Chapter 18: Vansel (1)
“My lord baron, although the Caucasus isn’t as terrifying as most people imagine, it does have many factors that make it a dangerous place—such as the hostile relations between the barbarians in the south and ordinary people. In the east, not only are there evil dragons, but it’s also feared that pirates often land there. Various magical beasts roam the surrounding mountains. And then there’s your castle, Damonsk Castle—a place that sends chills down one’s spine just to hear its name. It seems that every mysterious death of its lords has been linked to this castle. I hope you’ll abandon it and stay as far away as possible.” Even merchants who traveled frequently to the Caucasus still felt fear when talking about Damonsk Castle.
“Hehe, thank you for your concern. Do you think I’m reckless? Don’t worry; I won’t seek trouble unless I’m absolutely certain.” Komer smiled and patted the other man’s shoulder.
“Hehe, my lord baron, we’re partners, and we have a long time ahead for cooperation. I certainly don’t want anything to happen to my partner.” Seeing Komer’s confidence and his apparent determination not to give up on that terrifying castle, Kafli grew worried. Yet he also knew of the baron’s mysterious side, especially after learning about how he had repelled attacks from wolf packs, assassins among the fallen knights, and the pursuit by the Leon gang.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Kafli. History will prove that our partnership is a wise choice. For now, let’s focus more on convincing the kingdom’s officials. Without their approval, our plan to recruit people might not succeed.” Komer smiled and changed the subject.
“Well, Lord Baron, there’s no need to worry too much about this. I know those officials in Jazair much better than you do. As long as there’s money, nothing is impossible. Besides, this doesn’t go against the kingdom’s interests. The Caucasus has a sparse population and needs labor to replenish it. As a local lord, it’s your responsibility to promote economic development and increase taxes in your territory, so that you can pay more tributes to the kingdom. With refugees stranded in the border areas and winter approaching, it’s easy to cause a humanitarian crisis. So I don’t think there will be much difficulty in handling this matter. They just need to issue an official order asking the regions through which the refugees pass to provide assistance. However, I hope Lord Baron can take this opportunity to meet more high-ranking officials and nobles in the kingdom, which might be of great help to you in the future.” Kafli wasn’t too worried about this—it was a win-win situation, and no one would be foolish enough to oppose it.
“I hope so, but Duke Philip might not want to see this happen,” Kommer said anxiously.
“Well, that’s precisely the main purpose of your trip to Jazair—to overcome Duke Philip’s obstacles. But Duke Philip also has many enemies in Jazair. Even His Majesty the King doesn’t seem to like him very much, and those who support the Church of Light hate him even more. If you use this wisely, you should be able to achieve satisfactory results.” Kafli knew Jazair very well and explained things in great detail.
“I understand. Thank you for the reminder.”
The Bosen Plain, now in the off-season, appeared rather desolate. The carriage sped along the road. Passing through the Bosen Plain and heading northwest, it entered the territory of Duke Zelin, another prominent noble in the Kingdom of Nicosia. The terrain here was as flat and fertile as that of the Bosen Plain, making it another granary for the empire. The vast plain rushed by before their eyes. After several days of travel, they finally saw a group of houses hidden among the golden maple forests on the distant hills—that was His Majesty the King’s favorite hunting estate, Versailles.
After nearly a century of development, Vansel, located south of Jazair, has evolved from a small farm into a renowned hunting estate across the Land of Azure. His Majesty the King often hosts nobles, ministers, and foreign envoys here, indulging in feasts and revelry. Noblewomen either meet their lovers in the numerous guest rooms or gather to gamble wildly, while nobles bring in page boys for indulgent play. Bear and deer hunting, masked balls, wife-exchange games, nude bathing in hot springs, and noble duels—there is even a small amphitheater where not only can wild beasts fight each other but also human-animal battles and fights between gladiators can be witnessed firsthand. A variety of courtly spectacles are performed here daily, creating echoes in history. Noble ministers take great pride in being summoned by the King here, even if it means spending huge sums of money.
But this was the glory of the past. Although the hunting estate maintains its former splendor on the surface, continuous wars in the north over the past decade or so have drained the kingdom of vast resources. Even His Majesty the King is forced to borrow money from merchants and usurers. The annual compensation for soldiers who die in battle strains the kingdom’s finances to the limit. Yet, with the threat of orc invasions, no one dares to take it lightly. Without soldiers guarding the northern borders, who can sleep soundly at night?
As finances dried up, the kingdom had to implement reforms. First, the Edict of Utrecht was issued, declaring that all feudal lords are first vassals of the King and only then vassals of their original lords. All levels of lords must first ensure they pay a substantial amount of tribute to the royal court. This caused strong opposition from some of the original lords, who refused to accept the edict. However, as battles in the north intensified and military expenses grew, leading to a deficit, the northern nobles gradually accepted the edict, while the southern nobles continued to oppose it. Lords at all levels could only navigate carefully between the great lords and the King.
To cut costs, many of the leisure and entertainment activities at the hunting estate were reduced, and His Majesty the King visited less often. Nevertheless, he still likes to come here on weekends and holidays. After all, as the ruler of the country, necessary rest and entertainment are essential.
Komer learned all this from Kafli along the way. It was clear that Kafli was quite familiar with the situation in Jazair, which piqued Komer’s curiosity. While a merchant should know some basic things about the capital, it was rare to find one as well-informed as Kafli. However, since Kafli seemed reluctant to talk about his background, Komer didn’t press further.