Chapter 221

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: A Merchant's Soul
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At Leo III's roar, Ariadne's eyes widened as she retorted.

“Goodness, surely you weren't planning on taking it without paying a single coin?”

Leo III, realizing he would only look foolish if he started preaching about 'loyalty' now, simply opened and closed his mouth.

Ariadne showed him a measure of mercy, refraining from forcing him to speak and instead correcting the misconceptions he held.

“Of course, I am aware that Your Majesty can send soldiers to seize my grain at any time.”

But just as a king can bestow a title upon anyone yet must face the consequences, he could seize the grain at any time, but he would have to face the fallout from that as well.

“I am distributing the grain I possess first to the Rambouillet Almshouse, and second to the poor districts within the capital. If Your Majesty the King were to take my grain, who would be the first to receive it?”

Ariadne smiled like a pear blossom.

“The army, I presume.”

The Royal Guard was paid in ducat gold coins, but the price of grain had risen so high that their wages were no longer enough to buy food for their families.

The knightly orders, many of whom came from noble families, might have the wealth of their houses to fall back on, but the infantry was now reaching its limit.

It had become necessary to either sell grain to the Royal Guard at a reduced price or to set specific rations for them.

“If the shares for the almshouse and the slums are cut to provide for the army, where will the cries of protest be heard first?”

The first to cry out would be the poor, who were directly affected, and the clergy, who led the relief efforts. If it stopped there, it might be manageable. They were but a handful.

But soon after, the common people, believing they would be next, would rise up. This had always been the fate of a monarch who had lost the moral high ground.

“Mere merchants can chase after gold coins and face nothing more than scorn; no great problems arise. That is the nature of a merchant, after all. Aren't we cursed day in and day out even when we do nothing? You could call it paying in installments. But for the ruler of a nation, it is a different matter.”

The king is the one ultimately responsible for all that happens in the country.

He is praised when peace and prosperity reign, even if he has done nothing to bring it about, but if the people's lives become difficult through no fault of his own, he must also bear the full weight of their resentment.

Moreover, no citizen would tolerate their life being made harder by the direct intervention of their ruler.

“Public authority carries a certain weight. A responsibility to care for the poorest and most vulnerable. That is the price of the people's loyalty.”

In truth, the amount of grain Ariadne was releasing to the almshouse and the slums was minuscule compared to her total supply.

Even if Leo III confiscated her entire stock, there would be more than enough to supply the army without touching the shares for the almshouse and the slums.

But Leo III did not know this. And Ariadne possessed a masterful bluff, honed in her past life.

“If I were to stop sending food to the almshouse, that would be fine. It would simply be because a young lady, after trying her best by emptying her personal coffers, could no longer afford it. But if the King takes my grain and then stops the distribution? Or even just reduces it?”

Her expression hardened.

“You will not be able to handle it.”

It was an outright threat.

She preferred not to antagonize power, but she knew she had to bare her teeth when necessary.

When that power threatened to devour her foundation whole. That time was now.

“You, you insolent girl!”

And Leo III was sharp enough to realize he was being threatened.

“Do you think your words will stop me from sending my soldiers?”

He hated being forced into anything by others more than anything else in the world.

It was ironic for a man who was always in a position to force his will upon others.

“How dare you lecture the king of a nation so triumphantly! All talk and nothing more!”

But Ariadne did not back down an inch, holding her head high.

“Of course, my most respected Your Majesty, you could have me imprisoned or even beheaded.”

Bluffing without a backup plan was for amateurs. She had come fully prepared.

“However, you will find it difficult to take my grain.”

“How impudent!”

“Your Majesty was not the only person of high station who desired this grain. There were others who were quicker on their feet.”

A look of alarm finally dawned on Leo III's face.

“The Grand Duke of Acereto and the Council of Seven from the Republic of Porto have both contacted me.”

She smiled as if amused.

“The Duchy of Acereto offered five ducats per cantaro, and the Republic of Porto offered six.”

“Hah!”

Leo III let out a hollow laugh at the enormous sum, an amount he hadn't even considered. But then he growled, showing his true colors.

“Young lady. There is a fundamental difference between them and me.”

Leo III bared his teeth.

“And that is the fact that you and your grain are within my territory.”

Leo III could send soldiers as he pleased; they could not move their armies freely within another nation's territory.

'Confiscation' was a power that belonged to Leo III alone. The impudent girl before him ought to know that.

“Your Majesty the King is a hundred times correct.”

But the smile did not leave the young lady's face. She even looked relaxed, at a glance.

Leo III was beginning to wonder what on earth the girl was relying on to act this way.

