EIITAB - Chapter 94 < Words I Couldn't Said >
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
Kalaty Castle was busy.
"There! Be careful untying the rope! Then, when the bag explodes, you have to pick it all up one by one!"
"Yes!"
The neighing of horses and the shouting of workers were mixed together. It felt like a Market.
Just as Aslan had predicted a few days ago, a party bringing grain from the southern Great Plains had just crossed the drawbridge and arrived at Kalathi Castle. As it was an important matter, Aslan also came out with the head of the estate to check the arrived cart.
"Wow, that amount is really huge!"
Dean let out a typical exclamation. The other two lieutenants looked at the cart in astonishment as Dean did, but they didn't make a fuss.
"Who is in charge?"
Aslan looked for the person in charge without raising his voice even once. Then, the person who appeared to be leading them from the south suddenly stepped forward.
"Nice to meet you, Duke Kalathi. My name is Howson, and I am in charge of tax revenue and grain disbursement in the Witcher Plains."
"Nice to meet you."
Although Aslan did not show it outwardly, he was surprised on the inside. Because Howson looked quite young, it was surprising that he was in charge of such an important role.
'You seem to have good skills.'
So Hestia would have entrusted him with an important position. As all of the rights to the southern Great Plains have been transferred to Aslan, there is no need to pretend that they will continue to see each other in the future.
Aslan was the first to extend his hand towards him, showing respect and wishing him well. Howson, who had not expected the man to shake his hand, was startled and immediately rubbed his palm against his pants. He quickly wiped off the sweat and held Aslan's hand with both hands.
"I look forward to it!"
As soon as the handshake was over, Howson swallowed dry saliva. He stood at attention, unable to move, as if his body had become rigid. It was inevitable for anyone to be nervous like this in front of Aslan, so he didn't look particularly strange. But Aslan's eyes soon narrowed.
'Hmm?'
This was because Howson began to roll his eyes, his body rigid. It was clearly an act of searching for something. Aslan, who was watching him quietly, asked.
"Are you looking for something?"
"Ah......!"
Howson was startled, hurriedly looked away, and bowed his head towards Aslan.
"Excuse me, Duke. It's no different..."
He trailed off for a moment and then began to rhyme with difficulty.
"Hey, is there a Princess... Where is she? It's been a while, and I'd like to meet her and say hello."
Aslan's brow furrowed slightly. It was a reflex action. Aslan instantly found himself wary of him. At the same time, his gaze at Howson became fierce.
If Howson had been a woman, or a little older, would he have felt so offended? The answer came quickly.
'Probably not.'
Aslan suppressed the urge to click his tongue right away. If it's official business, he can talk to him instead of Hestia. This is because from now on, the Witcher's land will be managed by the Kalathi. So, Aslan only thought that Howson was visiting Hestia for personal business.
Howson was looking at Aslan with bright eyes, longing for an answer.
'It's impossible not to answer.'
So Aslan opened his mouth in a very blunt manner.
"She is in her room. There is no need for her to come out when the wind is cold. It's not like she's moving these things."
Howson's face darkened at the suggestion that she would not be able to meet him.
"Ah... Okay."
Howson was visibly disappointed. Just as Aslan's face was about to crumple even more at that sight, Howson continued speaking.
"Actually, someone My wife entrusted me with something to pass on to the Princess."
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly and smiled kindly. Then Aslan stopped. When he heard that Howson had a wife, his angry feelings quickly calmed down.
'When I thought about it, it wasn't really something to be upset about.'
Aslan changed his attitude as soon as he flipped his palm. The Southern Great Plains Witcher was the land of Hestia for a long time. There could have been some kind of closeness between her and Howson, who managed the place, even if it wasn't a special relationship.
In a way, it was natural for him to want to see her. Aslan, embarrassed for no reason, cleared his throat. He spoke quietly, averting his gaze from Howson.
"Please tell her in person later. Let's have dinner together."
"Is that true?"
Aslan nodded his head as Howson was visibly pleased.
"Because you have to eat too."
"Thank you, Duke!"
Howson answered loudly. Aslan immediately changed the topic.
"Anyway, can I check the things I brought with me?"
