the claim of ale lasting up to six months was not just some wild fantasy.

A brewery built within a fortress surrounded by a moat. In other words, the craftsmen were likely confined within the grounds of this castle, unable to leave.

In Romana, too, there was an island where glassmakers were gathered, and their travel to other places was strictly restricted.

It is a common practice when safeguarding important technology.

He had no idea what method was being used, but it meant that the lord before him had acquired technology of that caliber.

—Besides, with the protection of the Duke, who is famous for his severity, it’s impossible for anyone to attempt to poach them carelessly.

“Since I went to the trouble of having the three of you come, how about all three of you get involved in the water transport guild?”

He had been in a daze for a while now. No matter how bold a man Heinz was, he was being too boisterous in front of the Duchess, and Rainer had been flustered and lacking his usual composure from the start.

As for himself, his thoughts just wouldn’t come together.

“If Heinz handles the procurement of helmsmen and their coordination, Rainer handles the collection and management of goods after they enter the Lacray Canal, and Renato handles the export of the goods gathered in Elban, I think it would all work out very well.”

Getting deeply involved in a lord’s public works project is a huge risk.

But was it really all right to walk away from this business full of surprises, having only skimmed the cream off the top?

“I have no objections! I would very much like to participate, Your Lordship!”

At Heinz’s reply, Rainer also stated that he would like to give it positive consideration.

This was a man who couldn’t possibly be unaware that after telling a noble you will give something “positive consideration,” you can’t possibly turn around and say you’ve changed your mind.

And, when two of the three men summoned had agreed, if he alone were to turn tail and run, it was obvious whether he would be called cautious or a coward among his fellow merchants.

“I—”

His tongue felt tangled, and he cut himself off.

This was strange. He hadn’t seen any sign of high-handedness from the lord, yet he felt as if he had been naturally guided to a predetermined spot, only to find himself cornered at the edge of a cliff.

“I, too, would be honored to participate, Your Lordship.”

As he gave his reply, he was keenly aware of two versions of himself within his heart: one berating him for his recklessness, and the other thrilled with anticipation for the adventure that lay ahead.

“I’m so glad! Well then, let’s set up another meeting to discuss the fine details and the contract.”
“In that case, I shall take over from here.”

His back straightened as the stern-faced bureaucrat spoke gravely.

He had the air of a typical difficult bureaucrat serving a noble. This type of official could not be bribed and often made for a tough negotiating partner.

And yet, it was the young lord with her charming smile, more so than the bureaucrat, that Renato found vaguely terrifying.

The long-lasting ale has a high wort concentration, which increases its alcohol content.