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nWhen Nora mentioned Boshni, Howard admitted to his oversight.

nHad Nora not reminded him, he might have completely forgotten about her.

nScratching his head, Howard asked, “Uh, what is Boshni good at?”

nNora, with her right hand on her hip and head slightly tilted to the left, replied, “My lord, she isn’t skilled at anything. I initially assigned her to be a maid, but she broke five dishes. Then, I had her try cooking in the kitchen, where she fell asleep while the food was still on the stove. If I hadn’t arrived just in time, it could have been a disaster.”

nHoward chuckled wryly.

nIt seemed Boshni was quite clumsy.

nYet, clumsiness didn’t mean she was incapable of everything.

nPerhaps she could be suited for tasks requiring more mental than physical prowess.

nContemplating for a moment, Howard suggested, “If she’s not adept with her hands, let’s assign her to the library to manage the books. Reading more might be beneficial for her.”

nAnd so, the matter of Boshni was settled.

nThe next day, Howard summoned his Finance Minister, Vettel, and inquired, “How are those new specialties selling recently?”

nVettel responded enthusiastically, “My lord, the results are fantastic! The Bai Valley merchants are very interested in our lavender products and bought a large quantity in one go.”

n“Although the apple harvest is not yet here, I’ve persuaded the merchants from Star Dew Valley to pre-order next year’s apple crop!”

n“The river clam meat has been introduced to the market and is gradually gaining acceptance among the residents. Everyone is happy to have a new addition to their dinner tables.”

n“And most importantly, we’ve recently discovered three pearls, each as large as a chicken egg. If sold, they could fetch us thirty to forty gold coins each! My lord, we’re essentially sitting on a fortune!”

nHoward was delighted upon hearing the news.

nHe applauded Vettel personally, then decreed, “Select the largest pearl and gift it to Catherine; sell the rest at a marked price! The revenue from these pearls is no small sum. We mustn’t let crafty merchants drive down their value.”

n“I have seen our pearls, and they are natural gems of the highest quality, rare treasures even among pearls. We must stand firm.”

n“It’s not just about selling the pearls; it’s crucial not to let their price fall. They must not be sold cheaply.”

n“We are just beginning our venture in pearl sales, so avoid discounting. We need to establish a benchmark in the industry, letting everyone know that the pearls produced here are exceptional, and not subject to bargaining.”

nVettel murmured, “If we refuse to haggle, it might be difficult to make a sale. The merchants feel as if they’re being fleeced if they can’t negotiate.”

nHoward gave Vettel a meaningful look and explained, “That’s not what I mean. Refusing to haggle is just a facade, a part of the advertising. We can still offer concessions to our regular customers. What I mean by no bargaining is a stance for the broader market.”

n“Moreover, once our pearls gain renown, promotions and discounts can be considered. Vettel, I trust you deeply with this task. Your two apprentices are now responsible for harvesting the river clams and pearls. You must be vigilant and ensure they don’t deceive or undercut us.”

nUpon hearing this, Vettel first showed joy, then a sense of responsibility, “Rest assured, my lord. They are my apprentices. If they commit any corruption, it’s on me. I will ensure they stay in line!”

nAfter his discussion on the new specialties, Howard took a moment to encourage and inspire loyalty in Vettel.

nHe advised, “Vettel, as a vassal, one of the most critical things is to gain influence. How does one achieve substantial influence? A vital aspect is to hold a key position in the lord’s council.”

n“Take Bosiden, for instance. He wasn’t originally a noble; it was I who knighted him, elevating his status to that of the nobility. Bosiden’s family was once obscure, but now they have made a name for themselves. The reason Bosiden, from a relatively unknown family, could gain prestige in our barony is that he serves as my Seal Bearer.”

n“Vettel, if you continue to excel in your duties, I will knight you and grant you a fief, while you continue as my Finance Minister. This will elevate your status in the eyes of the common folk, and your family name will be remembered and respected.”

nVettel bowed deeply and assured, “I will devote myself fully to my duties!”

nAfter Vettel had left the lord’s hall, Howard was about to return to his seat when Boshni timidly entered.

