Chapter 204: No...
"What gift?"
Emperor Alaric’s s interest was piqued. Recently, Simon had sent all sorts of strange and fascinating items to Eldora, so he was curious about this one.
"Reporting to Father Emperor, this gift is quite heavy. It wasn’t brought with me but is being transported separately by merchant ships via canal. It should arrive in a couple of days, at which point I will personally deliver it to you." Simon replied.
Emperor Alaric felt a warmth in his heart. "You’ve put thought into this. Hmph! Unlike your brothers, who do nothing but scheme all day and never spare a thought for anything else."
He waved his hand dismissively. "In that case, go attend to your own matters. Your mother must have mentioned the Baker family to you. I spent quite some time persuading Hughes. You should visit them while you’re here. Since returning to Eldora isn’t easy for you, stay a while longer. There’s also a military competition coming up, if you’re interested, you might learn something from it."
"Understood, Father Emperor. This son takes his leave." Simon bowed and turned to depart.
Watching Simon’s retreating figure, Carl smiled and said. "Your Majesty, Prince Simon has matured quite a bit. He could prove very useful now."
Carl had served Emperor Alaric since childhood and was one of his most trusted confidants.
Emperor Alaric sighed. "I never expected Simon to change so much in just a few years. It seems I underestimated him before. This son of mine stays silent only to astonish when he speaks; remains still only to soar when he moves."
"Indeed. Now, with Prince Simon in Brambleford and Prince Gerad in Burrows Town, the north can keep Prince Ravencrest and Lionel in check, while the south restrains Princes Aurelia and Vael. The Eldorian Empire will be more stable this way."
Emperor Alaric nodded thoughtfully. "If that’s the case, perhaps we should have Simon sell cannons to Prince Gerad as well?"
Carl was skilled at whispering suggestions but never dared to overstep on matters of state. "Your Majesty, this old servant knows nothing of such things."
"Hmph. You don’t know, or you pretend not to? If we give cannons to Prince Gerad, we’ll have to give them to Prince Vael as well. Otherwise, the ministers will accuse me of favouritism." The thought gave Emperor Alaric a headache.
Carl’s eyes flickered. "Why trouble yourself over this, Your Majesty? Eldora doesn’t produce cannons. Even if you wished to distribute them, you couldn’t."
"Hah! Well said." Emperor Alaric suddenly laughed. "In that case, I’ll leave this problem to Simon. What’s a nuisance to me is a chance for him to make silver. Eight thousand caps per cannon, he’s got nerve! I’d wager the actual cost is only ten times that of a fire lance, no more than two or three thousand caps at most. Let him handle a few troubles for me, it’s only fair."
Had Simon heard this, he would have been stunned. Emperor Alaric was sharper than he appeared. Historical records showed that even the famed ’red cannons’ of the late Dynasty cost only around 2,500 caps each.
And the cannons produced by Brambleford’s Machinery Department were priced similarly.
---
By the time Simon exited the castle, Lancelot was already waiting for him.
"Where’s Liam? Why isn’t he with you?" Simon asked.
Lancelot grinned. "General Lancet took him away. Back in Eldora, he’s like a fish returned to water. Why bother about him, Your Highness?"
Simon glanced at the sun and then at his shadow. It was still early, likely around nine in the morning. The day had only just begun.
Thinking of Lady Isolde and Emperor Alaric’s words, he wondered if he should visit the Baker family.
But since most of the gifts he had brought from Brambleford hadn’t arrived yet, he dismissed the idea. Showing up empty-handed would be impolite.
Just then, he noticed Lancelot fidgeting, as if hesitating over something.
"What is it? Spit it out." Simon said bluntly.
Lancelot chuckled sheepishly. "Your Highness, they say Eldora is a city of flowers and pleasures, a paradise of wealth and beauty. Since we’ve come all this way to receive rewards, shouldn’t Your Highness... show this humble general a good time? Make the journey worthwhile?"
"Just say you want to visit a brothel. Must you phrase it so delicately?" Simon rolled his eyes.
In the Eldorian Empire, polygamy was as normal as monogamy in the modern world and legally protected.
Gender inequality aside, the most pressing issue in ancient times was the demographic imbalance. War, disease, and forced labour disproportionately killed men.
Especially in Brambleford, where the reaver invasion three years ago had worsened the gender disparity.
For Simon, encouraging monogamy now would be as impractical as enforcing a one-child policy. What he needed was population growth. Without a strong demographic base, a nation could never achieve a complete industrial system.
Why did only a few major powers in his past life have full industrial systems while smaller nations remained mere assembly lines? Because the population determined potential. More people meant more talent, and only with talent could a nation develop comprehensively.
So, accepting this reality, Simon had come to tolerate, if not endorse, polygamy. Policies had to adapt to circumstances, not personal ideals.
"No, I can’t take you to those places," Simon said firmly, ignoring Lancelot’s pleading look.
Lancelot grumbled under his breath. "Your Highness forbids the commoners to light lamps while officials set fires..."
"Use your brain!" Simon snapped. "Common brothels are off-limits. Imperial law forbids officials from visiting them; only the Court Entertainment Bureau is permitted."
Just like polygamy, visiting pleasure houses was socially acceptable in the Eldorian Empire.
However, officials were strictly prohibited from frequenting common brothels. The only exception was the Court Entertainment Bureau, where ’official courtesans’ served.
These women were usually from disgraced noble families or trained from a young age to cater to scholars and officials. Unlike ordinary prostitutes, they were skilled in poetry, music, and painting, making them the preferred companions for high-ranking banquets and social gatherings.
Lancelot’s eyes gleamed. He knew the Court Entertainment Bureau was far more refined than common brothels; after all, these women entertained the empire’s elite.
"Heh, Your Highness, this captain misunderstood you." Lancelot grinned eagerly.
"But I still can’t go." Simon hesitated before delivering the final blow.
Lancelot’s face fell. "Your Highness might as well not have mentioned it at all! Now you’re just teasing me!"