Chapter 12 - The Efforts of the Marquess's Retainer Arveil (Part One)
Count Ezrin Renalt Realdi was a man of loyalty. He was conscious of his role as the head of the Count's house that had ruled Ezrin, a strategic point on the Mares Road, for generations, and he had disciplined himself to be worthy of that role.
—Govern this town and this entire area, which is a strategic point, well, and let that be the return for the royal family that established this land as our fief.
That was the family motto of the Realdi house, and successive heads of the family had followed the motto and maintained their loyalty to the royal family to this day. Renalt, the current head, had also continued to walk the path his ancestors had trodden without deviation until today.
Renalt frowned after reading the document handed to him by the official messenger.
"Is this—is this true?"
After saying it, he realized it was a foolish question.
"Yes, sir."
The official messenger, who was kneeling respectfully before him, replied with his head bowed.
"I have not been informed of the contents of the letter I delivered. However, I was strictly ordered to hand it directly to the Count personally."
"—I see. No, I suppose so."
Even among official messengers from the same Government Administration, the importance and confidentiality of the documents exchanged were not all the same. Information concerning the proclamation of laws and information concerning national security were not exchanged in the same way; while there was no problem with a messenger knowing the contents of the former, the latter had to be made known only to those who needed to know. That is why the side sending the messenger sometimes specified the recipient.
What was written was grave, but the countermeasure was indicated. The signature was that of the Marquess of Mares's daughter. It was a simple and accurate response that made one think it was just like that young lady.
"Good work. I will have a room prepared, so rest."
"Thank you, my lord. However, I have received orders to go down as far as the Marquess of Mares's territory. Furthermore, I must also visit the merchant house in this town."
"The merchant house?"
"That is also by my master's command. I am to tell them to gather pack horses and wagons, for it concerns the letter I delivered to the Count, so they must do so without fail."
Renalt opened the document in his hand once more and looked down at the text. Indeed, if what was written here was to be executed, means of transport could be said to be essential.
Large wagons and the pack horses that pulled them were not things that could be used as much as one wanted at any time. The larger the quantity, the more one had to get ahead and secure them, or they would not be able to obtain as many as needed. Despite it being a sudden matter, it meant the Marquess of Mares's daughter was paying attention even to that extent.
"Are you a member of the Marquess of Mares's household?"
"Yes, I am a retainer of the Marquess's house."
"I imagine you have hardly taken any rest."
Implicitly, he was asking if he was going without resting. The retainer did not answer while maintaining his respectful posture. It likely meant he had already stated his orders and there was no need to repeat them.
"—However, an order is an order, I suppose. The Marquess has a good retainer."
As if to end the conversation, Renalt stood up.
"Rise. I will have a horse prepared. I will certainly execute what was conveyed. You may head for Mares with peace of mind."
"Thank you, my lord."
In response, the official messenger stood up.
A well-proportioned body of medium height. Short dark brown hair and deep green eyes. He had well-defined features, but a look of fatigue that could not be hidden was floating in his expression.
The date on the document he was handed was two days ago. From the royal capital to Ezrin here, which was roughly at the midpoint to Mares, it would take a week if one traveled normally. At least a day and a half by fast horse. This official messenger, who said he was a retainer of the Marquess of Mares, must have ridden for that minimum number of days.
And from now on, he would probably ride to Mares for roughly the same amount of time. Just because it was an order didn't mean anyone could do it.
Renalt felt no small amount of envy at the fact that the Marquess had a retainer who performed such tasks as a matter of course. After sending the official messenger out of his office, Renalt called a footman and ordered him to prepare a meal for the messenger.
That morning, the middle-aged merchant who managed the merchant house let out a groan as soon as he saw the document handed to him.
"This is... official messenger-sama, if it is absolutely necessary, we will offer our cooperation, but..."
"I'm sorry, but it is absolutely necessary. It's written there too, isn't it?"
"But, official messenger-sama, at least tell us the circumstances."
The number recorded was equivalent to saying to gather as many wagons and pack horses as possible. The number secured by the merchant house itself was not that large. Unless they secured the portions used by the merchants who utilized the merchant house, they would not be able to meet the required number. The merchant was pointing that out.
The official messenger let out a small sigh and brought his face close to the merchant's. He looked into the merchant's eyes and lowered his voice.
"Due to the nature of my duty, I cannot say anything in detail. Think of what I'm about to say as a monologue."
"—I see."
"It seems things are smelling a bit fishy at the eastern border. If that's the case, you know what that means..."
The merchant, who hurriedly looked at the document in his hand once more, slowly raised his eyes.
"The document I gave you is strictly about means of transport. If you're a merchant who manages a place like this, I don't have to tell you the rest, right?"
Since wagons and pack horses would be requisitioned, they would only be at the official price. However, the fact that things were smelling fishy at the eastern border, and that the situation was such that wagons and pack horses were being gathered, also meant that everything related to military affairs would be in short supply from now on.
There is no loss in a business where one knows in advance what will be in short supply—in other words, what will sell at a high price. The merchant, who seemed to have understood, nodded two or three times.
"Well, that's how it is. I'm counting on you."
"Yes, of course we will cooperate. Please leave it to us. If it is such a story, everyone will surely step forward to offer their cooperation."
The merchant, who wore a broad grin, promised. The official messenger smirked with just his mouth and held out his right hand. The merchant grasped that hand with both of his.
"Please look upon us kindly, official messenger-sama."
The official messenger, who nodded magnanimously, tapped the merchant's shoulder familiarly with his left hand.
Leaving behind the merchant who nodded saying he would get to it immediately, the official messenger left the merchant house. From behind him, the voice of the merchant calling for his servants could be heard.
[Author's Note]
Don't you think a merchant who can flip their attitude the moment they learn of a profitable story is competent?