The Summoned Merchants
One morning several days later, Fran noticed that the blizzard had weakened considerably. He set aside the boxes he had prepared for Ferdinand and picked up a book instead.
“Lady Rozemyne, shall we head to the orphanage director’s chambers? You can read while we wait for the others to arrive.”
And so we departed, leaving it to Zahm to contact Ferdinand. We came across Gil on the way, who was coming to tell us that the Plantin and Gilberta Companies would soon be arriving. I started reading the very moment we reached my chambers, which had been warmed ahead of time such that we were ready whenever Benno and the others got here. Fran called out a short while later.
“They have arrived, Lady Rozemyne.”
I closed my book and immediately saw a large crowd coming up the stairs: Benno, Mark, and Lutz from the Plantin Company; Otto, Theo, and Leon from the Gilberta Company; and Gustav with two assistants from the Merchant’s Guild.
“We are honored beyond words to have a moment of your time,” Gustav said, serving as the large group’s representative. He was rigid with anxiety, as expected of someone presented with a great task that had to succeed under any circumstances.
I glanced over everyone gathered and then gestured for them to take their seats.
“Lady Rozemyne, I would like to humbly request a more detailed explanation of what you discussed in your letter,” Benno said, having apparently been entrusted with taking the lead. This made sense, since I was closer to him than the other adults. Given that Gustav and his assistants were here, I started with the bare basics of noble society.
“In every duchy, noble children begin learning at the Royal Academy when they reach ten years of age.” I went on to explain that duchies were ranked according to influence, that students’ grades had an impact on this influence, and that the archduke had ordered me to raise Ehrenfest’s ranking while I was attending as an archduke candidate, namely through raising our duchy’s average grades and establishing trends. “Ehrenfest hopes to spread products like rinsham, hairpins, recipes, cooking utensils, books, plant paper, and ink as trends throughout the entire country. These are all my inventions, of course, so Aub Ehrenfest elected to wait for me to awaken before putting this plan into motion.”
“And that means you have already started spreading them in the Royal Academy,” Benno observed. I could tell from his narrowed eyes that he had wanted this information much, much sooner, but that hadn’t been an option.
“I was given these orders just prior to leaving for the Royal Academy and so I did not have time to contact anyone. Did scholars not send word to you?”
“We received messages instructing us not to allow rinsham, hairpins, or books outside the duchy. We thankfully predicted this was leading into plans for widespread distribution, so we have already prepared as well as we could.”
“I would expect nothing less from you, Benno. Your business acumen has once again served you well,” I said. I knew that I could count on Benno to have prepared to expand his business despite the instructions having said to keep products within the duchy.
“So, what is the current state of these trends?” Benno asked. “Does the fact you have returned mean they are already widely known?”
“First of all, I am electing to spread the products gradually over my time in the Royal Academy, rather than spreading everything at once in my first year.” This was so that Ehrenfest would remain a long-standing influential force instead of a mere flash in the pan.
Otto gave a few fascinated nods. “As you suggested, I am sure Ehrenfest will attract many merchants, who will find new markets every time they visit. I also believe nobles from other duchies will start arriving to look over the products themselves. Ehrenfest receives few visitors from elsewhere in the country, so I predict this will bring about great change within the duchy.”
As someone who had experience roaming all over the place as a traveling merchant, Otto knew what he was talking about. Compared to its neighbors, Frenbeltag and Ahrensbach, Ehrenfest had less to draw in outside visitors, which meant nobles from other duchies rarely actually visited us. This was especially the case now that only nobles with the archduke’s direct approval could enter.
Now that he mentions it, I guess I’ve barely ever seen nobles from other duchies here...
“This year, I am going to spread rinsham, hairpins, pound cakes, and plant paper throughout the Royal Academy. They are all things I use on a regular basis, and they were easy topics to discuss at tea parties.”
“Hm... Would it be reasonable to say their popularity among Ehrenfest nobles also influenced your decision?” Gustav asked, stroking his chin. I responded with a brisk nod.
“Additionally, I believe it would be relatively simple to build new workshops for them,” I said. “We will want to profit from our products as much as we can before their production methods spread and the rest of the duchies catch up technologically. I also expect other duchies to begin producing similar products as soon as their production methods are known.”
