kscans

Chapter 69 - 7. The Chilled Goblet

CRASH!

"This drink is warm."

At the head of the table, illuminated by a lamp, a man in extravagant attire slammed his glass down. As her master's thin mustache quivered, an attendant scrambled to add more ice. It was an expensive liquor distilled from wine, served in a flawless crystal goblet, and now, with even more ice.

Although the man, whose mansion was located in the eastern part of the royal palace, owned a high mountain, the cost of transporting ice to the capital and storing it in his estate's icehouse was astonishing. Especially considering the current state of his domain.

"We were just discussing what that fool Craig is plotting, were we not?"

Prince Delnius of the Kingdom of Crownheite spoke resentfully. He looked down on the three men seated in the lower seats, barely touched by the light.

"P-plotting? I was merely reporting that orders for the maintenance of the new Knight Order's carriages have decreased. We have only received half the number of expected orders."

The best-dressed of the three men answered. The embroidery on the shirt peeking from his cuffs indicated that he had been granted a noble rank, provisional though it may be. A privilege of his position as the Carriage Guild Master. Of course, he knew full well that such a title was of no use to him here.

"Hmph. And after demanding such a large budget."

"If they have money for the Knight Order, they should be using it for my domain. Kurtheite is not as replaceable as Bertold, you know."

"Your words are most true, Your Excellency. The Grand Duke's domain is the cornerstone of the kingdom. However, it seems there are... peculiar movements in Bertold as well."

The Guild Master relayed the information he had received from Pegatta, a Silver-member company under his authority. It was a story about the Grand Ducal House entrusting the maintenance of their carriages directly to artisans. While Pegatta was paid a brokerage fee for the sake of procedure, the timing, overlapping with the Knight Order's situation, was impossible to ignore.

For him, who dominated the carriage market with an overwhelming share, the monetary value itself was not large. The matter with Bertold was merely a transaction involving one of his subordinate silver-member companies. But as a man whose power was derived from mediating between nobles and artisans, he had to be sensitive to the power dynamics of high society.

"What does that vixen want with mere artisans?"

"I... I do not know. However, it is customary for all business to be conducted through us merchants. If such things continue to happen, it will disrupt the established order. And in turn, it could affect the taxes paid to Kurtheite..."

The Guild Master spoke in a formal tone. It was an exaggeration, of course. But the taxes his company paid to the eastern Grand Duke were by no means small. Indeed, the Grand Duke scowled at the mention of taxes. Calest had taken a major blow, and the reconstruction of Kurtheite required enormous funds. For a powerful man who loved luxury, this was something he could not overlook.

"P-perhaps it is a coincidence? But in the Royal Capital as well, the companies under the Food Guild Master have been making suspicious moves."

The man to the Carriage Guild Master's right answered with a dark look in his eyes. His once-luxurious clothes were frayed in places, a testament to the past glory of a man who had gained influence by currying favor with the powerful figures of the guild, Dorefano and Calest.

"The new Guild Master has been wagging his tail for that vixen."

"There is a rumor they are planning something in the Forum of the Royal Capital."

"The Forum... Come to think of it, Craig's dog was saying something like that. He angered Grynisias."

The prince's cheek twitched. He seemed to have remembered his younger brother's moment in the spotlight.

"Speaking of which, His Excellency the Chancellor is not here today..."

"Grynisias is apparently busy with work. He, too, is troubled by the Third Prince's growing influence. It seems he's swamped with miscellaneous tasks related to the establishment of the new Knight Order."

"Speaking of the new Knight Order, the dragon subjugation is quite the topic of conversation."

To the Guild Master's left, the shadows seemed to stir. A man clad in a black hood had spoken for the first time. He was a foreign merchant who had made a connection with the Carriage Guild Master through the timber trade.

"Oh? Is a merchant from the Empire interested in monsters?"

"Of course, we cannot afford to be indifferent. In the Empire, where magical veins run crisscross, monsters are a great threat. I believe Your Excellency the Grand Duke would understand."

"Indeed. Several villages in my domain were destroyed. If that were to happen every few years, it would be quite a burden."

Though he feigned magnanimity, there was an edge of irritation in Zangrich's voice.

"It seems the Third Prince's popularity among the common folk is tremendous. His name is even known in the Empire..."

"Hmph. The beast was likely exhausted from its fight with the Second Knight Order. That fool Craig was simply lucky, nothing more. And yet they praise him as a hero."

