Price of Management

I laughed.

“It's simple. You can summon Duke Meutt and go with him. ”

Everyone applauded as if that was it.

* * *

A cold breeze begins to blow.

The sunny archers drop the dried leaves helplessly, and the autumn flowers reach out one by one.

It was autumn when the trade tax negotiations on the Baden River were scheduled.

A middle-aged man was walking through the garden watching the icy foliage unfold.

A red coat worn during the season because it recognizes thermostats. Moderately tall and slightly dry. Cold look, anti-whitening hair and blue eyes.

The world called him Earl Wolfgang Lanzhel, the postnatal brain.

He looks at the leaves falling into the cold eyes.

Since when?

Yeah, about two years ago. That's when I started hating autumn.

It is because it is prophesied that there will be more coughing seasons.

Winter is better.

Winter is good when the harshness is fierce and you say you will die soon.

I just don't like the autumn when the leaves are spilling and the surfers are just meaningful.

People are born, they live, they die. What more emotions do you need?

I lived with many things, and I also lived with a lot of thought and determination.

I don't need heaven or hell.

I'll just die and disappear.

When I close my eyes, I want to suffer intensely in my life and put everything in my passion behind me and completely disappear.

It will be.

“Cough, cough.”

Earl Ranzhel coughs with a handkerchief.

The knights escorting him at a distance shake his fear, but they do not approach.

It's because I told you never to interfere.

Seeing some blood on the handkerchief, he smiles coldly.

Humans are so mysterious.

I thought I was going to live forever, but at some point I get a signal that I'm going to die like this.

Then, you hear someone's footsteps approaching. Earl Ranzhel folds the handkerchief and puts it in his arms.

“Your Excellency. ”

His servant, Baron Evan Taylor, was called Ranzhel's janitor.

“Tell me.”

“Yes, all the other five families of the Jesuit Empire delegated this negotiation to Earl Ranzhel. ”

“There was no argument. ”

“Yes. As always, I gave the Earl my trust unanimously, but.... ”

“Only? Earl Lindell? ”

Evan is creeped out. He acts as if he knows everything, sometimes.

“Yes, you said Castel Castle should not be compromised until the prisoners are returned and released. ”

“Condition or advice. ”

“Just a suggestion. He said he would leave everything to the Count's judgment. ”

“That's enough. Castel Castle can't be taken back if it's dead. ”

“I think so, too. ”

Evan agreed.

The Horn Empire has a clear ambition to one day engage in military activities against the Kingdom of Leaden.

Castel Castle is sure to be used as a beacon to target the Baden River basin.

‘It was too uneasy. If I had looked two moves ahead, it wouldn't have been so hard to guess. ’

Evan is furious that the child of the Horn Empire was deceived by the Emperor.

The occupation of Castel Castle was a blundering raid.

Everyone thought the 100,000 was just a pressure card.

I thought all I had to do was stop the alliance with the Orient Kingdom. That's why I was relieved when I received intel that Carroc Kunt was headed for the Orient Kingdom.

Suddenly they're attacking Castel Castle.

With all the new error masters I've been hiding.

If I hadn't been so distracted by the spectacular event called the Baden River toll bargaining, I wouldn't have been so back-stabbed.

“Cough!”

Earl Ranzhel coughs again.

“Mr. President!”

Evan is furious and out of his mind.

Earl Ranzhel coughs for a long time, pulling out his handkerchief and covering his mouth.

Evan hated the fall, too.

It was autumn and winter when his master, Earl Ranzhel, coughed heavily.

“I see it.”

Earl Ranzhel said Najk.

“What do you see? ”

“My death. ”

That said, Evan bit his lower lip.

“Your Excellency, the wind is very cold. Let's go inside and melt. ”

Earl Ranzhel shakes his head.

“If you go into a room and light a fire and sit in front of it, you'll feel comfortable and warm. ”

“Yes, Your Excellency. ”

“But that doesn't mean winter won't come. ”

“ ……. ”

“We must not turn away from autumn and winter. You have to watch the world change all the time. ”

“… you're right. ”

“I wrote a will last night. ”

“Yes?”

Evan is surprised.

I couldn't help but react sensitively because it was up to me to deal with my future behavior.

“The only heir is Jason. The second, the Ranzhel Merchant Guild, and the third and fourth, respectively, give the lands of Molz and Petram that were acquired not long ago. ”

‘As expected……. ’

Evan's face darkens. Because he knew Jason hated him.

Earl Ranzhel continued, "Do you know what Evan's insides are?"

“I told Jason to put you in the will. You've been good to me, and I know you think more like me than anyone else. ”

“Go, thank you. ”

The compliment was delighted, but Evan's face was not opened.

“But I don't think Jason cares about you as much as I do. ”

“I suppose so.”

“That's why I told you in advance. I want you to start thinking about your future. ”

“Then may I ask what you think I should do next? ”

“It depends on how the world will change in the future. The divergence of that change is the negotiation. ”

Earl Ranzhel steps into the mansion.

Evan follows behind, and the distant knights chase him silently like shadows.

“Being alive means thinking. You have to think about every moment and choose your own life. Human or beast.”

He kept talking to himself.

“But how many are really alive? An employee of a Merchant Guild, a blacksmith somewhere, a peasant controlled by the Lord, and an heir to a noble family that is busy chasing their father's footsteps. Many humans want to live as part of an organization or under the control of others. And when you ask who they are, they mean their occupation, their workplace, or their family. We avoid it because it is hard to exist on our own. ”

“ ……. ”

“I didn't want to. Humans should not rely on others to make decisions about their lives, no matter where they do things. It was in that context that I was called the brain after my lifetime as a representative. ”

Evan got used to it.

I've never seen Earl Ranzhel talk like that before. It really seemed like his life was ending.

“So you have to live with yourself. This is the first and last piece of advice I give you. ”

“…… I'll carve it deep into your heart. ”

Evan struggled to endure the sudden burst of tears.

He had no special relationship with his lord, Earl Ranzhel. It's just something I leave with my master, my subordinate, or because it's useful.

So the tears didn't match.

“Let's go. Negotiation is imminent. ”

“Yes, Earl! ”

Evan answers vigorously.

Earl Ranzhel smiles coldly at the autumn sky.

I don't need heaven or hell.

I'll just die and disappear.

Therefore, we will be faithful in this time, which is not long before it can exist.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *