It had been a week since the attack on the castle, and all this ti, Haruki had his head buried in docunts outlining the proper etiquette expected of a noble. Once done acquiring whatever knowledge he deed worthy of notice, he quickly moved on to learn more about the nature of diplomacy around Laria. Through diligent research conducted over many sleepless nights, he finally began to understand the scope of his authority as the dukedom's new ruler.
"Young duke, I would advise you to reconsider your decision," Rose protested, looking down at Haruki from over the back of his shoulder.
Sitting at the head of the desk, Haruki glanced around at the diplomats that worked under his reign. Every one of the four n presents inside the hall brought sothing of great value to the dukedom of Laria.
"How shaful..." Stroking his goatee, one of the n voiced his dissent. "Is this how you set an example as the head maid, by trying to rebel against your master's policies?"
Smirking to himself, the parrot-nosed man intertwined his fingers before resting his chin over them. A quick look at his tall yet bony fra painted him as an oddity of nature. Only further reinforced by his ghoulish eyes and the fact he had to bend over to get his head through a gigantic entrance.
"Be a good servant and stay quiet," Scratching his chin with a jeweled staff, another one of the n joined the conversation. "Why don't you go fetch us sothing to drink instead of yapping your mouth, you blasphemous creature?"
"Please...Sir Rom, bishop Clint, let talk to her," Tired of staying passive as the two n grilled Rose, Haruki interjected. "Rose, how about you check on the banquet? I'd like our guests to enjoy so comforting food once we're done discussing politics."
Glaring around at everyone, she bit the inside of her cheeks to settle her temper. Taking a deep breath, she turned to look back at Haruki and bowed.
"Very well, but please consider my point, if slave trade is made legal agai-"
"Asuka! Can you escort Rose out for ?" breaking her sentence, Haruki called out to Asuka waiting right outside the hall door.
Without any delay, the door opened up. Asuka made her way right next to the bowing Rose. Locking their arms together, she quickly escorted Rose out without asking a single question.
"Now that's how a slave should be! Ahahaha!" slamming his fist on the table, Rom the odd trade handler declared.
"Can we return to the topic at hand?" Caressing his aching head, Arnold, the treasurer requested. "Since the castle's renovation is draining the treasury, I have more than enough headaches waiting for ."
Being the most normal looking of the bunch, Arnold eyed the others wondering how he ended up surrounded by such a circus. A strange trader who was tall as a giant and yet had the appearance of a withering tree. A bishop whose only job seed to be holding his staff in front of the congregation, and lastly the brute of a man responsible for their territory's protection. With those being his companions while working under Snow, him doubting his life choices was the least of his worries.
"What are you staring at?" Gorgon, the brute growled at the daydreaming Arnold.
Jolted awake by his voice, Arnold almost fell off of his seat. Pretending as if that never happened, he adjusted her suit's tie, and simply glanced back at the young duke.
"Are we done?" Scanning through everyone's faces Haruki let out a tired sigh, "As we all know, my father on my request made slave trade illegal in Laria, but now that the state of our economy is in absolute peril, I'd like to reverse that order and resu the trading of slaves in our territory."
Eyeing the responses around the table, Haruki tried to spy any clue of disapproval from the board. However, with nodding heads all around, it didn't seem like anyone was against the idea.
"It'd be a boon for our land, Lord Snow, we're in desperate need of labor after all," Being the treasurer, Arnold's approval was sothing Haruki was looking forward to.
"If..." Extending his extensive fingers toward the duke, Rom joined the conversation. "We could set up trading routes with those slaves to other duchies and kingdoms, it'd be much cheaper and safer for us to transport goods in and out of the major city."
Grunting under his breath, Gorgon had his hands folded. Noticing everyone's gaze drawn towards him, he finally spoke up to express his opinion as well.
"The number of criminals keeps climbing by the day, I think it's best we turn those bastards into slaves and sell them to that peddler currently living in the capital city." Gorgon's input surprised Haruki the most, but it also helped him co up with an intriguing idea.
'Criminals, huh? I never thought about using them, perhaps it's not too late to integrate them into my plans.' Mulling over the thought for a mont, he raised his head to address the board again.
"I've talked to Moriyana already, she demands exclusive rights for slave trading in my territory, in exchange, we can demand her slaves for labor as well as a cut off of her profits generated from other cities."
Gleaming slis plastered on their faces, the four n gasped in surprise, and as they looked around at each those smiles turned into joyous laughs. At that very mont, however, a major question sprang into Haruki's mind.
"Bishop Clint, what would this reprise an for the church of our lord Atlas?" Just saying their god's na sent a spine-chilling shiver down Haruki's back, but powering through the pain he managed to keep up a straight face.
"In our lord's own words, Humanity is chosen, and the one to rule the world," His arms thrown wide open, the bishop spoke in the voice of a preacher. "Isn't that why we're all content under the emperor's rule? The true savior who'll conquer the Feral lands and the Scorchen Gaia under our lord's banner!"
"An!" The other three joined the sermon.
"An," Haruki mumbled as the last.
'There's no point trying to save anyone, you must simply move one piece at a ti' Having taken to chess in his free ti Haruki had begun to think in the terms of the ga. 'First, I need to walk through my people, and see what kicks off their hunger.'
"Very well, let's sign the declaration then," Signing the parchnt to reverse the ban, Haruki quickly circulated it around the table.
Once everything was said and done, everyone was escorted to a leisurely feast in the castle's main hall. While the others enjoyed the food and shared ideas over drinks, Haruki could feel Roselia's gaze over his back no matter where he moved.
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