Technomancer: Genesis - 117 A Challenge

Erela faced Reitz, while Ezra and Hestia stopped in their tracks un. Hestia was agitated.

“Earl Blackfyre, while I do appreciate your humble hospitality,” Erela said

Reitz smiled lightly and bobbed his head in recognition of the statement.

“I am severely disappointed in the state by which, you conduct your domain. I will be informing his majesty of my recommendation to withdraw the engagement between your son and the princess.”

Nobles gasped, most of them had bewildered looks, while some of them couldn’t hide their satisfaction this was, of course, a blow to Reitz if this pushed forward.

Reitz was still smiling as if he didn’t have a care in the world, “Madame Actrix, while I cannot say that I am not disappointed in your recommendation, I am very much puzzled at your decision to do so. Might I inquire as to the problem, so as to rectify the problem?”

“Yes, of course, I have been in Bren for little over a week but it would seem that your lack in administrative skills disturb me,” Erela nodded curtly

“Pardon me, Madame? But while I admit I am not a perfect overseer of Fulmen, I can boastfully say that my subjects laud the policies I have enacted for them, they are happy to be citizens of this humble domain and that they are equally happy to be in my care,” Reitz nodded as he kept his smile.

The air became tense

“It is not the policies that are lacking, Earl Blackfyre, rather it is that you focus your efforts too much in nonsensical things, for example, that policy of subsidy on orphans, that is a burden to the state.” Erela paused. “It doesn’t make sense to do so, you are focusing your efforts on trivial things, and a waste of resources. Keeping the peasants happy is quite easy, just indulge them in bread and games and you’ll have them loyal to you like dogs,” smiled Erela

“Ever since my arrival you have put on airs of seemingly how, better the policies of Bren are and producing, useless items, of no benefit to the other domains. And that blasphemy of an edifice your . . .what do you call that your Bank? Is it? “she raised an eyebrow,” Yes, that thing is atrociously foolish, I doubt that venture of yours makes money, look at the risks, what if the merchants you lent to don’t pay? What if they don’t come back? Hm, and to think merchants are imprudent enough to trust the establishment when they are equally susceptible to misconduct,” Erela shook her head, “I am not saying that you are not trustworthy, rather, the bank in itself is not a good idea, since it does not produce anything of value,” she slowly paced back and forth with an air of regality.

“And that, great plaything that your son calls a lab, it is unwise spending in my opinion. What good would that do? Yes, it is something novel but, focusing on hobbies and pursuits of inquiry will not help you maintain your rule of Bren, sooner or later you would be succeeded by one of your esteemed viscounts since you do not advocate strength. I do not see you imbibe them or ingrain them to your knights,”

Reitz just kept smiling through the ordeal, even nodding at Erela’s speech.

“These lead me to conclude that your son is unfit to rule, because he cannot succeed you due to your ideologies, nor will there be any hope that he can maintain Fulmen, Princess Hestia’s betrothed must be a strong noble capable of defending himself, “Erela nodded once more”, administering a domain is easy maintaining it is not, since you do not preach the values of strength and fortitude, rather you opt for useless endeavours that do you no good in the long run.”

“And this. . . this charade, letting the boy memorize a pre-written address, “she shook her head” with all the peasant actors in on the lecture.”

Erela paused,” I am quite impressed because it did seem believable., making it as though that he has actually made something in that odd-looking building. I have not yet seen your son’s combat prowess, but I have no need since this whole thing is a testament to his inadequacy, a true noble would only focus on strength making him retain the land he has been bestowed with. Strength, skill and fortitude, all of these are the only requirements. It was a pleasant stay, and I even daresay flattering, to have all of this farce.”

Reitz was about to reply, he was still wearing a grin, however, Ezra blurted out first, “Father, is it okay if I may, save the face and esteem the pride of our House?”

Reitz chuckled, ‘Now you did it Erela,’

“Of course, Ezra, you may speak,” nodded Reitz.

“May I ask, then Madame Actrix, if you ever had your own land, to administer to.”

Since Erela was an Actrix, she had given up her right to own land to serve the Emperor directly by overseeing his child, it was one of the highest honours in the land, to be able to raise up another emperor candidate was one of the dreams of an Actrix.

She chuckled, “It seems, I have thought of you even higher than I was supposed to, Of course, I don’t and if you had the sufficient education supposedly provided by the castle you would know this Lord Ezra.”

