11 – My lord, went to an audience with the Count of Nantes (1)

After receiving a call from my father, Baron Creutel, I left Balt at the estate and rode a wagon with Ella to Baron Creutel.

It took about two days by carriage from Windheim where I was to Baron Creutel, so it wasn’t a road that I could honestly say was close.

Upon arrival, I headed straight to the mansion to meet the baron.

The baron was sitting with the most solemn expression on his face in the office, which had only a desk and a chair for me and himself to sit on.

To such a baron, I greeted him with the utmost respect as a nobleman.

“The lord of Windheim, Ciel von Kreuttel, has responded to the summons of Baron Kreuttel.”

The baron raised his right hand slightly to receive a greeting, and replied with a smile.

“I had a hard time coming. Ciel.”

“thank you.”

“Yeah, how about taking over and ruling a territory for the first time?”

“There are still a lot of difficulties because of my lack of experience. However, it is fortunate that the serfs of the territory follow me well as I do my best.”

The baron shook his head to see if he was satisfied with the words, then spoke.

“I see. Also my son, no better than me. To be honest, when I sent them to the manor, I thought that about 100 of the 2,000 serfs in the manor would not survive the winter this year. Because of Baileaf’s exploitation, they wouldn’t have anything to eat until summer.”

That’s what it says.

I gave back to the serfs of the estate the property that Baileaf had stolen. But they had exploited so much and had already spent that they did not have enough food to last through the summer.

Usually, in this case, even if the lord lifts restrictions on gathering in his hunting grounds or exempts various taxes, people end up starving to death.

Because these things existed, a guy named Malthus used the word ‘Melthus Trap’ and said, ‘If the number of humans increases, food will run out and people will perish in the future.’ said.

“Nevertheless, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I received the report that your village is living better than the serfs in other territories, rather than starving to death. Even from me, no lord of the empire could have achieved the same results as Ciel von Kreuttel in such a situation.”

For a moment, the thought of refusing a compliment crossed my mind.

However, the results I have created are so overwhelming, it would be funny to have to decline.

And in this feudal society, it was considered a virtue to be modest as long as it did not cross the line.

You just have to accept it in moderation.

“It is an honour.”

Perhaps this was the correct answer, the baron smiled happily and said in a happy voice.

“Yes, it’s nice to see a dignified figure that is neither too arrogant nor servile! This is what Paul von Kreuttel’s son is like! Until now, I was worried because I looked a bit timid, but now that I act confidently, it looks really good!”

“thank you.”

And after a moment of silence, the baron asked again in a serious voice.

“Yes, my son. Don’t ask directly. Can this farming method be spread throughout our territory?”

“of course. However, it would be difficult for the peasants to understand if we simply communicated it in writing or verbally, so we had to send some peasants and village chiefs who had learned this farming method in Windheim to teach them. Otherwise, it could result in a big bad harvest.”

“Right. Is this all it takes?”

“no. In addition, you must tell the serfs that if they fail in farming with this farming method, they will reduce or exempt their taxes on the honor of being nobles.”

Hearing that, the baron started looking at me strangely.

However, for nobles, honor is sometimes more important than life.

Even if aristocrats were scammed and promised to give them money, in order to keep the honorable promise of a contract, they would pay the money even if they sold their houses.

Therefore, to bet on this kind of honor is, in today’s terms, ‘stand up a guarantee.’ It’s time to say.

However, in order to overcome the upcoming crisis, and to save the many serfs in this territory who are starving in this territory, this farming method must be supplied to the barony.

I continued speaking in a calm voice.

“Because for the serfs, a year’s farming is a matter of risking their lives and the lives of their families. So at all times the serfs try to farm the way they succeeded yesterday, and they don’t want to risk losing themselves by trying a new way today. Because the moment you lose, your family dies. Therefore, in order to motivate them, we need a firm promise to compensate them for their losses.”

Hearing that, the baron nodded and replied.

“Certainly, when His Excellency goes to war with another territory, if I say that he will send me and my vassals to a dangerous battlefield, then I will go out after receiving a promise for the price. So do those serfs.”

“That’s right. And think about it.”

The baron heard that and asked with a curious expression.

“What do you mean?”

“Your Excellency Baron, no father. The scene in which the farming method that the father, the lord, personally started with his honor, reaped great success. What will your father’s serfs and his vassals see?”

