NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48
I received a command to come to the palace a few days after having a meaningful conversation with Pereira.
I had submitted a report that everything was wrapped up, and Pereira must have offered a heartfelt apology to the royal family.
To be honest, I thought it would take at least a month to meet with the busy Emperor…
“A mere knight like me summoned so urgently!”
It was a bit unexpected, but not at all bad.
It probably means the Emperor was impressed with the results I brought in.
Lost in thought, the door opened, and I heard a man’s voice.
“Fabio de Medici, His Majesty has granted you an audience. Follow me.”
“Yes, understood.”
As soon as he finished speaking, I stood up immediately and followed the palace attendant.
Worried that I might make a mistake in etiquette, the attendant gave me a five-minute crash course on the basic manners that every noble should know.
I listened carefully.
Though I already knew all of it, you never know, right?
What if later the attendant reported how I responded to him to the Emperor, and my evaluation got adjusted because of that?
The Emperor welcomed me while sipping coffee in his bedroom.
“It’s nice to see you like this. Please, make yourself comfortable.”
In South Korea of the 21st century, it’s like those old bosses sometimes saying at gatherings that it’s okay not to participate or drink.
What’s the correct response from a subordinate in such cases?
Unless there’s a funeral for parents or relatives, attendance at gatherings is a must, and unless it’s a matter of life and death, you gulp down whatever drink is offered.
These days, they’d say it’s fine because of the MZ generation and wouldn’t say anything in front of you, but afterward, the likelihood of a personal rating drop increases for you in their eyes, possibly affecting your evaluations.
Conversely, if you drink everything and pledge loyalty to the boss, the chances of being forgiven for small mistakes generally rise.
This “make yourself comfortable” here is exactly the same as at those gatherings.
If you really sit comfortably and raise your head, you’re asking for trouble.
“It is an honor for a lowly person like me to meet Your Majesty. How could I sit comfortably? Please, retract your words.”
The Emperor’s smile deepened.
“You know your manners well. I want to see your face, so lift your head.”
“Yes.”
The Emperor scrutinized my face intently.
“Your looks are somewhat lower than when I was young. Blonde hair, blue eyes, a sharp jawline. More than anything, I like that confident gaze.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“You will surely become a great person.”
That statement holds a hidden meaning.
‘If you do what I tell you, I will help you grow.’
Unless you’re an unscrupulous politician of the 21st century who can twist their words as needed, nobles of this era rarely reverse their statements.
Why? It’s because doing so could mark them as shameless.
So, some extreme ones jokingly promise their servant that if they have twins, they’ll buy them a mansion in Florence, and sometimes actually do it.
“And about this coffee you presented to Peter. It’s disgraceful that such a good beverage was monopolized by the heathens.”
While tea does contain caffeine, it’s nowhere near coffee.
Add to that the rich, warm aroma mixed with a smooth bitterness?
You can’t help but get hooked to the point of being unable to endure a day without it.
That’s why modern people can’t work without coffee, yet they complain while still visiting vibey cafes on their days off to get coffee again.
“I’ll share something only between us, but it’s also quite good for stamina. Thanks to it, I might be witnessing another child at this age.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“From now on, ensure it can be enjoyed in the royal family as well.”
In a world without advertising media like TV, the internet, or newspapers—where the very concept of advertising doesn’t exist—the way to promote products is to have the esteemed ones use them.
To be more precise, high-ranking nobles of an earl rank or above showcase it at social gatherings.
But what if the royal family openly consumes it?
The nobles of the Toscan Empire, who know falling behind trends can lead to political downfalls, will be eager to buy coffee.
‘Since you didn’t mention handling the Pereira fellows, this must be a reward separate from that.’
If it were included as a price for dealing with Pereira, he would have already mentioned it.
“I placed a rather heavy task on you, but you handled it quite elegantly, just as recommended by Duke Visconti. I wish our young legal nobility could learn from you.”
At the very start, when I received the command to put the Pereira Guild at the mercy of the High Court, it was truly absurd.
They’re monsters who can buy even a baron outright with just cash if they pay.
I’m still amping up my weight class but I’m merely a new venture, and I was ordered to confront a seasoned master with decades of experience in surviving as a merchant…
Even now, I feel genuinely good to be acknowledged like this.
‘There’s no way an Emperor like him wouldn’t reward me.’
“However, the exam isn’t over yet. To be precise, even though your acceptance is confirmed, I still want to see a bit more.”
The Emperor finished the coffee in his cup and asked.
“The results are very satisfying. But I wonder if your methods were a bit excessive. You placed the Pereira Guild on the chopping block of the High Court and had them butchered. I thought you were reckless; why did you do that?”
“Because I am infinitely weaker than Pereira.”
“If you’re far weaker, shouldn’t you have resolved it without provoking him too much? But I think Pereira would want to tear you and the Medici Baron Clan apart.”
When a weaker party deals with a stronger one, a crucial point is not to offend them.
But what if all attempts at goodwill have already failed, leading to hostility?
Then the story completely changes.
A peaceful resolution is effectively impossible.
“From the moment I received your command, I became irreversibly hostile with the Pereira Guild. Thus, to survive, I had to approach it with the mentality of a general entering war.”
“A general.”
In the Emperor’s eyes, a glimmer of interest appeared.
A satisfied smile spread across his lips.
It’s proof that my evaluation is gradually rising.
“I fear them. If they unleash their full power without your protection, everything I’ve built so far could vanish in an instant. They possess that strength, power, and wealth.”
“The Pereira Guild lacks titles and territories, but their might is equal to about three or four small baron clans. You’ve just begun to make a name for yourself. You have a clear understanding of reality.”
Just by scratching the surface, the overall population of a barony might not even exceed ten thousand.
A viscount’s territory, referred to as ‘sub-barony’, typically hosts more than 30,000 residents.
In reality, territories can easily have populations exceeding 300,000.
“No matter how brave a knight might be, there’s no one who isn’t afraid of engaging in combat with an opponent. They all tremble with fear.”
Even General Patton, renowned as a WWII hero and a mad dog, stated such things.
“‘If you endure fear for just one minute, it becomes courage.’”
“I too fear losing what I’ve built, and my retainers. Therefore, I had to win and ponder how to engage the enemy without losing anything.”
The Emperor maintained an attentive posture, ensuring he missed not a single word I spoke.
“As a result, I concluded that using firm measures so they wouldn’t underestimate me was the best way to secure my safety. And I executed it.”
When you find yourself bullied by a gang at school, one of the quickest ways to break free is this.
Surrounded by bullies, you pick just one person and make them into a bloody mess.
Or you retaliate with such force that they think twice.
By instilling the fear of not being taken lightly, the bullying often resolves itself the very next day.
Why? Because even the bullies don’t want to get hurt messing with someone they deem a lunatic.
Though the methods may differ, this principle applies to all aspects of life.
“And if I had, in contrast, held back my actions, while they would have been cautious since they currently enjoy Your Majesty’s protection, they would have eventually used me, a mere whelp borrowing the might of a lion, as a stepping stone at the right moment. This is why I employed strict measures.”
The Emperor clapped his hands upon hearing my words.
Once, twice, thrice.
His face was filled with delight.
“I see, you are an asset beyond expectation. Well then, it’s time to reward a knight who gambled his life for victory, isn’t it?”