NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68: The company of a good friend (making a company with a good friend)
The two ‘boys’ stuck close together as they navigated the market. It was very busy and the two of them had small bodies.
They watched the acrobatic acts first. There was even some fake fire breathing.
Rian gave Ren Xiyang a look. “A good attack move for next time?”
Ren Xiyang rolled his eyes. He put a copper coin into the upturned hat.
They listened to some lively music.
Rian leaned in and spoke close to Ren Xiyang’s ear. “We should practice playing something together. Do you prefer the piano or the violin?”
“I prefer farming.”
“In that case, I’ll choose.” Rian put a copper coin into the small box nearby.
They went and took a look at all the stalls. Rian ignored the fine wines and cheeses and meats. Instead, he deviated to certain other food stalls.
He tugged Ren Xiyang close and whispered, “What’s this? What are they selling?”
“That’s oat milk.”
Rian narrowed his eyes. “Like soy milk? You haven’t made that for me.”
“I could. Or you could buy one of those to try.”
Rian took out a copper coin. Copying the other customers, he stepped forward and called out, “One of that, please!”
Repeating this procedure multiple times, Rian sampled many things he had never eaten before, including oat milk, rice milk, seitan, pumpkin buns, and several experimental tofu dishes. When he ran out of copper coins in his pockets, he took the coins from Ren Xiyang’s pockets.
(He gave Ren Xiyang some food too. He wasn’t that cruel.)
After spending all their copper coins, the two had a look at the rest of the Harvest Festival markets before they headed back to the Rosewood manor, the Rosewood guards and the Royal Guards none-the-wiser.
Once they re-entered the sound-blocking bubble, Rian laughed.
Ren Xiyang’s lips twitched. “Had fun?”
Rian’s eyes were curved in happiness. “Hehe, if we had tried this in the Capital, I’m afraid someone might have recognised me regardless.”
“Or you can pretend to be a girl. No one would look twice.”
“Don’t give me bad ideas, Earl Rosewood.” Rian ended the spells that changed their hair and eye colours. His eyes widened.
Ren Xiyang prepared to edge backwards. “What?”
Rian grinned. “I haven’t seen you in red hair for a long time now.”
Ren Xiyang: “…” He pulled the ends of his hair into sight. “…” He looked at Rian. “Those hair-colour-changing charms cost money.”
Rian fixed Ren Xiyang’s hair with another hair-colour spell. “Suitable, my Lord?”
“Indeed, your Highness. Now, a good idea is to have a quick bath. Your Highness, please, go first.”
Rian started towards the bathroom, but then stopped.
Ren Xiyang raised his eyebrows. “You’re not one of those nobles who can’t bathe without a servant helping, are yout?”
Rian pursed his lips. “You’re the weird one who bathes without the help of a servant!”
Ren Xiyang snorted. “Get your clothes.” He walked into the bathroom first and started running the bath. After the bathtub filled up, Ren Xiyang magically adjusted the water temperature. “You can bathe properly later. Just get in, wipe yourself down, and get out again and dry yourself.”
Rian gathered the clothes he had changed out of earlier. “Yes, yes, I know how to bathe, thank you very much.”
Ren Xiyang gave an unconvinced hum, and left Rian to it, closing the bathroom door.
While Rian was bathing, Ren Xiyang changed his clothes, using a wet cloth to briefly clean himself.
In retrospect, he couldn’t believe he had just done all that with Rian. They had mingled with the people and acted like children. He had thrown coins at some kids (he couldn’t live this down). He had forgotten about all his responsibilities from the moment they started running.
It had been fun. He was glad that Rian had gotten him out of the manor. (Not that he’d tell Rian any of this.)
While Rian continued to wash up, Ren Xiyang prepared some tea and gathered the working papers from last night. Something that would have taken him weeks to puzzle out from various magical textbooks had taken Rian a few hours. Rian’s hand was neat and steady, and his drawn magic circles were very standard in shape. Last night, Rian had produced some candidate talismans that should be able to take in sunlight, store it in a different part of the magical array, and release it back as heat.
Ren Xiyang trusted Rian. The heating charms should be completed in time for the coldest months. In that case, winter preparations needed to be adjusted to take this into account.
Rian finally came out of the bathroom, his clothes properly put on. He pouted. “Did you start without me?”