"Yes, of course."
Aslan gave him a brief nod and extended his hand over his shoulder.
"Here I am, Your Excellency."
Dean then handed him the dagger as if he had been waiting for it.
Aslan lightly threw it into the air, caught it again, and then walked over to the nearest cart. He stabbed the dagger into a large sack containing grain and pulled it out. One of the workers quickly approached carrying a large basket and placed it under the sack. Then, the wheat grains fell between them and fell into the rain sorghum basket. Aslan did not stop there but moved to another cart and repeated the same action. It fell into another basket with a sound.
"Hmm, I guess you didn't do any pranks."
The quality was all quite good, and there was no sand or gravel mixed in at all. The cart was also chosen at random, so there was no way the trick would work.
Aslan nodded his head with satisfaction and then gave the command.
"Martin, you can check the quantity and move it to the warehouse. After everything is sorted out, we give the villa to the witchers."
"Yes, Your Excellency. I will follow your orders."
Aslan responded with a brief nod and turned around without hesitation. From one to ten, it was a waste of time to watch all of this happen. The weather was nice these days, but we never knew when winter would show its true colors again and make things difficult for everyone.
Before that, they had to be sent back, and the poor lives of the territory residents had to be taken care of. In addition to administrative work, repairs to areas damaged in the previous battle must be completed quickly.
Aslan had too much work to do, and the three lieutenants under him were talented people and trustworthy people who could be easily entrusted with such tasks.
"I'll just go in now. If there is a problem, report it."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
So Aslan entered the castle, leaving behind only short instructions. But not long after, a polite knock was heard from outside his office.
"Who is it? Come in."
"Your Excellency, please excuse me."
The ones who appeared were Martin and Dean with stern expressions. Aslan tilted his head slightly.
Judging by the amount of grain or something else, there was no way the job could have been completed so quickly.
'Besides, is Dean coming with you?'
Then, Martin was saying that there was something else he had to urgently report to him. Aslan asked, gently putting down the document he had been looking at.
"What's going on?"
"There is a problem."
"Problem? What? Isn't the quantity correct?"
"That's not it..."
Martin, who swallowed dry saliva, seemed to have difficulty opening his mouth. Aslan looked at him. Martin didn't say anything, but with a gentle look in his eyes, Martin found it difficult to speak.
"Howson said there was something he forgot to say to your Excellency earlier, so I came to deliver it on his behalf."
"Okay? What?"
"They say more people are moving with them. He said they would likely arrive at Kalathi Castle in two or three days."
Aslan narrowed his eyes as it was a story that had never been discussed in the capital.
"What does that mean? Are you saying there is a latecomer?"
"No. Those who come after are called envoys."
Aslan slowly leaned against the back of his chair. In a short period, his eyes were shining sharply like a well-honed blade.
"A delegation. What on earth do you mean?"
The answer came from Dean, not Martin.
"It is said that they suddenly joined them when they were passing through the gate of the 'Insurmountable Wall. As a witcher's manager, he said he had no reason to refuse, so he came with them."
And Martin supplemented Dean's explanation.
"The King's delegation and a pilgrimage group sent from the temple. It is said that two groups come together like this. I heard that the total number of people was close to 40 people."
The sound of Aslan clicking his tongue could be heard between his lips.
"Looking at it, it appears to be a collaboration between the royal family and the plot temple. They seem to have plotted a right after we left, out of fear that they might be a bunch of old men."
His lips became pale.
"No wonder."
He thought it would be easier than he thought to allow them to hand over grain from the Great Plains to Kalati. Aslan clearly read Yorgos and the temple's intentions.
Their goal will not be to restore relations with the North. It is more likely to be shown to people in the south and the capital. Kalathi, to say the least, was not rich in supplies, so it was difficult to treat the delegation properly. Those who 'won't' take this situation into account will naturally think that they have been treated poorly and will return to the capital and say bad things about it.
Yorgos had nothing to lose. This is because the royal family is showing signs that it is continuing to reach out to Kalathi, creating the perception in the public that it is the northern side that chose to cut off. If that happened, it was clear that the capital's people's hostility toward Kalathi would grow even more.
'And the temple side... '
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