NOVEL NEXT Chapter 62
They say that beautiful women don’t live long because of the jealousy of other women, and geniuses shorten their lives by becoming the targets of ordinary people’s hatred.
I tried to avoid creating enemies as much as possible, like Jeong Dojeon, Oda Nobunaga, and Wallenstein from the Thirty Years’ War, who are called personality wreckers.
“At that age, to have risen to the title of Young Baron by your own power.”
“They say you got a staff position without any special achievements?”
“What an arrogant kid, just a second son of a Baron family!”
Even among a flock of chickens, if I stand up like a crane, people around me will inevitably feel jealousy and envy, even if I try not to make enemies.
From now on, it won’t just be because their own rice bowls are threatened.
There will also be trash who want to oppose me just because they don’t like seeing me do well.
It feels just like 21st century Korea.
Good-looking employees, capable subordinates, well-off colleagues.
Trash who try to bury these people through internal politics are everywhere across the nation.
“If I had solved weapon and military supply issues with money, wouldn’t I have chewed through several times that?”
But I’m not going to hesitate over this little pressure or think about bowing my head and crawling on the ground.
When I become the target of someone else’s jealousy for something that isn’t even my fault, the best course is to face it with confidence.
I confidently walked toward the stage of the title bestowal ceremony.
Didn’t they say that shadows exist because there is light?
If there are people who envy me, there are also those who simply acknowledge me.
“When I heard that a 21-year-old kid was a major, I thought the world was coming to an end, but it turns out he was the real deal?”
“Even without this, from Cafe Medici to seaweed, he was a guy who could do anything.”
“Is that what they call a genius made by heaven?”
With the absolute support of Duke Visconti, my father, and the Emperor, more than half of my allies are on my side.
So, let’s just confidently continue on the path I believe in.
I stood proudly on the dais under the gaze of dozens of nobles.
“His Majesty, Emperor Vitario de Toscana, is here; everyone, take your seats!”
With that statement, the nobles present sat down.
I simultaneously kneeled on one side and bowed my head.
Before long, the emperor stood in front of me.
“Everyone, raise your heads.”
As I raised my head, the emperor was smiling.
He seemed quite satisfied with my achievements.
If he hadn’t been satisfied, even a nice guy like me would have been very angry, but I don’t think I need to worry about feeling twisted inside.
“Well, I have indeed achieved results beyond expectations.”
“The chamberlain may read out the accomplishments of Fabio de Medici.”
The chamberlain summarized my achievements and read them aloud.
Providing seaweed and maternity hospitals to reduce the number of dying mothers and children, distributing coffee so that scholars and officials can concentrate on their work.
I played a crucial role in rebuilding the First Division this time, and my righteous acts of exposing the crimes of the Pereira Guild.
All my accomplishments, except for the somewhat troublesome revolutionary techniques and things like smuggling, were announced.
“Although he is just a young, unmarried lad, Fabio’s contributions have already been of great benefit to the Empire. Moreover, despite being a poor lord with just over 3,500 serfs living in his territory, the fact that thousands of soldiers have donated weapons and armor for the Empire is a model for all nobles.”
Regular citizens of the Empire might not know me, but influential nobles in the center surely do.
Whether it’s through seaweed, which must be eaten when giving birth, or cake, a must-have food in social circles, my name would have reached their ears.
Thus, they are likely well aware that I am wealthy.
Still, there is a reason for being labeled a “poor lord.”
“This is a signal for the nobles to cough up tribute funds.”
If I fail to satisfy the emperor, a tax investigation might come, so I have to handle this carefully.
“I, Vitario de Toscana, as the Emperor of the Empire, wish to reward this dedication and loyalty. I grant the title of Young Baron to Fabio de Medici, and I will bestow upon him the area near Castle Tyrenia to be called the Medici Young Baron Territory.”
Castle Tyrenia, the term castle might as well represent a wooden stockade when you actually visit.
Nevertheless, it’s suitable for farming, and there are many inhabitants around.
According to the Bailiff I oversee there, around 6,000 people live in that area.
