Margrave's Bastard Son was The Emperor

Chapter 59

Grula, you

His expression conveyed that he had much to say, but chose not to say it. Even if Ian was a commoners son, Grula was notorious for being so toxic that not even a passing dog would bother to bite.

Who would have thought he would audaciously exit through the front gate? It would have been better to propose a price negotiation with Count Merellof instead.

But its true. Grula seeds are edible. You can roast them, boil them, or even eat them raw. Considering nutrients, satiety, and efficiency, it could even be called a divine blessing.

What nonsense.

How could nobody have known about such a miraculous crop till now? It was a little shameful considering how the Bariel Empire had scholars working every day on solutions for famine.

And now, Grula, which is as common as dirt, is a divine blessing?

Ive been eating it recently.

You have?

Yes. The taste is quite good. Im sure you, Sir Romandro, will also find it irresistible once you try it. The growing period is about a month, so there are no issues with food during the winter.

Squeak.

The smoothly running carriage came to a stop midway. Once at the village square, then in the alley where the entertainment district is located, and again in the residential area. Each time the carriage stopped, the subordinates who had set off first climbed aboard.

But something seemed off about Beric. Not only did his face seem flushed, but there was also a smell of wine whenever he faintly smiled. Ian gave him a sidelong glance and lightly scolded him.

Beric, youre not doing what youre supposed to.

Eh? No, no. The barkeeper kept insisting.

Beric, who climbed in at the entertainment district, sniffled.

How much had he drunk in such a short time? Before Ian could frown, Beric quickly began reporting the situation.

They said theyll put up the notice. Dozens heard my announcement. Its the most popular tavern around here.

If you dig Grula, we will pay.

This was what Ian meant by hiring people. The peasants near Bratz will dig Grula in their forests, and those near Merellof will do the same.

Did you specify the compensation and the time frame?

Of course. One copper coin for every three large bags. Only valid for one month.

One copper coin was what a low-class laborer could earn in a month. Filling three bags with Grula wouldnt be easy, but someone with good stamina could do it within half a month.

Isnt that too generous? One copper coin?

We need them to scour the forest with enthusiasm. If you think about the abundant winter that one bag of Grula will bring, its not that expensive.

And most importantly, the time period.

If they dont set a time limit of a month, there will certainly be people who will cultivate and bring in more. Sorry, but thats something that absolutely cannot happen. What Ian wants is not just the Grula itself, but also for all the shoots in the surrounding area to wither away.

How is the Merellof farming situation this year?

It doesnt seem that great. Its originally not a place for farming, and didnt the central army Bratzs battle make the river dirty? Theyre saying among themselves that its a poor harvest.

What usually happens in Merellof during a poor harvest?

In the winter, trade delegations from the Hawan Kingdom come in. Thats when economic activity starts thriving.

Trade delegations.

Yes, those are groups that have almost everything. The really big ones even carry around several years worth of dried meat. The people of the Merellof territory provide them with lodging and convenience in exchange for buying food.

So even if theres a poor harvest, it doesnt have much of an impact.

Actually, it would probably be easier to find a year thats not a poor harvest in Merellof.

In response to Ians continued questioning, Romandros subordinate gave an excellent answer. He seems to have gathered information well before coming down.

In any case, its unknown how the harvest will turn out this autumn. If we can secure as much Grula as possible

Did he perhaps already know?

Merellof might even propose a trade from their side. While Ian was mentally sorting out plans for the winter, Romandro was groaning while scratching his jawbone.

Grula? Grulaaa?

He wanted to return to the territory immediately and verify if Ians claim was true. Otherwise, hed give the boy a good piece of his mind, mage or not. And first thing when the day breaks, he would go look for Count Merellof again.

Cant you go any faster?

Is something urgent?

Ah, you talk too much!

Understood. Itll be a bit bumpy. Lets go!

Zzak! Hiing!

Ian, whether he knew of Romandros worries or not, only firmly swatted away Berics hand that was reaching for the dried meat in the box.

Ah, youre being too much, my Lord.

Stop talking nonsense and wake up. Your speech has changed like youre drunk.

My mouth is bitter. Just one? Huh? Just one.

In the end, when they arrived at the mansion, only an empty box was left. The moment Romandro got off the carriage, all the servants, starting from the kitchen, were thrown into chaos.

What did you just say? Make food with this?

This is Grula. Your jokes are really bad today.

No, its true. Sir Ian said to make food with Grula. Any weed-based recipes can be used, but make sure to check if there are seeds with pulp on the surface.

The kitchen staff all crossed their arms and stared down at the box of Grula. No matter how they thought about it, this was a waste of ingredients, fuel, and manpower. Who in the world would cook with roadside weeds?

Having no choice, the head chef went up to Ians room to confirm the order.

Sir Ian. About tonights dinner.

Ah, yes. You heard, right? I personally like to boil the Grula until its well-cooked and then use it. Its nice when its cold, but its artistic when swallowed warm.

It wasnt a joke. It was real.

