Chapter 19
Josh (3)
The news of the tax reduction announced on the streets had already reached the officials standing in front of the government office.
“Steward, did you get home safely last night?”
“Yes, my lord.”
The steward’s voice trembled faintly. Deep down, he wanted to rip apart the young lord’s mouth for announcing a tax cut in the streets without even consulting him.
“Shall I take a look around the office?”
“Please, come inside.”
With his hands clasped behind his back, Ian entered the grand government office, escorted by soldiers like a victorious general.
The officials, watching the young lord walk calmly inside as if nothing had happened after declaring the tax reduction, were all left stunned.
This was not the fragile lord they were used to.
“My lord, we have prepared a sedan chair for you. Please, step on.”
Inside the office, a sedan chair had been hurriedly arranged at the civil officer’s command.
“It may be lacking compared to the one at the castle, but it should not be uncomfortable.”
“Thank you.”
Ian stepped into the chair and, while listening to the officials’ explanations, looked around the rectangular structure of the office.
The four-story stone building was open at the center, allowing one to see the sky from the ground floor. At the bottom was a beautiful garden with a pond and fountains.
Each floor had an inner corridor, from which one could look down and admire the garden below.
“Though small in scale, this garden surpasses the one in the castle. I can see a lot of care went into it, didn’t it?”
Arriving on the fourth floor, Ian stepped out of the sedan chair and leaned against the railing to gaze down at the garden.
Adorned with various statues and vibrant flowers, the garden was stunning in itself, but the fountain, shooting water up to the third floor, was truly a spectacle.
“This garden wasn’t made by us. It’s been here since long before.”
The steward hastily explained, as if defending himself from Ian’s comparison of the castle garden to this one.
“Really? I see—I almost misunderstood, haha.”
Smiling lightly, Ian turned away from the garden and faced the steward and the civil officer standing behind him.
“There’s something urgent I want to discuss with you two. Step closer.”
He dismissed the attendants and beckoned only the two of them forward. Ian raised his right hand, the one bearing the lord’s ring.
“I heard that both of you swore loyalty before this ring. Is that true?”
“Of course, my lord.”
“Then I won’t waste words. Return all village taxes to the level they were in my father’s time.”
“What?”
“My lord!”
The civil officer couldn’t hide his shock, and the steward, responsible for taxes, gasped harshly and protested violently.
“My lord, how can you make such an important decision so suddenly without consulting us first?”
“I heard taxes were raised excessively to pay off the territory’s debts. But people who couldn’t pay were worked to death in forced labor. Don’t you think this needs to change?”
Ian rubbed the lord’s ring calmly as he asked.
“It’s all for your sake, my lord. We are indebted to Lord Bonnen. We don’t know what demands he may make. Repaying that debt quickly is the best path for you and the territory. Please, accept my sincere counsel!”
“But there’s no sign of progress.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think rationally. If the villages are paying so much more than in my father’s time, why is there no result? The debt hasn’t shrunk much at all.”
The steward’s eyes darted nervously.
“Surely someone is siphoning funds along the way. Isn’t that right, steward?”
“Are you accusing me?”
“Of course not. You’re loyal enough to have fed me rare medicine when I was sick. Still, I don’t like the current state of things. Even if the debt is repaid slower, it’s more important to relieve the people’s discontent. I hope you’ll follow my decision.”
But the steward, who had been twisting tax revenues like dough in his hands, stood firm with a hardened face.
“The territory’s expenditures are already based on the increased taxes. We cannot simply erase the progress of the past years overnight based on suspicion. Please, heed my loyal advice!”
“So you’re refusing my order, then?”
“It’s not refusal—only for your sake, my lord. With respect, those tax increases were implemented with your approval. Given that you’ve lost your memories, your current order may not stem from sound judgment. I beg you to consider this!”
“So that’s how you see it…”
Ian smiled faintly, then turned his eyes toward the silent civil officer.
“What about you? Do you agree with the steward?”
The civil officer studied Ian’s expression carefully before answering slowly.
“If my lord’s will is firm, I shall follow.”
“Sir Noas!”
The steward glared at him as if struck in the back, but the civil officer avoided his eyes.
“So you understand my will, civil officer. I like that.”
Ian bent down and touched the man’s knee.
“I noticed you limping on the stairs. Is your knee that bad?”
“I’m fine. Just some pain from age, my lord.”
The civil officer hurriedly helped Ian stand, uneasy under the stares of the officials and soldiers watching from the corridor.
‘How ridiculous.’
Watching from the side, the steward cursed inwardly at the scene.
“Steward, it seems the civil officer disagrees with you.”
“The finances are managed by me, not him. Trust me. If anything, we should raise taxes even higher.”
At the steward’s shameless insistence that taxes should be increased rather than lowered, Ian lost all desire to argue further.
“I’ll return to the castle. I’m a bit tired.”
The square outside the office was still crowded with townspeople waiting to see their lord.
Waving once to the crowd, Ian boarded the carriage.
“Civil officer.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Try to persuade the steward.”
