Chapter 60. Domestic Affairs (5)
I called Bishop Daniel aside and continued our conversation.
“Bishop, I’m counting on you to officiate tomorrow’s wedding too.”
“Of course. But what is happening with that other matter?”
He meant elevating the Marcel Diocese into the Marcel Archdiocese.
It was an essential step in Daniel’s path toward becoming a cardinal.
“Wait a little longer. I’m planning to make it one of the conditions when I form the marriage alliance with Ronalp.”
“Then we should reach an agreement before the end of this year.”
“Hopefully.”
To elevate Marcel into an archdiocese, subordinate dioceses needed to be created in the surrounding territories.
Dijon would naturally oppose it.
And if I wanted to combine Ronalp and Ferrand into another diocese, Countess Ronalp’s cooperation would be essential.
I wonder whether the spy Chloe sent back did his job properly.
We had deliberately spread false information suggesting that Marcel was playing Westfalen against Ronalp over the marriage alliance.
The goal was to confuse Ronalp.
I had no idea whether it had worked.
If it had, Countess Ronalp should act more positively and calmly toward us.
* * *
There were no special invited guests at my second wedding.
Only influential people from within Marcel attended.
At Viscount Chioggia’s request, there were almost no decorations and the ceremony was short.
His obsession with reputation, combined with his poor artistic sense, resulted in a very simple wedding.
Out of consideration for Mother, we held it at the Church of the God of Abundance.
“Today, beneath the joy and blessing of Annapurna, we gather to celebrate this beautiful marriage...”
Bishop Daniel’s short officiating speech ended.
We exchanged ceremonial gifts and greetings.
That was the entire wedding.
Marta, the fake bride, completed the ceremony without making any mistakes other than looking slightly nervous.
I felt proud of her, so I offered some praise.
“Good work, Marta. Now that you’ve practiced once, you’ll do even better next time.”
Her next wedding would presumably be her real one.
I had simply meant that this ceremony could serve as practice.
However, Marta’s expression immediately became unpleasant.
Martin, who had overheard me, laughed and pushed me from behind.
“I keep telling you not to make jokes like an old man.”
“Wasn’t it funny?”
“No. Genuinely.”
“Damn it.”
“Come on. Let’s go change clothes.”
The moment I returned to the lord’s residence, I began pulling off the formal clothing while complaining.
“Ugh, it’s hot. Why did they make me wear this many layers in warm spring weather? Martin, this sleeve won’t come off. Pull it. My arm is losing circulation.”
“Hrngh. It’s a shame the wedding had no real bride. Next time, I hope you find yourself a beautiful new bride.”
“Forget it. You get married first. I’m too busy to properly take care of a family anyway.”
“Should I really go first?”
“Do you even have someone?”
Martin smirked.
What?
He had a girlfriend?
Suddenly, I felt irritated.
Damn it. Even that bastard has a girlfriend. Meanwhile, I’m stuck having fake weddings.
* * *
Once we distributed manors to the newly recruited knights, those manors would require tenant farmers.
Chief of Economy Diego calculated the expected demand and reported to me.
“We need to bring in more slaves. Unemployment is falling rapidly, so we will soon have trouble supplying enough tenant farmers.”
“Are you planning to buy them in Catalonia?”
“No. I recently received a message from my father. Slave ships sent from Westfalen have entered Catalonia. I’ll first check how many people they brought.”
Diego’s father was a slave merchant.
Apparently, the moment he saw the slave ships from Westfalen, he sent a messenger on a regular ship.
Those slaves were the ones I had requested from Young Lord Noah.
I had expected it to take time because I specifically requested entire families.
Still, the fact that they only sent them now suggested these were probably surplus workers who had been worked hard through the spring planting season.
I hate talking about people like they have grades, but they’re probably not in very good condition.
“Diego, send messengers to every church. Ask them to provide medical support when the slave ships arrive.”
“They’ll probably demand large donations.”
“Tell them they aren’t getting any. Bishop Daniel and I already have an agreement, so exclude his church. If the others complain, report them to me. I’ll straighten them out.”
After Marcel became a region of religious freedom, churches belonging to several religions began being built.
Their construction had temporarily increased their expenses.
As a result, they had become excessively hungry for donations.
They had come to me several times asking for money.
Even in a world where gods truly existed, I was not the kind of lord who would quietly tolerate churches caring more about money than people.
People come before churches.
“Yes. I’ll do my best to manage the slaves.”
“I’m counting on you. You’re the experienced one.”
Diego had helped his father’s business for a long time.
He was probably the person in Marcel who knew the most about managing slaves.
* * *
Contrary to our expectation that they would arrive soon, the slave ships from Westfalen only entered the harbor a week later.
Diego’s father, Sergio, had accompanied the slave ships.
His explanation revealed the reason for the delay.
“Viscount, the slaves were in poor health, so I could not put them aboard immediately. Please forgive me for delaying the departure without permission.”
“No. You did well. Did you use your own money to feed and treat them?”
“I apologize. I only fed those who were starving and provided urgent treatment.”
Since I became Lord of Marcel, Sergio had supplied us with slaves almost exclusively.
It was not because I had granted him special privileges.
He had simply sacrificed most of his profit because he wanted his son Diego to rise through the ranks.
And this time, he had even spent his personal wealth treating slaves who belonged to me.
“Excellent. Is there any reward you want?”
“I only wish for my son’s well-being.”
“You don’t need to worry about your son anymore. Diego has already become someone my territory cannot do without.”
“Even so, please continue taking care of him.”
What Sergio ultimately wanted was for Diego to rise far enough to become a noble.
Probably a noble with a hereditary title that could eventually be promoted.
That might be possible one day.
But it was not something I could promise lightly.
Still,
“By the time your grandson can walk and speak, your wish should have been fulfilled.”
Sergio stared at me in shock.