The prince cut off the black-robed merchant.

"I see. So, in the kingdom, you lack the magical veins to support such giant monsters. I must say, I am quite envious."

"The Third Knight Order was originally nothing more than a dumping ground for third and fourth sons who couldn't inherit their family titles. Many must be frowning upon their recent arrogance."

"That's right. But many don't see it that way. Not only was Rowan stripped of his position, but even Adele has defected to Craig's side. The old Second Knight Order was originally aligned with us..."

"Speaking of Adele, it seems that fool Craig deliberately stayed in Marel for a whole week before the subjugation."

"Oh, is that so..."

The man in black drew a small, sharp breath.

"Tenberk was suspicious of it. Come to think of it, I hear he's planning to train the baggage train."

"Hah! For a member of royalty, he certainly enjoys mingling with the common soldiers."

"Marquis Tenberk is the commander of the First Knight Order, is he not? Well, well... I have heard that in the Imperial army, they use training to unify their troops."

"You mean he intends to make the new Knight Order his personal army!"

The prince, who had been sneering just moments before, turned pale.

"We must hurry to win over the First Knight Order. As long as we control the First Knight Order, which protects the Royal Capital, we can handle Craig no matter how much power he gains."

"We need to gather information on this training. Have you heard anything?"

Zangrich glared at the merchants.

"N-no. This is strange. If there were training, we should have been contacted beforehand. After all, we are responsible for delivering and maintaining the baggage train's carriages."

The Carriage Guild Master broke out in a cold sweat. The business with the Knight Order was highly profitable and held great symbolic meaning as proof of his unshakable top position in the industry. If that business were to go to someone else... this time, it was enough to make him truly panic.

The memory of Dorefano and Kenwell fighting over military provisions in the Food Guild was still fresh in his mind.

"Now that I think about it... I heard from you that Grand Duchess Bertold is interested in timber from the Empire."

The Guild Master looked at the Imperial merchant.

"Timber? Ridiculous. What would they do with wood in a rural backwater with nothing but wheat fields?"

"......In Bertold, they may be able to repair carriages, but to build new ones... they should be lacking everything they need."

The Carriage Guild Master muttered in agreement, a cold sweat dripping down his brow. He knew very well how many artisans it took to build a single carriage. But the other merchant spoke up.

"We cannot be careless. After crushing Calest and Dorefano to take control of the Food Guild, their next target will be..."

"Prince Craig, Grand Duchess Bertold, and the merchants from the exhibition. It suggests the existence of some large-scale scheme. And there is a newly erected statue in the Forum, is there not?"

At the word "statue," Delnius's eyes widened.

"I will not allow my little brother to become any more arrogant! Whatever he is plotting, we will crush it. We must win over the discontented members of the old Second Knight Order and get information. You lot, use your merchant connections to investigate this exhibition. Dammit, where is that fool Grynisias at a time like this!"

The members of the Second Prince's faction were in an uproar. The two merchants from the kingdom exchanged uneasy glances.

"It seems carriages are the key to something."

The man in the black robe lifted his face, which had been hidden beneath his hood.

"They are the cornerstone of transport on flat land. The Empire does not make much use of carriages, I believe?"

"You will rarely see a scene like in the kingdom, with so many carriages coming and going. Our geography is rather difficult to overcome."

"And yet, the carriage you arrived in was quite impressive."

"Haha, it is precisely because of our geography that we must be innovative. We have vehicles made with special materials. As we travel between the Royal Capital and the Imperial Capital, we are permitted to use them. Of course, once we enter the kingdom, the main roads and the capital's cobblestones we are allowed to use are perfectly flat. Our carriage's main feature, its sturdiness, is a wasted treasure here. It is also tricky to handle. As the number one carriage merchant in the kingdom, I'm sure you could procure any number of superior carriages."

The Imperial merchant waved his hands in a show of humility.

"Hahaha, it is not so simple, I assure you. A slight increase in performance is meaningless if it cuts into our profits."

the Guild Master said. For him, who had ties to the eastern Grand Dukes for generations and received preferential treatment in the supply of wood and metal, this was the essence of business.

"In any case, we cannot let that vixen and the Third Prince do as they please... Mmph!"

Zangrich, who had resentfully drained his goblet, flicked his wrist.

"Eek!"

CRASH. The expensive glass shattered against the wall right beside the maid.

"It's warm. Utterly foul."

At their master's words, the servants scrambled to fetch a new glass and more ice.