“However, what Your Majesty can confiscate is 'my' grain, as I am your subject, not the grain already purchased by the Duchy of Acereto or the Republic of Porto. That... could become something of a diplomatic incident, couldn't it?”

“What!”

Leo III slammed his fist on the tea table where the teacups sat.

The fine porcelain teacups, imported from the Moorish Empire, rattled and clinked against one another.

“You mean you've already sold it! You insolent...!”

“I haven't sold it yet.”

She glanced at the clock. It was fifteen minutes to three in the afternoon.

“If I do not leave the palace within the next thirty minutes and give the signal...”

Ariadne shifted her gaze back to Leo III and smiled brightly.

“My agent will sign the contracts with the representatives of the two nations in my stead.”

Ariadne feigned a troubled expression.

“Your Majesty, I am no traitor. I would much rather help our own people, who speak the same language, than export grain to foreign countries. But when it's a contest between zero ducats and six ducats, my options become rather limited. I bought and collected this grain myself. It has a cost, you know.”

Ariadne thought to herself.

*These are lines Caruso would say.*

Well, if playing the part of a merchant for a day would protect her grain, she was more than willing.

“I do, of course, have loyalty to my country. I will offer you twenty thousand cantaros at four ducats per cantaro. It is an incredible bargain.”

Compared to the price the Republic of Porto or the Duchy of Acereto had agreed to, it was a fire sale.

However, Duke Cesare, who had made a deal at the beginning of the month, had already secured a contract at 1.25 ducats per cantaro.

*Well, it can't be helped. Market prices do rise.*

Ariadne glanced at the clock.

“Of course, that is assuming I can meet my agent within thirty minutes. Any later than that... and there won't be any grain left to offer.”

Leo III's hands trembled.

He had approached this thinking he held all the cards, but it had turned into a complete disaster. The audacious girl before him had just set those cards on fire.

“Ah, and if you're thinking of sending soldiers to seize it, diplomatic friction be damned, you'll have to act fast. The party I've agreed to sell the majority of my stock to is the Republic of Porto.”

The Republic of Porto had merchants stationed across the continent and operated a large fleet at all times.

“The portion sold to the Republic of Porto is scheduled to be loaded onto ships immediately after the contract is signed. It will be outside our borders before midnight tonight.”

*It was a good thing I leased a warehouse facing the canal,* Ariadne thought to herself.

Though she hadn't expected she'd be using it to smuggle grain away from Leo III.

Leo III's clenched fists trembled, but he did not let his anger explode.

It was a complex calculation: he didn't want to make a scene in front of the young lady, and he was also debating whether to accept the grain offered to him.

Besides, he had other schemes in mind. Digging multiple burrows was Leo III's specialty.

“...Is anyone there.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A palace attendant appeared like a shadow and bowed his head beside Leo III.

“Bring the palace lawyer at once. I need to draw up a contract.”

It was one step back for one step forward. But Ariadne stopped him.

“Your Majesty, my respected King. I don't believe that will be necessary right now.”

She checked the clock again.

“It's just that... I believe I must leave now to be able to contact my agent.”

Leo III was now visibly trembling. Seeing that he had reached his breaking point, she decided to put away her sarcastic demeanor.

There was no need to deliberately grate on his nerves in front of an attendant, and besides, the threat had served its purpose.

“As a subject of the great Kingdom of Etruscan, Your Majesty's word is enough. I do not believe it is necessary to put it in writing immediately.”

She had to let the king save some face.

“Please have it drawn up at your leisure and sent to me. I will procure and secure the amount promised to Your Majesty, even without a contract.”

But she couldn't resist this one.

“However, please prepare a down payment of ten percent and send it ahead.”

Leo III barely restrained himself from throwing his teacup.

She requested with a smile.

“If Your Majesty permits, I would like to take my leave now and see to this matter.”

“...You may go.”

“I am grateful for Your Majesty's grace.”

Ariadne rose from her seat, feeling refreshed.

* * *

The matter with Leo III had been more or less resolved, but a new task had emerged for Ariadne.

*He's bestowing a title?*

On this point, Leo III was right. The recipient of that title would, nine times out of ten, be Ippolito.

*I can't let that happen.*

Ariadne had not yet fully uncovered the secret of Ippolito's birth.

She had sent people down to Taranto to meticulously dig into the past and secure physical evidence, but the outbreak of the plague had made travel difficult.

*I'll have to make do with what I have.*

Tipping her hand was not her style, but there was a time and place for everything.

“Sancha.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Send a letter of mine to the de Valdesal estate.”

“Should I send it to Lady Giulia?”

“No, to the young Marquis Raphael. Tell him I have an urgent favor to ask.”

“I understand.”