All the products I was proposing were things Lutz and I had made when we were poor kids in the lower city. To reproduce them, all one needed to know was the production method; everything else was mostly easy. That was why I wanted to wring as much money from them as possible before they really caught on throughout the country.
Otto nodded, a grim expression on his face. He represented the Gilberta Company, which sold rinsham and the hairpins.
“Once the spread of products that other duchies can reproduce starts to slow, I plan to spread printing. Our presses are by no means easy to prepare, and they are not even common in Ehrenfest yet, correct? It will take quite some time for them to spread through other duchies, and that is when their existence actually comes to light. We will secure a monopoly on printing for a good while if we can keep the production method a secret.”
Benno nodded this time, though in contrast to Otto, his expression was one of utmost approval.
“I wish to increase the number of presses in Ehrenfest, expanding the industry such that other duchies will see our books in the Royal Academy over the coming years and then bring us manuscripts to print. In truth, I would like to spread books as far and wide as possible in as short a time frame as possible, but...”
“Lady Rozemyne, being too hasty is often detrimental to business. I thoroughly believe we should take our time, allowing the printing industry to spread through society slowly but surely.” Those were Benno’s words, but I could tell that he really wanted to say, “Hold your friggin’ horses! You’ve gotta lay the groundwork first!” The complete lack of mirth in his dark-red eyes despite his polite smile was enough to confirm to me that I wasn’t too far from the truth.
“At every tea party I attended, nobles praised our rinsham and our hairpins, while complimenting the pound cakes as very pleasant to eat despite their rustic appearance. Praise for these products comes from Klassenberg and the Royal Academy’s professors, so I imagine there will soon be many duchies nipping at our heels for them.”
“Klassenberg? A player that large is involved...?” Gustav breathed, his eyes widening at my reveal. He was probably familiar with the names and ranks of other duchies, considering that he was involved with most of the importing and exporting done in Ehrenfest. In contrast, Benno and Otto responded to something other than the Klassenberg name.
“Lady Rozemyne, in what way will other duchies be involving themselves in the near future?”
“Socializing season in the Royal Academy has not begun quite yet, but I had to hurry home after finishing my classes to participate in the Dedication Ritual. Thus, I have only had tea parties with a Klassenberg archduke candidate, some professors, and the second prince. I do not know how things will develop in my absence.”
“Lady Rozemyne, did you just say that you have only had tea parties with a student from a greater duchy, professors, and a member of royalty? Does that mean...?” Gustav went silent, his face paling as he glanced over at Otto. His instincts were as good as one would expect from someone who had done much business with nobles while serving as the guildmaster of the Merchant’s Guild.
“Indeed. I want the Gilberta Company to make a hairpin for the second prince, so that he may present it to the aforementioned archduke candidate from Klassenberg for her coming of age ceremony.”
Not just Gustav, but also his servants reeled in shock at the absurdity of my request. They shot Otto sympathetic looks, but Otto himself did not even react.
“Could I ask for more detail on her hair color and the color of what she plans to wear? Blonde hair comes in a variety of shades,” Otto said, urging his assistant Theo to prepare to write out my explanation.
“She is often compared to the Goddess of Light herself. Her hair is similar to Lutz’s in color, and I imagine it will become even more similarly colored once she begins using rinsham. Her outfit is going to be red, in the fashion of Geduldh.” From there, we discussed what flowers should accompany the red koralies, how large they should be, and so on.
“Otto, do you understand the situation?” Gustav asked in disbelief, a slight grimace on his face. “This hairpin is being offered to royalty.”
“I do, but what is there to worry about? The prince liked the hairpin that Lady Rozemyne was wearing. Given that we are the only duchy making them at the moment, if we produce the best hairpin the Gilberta Company has ever made, it will technically be the best hairpin in the country. Not to mention...” Otto looked at the hairpin I was wearing. It was one Tuuli had made for me while I was asleep.
“The Gilberta Company’s craftswomen are getting better and better with each hairpin they develop, as they find new techniques and devise new flower patterns,” he continued. “I am very proud of them. If we use the highest-quality thread and have our most skilled craftswoman use all of the techniques they have developed, I am confident we will be able to meet both Lady Rozemyne’s and the prince’s expectations.”
“But Klassenberg and royalty are...” Gustav began, still unsatisfied. He was the only one among them who firmly understood the vast difference between Ehrenfest and Klassenberg.
Benno gave a light shrug. “Guildmaster, think about the bigger picture here. Serving an archduke candidate from Klassenberg and a member of royalty is no more intimidating than serving someone like Lady Rozemyne,” he said in a faux-polite tone.
“That’s a terrible comparison, Benno!”
“It doesn’t matter whether they’re from Ehrenfest or a foreign duchy—failure is not an option. All nobles can crush us like bugs.”
Simply by virtue of their higher birth, nobles could force commoner merchants to do just about anything they wanted. Benno was taking that to its logical conclusion and saying that, to merchants, serving an Ehrenfest laynoble was pretty much the same as serving royalty. They couldn’t afford to mess up with either.
That’s the kind of absurd courage I like to see.
“Given that you are only offering up the hairpin, working for royalty might even be easier,” I noted. This was an order from me, and working with me was a lot easier for them than working with any other archnoble. Not to mention, they wouldn’t need to deal with the recipient directly; only Sylvester was going to suffer here.
“Lady Rozemyne, when is the deadline? When is her coming of age ceremony?”
“The coming of age ceremonies in the Royal Academy occur at the end of winter. You will want to have completed the hairpin before then.”
“Understood.”
With the order for Eglantine’s hairpin now placed, it felt as though a load had been taken off my shoulders. I decided it was time to change the topic of conversation.
“Now, as for plant paper, the existing name immediately reveals the source material. I have been calling it ‘new paper’ in the Royal Academy as a result, but this doesn’t communicate all that much. It needs a new name.”
“Do you have any suggestions?” Benno asked. “Perhaps something to do with the Gutenbergs...?” I could tell from his expression that he was warning me against giving another product a strange name.
“I was thinking ‘Lutz paper’ is appropriate, since he was the first person to actually make it.”
“Might I counter by suggesting ‘Myne paper’?” Lutz asked in an instant, making it clear that “Lutz paper” was the absolute last thing he wanted. “It would certainly be more appropriate in my eyes.”
‘Myne paper’? No thanks. Absolutely not. My name doesn’t need to be anywhere near it.
After regarding Lutz with sympathetic eyes, Mark asked for my permission to speak with a warm smile. I naturally provided it.
“Might I suggest incorporating the name of the province each type of paper is created in? Illgner creates paper that is completely unlike that made in Ehrenfest, and with this in mind, I would recommend using ‘Illgner paper’ and ‘Ehrenfest paper.’”
“That will also help spread Ehrenfest’s name in the Sovereignty,” Benno said in support of the idea. The quality and type of paper varied greatly based on the wood it was made from. Geographic names would not only be easier to remember than the names of people, but they would also better market our duchy.
“Very well. We can go with ‘Ehrenfest paper’ then,” I conceded, at which point Lutz let out a heavy sigh of relief.
“Lady Rozemyne, do you believe Ehrenfest paper is going to be a popular product?” Benno asked.
“It is too early to say. I use it regularly in classes and the library, but I cannot say the same of everyone from Ehrenfest. At the moment, it is largely earning attention from the professors, who tend to be buried in paperwork. The students have little interest.”
“I would expect as much,” Gustav said, stroking his chin. “Archnobles and archduke candidates can simply continue purchasing parchment without needing to bother with any new forms of paper. Laynobles, meanwhile, would still not be able to afford to use Ehrenfest paper every day, even with it being somewhat cheaper than parchment.”
“I am giving some paper to the students transcribing books in the library in the hope of establishing it as something to be used casually. That said, those ordered to transcribe books by higher-status students are normally provided with parchment, so it might not feel so casual after all.”
“When dealing with vast amounts of text, paper is much more convenient and takes up less space than wooden boards, but I assume that isn’t easy for students to understand,” Gustav said. As it turned out, he had moved away from using wooden boards and now did all the bookkeeping for the Merchant’s Guild on plant paper. It took up much less space and made transporting documents a great deal easier, something that Benno had observed while moving so many people to Illgner and Haldenzel for work. Wooden boards were just that wasteful when it came to space.
