City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Chapter 137: Castle Rose

“…May the brave souls rest in the light,” I said the prayer with rest before burying the urns in the ground.
 
Here in this world, nearly all cultures cremate their dead. Seeing the fear of the undead, who can make bodies rise from their graves.
 
We are in the territory of Baron Homer; he had lost four men in the battle and his brother had got seriously injured. 
 
He is in stable condition, but still bedridden.
 
The priest started his prayer as they covered the grave and in a few minutes; it was all over.
 
“Baron Homer, Count Darrow, and Lord Lancel understand your pain and will be working hard. So, an incident like this would never happen,” I said, promising nothing with the big words.
 
“Thank you, adviser. Your presence means a lot. You have avenged them, by killing the bandits responsible for this,” said the man.
 
“It all thanks to Lord Lancel,” I replied. I had used these words so many times throughout the day, I started to feel like it is the truth.
 
He smiled, and it is clear; he knows the truth, everyone here does. These words are not for them, they are from the public in Greltheavens influence; they shouldn’t think their future lord is a coward.
 
A few minutes passed before it is time to leave.
 
“It is such a regret that you couldn’t stay, adviser; it would have given me great pleasure to give you the hospitality of House Musk,” he said with a face filled with sadness.
 
“I will come here future and impose on you. I hope you won't turn me away then,” I said to the blue-haired man. “The door of House Must is always open for you, Adviser,” he replied and turned to Baron Harrods.
 
“Once again, thank you, Baron Harrods. If not for you, I would have lost more men to the bandits.” He said to the old man. 
 
“We are neighbors, Baron Homer; it is the least I could do,” Baron Harrods replied.
 
A minute later, we are in the carriage, which is passing through the gates of the castle. 
 
I looked out of the window and saw the sun was setting; in ten minutes, it will completely disappear.
 
During the whole day, I visited five baronies as a representative. Spending less than an hour at each, before moving to a different barony.
 
“Thank you, Baron Harrods, without you. I wouldn’t be able to keep the schedule,” I said to the old man. The baronies might be small, but they have a considerable distance from each other.
 
“It is my pleasure, adviser,” the old man replied.
 
During the hours we were traveling; we talked about many things. I got to know the man a little better, and he is not someone who only knows fighting. 
 
He is aware of many things, and I get to ask about a few things I am curious about. Mostly, the wars he had fought. He was in the army for a half-century and had fought in nearly every important war.
 
Including the one that conquered the Renwell Region.
 
For a few minutes, we were silent, watching the sun until it fully disappeared, and two moons took their place in the sky, bathing the forest in a gentle moonlight.
 
“It had been nearly six months since I had been granted this barony and come here with everything I have,” he said and turn to me, with a somber look on his face.
 
“It is a very difficult job than I had first realized. Especially someone like me, who does not have the backing of a powerful family and limitless resources they provide.” 
 
I couldn’t help but nod at that. Getting territory is an easy part, running it is the hardest.
 
The expenses are a lot, from the salaries of men to the upkeep of the castle, maintenance of lifestyle, and also providing for the people under him. 
 
Farming had barely started, and it was not enough to pay for all expenses.
 
It will take him a few years before he would be able to open enough farmland to pay for everything.
 
“I had nearly spent everything I have, that I only have enough money to pay for one month's expenses,” 
 
All I could do was nod.
 
I remember how I had spent every penny I had in the establishment in the first month and even took the loan. If the establishment hadn’t worked. I would have gone bankrupt and would need to ask family for help. 
 
“What I am saying is, in your wisdom. Do you have any way, this old man could earn some money to keep going?” he asked, with small embarrassment covering his cheeks.
 
I couldn’t help get surprised by his questions. I thought he was telling me about the woes the nobles suffer, but it seemed like the asking me for ideas.
 
I could see the old man is really sincere and even had faint desperation in his eyes.
 
It is not surprising, since he didn’t have someone backing him. While the Prince might be able to help him, this old man won’t ask him for help, unless it is necessary, and it will make him more indebted to the prince.
 
Which is a dangerous thing considering these times.
 
As for his question, the answer to it is really simple. It is an idea, I had pitched to Count Darrow, but he had asked to wait till the baronies have become more settled.
 
Now, this old man asked for it. I will tell him and see whether he is ready. If it worked, the Count is going to be happy.
 
“There is a simple way, out of your predicament,” I said, and he looked at me expectantly.
 
“What is it?” he asked. “Trade,” I replied, and a mirthless smile appeared on his face.
 
“Trade with who, adviser? Mirador Hold’s all contracts go to the big merchant houses and, even if they will trade with us, we do not have anything to trade with them,” he said, referring to farms.
 