The baron closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, and became quiet.

And then he smiled and laughed silently.

Then he opened his eyes and said.

“I see, you will receive the trust and respect of the vassals and serfs of the territory. And the honor of me, Paul von Kreutel, will rise. At the same time, since we have plenty of food, we will become that much richer.”

“Yes, even risking his honor as a nobleman to take care of his serfs, there will be a title of benevolent monarch, so even his political opponents will not be able to touch him.”

Hearing that, the baron smiled.

After that, I chatted with the baron for about an hour, then bowed my head to say hello to leave.

“Then Father, I will step back now.”

Then the baron said to me as I was about to leave.

“Oh, Ciel. And in a week, our lord, His Excellency the Count of Nantes, must summon his vassals and go. So prepare yourself.”

**

As soon as I left the office, my head started to get complicated.

Yes, first of all, the Count of Nantes… is actually an ambiguous person.

The Count of Nantes, the current master of Baron Creutel, is not a bad person.

No, rather, it could be said that he is a decent person who treats his vassals well and manages his territory well.

And his personal life is also relatively clean.

Of course, this nobleman, like other nobles, had his hands on maids and serfs and took them as concubines, or paid money and secretly buried them as if nothing had happened several times.

Nevertheless, in case of having a child, although he did not recognize it as his own child, he was the one who let him live in another territory and supported him so that he would not starve even if he was not wealthy.

As long as the serfs were not at war, there was no forced taxation.

Because he was such a lord, he was respected by his vassals, and he was a nobleman who did not hate even the serfs of the territory.

If you are looking for a similar person in the present world, it is an obscure king who is not often found in Korean history books of Joseon or Goryeo.

Thinking this way won’t make your head complicated, but this type of monarch or leader is usually not good at dealing with crises.

From what I know right now, within a few years, the emperor will ascend and descend, and a civil war will break out…

As I was lost in my thoughts, I heard Ella’s voice behind me.

“Master, Master.”

“Why did you call me?”

Then Ella looked at me and answered hesitantly.

“I don’t want to be separated from my master, but do I really have to stay here? If you go to the Countess of Nantes tomorrow, you won’t see him for a few weeks.”

Saying that, Ella was looking at me with slightly anxious eyes.

After losing her father and mother at a young age, she must be afraid of being separated from me, who saved her from being exploited by Bayleef and almost forced to sexually serve her at that age.

However, taking Ella, who has not been trained as a ‘maid’, to meet the ‘master count’ is not a good choice.

In Windheim or Baron Creutel, where I was, even if Ella made some immature behavior or mistakes, no one would point out anything because I was by her side.

Rather than pointing out Ella’s faults or harassing her, turning against me would pose a greater danger to them.

However, in the county, there are countless people higher than me, so that doesn’t work, and if Ella makes a mistake, I can put the blame on the baron as well as on me.

Even if I explained these details to Ella, it would be difficult for her to understand.

With the idea of soothing a child, I put my hand on Ella’s head and stroked it.

“I’d be lonely too if I broke up with Ella. But, I’m going on an important business with Baron Creutel. And now Ella can’t help me yet.”

Hearing that, Ella put on a sullen expression.

“So you have to stay away for a while.”

“master…”

“By the way, when I return, I’ll buy Ella’s favorite delicious food. If you go to the castle ruled by His Excellency, there are sweet snacks, so let’s eat together.”

Ella looked at me with a curious expression and asked, as if she was attracted by the word sweet.

“snack? Is that sweeter than honey or fruit?”

“yes. Perhaps it is sweeter and softer than honey or fruit?”

At that, Ella smiled and said.

“It will be very delicious. Master, will you definitely buy it then?”

“Sure. Instead, Ella should also be well.”

“Yeah.”

After that, Ella waited on me, changed into clothes for the trip, and headed for the Baron and the Countess of Nantes.

I thought I was going to die from back pain while riding in a carriage for about a week, 280 kilometers in distance.

It is said that a man’s life is his waist, and he missed his car after going through a crisis that almost ruined his life.

After suffering so much, he continued to march without marching and travel without traveling, and finally he was able to have an audience with the lord of the county of Nantes.

“Paul von Creutel is presenting an audience with the rightful lord of the Countess of Nantes and my lord, His Excellency, Count Hart von Nantes.”