“I was considering the Rosewood fief management.”
Rian sat down on the sofa next to Ren Xiyang. “Have you ever considered that you may be working too much? Most other nobles do less than half of what you do.”
“I don’t work more than you.”
“But I’m a prince.”
“In that case, do you want the Rosewood fief? Please take it.”
“…Is there something you’re not telling me about the fief?”
“Nooo,” Ren Xiyang said very convincingly.
Rian snorted. “I had a new idea for how we could get non-mages to activate the heating charms, which is that they don’t. The spell itself should always be on, and instead, non-mages can adjust the heat output.”
“In that case, can you link the physical movement of something to the action of the magical array? Like a lever or button or dial that they could turn to adjust the temperature?”
“I can.”
“Then the heating spell should be embedded in a physical object, like a miniature portable fireplace or lantern. If you can do it, we could have a lighting charm to give off a glow when the heating is on.”
“Of course I can do it.” Rian was about to sketch some magic circles when he paused. “Earl Xiyang. What if we produced these for sale? Yes, I know what you wanted this for. However, magical devices should not be given away cheaply. These can be sold at the price they’re worth, and you can use the profit to fund other plans. At the lowest price point, it could be a relatively simple box, with one heating mode. At the highest price point, it would be an exquisite fire box with multiple functions that wouldn’t be out of the place in any noble’s home.”
Ren Xiyang slowly raised his eyebrows. “Oh, that’s a good idea, Prince Rian,” he said, sounding surprised.
“…I think I liked you better when you didn’t joke so much,” Rian said.
Ren Xiyang smirked, but then turned serious. “It’s a good idea. Once we determine the best talisman charms to use, we could find some crafters to create the outer shell while I cast the spells.”
“I can handle distribution and also find some workers to make the luxury versions. We’d split the profits.”
“In that case, we need a company name. What do you think about Rosewood & Azure?”
“You mean Azure & Rosewood.”
Ren Xiyang bowed his head, hand to his chest. “As you wish, Your Highness.”
Rian’s eyes sparkled. “As it should be. Now, this is what we need…”
Rian stayed another day at the Rosewood fief. He and Ren Xiyang stayed in Ren Xiyang’s quarters, going over a multitude of matters, including the heating/lighting charms, the Angio kingdom, and the progress of the Royal Healers’ Service.
Some of Rian’s new people were now assigned to the Royal Healers’ Service, helping out Mage Vercher and the small but growing group of healer-mages.
Queen Mira had sent and received more messages from the Angio kingdom, the kind that was bland and noncommittal on both sides. Right now, neither Rian nor Ren Xiyang had the ‘age’ or power to communicate directly with the Angio government or Angio king. Both of them needed to establish and develop benign trading relationships, expand their staff and range of influence, and strengthen their positions.
And their current work to get heating/lighting charms made for trade and sale would aid in their long-term plans. Ren Xiyang selected some carpenters and crafters to help make some prototype lanterns, while Rian lent Ren Xiyang one of his staff to handle management.
After that, Rian left first: he needed to attend the next aristocratic social event. Ren Xiyang didn’t go with him.
In the aristocracy where every move was analysed by at least someone, Earl Rosewood’s absence at the social event was very noticeable.
Earl Rosewood sent those roses, and Prince Rian visited him in his fief just a few days ago, and yet now Earl Rosewood wasn’t here? Had the two boys gotten into an argument or fight? Had the Capital Investigated investigated Earl Rosewood and found something untoward?
More people than usual took the initiative to talk to Rian that evening at the social event. Some of them asked vaguely about Prince Rian’s trip around the kingdom, while others asked directly about Earl Rosewood’s peculiar absence.
Rian smiled slightly at the first set of nobles and said, “Oh, you’re interested in improving agricultural methods now? Maybe Viscountess Sage could host another workshop in the Capital then.”
Rian smiled sweetly at the second set of nosy nobles and said a truth: “Earl Rosewood is busy preparing for his first winter as the earl of the Rosewood fief. He has quite a lofty goal: to prevent preventable deaths. It’s admirable.”
Then Prince Rian would ask them something or other, steering the conversation to talk about them. With the warm gaze and well-selected praises, those nobles would walk away thinking that Prince Rian also admired them! Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to ally with Prince Rian...
