Chapter 19: Vansel (2)
When Kafli and Komer arrived outside Vansel Hunting Manor, they could see from afar the parking lot and the large stables outside, with endless rows of carriages stretching as far as the eye could see. Coachesmen gathered in groups by the lounge next to the stables, smoking cigars and chatting.
Kafli and Komer’s arrival went unnoticed; carriages like Kafli’s were everywhere, and even luxurious carriages adorned with elaborate family emblems were not uncommon here. This was the king’s place of leisure, and those who accompanied him were either high nobles, important ministers of the kingdom, or wealthy merchants and usurers.
Thick yellow soil mixed with volcanic ash was smoothed out by stones, forming a straight road leading deep into the hunting manor. Stately guard troops stood tall at both the inner and outer gates, their splendid uniforms paired with gleaming swords and medals, making them appear even more heroic.
Surrounding the hunting manor was an orange grove. The land in this grove sloped gradually downward due to its location on a steep hill. To prevent this slope, the architect built a central corridor inside the courtyard, connecting it to the side corridors. This way, the tall arches of the orange grove were separated by rows of columns, supporting the sloping area and preventing water from flowing downward.
The main road leading deep into the hunting manor crossed the central corridor at right angles, leading to the center of the horseshoe-shaped complex. At the heart of this horseshoe was a vast green square covered in 20 hectares of grass, dotted with sculptures and fountains of various sizes. Wide stone paths divided the green space into smaller sections, with evergreen trees and shrubs neatly pruned and placed in appropriate locations. Walking here, one might encounter famous figures from the kingdom—politicians, artists, musicians, poets, and scholars.
Along the perimeter of Green Lawn Square lies a series of buildings, including glass corridors and structures on the north and south sides, which extend in a semi-S shape between Green Lawn Square and the birch forest belt. Behind the birch forest belt is a dense mix of coniferous and broad-leaved trees that grow thickly on the hills, stretching westward alongside lush shrublands, forming the main part of the royal hunting grounds. A solid fence separates the birch forest from the hills to prevent wild animals such as bears and boars from entering the residential and recreational areas of the hunting estate.
High nobles, important officials, and lords from other regions usually spent their time in the lounge on the left, near the king’s bedroom and the two reception rooms, where they would chat. Merchants and usurers, on the other hand, stayed in the lounge on the right. Sometimes, officials in charge of finance would also come to the left side to entertain the merchants. If the king summoned someone, they would pass through the colonnaded corridor and enter the first or second reception room to meet with him.
Kafli seemed very familiar with the place. He quickly found the person he was looking for through acquaintances there—a government official in charge of internal affairs and immigration, who had come here with the head of internal affairs to accompany the king through the weekend. The interaction between the merchant and the official was straightforward. As soon as a withdrawal slip from the silver bank was handed over, the official’s initially impatient expression turned friendly, and he bowed politely, listening attentively to Kafli and his friend’s introduction. The official clearly showed little interest in getting to know an obscure minor lord like Komer from another region. After a cold and reserved handshake, he asked Komer to get straight to the point regarding his request to meet with the head of internal affairs.
However, when Komer described the current situation in the Caucasus, the urgent need to bring in a large workforce due to the discovery of mines in his territory, as well as his own ideas and plans, the official immediately showed considerable interest. After all, Komer’s implication was that the number of people to be brought in would be significant. Komer exaggerated somewhat in his account, increasing the number of discovered iron ore deposits from one to two, and vaguely suggesting that considerable progress had been made in exploring the undiscovered coal mines, with actual mining set to begin soon. Road construction also required a large number of unskilled laborers. This half-truths and exaggerations made the official think even more that it would be a good destination for the large number of refugees currently stranded in the western neighboring countries. Unfortunately, the Caucasus was not only far away but also lacked the necessary infrastructure to accommodate such a large influx of refugees—at best, it could only provide a minimal relief.
The official generously agreed to Komer and Kafli’s request to meet with the kingdom’s Minister of Internal Affairs, stating that he would arrange a meeting at an appropriate time soon. After Kafli tactfully presented another small silk pouch, the official said he would arrange a suitable time for the Minister to meet with them the next day and offered to assist them with advice.
Watching the official stagger away and Kafli’s accustomed expression, Komer felt somewhat disappointed. Was this what kingdom officials were like? It seemed even worse than those in Cyprus. Although the officials in Cyprus were equally greedy, they at least pretended to be decent on the surface. As for these kingdom officials, they didn’t even hesitate to demand bribes in front of him, a lord from outside. It seemed impossible to move forward without money, revealing just how corrupt the kingdom’s bureaucracy had become.
As they strolled slowly in the Green Square, Kafli seemed to sense Komer’s low spirits. With his keen intuition, he understood why Komer was worried. He said, “Lord Baron, do you feel disappointed by today’s experiences?”
“Mr. Kafli, I know bureaucrats are like this everywhere, and Cyprus is no exception. But their blatant behavior isn’t good either, especially at a time when orcs are wreaking havoc. What I saw was a scene of excess and luxury, which I find hard to understand,” Komer said in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
Shrugging his shoulders, Kafli expressed understanding for the other party’s feelings, but as a businessman, he believed this approach was more convenient—straightforward, fair trade, with everything measurable in terms of money. It was far better than those hypocritically pretentious folks who would try every means to trip you up and turn things against you once their plans failed.
“My lord baron, please consider this: this is the political center of the Kingdom of Nicosia. In such a large kingdom, almost all major affairs are handled here. Officials are still human; they need leisure and entertainment, as well as sufficient money to live. As far as I know, since the orcs began their attacks in the north every year, life in the kingdom’s capital has become very difficult. Apart from drastic cuts in various expenses, the salaries of kingdom officials have also dropped significantly. Even His Majesty the King of Vansel Hunting Manor has spent less time here, all for the sake of saving costs. But after all, it’s still a kingdom—a figure admired by others. It cannot appear too weak or worried, as that would only embolden the orcs and cause concern among neighboring countries. Therefore, it’s necessary to maintain a proper facade abroad.” Kafli seemed to have a deep understanding of politics, and his words were filled with insight.