Chapter 98
Chapter 98
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Chime Bell
Eric's words about chasing out a perfectly fine duke made my body stiffen.
The nobles would push back hard….
With the limited administrative capabilities here, it's impossible to govern the entire Grand Duchy.
That's why the emperor divides up the lands, creating kingdoms or duchies like this.
"That…. isn't easy."
Even for someone as fair-minded as Luna, it wouldn't be easy to accept such a proposal.
"Then…."
With that, silence fell over the hall.
Waging war made no sense, and ousting the existing duke to appoint me in his place wasn't feasible either.
Sensing that atmosphere, Luna's grandfather wore a faint smile.
"No need to worry. There must be a way."
Eric said, his eyes burning with determination.
"Indeed. Thinking of my late brother, I'll find a solution myself."
After that, the banquet truly began.
The family ties didn't seem bad at all.
It felt like a family that truly loved Luna.
Even her cousin Otto couldn't smile so naturally if he resented not becoming Grand Duke himself.
That aside, I figured casually accepting a barony would be no big deal….
But that wasn't the case.
Still, seeing Luna in high spirits with her family brought a smile to my face.
Maybe because it had been so long since she'd seen them?
She always showed that bright smile around me.
Well…. we'll figure something out slowly.
With that, the banquet ended, and I returned to my room.
I forced my drunken, hazy body onto the sofa and sank into thought.
"Whew, a duchy…."
I knew even earning a barony here took tremendous effort.
Unless you were the heir to a ducal house, becoming a duke was virtually impossible.
No…. even a knighthood was hard for commoners to attain, I'd heard.
They trained from childhood in knightly families, served as squires answering a knight's call, built up achievements, and then received the title.
Compared to that, I'd gotten mine pretty easily.
Just by flattering the emperor.
"Sigh, it's complicated."
In the current situation, Luna's ducal territory was the Vain Duchy.
She had five dukes under her command.
No matter how necessary it was for marriage, kicking one of them out made no sense.
"Should I give up on marriage?"
Though I'd stayed here a long time, today's realization hit hard: being with her wouldn't be easy.
For a mere knight like me, it was next to impossible.
Maybe I should sell the house?
And leave this place.
Lost in such thoughts, I lost consciousness.
*Knock knock*
Hmm…. who is it?
"Aiden, sleeping here will be uncomfortable."
I cracked my eyes open slightly to see Luna gently laying me in bed.
"You're here?"
"Yeah, but why sleep on the sofa? It's uncomfortable."
"I was…. just thinking. Must've dozed off."
She lay down beside me.
"Thinking? About what?"
"Just…. our marriage issue?"
A brief silence followed my words.
"Marriage? Don't worry too much. There is a way."
"What way?"
"We'll think about it slowly."
That basically meant there wasn't one, right?
Luna's words lacked conviction.
Sensing that, she shot me a slight glare.
"I'll handle it. You just stay by my side, got it?"
She was so cute like that.
"Pfft, alright."
Did she sense I was having second thoughts?
"Yeah! Just trust me. I've got three dukes in my pocket, you know. There has to be a way."
With that, Luna beamed and snuggled into my arms.
"Hmm…."
"I'm tired today."
She pouted.
"Tch, I know that. And you're just lying there…. what're you even tired from?"
"Even lying still…. it's draining every day?"
Luna grumbled.
"I'm just sleeping tonight too."
I gently patted her head with my arm, my voice weak.
"Fine, fine. Let's sleep like this."
I really was exhausted today.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next morning.
I had no idea how much I'd drunk last night.
Northern liquor has insane alcohol content.
Once they heard I was Luna's man, the Valmore family kept pouring drinks.
Thanks to that….
"Agh…. my head."
My head throbbed like it would split open the moment I woke, but I couldn't skip work.
Today was supposed to be a day off.
But….
I had a pile of documents to review, and around lunchtime, I had an outing with Luna.