“I will do my best.”
The carriage door closed, and Ian smiled faintly at the steward through the window.
“Perhaps I’ll see you again tonight.”
“Call for me anytime, my lord.”
As the carriage rolled forward, Ian closed his eyes.
As expected, the steward fiercely opposed him. The only consolation was that the civil officer at least pretended to support him.
—What will you do with the steward?
Blanzor’s voice came from the dagger.
“What else? I’ll have to deal with him. The bastard has no conscience. He doesn’t even know when to back down.”
Pfft!
When Blanzor scoffed, Ian opened his eyes and glared.
“What? Why are you laughing, you ghost-looking bastard?”
And how much conscience do you have? You’re just angry because their schemes threaten your claim to the lordship.
“Don’t trample on my pure heart. I’m walking a hard path here.”
Crossing his arms, Ian shut his eyes again.
I’m supposed to teach you swordsmanship. Show me some respect. Other than the Emperor of Denaon, no one has ever treated me lightly.
“I was a militia captain back on Earth, so shut up.”
The steward, burning with rage, stormed into the office garden.
He grabbed a small statue and hurled it to the ground, stomping on blooming flowers until they were destroyed.
“Bring me a sword!”
When a guard handed him one, he slashed every living flower in sight, cutting them down mercilessly.
“How dare that brat mock me?”
Shrieking, he rampaged through the garden, shredding the flowers. The other officials, except the civil officer, hid in fear.
“A hundred-year-old garden ruined in an instant,” the civil officer muttered, clicking his tongue near the fountain.
“Die! Die!”
Disheveled, the steward finally threw down the sword as his rage subsided.
Stepping into the fountain and emerging drenched, he stood before the civil officer, his gaze now cold and sharp.
“Sir Noas, why do you side with the lord? Aren’t we allies?”
“Of course I’m your ally. But the lord’s words also have merit.”
“What merit?”
“Letters from village chiefs expressing concern have increased sharply. The people are restless under the heavy taxes. You know what that means. It’s time to ease up.”
“If there’s a revolt, we’ll burn down a village as an example. What’s there to fear?”
At his harsh words, the civil officer shook his head thoughtfully.
“Do you think force solves everything? I’ve told you before—moderation is best. We’ve had enough greed these past three years. Let’s stop. Besides, the lord is starting to act like a real lord now. You saw it too, didn’t you? How he commanded the crowd from the carriage?”
“I can’t accept it.”
“Then yield on the tax issue. The lord came here himself, clearly to seek your approval. Refusing outright would be unbecoming of a retainer.”
With that, the civil officer turned to leave.
“Since when did you become that child’s retainer?”
At the steward’s shout, he stopped and smiled back.
“What do you mean? I’ve always been the lord’s retainer. Haven’t you?”
“Damn it! I’ll never agree to lowering taxes!”
“Do as you like. But the captain of the guard will return soon. If the lord wins him over, can you handle it? Before, the lord was too timid to give such an order. But now, he’s different. A completely different man.”
“The captain of the guard never refused the bribes I gave him.”
“We’ll see soon enough.”
The civil officer left the garden, and the steward collapsed onto the wet ground, his soaked hair falling into his eyes.
“Bring one of the castle maids to me tonight—secretly.”
“Yes, sir!”
At a small, shabby smithy, the blacksmith Luperson wiped sweat from his brow and repeated Linda’s words in disbelief.
“A sword with silver mixed in?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I don’t have one. Those are usually custom orders. But why do you need a silver sword? They’re not usually for combat. Is it for display?”
Luperson glanced at the young man standing with Linda.
“We need it for something important. Can you make one?”
“Making it isn’t hard. The problem is the cost. A silver sword is very expensive.”
“How much would it cost?”
“That depends on its use. Combat or display?”
Linda exchanged a look with the young man from the slums—Josh—and then lowered her voice.
“Please make it for combat.”
“For combat?”
Luperson flinched and placed his hand on a weapon displayed at his stall. Silver swords were rarely needed for combat.
“Linda, what on earth do you need it for? Don’t tell me you’re planning to hunt undead monsters?”
“Haha, of course not.”
She laughed awkwardly. Luperson studied her for a moment, then pointed at a few swords on display.
“What shape do you want?”
After a brief discussion with Josh, Linda chose a blade longer than a dagger but shorter than a longsword.
“This one, please.”
“For that, I’d have to charge three gold coins.”
“As expected, expensive.”
“To be honest, I should charge more, but since it’s you, Linda, I’ll give you a discount.”
Silver required care, and crafting such a sword demanded more effort than usual.
“Thank you, sir. But when will it be ready?”
“Why? In a hurry?”
“Not really, but sooner is better.”
When Linda smiled, Luperson nodded knowingly.
“Come back tomorrow at noon. I’ll have it ready, even if I have to work overnight.”
“Thank you. Here.”
Linda handed him several silver coins as a deposit.
“I’ll pay the rest when I pick it up.”
“Fair enough.”
Leaving the smithy, Linda let out a long breath, as though she had accomplished something great.
