Fair Trade

Word had likely already reached the duke through his soldiers.

Alexia gave everyone a once-over, confirming there were no glaring deficiencies in their appearance.

She tugged at Yohane's shirt, trying to make it look at least a little more presentable.

"I've got better clothes back at the shop."

"That's just how things go sometimes. You don't always get to prepare."

"This trip has been especially bad for that…"

Yohane added that they'd at least broken even, at any rate.

They headed for the ducal estate.

The house steward who had previously placed the order for spices and soap was waiting at the gate.

There was no way he could have known their exact arrival time.

He must have been standing there ever since receiving word.

"This way."

At the steward's direction, the gate opened.

They followed behind the steward as he walked ahead.

They were led to the head of the household's private chambers.

The steward knocked on the door and opened it upon receiving a reply.

Inside, the duke and duchess were seated on a sofa, pouring wine into glasses while nibbling on cheese and nuts. They were in the middle of drinking.

It was somewhat disarming.

After showing them in, the steward closed the door.

No footsteps could be heard, so he appeared to be standing guard just outside.

Several maids were also present in the room.

"They double as bodyguards," Alexia whispered to Yohane from behind.

Unassuming, yet optimal for personal protection. It made sense.

Yohane thought it was similar to how he kept female slaves as adventurers by his side.

"Why don't you have a seat?"

The duke gestured toward the sofa opposite his.

Yohane sat down first without hesitation, and the others followed.

The leather-upholstered premium sofa accommodated all five of them without issue.

The comfort was superb.

"First, take this. You've done well."

The duke instructed a maid, who brought over a bag from the table on a silver tray.

The bag was heavy, packed with a generous amount of gold coins.

"That covers your payment, plus hush money. You are never to speak of what happened. Is that clear?"

"Understood."

Yohane held the bag carefully and handed it to Azu.

Once the duke confirmed they'd accepted it, he picked up a wedge from a cheese that had been cut into sixths and popped it into his mouth.

After savoring it, he washed it down with wine.

"Serf—Orleans, was it? Do you know where the grapes that produced this wine were grown?"

He had a maid bring out a bunch of grapes.

They were magnificent.

Given that the duke favored this wine, the grapes it was made from had to be exceptional.

Orleans stared intently at the grapes.

"They look familiar. These look very much like the grapes grown on the estate."

"Correct. Try one."

"… Yes."

At the duke's prompting, she plucked a single grape from the stem and ate it, skin and all.

Her expression transformed into one of astonishment in an instant.

"Good, isn't it? The wine is even better. Those toga-wearing nobles back in the capital go into debt trying to buy it."

The duke plucked a grape for himself and ate it.

"Merchant. You try some too."

Yohane nodded and tried one.

It was sweeter than any grape he'd ever tasted, yet with a definite tartness.

The juice practically overflowed from his mouth.

If someone had told him to buy these grapes, he'd have said he'd take a mountain of them. They were that good.

"This is incredible. I've never had grapes like these…"

"Of course you haven't. This grape is the pride and joy of my territory. Grain cultivation is thriving around here now, but when the region was first claimed, there was nothing."

As he spoke, the duke handed his silver glass to a maid, who poured a deep red wine into it.

Azu and Orleans were served a pressed fruit juice from a separate container.

"Our family's prosperity began when these grapes were first cultivated. And the ones who supported that were your people. Thinking about it that way, perhaps we've treated you rather poorly."

Elza slowly swirled her glass, enjoying the aroma, then took a small sip to savor it.

Alexia took a delicate lick-like sip, decided she liked it, and drained the rest in one go.

Azu and Orleans were happily enjoying their sweet grape juice.

Yohane grabbed a nut from a freshly filled plate, tossed it into his mouth, and crunched it loudly.

He washed it down with wine.

Salt and sweetness passed over his tongue.

"So, as promised?"

"Indeed. On the condition that they continue cultivating these grapes, of course—but I'll grant rights to the serfs. The right to education. The right to have their produce, including grapes, purchased at fair, if modest, prices. And the right to use that money to buy back their own freedom, if they so choose."

It was an enormous decision.

One that could fundamentally reshape the way this city functioned—perhaps precisely because it had already grown into a major city.

The estate's profits had been poured into this city, building up its infrastructure, which in turn attracted people and goods from across the Empire.

The duke had rejected the old ways of serfdom.

Even though, as their owner, no one could have complained if he'd simply taken everything.

And this was an Imperial senator—one of the most powerful aristocrats in the Empire.

Orleans bowed her head upon hearing this.

"Thank you, Duke-sama."

"You've contributed more than enough. This is a good opportunity. There's no telling that someone exceptional won't emerge from among your people. Someone like you. Besides, the work itself won't change. The education amounts to providing a few books, nothing more."

"Even so."

The duke drained his glass, poured fresh wine, and emptied the glass bottle.

He held the empty bottle aloft in his right hand and studied it.

"Do you know what the most terrifying thing in this world is? More fearsome than even a Fire Dragon."

Yohane considered the question.

For him, the answer would be bankruptcy, but what would the duke consider the most terrifying?

"Illness, or losing your position?"

The duke snorted at that.

As if to say it was a young man's answer.

"Resentment. Once resentment takes root, it never fades. It smolders and accumulates over time. Eventually, it destroys everything the other side has. One must never be resented. This is part of that."

And with that, the duke declared the matter closed.

"Starting tomorrow, then. Orleans. You'll be returning to the estate, yes?"

"Yes."

"If you ever want to buy your own freedom, come see me. I'll hire you."

"I will."

The chain of events that had begun when they found Orleans had finally come to a close.

They bowed and left the room.