/
“It’s possible, but I don’t think Viscount Roman will like it. That would benefit 7 out of 11 merchant guilds.”
Arche cautiously opposed Renato’s opinion. Viscount Roman was still complaining that Renato was too considerate of Khalid and yielded to him. If he asked to give Khalid more benefits here, Viscount Roman would definitely object.
“Hmm, but I want to differentiate them from other merchant guilds. I hope to properly inform the kingdom’s people that if they stand on his highness’ side, they can get special privileges……”
Despite Arche’s objection, Renato did not easily give up. The reason for his stubbornness was Khalid.
A week after their engagement, Renato learned more about Khalid’s past. The way Khalid was treated and lived was clearly evident from the nobles’ expressions and actions, as well as the palace attendants’ attitude and gossip whom he met at dinners and banquets day after day. Having grown up in a similar environment, Renato could naturally feel that.
Each time, Renato felt heartbroken, his chest suffocating. Nasir, who accompanied him under Khalid’s command, implied that it was much better than before.
‘Thanks to his highness’ efforts and successes, the views on illegitimate children have softened compared to before. But there are still people hostile to him and do not recognize him.’
‘What should I do to make it better?’
‘Hmm, I’m not sure. I think that you are doing well enough right now, Your Imperial Highness. I hear from everywhere that everyone is envious or jealous of our grand prince.’
‘Envious?’
‘Yes, Your Imperial Highness is such a beauty that anyone would admire, and you are also the owner of Esteban territory which is no different from a gold mine to our kingdom. Our knights, as well as others, all say that his highness has a good marriage.’
‘Beauty…… That’s too much exaggeration.’
‘Eh? It’s not an exaggeration at all, though? Ahem, anyway, Your Imperial Highness’ presence alone is a great help to his highness. In particular, your action at the engagement banquet was very impressive. So please stay by his highness’ side in the future just like now. That is my request.’
Recalling his conversation with Nasir, Renato lowered his gaze and fell into thought. Renato wanted to show off the rights he would have in Esteban territory to those that still looked down on Khalid. He hoped they could realize that to get what they want, they would have to flatter Khalid and not Renato.
“My purpose is to maximize his highness’ influence in the kingdom. I don’t want people to look down on him anymore.”
Renato resolutely said. He was well aware of how Marquis Medus, a Beta, established himself in the Empire’s politics and expanded his influence. The most necessary things to increase power were money and talent.
“Make it so that even if they don’t like his highness, they will still be cautious in front of him. That way, humans like Marquis Ishbart will no longer appear.”
“I understand what you mean. You want to give his highness as much power as possible.”
“That’s correct. Now that I can wield power after a long time, shouldn’t I use it properly? We never know if an opportunity like this will ever come again.”
The Khan Kingdom was a poor country. Even the nobles were often in trouble due to the barren land that was difficult to farm and the harsh weather that prevented commercial activities in winter.
The reason why the royal faction supporting Maryam was defeated by the noble faction led by Duke Vint was ultimately money. In the noble faction to which the traditional ruling class belonged, many families owned the best lands and famous merchant guilds in the kingdom. They used it as a weapon to control the kingdom’s economy and put pressure on the royal family.
On the contrary, the royal faction, consisting of newly rising aristocrats and military forces seeking reformation, was far short of people and funds compared to the noble faction. In that situation, what would happen if the families having a tie to Khalid grew rapidly with Renato’s support? The scales that were significantly tilted toward the noble faction would slightly shift toward the royal faction, creating a possible chance of balance.
However, Renato had no intention of increasing Maryam’s power beyond a certain level. Of course, because Khalid had lived as the Queen’s sword, his growing influence would naturally give a rise to Maryam’s authority, but her power would only be enough for her not to be pushed back by the noble faction. Renato was willing to tolerate that much, but no more than that.
“While living as a Prince, I realize that all things yield to money. Some people keep their pride until the end, but…… Most give up their pride for their or their families’ benefits. Especially if they are driven to a corner.”
“That’s true.”
“When knowing that they will be allowed commercial activities in the Esteban territory and receive various privileges only by behaving well in front of his highness, even nobles who implicitly looked down on him and pretended to be aloof will eventually fall to their knees.”