To which I shook my head with a smile.
 
“I am not talking about the Mirador Hold or the city; I am talking about the tribes of orcs, which are on the other side of the boundary,”
 
“They live in a forest, away from the cities of Meldhorn and Oksall. You have clear access to them, trade with them,” I said and a huge shock appeared on the old man's face.
 
He will only need to buy the goods from Greltheaven and sell them to the orcs. If he is smart, he could even buy things from Navr.
 
The data we have suggests, the tribes of orcs have many things, that we will be more than willing to buy.
 
“Are you joking, adviser? Those are bastards who moonlight as bandits. Not to mention, isn’t it illegal to trade with them?” he asked loudly. Though there was no anger in his eyes; he is just trying to understand the logic behind my words.
 
“I am not joking, Baron Harrods, and yes, some of the tribe's moonlight as bandits, but there are hundreds of them, and only a few are bandits.”
 
“As it is being illegal, it is not, but it is not legal either. It is falling in a grey area and if you want, you could take permission from the Count about it,” I said to him.
 
We didn’t normalize our relationship with Oksall. So, we couldn’t trade with them directly, but we not trading with cities. They are wild orc tribes, who are living at the boundary of the merchant state.
 
It will be unofficial, and the Count won’t have any problem with it, seeing how he craves the taxes.
 
The old man did not say anything and just slumped back in his seat.
 
“You are really something Adviser and I wished your family had been wise to give you the territory, instead of that brother of yours,” he said, and I smiled.
 
I had been offered the territory, but I didn’t want it.
 
Why would I want it, with such freedom in hand? It is not just freedom, but also the wealth and power I am accumulating.
 
In less than seven months, I had been here. I had climbed from legal advancer of the merchant guild to the adviser to the heir of the city. Today, I am his representative, holding more power than some of these nobles.
 
As long as I act carefully. I will rise, and become indispensable, that even if Lancel hates my guts, he will have to keep me, seeing my usefulness.
 
He already understands that.
 
At night when he returned to keep, he was all smiling, but the bastard was angry at me for stealing his thunder, but he did not show it. He might be an idiot, but he is smart enough to know how to use smart people.
 
His father had taught him this thing well.
 
An hour and a half passed, when a smile appeared on Baron's Harrods face. “We have entered the territory of Radshire.” he said. He is happy that we had reached his territory.
 
Like Blain, his territory is on the boundary of the Oksall and Renwell regions, which gives him a great opportunity to trade.
 
If I had been at his place, I would have started it already. It is an untapped market that he could reap. There are hundreds of tribes of orc in the forest and the clothes ones live only a few miles away.
 
Another hour passed, and I could see the farmlands spread around me. The crops are growing well and would be harvested in a month.
 
It will give a small respite to Baron, but after a few months, he will have to find another source of income. If his condition is as bad as he is telling me, it is.
 
Trade will earn him a lot; more than he could imagine. If he did it wisely.
 
Soon, I could see the castle and the small buildings around him. He is one of the most ambitious people here; already setting up a town around the castle. Most had only created small villages away from the castle.
 
He also had one of the biggest populations of civilians in baronies, around a hundred families. 
 
Which is not surprising.
 
His territory is the least attacked one; even bandits dared, as Ulag Karguk didn’t attack him. 
 
He had created an excellent system of scouts, which warn him of any incoming bandits. It is why nine bandit groups had attacked him; five of them were wiped out, two of which were defeated and surrendered, and only two were able to get away.
 
No one had such records.
 
Soon, the carriage appeared in front of the gate, and I looked at Zela from the window, she nodded.
 
“You don’t have to be worried, Adviser, my castle is well protected. If there had been something wrong, the scouts would have informed me already,” he informed, seeing the slight nervousness on my face.
 
“It never hurts to be cautious, my lord,” I said as the carriage entered the castle.
 
“Welcome to Rose Castle, adviser. I hope you will be satisfied with our hospitality,” he said as I got up.
 
“Thank you, my lord,” I said, and he smiled as we got out. In front of the door, the family of Baron Harrods waiting.
 
His son and daughter, daughter-in-law, and a grandchild. I greeted them before turning to the castle. All the castles in baronies are the same, but like many other people, Baron Harrods had also started to make changes.
 
Though his changes are small compared to others. As he had said, he did not have an uninterrupted supply of resources.
 
Despite that, his men are well trained and alert; I could see their eyes tracking me as I moved.
 
“It is first place, in the Nakar forest. I am feeling truly safe,” I said, and the smile on Baron Harrod's face has become brighter. 
 
“I am glad you feel that adviser,” He replied and led me inside.

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