The head chef, in bewilderment, took off his hat and bowed. The kitchen staff gathered around and bombarded him with questions.

So were really cooking with Grula?

Yes, everyone turn on the stoves.

I dont get it, really. Ah! I get it! Maybe its to poison that official Molrin and his group.

Dont be foolish. Have you ever seen someone die from eating Grula?

Of course not! Who would eat such a thing?

No, if you have a weak body, you might ingest the poison and die. Remember the old man who used to shine shoes? He got sick and died after eating Grula.

*Cha-ah-ak!*

When had the kitchen ever been so noisy? The head chef couldnt even bring himself to quell the uproar, instead busily stirring pans. It felt like all the sauces and spices being sprinkled over were going down the drain. For the first time in his life, he felt guilty while cooking.

And then, a few hours later.

Romandro donned a napkin around his neck with a face full of tension. Then, the dining room door opened, and the servants lined up, pulling in trolleys. The smell was both familiar and strange. One thing was certain; it stimulated the salivary glands.

Is, is all of this made from Grula?

Head Chef, please introduce.

Specifically, these are Grula seeds. This is a dessert made by frying Grula seeds and soaking them in honey. And this is stewed. When cooked, it grows in size. I cant give you a name since there isnt one.

Even Ian didnt know the specifics of the recipes. He had never set foot in a kitchen; he was an emperor and was served, not the one cooking.

But touch. These were people who had spent their lives in front of fire; their cooking stimulated the visual and olfactory senses even if it was made on a whim.

Clink-clank

Hmm.

Ian didnt hesitate in tasting the food. He sampled this and that, and thoroughly enjoyed the Grula. Romandro cautiously prodded at the Grula.

Is the doctor waiting outside?

No, its the middle of the night, so hes probably at home?

Tell him to be on standby!

Hahaha. Just kidding. Dont worry and try some.

As Ian let out a hearty laugh, Romandro sighed deeply and closed his eyes. Then, he took a spoonful of Grula and put it into his mouth.

Heeek!

Romandro made an unexpected sound, surprising even himself. Ian couldnt help but laugh as he saw Romandros eyes slowly widen. Instead of speaking, he took another spoonful of the stew and fed it to him.

Does it suit your taste?

This, this.

Why is it so delicious? Romandro seemed utterly captivated by the new taste. Ian gestured to the servants standing at the back of the dining room.

You all come over here too.

Us, you mean?

Dont just stand there, come and try the food. Arent you curious?

The servants hesitated, glancing cautiously at Romandro. He was so engrossed in the food that he lifted the soup bowl to drink directly from it. The servants felt awkward due to the informal behavior at the owners table and the prejudices about wild weeds.

Thank you.

What would you like to eat?

Ill have something honey-glazed.

The first among them to step forward was Hannah. Hannah took some food with a cheerful disposition and soon seemed surprised as she covered her mouth.

Its delicious.

Isnt it?

Hannah, is it really good?

Sis, you should try it too.

Then, if youll excuse me, Ian-nim

Seeing both the owner and the royal advisor eating like this, the servants thought there shouldnt be any problem. Encouraged by Hannah, they gathered around one by one and took bites of the grula dish.

Eh?

Um is this what Grula is?

This is unbelievable. Its really delicious.

Ian watched his family with a faint smile. While it might be due to their basic needs being met, it was the farmers who connected Ian and the people of the estate.

They were the starting point for the distribution of gulla. One person leads to two, and two to four. As with all great endeavors, the beginning is always modest.

Ha, this is amazing. How did you even find this?

Romandro seemed to have finally regained his composure, wiping the corner of his mouth. The bowl in front of him was completely empty.

It was by chance.

Did Dergha not feed you at all?

Thats not it. Anyway, we should rely on Grula for this winter. Well build a greenhouse in the garden starting tomorrow. It roots well in both dry sand and water but is weak to cold.

While constructing the greenhouse, they could mobilize the people from Merellof and Bratzs estates to collect all the Grula in the area. As long as the demand is certain, controlling the supply in the area would give them an advantageous position in the market.

What about when it snows? Ah, true, its hard to come by in winter.

Romandro, forgetting all formalities, licked his spoon clean and mumbled. Then, he casually asked Ian.

After observing for a few days and seeing that there are no adverse effects, I should include this in my report to the imperial palace. Is that alright?

Of course. You must also include how it was discovered.

The implication was not to leave out Ians name. After all, it was implausible to say that Romandro, who had recently come to the estate, had unilaterally discovered the edibility of Grula. Romandro gestured as if to say, dont worry about it.

Ill only write the truth in the report, even if a knife is on my throat. By the way, can we eat more of this?

You cant. We still have a limited amount. Remember, one seed yields more than ten Grula.

As Ian refused with a smile, Romandro put down his spoon, licking his lips. If he knew it would come to this, he would have stopped the servants from taking the Grula.

And everyone, maintain strict silence until weve gathered enough Grula seeds.

At Ians command, the servants, including Hannah, made a show of sealing their lips solemnly.