"Luna's…. already gone?"
Unlike me, she headed to work at 7 a.m.
She drank just as much but had no hangover. Swordmasters were enviable.
"Yawn!"
I dragged myself up for work, washed, grabbed my morning coffee, and headed to my office.
Piles of documents awaited.
"Sigh. Can't help but sigh."
*Rustle…*
I picked up my quill, pulled out documents and blank paper, and reviewed the reports.
Revenue was steadily rising.
The Grand Duchy was practically the Empire's production hub now.
Workshops and guilds were springing up, just starting to grow.
Still lacking much, but once shipyards opened and mining labor shortages were filled, growth would accelerate.
"This is economies of scale."
The Grand Duchy had an excellent position by modern standards.
Mines everywhere, vast forests.
Population was low, but we housed vagrants from across the Empire and freed serfs in temporary settlements.
Though "temporary settlements" sounded grand, they were really just cheap tent rentals outside the walls.
Those people had no money, after all.
Once they found jobs and left, we took in new arrivals.
"Heh, good trend."
Population growth raised prices, but there were no gate taxes inside the Grand Duchy.
In simple terms, no tariffs.
With prices up, we sourced from outside regions.
Vain had a nearby port importing cheap food from the Empire's bountiful south.
Once shipyards were built, I planned to form a merchant guild for full-scale maritime trade.
"That'll be far in the future."
We'd just caught up to 70% of pre-tax reform revenue.
Taxes were slashed heavily, and production hadn't hit targets yet, so it was unavoidable.
But in time, we'd prosper.
Until then….
"How to cover the funding this time…."
Yin-Yang Liquor had been a smash hit, raking in cash, but it hit limits fast.
The bottleneck was brewing time.
We'd invested heavily to boost production, but couldn't wildly harvest the three-pronged leaf herb used in it.
This was unsolvable for now.
"Three-pronged leaf herb…. hydroponics?"
I'd heard modern vine crops like strawberries could be grown in water.
The hydroponic method we know.
Add nutrients and growth promoters to water, grow without soil—they grow super fast, supposedly….
"No way…. no antibiotics, how could we?"
Nutrients in water meant no mold control.
If only we could solve that….
"First, think of ways to make money…."
I reviewed today's documents.
*Knock knock.*
"Who is it?"
*It's me.*
Luna's voice. I checked the clock.
Already 11 a.m.?
"Ah?! I'll be right out."
We had somewhere to go together today.
The new magic shop in Vain.
First magic shop in Grand Duchy history.
That's why Luna was making a fuss.
I hurriedly grabbed my clothes and stepped out to see Luna in uniform, glaring.
"Why are you so late?"
"Got caught up working."
She inspected my outfit and nodded approvingly.
"Clothes are clean. Let's go."
She turned and walked down the corridor.
I followed.
"A magic shop opening means Vain will boom even more, right?"
"Yeah. A magic shop…."
She said, deeply moved.
"Vain's finally a proper metropolis."
Magic shops sold everything from magical artifacts to spell scrolls.
But wizards were research obsessives, so shops were rare.
Usually second- or third-rate mages from minor schools without fat research funding ran them….
Still, their convenient items were popular.
Just…. insanely expensive.
Luna and I took a carriage.
And got off in front of a building.
I thought, eyeing the large structure.
Vain real estate prices have skyrocketed lately…. how'd they snag such a big place?
The gaudy shop called "Witch's House."
The owner must be a wizard with deep pockets.
Probably shrewd too.
That's why they opened in Vain.
With the city growing, workshops bought scrolls and artifacts in bulk.
Luna and I entered the shop.
*Ding-a-ling.*
The small chime bell rang.
We looked around, but no shopkeeper.
"Anyone inside?"
While Luna called for the owner, I checked the shelves of magical items.
Odd-shaped metals, stacks of scrolls….
"Welcome…? Huh, Luna?"
A familiar voice made me turn.
And there….