After the social event was over, and willingly oblivious to the new rumours about himself, Ren Xiyang headed to the Capital for three meetings.
The first was a meeting with Solicitor Carmine about the progress of the new Rosewood legislation. Solicitor Carmine had worked hard to take on board reasonable criticisms and update the new draft act.
The second was the Imperial Council gathering which was two days after the social event. After the time spent on the Rosewood fief’s Death Penalty Abolition Act, this month’s Imperial Council Gathering had a lot of other business to go through.
The third was a meeting with Baron Baltasar Cordovan.
Over the last month, the Cordovan lawyers had combed through the contract from Earl Rosewood and found it solid and air-tight.
Over the last month, Baltasar Cordovan had been learning about the Cordovan fief’s administration. He had applied for and successfully visited his parents in the Imperial Prison, where they stayed in-between supervised labour.
They were still alive. Their common clothes and their less-than-desirable setting showed how much they had fallen, but they retained their poise in front of him. They told him what they would do regarding the fief administration and the horrible contract that Earl Rosewood had offered.
His parents still maintained their innocence. Were they actually innocent? Were the Capital Investigators wrong? Or were his parents guilty?
Baltasar left more conflicted than ever. He could still remember Earl Rosewood’s serious voice, Say, if I murdered your parents and all your siblings…
Then, Baltasar had heard about the gifts that Earl Rosewood sent out to his allies. He was reminded of how good Earl Rosewood was to his allies and confirmed how Prince Rian and Prince Alexius both appreciated and favoured Earl Rosewood.
His two younger siblings, Felipe and Susana, both wistfully remembered how Prince Rian had magical entrance effects and how Earl Rosewood had taken them to fly that afternoon months ago.
Given the current state of things, Baltasar would be stupid to make an enemy of Earl Rosewood. The compensation had to be given, as was ruled by King Edric.
Baltasar came to a decision.
Baltasar made the trip to the Rosewood capital house to meet with Earl Rosewood. His siblings and lawyers accompanied him.
After standard pleasantries, Baltasar said, “Earl Rosewood, before we sign the contract, I request that the 20% contribution to the people of the Cordovan fief be raised to 40% contribution.”
Earl Rosewood frowned, face darkening, and said, “Okay.”
Baltasar had prepared words of persuasion which turned out to be completely useless. He didn’t expect Earl Rosewood to make such a face yet still agree. “I have the amended contract here.”
One of the Cordovan lawyers passed over two copies of the new contract. The Rosewood lawyers looked over them, comparing the text with the original version of the contract. Everything was in order: the words were the same, aside from the changed contribution percentage, and a few new clauses about the management of the contribution and the payment schedule.
The Cordovan estate would handle the 40% contributions. They would provide twice-yearly reports to Earl Rosewood on the expenditures and accept a Rosewood-assigned auditor. As for the remaining compensation, the payment schedule was 1500 gold every six months for 10 years, and the first payment was now.
After the contract was signed by both Baltasar and Earl Rosewood, Baltasar handed over the first payment.
At that, Earl Rosewood gave a slight smile. “Thank you, Baron Cordovan.”
Baltasar nodded. “There’s one last question from me.”
“Oh?”
“If my siblings learn nonverbal magic and reach the direct-magic manipulation stage, will you teach them how to fly or how to create fire-type entrance effects?”
Felipe and Susana both froze. They hadn’t expected their brother to ask that!
Earl Rosewood nodded. “I can. That depends on them. Your parents’ action won’t affect non-related matters between us.”
Baltasar was sceptical at Earl Rosewood’s last comment, but he accepted the overall sentiment. “Thank you.”
After the meeting was over, Baltasar belatedly realised just how smoothly the meeting had gone. Earl Rosewood was so obstinate in the Imperial Council and didn’t join any voting blocs. Yet he was very agreeable today. If Baltasar could work Earl Rosewood out, maybe they could be allies in the future…
At the Harvest Festival:
Random citizen #1: Huh, doesn’t that look like Earl Rosewood?
Random citizen #2: Pfft, are you trying to make me laugh? Earl Rosewood has red eyes and black hair! Next you’d be saying that the other boy is His Highness Prince Rian!
Rian: Do I smell the scent of another rival emerging? >_>
By the way, I *have* been gathering people’s ship name suggestions, I’ll probably make a public list later~