If the merchant guilds led by the Black Wolf Knights Order’s families rapidly grow and affect the kingdom’s economy, people would have no choice but to bow their heads even if they didn’t want to acknowledge the illegitimate child Khalid. At the same time, the favored families would follow Khalid more than they were doing now.
Renato planned to seize this opportunity to raise the families that could be used as Khalid’s power. He aimed to create a new third force within the kingdom to keep both the royal and the noble factions in check. To do that, evident results were immediately needed.
Originally, he didn’t intend to do this much, but he changed his mind after coming to the Khan Kingdom. Renato felt the need for power to keep Khalid safe when the man returned to the kingdom three years later. Fortunately, Renato had the ability to build a foundation.
“I want to appear that I’m so in love with his highness that I can give my everything to him.”
“As if his highness’ will is also Your Imperial Highness’ will?”
“That’s right. And the Black Wolf Knights have made numerous achievements with his highness, but they haven’t been properly rewarded, right? And yet, they keep their loyalty. I think it’s time for them to be rewarded for their devotion.”
“It will certainly increase the knights’ loyalty……”
Agreeing with Renato, Arche quickly fell into thought. To help Renato proceed as desired, they needed a way to counter Viscount Roman’s opposition. After organizing her thoughts, she began speaking again.
“Then how about this? Let’s select three or four more merchant guilds and differentiate the benefits.”
“You mean to pick more from here?”
“Yes, giving benefits to the aforementioned 7 merchant guilds doesn’t lead to a problem with the territory’s operation, but we still need a certain amount of net profit so that Viscount Roman won’t object. Wouldn’t he accept it if we choose new merchant guilds to compensate for the damage caused by giving preferential treatment to the Black Wolf Knights’ families?”
“Hmm, are there any additional merchant guilds to choose from?”
“I will re-examine the merchant guilds that were crossed out in the final selection. I think we should make contracts with politically neutral families that can be recruited onto his highness’ side and impose a slightly higher tariff and fee than the default.”
“Slightly higher than the default?”
“We can make up for the loss that way. Even if we put a fee burden on them, they will probably still jump in. If the knights’ families, the families friendly to his highness, and other families are treated discretely like that, the nobles will easily see the difference.”
“Good. Choosing more than three or four merchant guilds is okay too, so make sure you gather all families that can be potentially brought to our side.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
Renato nodded with satisfaction and quickly signed the paper with the merchant guild list. Then, suddenly remembering something, he asked.
“Ah, how is your task of finding a shaman going?”
“I was about to tell you about that. I have found a shaman that can do the detoxification and protection spells Your Imperial Highness mentioned. He was a shaman belonging to the royal family until a few years ago and has retired now, so his ability is indisputable.”
“Is that so?”
Renato was delighted by Arche’s answer. He was searching for a talented shaman to cast detoxification and protection spells on the wedding gift that he prepared individually.
“It took a little longer than expected because not many people could cast double spells. But…… Uhm, the shaman said that he needed your hair or nail after hearing the request.”
“My hair or nail?”
“Yes, the shaman said it’s more effective to use the client’s body part when casting a protective spell on an object. It seems that he usually uses hair or nails. After all, it’s not harmful to the body if just a bit is cut.”
“I see.”
“You don’t have to give it if you don’t want to. It feels somewhat uncomfortable……”
Arche trailed off her words with an uneasy expression. Shamanism and magic were similar, yet different. Unlike magic which required the mages to continuously infuse energy, in shamanism, once an amulet or object was given power, it could be used whenever the user wanted. People called those shaman tools ‘artifacts’. Artifacts were traded at high prices because people without magical powers could also use them.
The problem was that shamanism required casters’ life force and not their magical powers. Because of the serious human rights violations related to it in the past, some countries banned shamanism, condemning it as malicious or calling it black magic.
Due to the rejection of shamanism principles, shamans had gradually disappeared in recent times. However, shamanism was still prevalent in mercenary countries like the Khan Kingdom or predatory societies like barbarian tribes. For those frequently going to the battlefield, artifacts with protective or recovery spells sometimes outperformed swords or armor.
“No, that’s not a problem. Could you ask him if using blood enhances the effect?”
“Yes…… Pardon? Blood?”
While reflexively nodding her head at Renato’s words, Arche was startled, belatedly asking back. She blinked in disbelief at what she had heard. Unlike the surprised Arche, Renato was calm.
“I want to know if detoxification and protection spells with fairy blood would have a strong effect.”