“Then, Madame, I imagine have never had the experience to hold a castle,”

Ezra paced forward slowly,

Erela frowned,” Yes, that is what I just said was it not? Did I have to reiterate it to put in in your mind? As you would say?”

“Then you, would not know how it is to balance the input and output or manage the production of a castle so that it would adequately feed your subjects.”

“Do not tell me that Lords Plow their own fields! Or do they sow their own grain? Feed their own cattle. That is why we oversee because we are the ones who can look at a much higher vantage point and thus, we can delegate tasks.” The nobbles subconsciously nodded at Ezra’s remarked, many of them, however, hid their true feelings.

” Your whole income is based on their production. If you can make them happy then production will go up. They will pay more taxes, and you will reap the reward of their labour. Creating new products will help them make their lives easier or find faster and easier ways to produce more. This cycle will repeat itself until the domain is wealthy to do other pursuits. The welfare of its citizens is the welfare of the state.”

Erela slowly turned red,” Are you saying I cannot manage my own land if I had one,”

“Well with that mentality that is as definite as the sun would set.”

“Then how can you retain your ownership of your fiefdom if you can’t even maintain your strength? Child, the right path to choose is to train one’s self in combat and whip your serfs into shape. It is because of strength that you maintain integrity, not through your propositions, or proofs! Only overwhelming strength is proof.” Erela bellowed.

It was hard to suffer fools gladly. Ezra furrowed his brows.

“Strength won’t get you anywhere if you are hungry. What can strength do if you and your serfs are half starved to death?” Ezra bellowed. Some of the nobles chuckled at his statement.

” If you whip your people to death then all of them would just die, including you because you can’t plant fields on your own.”

“Easy for someone to say when you are just an over glorified servant with no management experience. I doubt you could even manage a manor,” Ezra had already been frustrated by Erela’s stubbornness and unyielding attitude to reason, she thought her self so highly because of her standing.

The nobles were shocked. Ezra had the audacity to challenge such a figure closed to the emperor. The foreign nobles intently observed this might lead to opportunities for them to get into the better graces of the emperor.

However, most of the local nobles had the same sentiment as Ezra since they did have experience in managing their domain, Erela’s ideologies by no means translated into good policy for maintaining a manor. However, they refrained from showing their contempt and tried as much as possible to wear emotionless faces because they didn’t want to be the object of attention for the Actrix.

Ezra continued, “Your duty is to inculcate strength to princess Hestia so that it would be possible for her to become a candidate for Empress, but it doesn’t translate to reality. Go fulfil your fantastical ideologies in your head but don’t tell us how to run our domain, because you don’t have actual experience. You have no right because you are just a landless servant.” Ezra was already in a combative mood.

“You dare tell me such words, insolent boy!” Erela’s nostrils were flaring with rage.

“Of course, I am just stating the obvious,” smirked Ezra, “No one wants to say it because they are too scared of you.”

“I have never been treated with such disrespect in my entire life.”

“There is a first time for everything, again, I am just stating you are just a landless, but high ranked, servant. So, you have no case about telling us what or what not to do “Ezra told all these things because he had gauged Hestia and had a rough idea that she would already side with him.

Erela’s face filled with rage as the reddish colour swept her whole body she slightly convulsed and an earthen gauntlet was already forming on her fist.

She couldn’t handle the shame and screamed “I HAVE POWER OVER THE BETROTHAL AND ITS ANNULMENT AND I SHALL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO STOP IT! Come, Hestia we are leaving tonight, it seems that this earldom does not respect the crown and we shall send the appropriate sanctions when we return to the capital.”

Hestia looked stunned for a while. She had been observing the volley of arguments and she was not pleased with what had happened. “I think not, Madame Actrix, I shall stay as my father had decreed.”

Ezra smiled he had played the game well and won.

“Wha- what are you saying! I order you to pack your things now! The emperor shall hear of this!”

“Then he should go send your letter and I’ll go send mine and we’ll see how father handles it,”Hestia said stubbornly.

Erela looked at Ezra, “YOU DID THIS, YOU HAVE POISONED HER MIND,”

But to everyone’s surprise, Erela came down immediately.

“If you think you are someone who can maintain the engagement, then I guess a duel is in order,” Erela said mischievously.