nShe looked like a young girl, unversed in the ways of the world, her demeanor marked by a hint of panic as she peeked around the hall.

nHoward, with a warm smile, beckoned to her, saying, “Boshni, what are you doing here? Come, come to me, let’s talk about how you’ve been doing recently.”

nHoward was already well-informed about Boshni’s situation, thanks to Nora’s report.

nHis primary aim was to make Boshni, who seemed somewhat out of place, feel more at ease and to alleviate any pressure she might be feeling.

nIn this moment, Howard exhibited the qualities of a magnanimous and approachable leader.

nBoshni approached Howard timidly, her head bowed low.

nIn a soft voice, she apologized, “I’m sorry, Lord Howard. I have caused a lot of trouble in the castle these past days. I haven’t been able to do any of the tasks Nora assigned me properly. I broke many dishes, and I nearly compromised the safety of the kitchen. I feel so guilty.”

nHoward gently stroked Boshni’s hair, feeling its spring-like softness, and reassured her, “A few broken dishes are not a concern. My castle surely isn’t lacking in dishes, is it? The kitchen does require caution, though. A disaster there is no small matter. Fortunately, nothing serious happened, so don’t be overly guilty. By the way, what are you working on now?”

nBoshni, her hair being caressed, giggled happily and replied, “Hehe, I’m working in the library now. Nora has assigned me to organize the books, so they are easily accessible when you need them, my lord.”

nHoward, preoccupied with thoughts of conquest and lacking time to visit the library, still considered Boshni’s feelings and responded, “Hmm, good, Boshni. Do your best. I look forward to my next visit to the library.”

nBoshni raised her arms to shoulder height, her small, rosy hands clenched into fists, her eyes sparkling with determination as she nodded vigorously at Howard and affirmed, “Yes!”

nAfter a while, Boshni too left the lord’s hall.

nHoward summoned a maid and took a towel to wipe off his sweat.

nInteracting with Boshni, who was so innocently carefree, required extra caution on his part.

nHe was careful with his words, wary of unintentionally hurting her.

nThe pressure was palpable, but seeing Boshni’s smile made it all worthwhile.

nHoward too found himself smiling genuinely, feeling a sense of happiness.

nAfter drying off, Howard placed the towel back on the tray held by the maid and turned to leave.

nHe had met with Bosiden the previous night, and by now, Bosiden should have already departed for Mibo’s to carry out his duties.

nVettel had been seen just this morning, entrusted with the financial matters.

nHowever, among the three men brought in by Resarite, Howard realized he had almost forgotten one – Alonso.

nBosiden, as the Seal Bearer, held the greatest influence in the court, and Vettel, the Finance Minister, had the final say in economic affairs.

nAlonso, in contrast, seemed to lack a specific role, appearing somewhat underutilized.

nHoward called for Alonso and had a brief conversation with him, then instructed him to stand by for further orders.

nThe reason wasn’t a lack of capability in Alonso, but rather that Howard needed readily available assistance without always having to summon someone in haste.

nAlonso’s duty was to be at Howard’s side, ready to be dispatched for tasks as needed.

nWhat seemed like the most leisurely position was, in fact, indispensable!

nSince the decision to confront Old Mibo was made clear last night, the castle was abuzz with activity today.

nEarly in the morning, Resarite led the soldiers in drills, their shouts echoing across the castle grounds.

nAs Howard walked along the ground floor, the maids he passed bowed respectfully.

nHis first stop was to visit the dedicated blacksmiths.

nObserving them engrossed in their work at the forge, he chose not to disturb them.

nAfter all, they were volunteers, each party benefiting from the arrangement without undue pressure.

nThe best way to motivate them further was to attain a higher title, making them cherish even more the status of being “Lord Howard’s personal blacksmiths.”

nIn the end, it all boiled down to Howard’s title.

nBy chance, he saw Nora leading a team delivering a shipment of materials, all intended for the blacksmiths to craft weapons and armor.

nHoward gestured to Nora and her team to keep quiet; this visit was meant to be discreet, to avoid drawing attention.𝑖.𝘤ℴ𝘮

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