“If I shift the focus from wheat farming to specialty crops, wouldn’t I make more money?”
Furthermore, when I added the population of my territory and the new area being granted, it amounts to just under 10,000 people.
Though I am a Young Baron, in terms of territorial scale, it’s at a similar level as the very bottom-tier Barons.
If I only had to replace the normal goods coming in for military supplies as requested by the emperor, I would have just been granted the title of Young Baron.
It seems best to always do my utmost in whatever I can.
“Until now, Fabio de Medici has been considered a vassal of the Medici Baron, but henceforth, he will be my vassal, not the Medici Baron’s.”
The words are complex, but what the emperor means is this.
This kid is now mine.
Even though I had already been practically the same as the Duke Visconti’s vassal, now I’ve truly become someone who cannot be touched.
My brother and I are blood-related family, so he must be watching from somewhere…
I wonder what he’s feeling? It must be frustrating.
“The commander of the First Division, Duke Ducat, says that the Young Baron of Medici performed excellently during military supply operations, so I command him to oversee the supplies for the 9th and 13th Divisions. The rest of the military supplies previously managed by the Pereira Guild will be overseen by a separate guild under supervision from the royal family.”
The emperor seems quite power-hungry.
He is trying to grab hold of the core interests of military supplies himself.
Still, he gave me rights over supplies related to two divisions.
“I will only do as much as I did with the First Division and make a profit.”
If I do too well, I’ll earn the resentment of other mercantile families.
And considering my current capacity, I will have to expand the guild scale significantly for the time being…
To earn money and climb higher, I have to put in the effort.
“This concludes the ceremony. I will continue to serve with the same loyalty as before.”
“I pledge my body and heart to the Empire and the royal family.”
“I will look forward to it.”
As the emperor passed by me, he whispered softly.
“Did you like it?”
I answered by bowing my head even deeper.
Just optimizing the military supplies for one division is already equivalent to the scale of a small city, and he gave me two of them. How could I not be thankful?
As the emperor left, everyone rose and retreated.
Both the faction of Duke Visconti and Duke Sforza must have plenty they want to say due to the emergence of a new ace.
Although the Duke Visconti didn’t encourage me directly…
Honestly, just the Duke bringing his followers here to me shows that he’s quite concerned about me within the faction.
“Now he even encourages me directly? Enemies within the faction are bound to increase…”
So, there’s no need to feel regret.
I once again pondered my title and status.
“Medici Young Baron.”
Unlike my days when I was just a knight, now I am able to act as an independent noble entity.
I feel like I’ve climbed up slightly faster than I thought I would.
But I don’t think I won’t be able to bear this position.
I can do even better than I have done so far in the future.
And since my title has risen, I need to shower the Medici guild staff and servants with bonuses and hold a family feast.
While thinking of good ideas on my way back, the current Medici Baron, Albert, approached me.
“Medici Baron, thank you so much for gracing this occasion.”
“How could I possibly miss my brother’s ascension to Young Baron?”
He can’t skip this ceremony even if he wants to kill me.
If he doesn’t show up, the nobles will point fingers at him for not even taking care of his own family.
Albert patted my shoulder and smiled.
“I’m really proud of you for already accumulating advisory experience at that age and rising to Young Baron on your own.”
They say that people die if they do things they’re not used to; why is he suddenly acting this way?
Has he been struck by lightning?
“Every social gathering I participate in, your story comes up at least once, and now my ears are going to get sore from hearing all these praises about you.”
“Why would you say such embarrassing things?”
Then Albert’s expression changed drastically.
In a serious tone, he leaned in close, so only I could hear.
“Don’t forget to be humble. They say that if you achieve too much at a young age, the end isn’t very good. I’m advising you as a brother, so take it to heart.”
People really never change.
Still, I have no plans to oppose you, and since I was born into the Medici Baron family, I’ll make sure to take care of interests and gifts…
Please don’t be jealous of me.
What’s so ugly about being jealous of your younger brother?
“I’ll keep that in mind, Brother.”