“Lady Rozemyne, it may be wise to ask the archduke to standardize the use of plant paper among Ehrenfest scholars,” Gustav suggested. “If they see for themselves how much easier it is to work with, their passion might be conveyed when they recommend it to other duchies.”
“I see the wisdom in your words. I shall suggest this to Sylvester.”
We didn’t want our own scholars not using our prime export; in fact, the more they used it, the better. I didn’t want to be my own biggest customer, with the temple and the Merchant’s Guild taking second place. We needed the paper to start being used throughout the castle, so that the paper would naturally integrate into noble society through the scholars.
“Oh, that reminds me—I wish for the Plantin Company to make a tool in which one can store paper. I will gather the Gutenbergs to discuss this at a later date,” I said. There were a great many things I wanted for business: binders, folders, and filing cabinets, to name a few.
Gustav looked at me like a predator who had discovered its prey. “Lady Rozemyne, might I suggest entrusting such work to companies other than the Plantin Company? There are many who wish to work with you,” he said.
I tilted my head slightly. “I believe I have exclusivity with the Plantin Company. Would it not be better for the Plantin Company to distribute work as they please, just as Benno’s carpentry workshop directed me to Ingo? I thought that would be standard for merchants of this city.”
“It is, but the sheer size of your orders are creating too strong of an imbalance in the workload.”
So he said, but all the Gutenbergs were so busy that they were more than eager to delegate work to others who were competent enough. The fact that they hadn’t managed to find anyone, however, probably indicated that others lacked the skill and reliability needed to complete these jobs.
“I fully trust Benno and all the other Gutenbergs, so I am happy for them to redistribute work as they see fit. Plus, assuming the work produced is satisfactory, those they choose are more likely to be chosen for future projects as well.”
To put it simply, the Gutenbergs were just a collection of merchants and craftspeople capable of meeting my demands. Johann, Ingo, and Heidi, for example, were all introduced to me through Benno. Their talents in their respective fields had served me well, and since then, they were all pulling their weight with orders. There was even Zack, who had come to me voluntarily to promote his talents. I was more than willing to embrace any skilled worker who wanted to provide their assistance.
“However, as the archduke orders more and more work to be done, our need to minimize unknown elements that may cause problems becomes greater than ever. If Benno is hesitant to distribute work to someone despite wanting nothing more than to lessen his own burden then I am equally hesitant. I will allow you to settle these things yourselves,” I concluded, ultimately rejecting Gustav’s proposal. I wasn’t about to stick my nose into merchant drama.
I turned my attention to Benno. “Given that you planned ahead, I presume you are not monopolizing all the work?” I asked, pretty sure there was no way he could handle it all.
Benno nodded cautiously. “We require your permission to create new paper workshops and have been unable to expand as a result. However, ever since rinsham began growing popular among Ehrenfest nobles, I worked with my little sister who was wed in another city and other extended family members to expand rinsham production into other locations.”
Wowee. It looks like a lot of rinsham workshops popped up while I was asleep.
“I suppose, then, that production can increase even further if you buy the oil used in rinsham from food workshops and have the Gilberta Company’s workshop focus only on producing the product itself. What matters here is what is used for the scrub and the ratios.”
Theo and Leon from the Gilberta Company widened their eyes as they wrote down what I had said.
“Does mass-producing the hairpins seem feasible?”
“For a year now, we have been working with several workshops through the Tailor’s Guild to make hairpins for winter handiwork. They are the simplest hairpins possible, marketed toward commoners. Those who make the best ones are given more advanced flowers to create, and we are growing our numbers by hiring them once their lehange contracts end.”
By separating the orders based on skill, they had managed to achieve something that resembled mass production. They had no other choice, since mass production was necessary to meet the demands of nobles once attaching flower ornaments to clothing was in vogue. Not to mention, it turned out that Tuuli going from an apprentice to working for the archduke’s adopted daughter in a matter of years had resulted in rumors that making hairpins was the fastest way for girls to move up in the world.
I can imagine Tuuli will become a living legend if she ends up entrusted with the prince’s order. Wow! Wow! That’s my big sister for you!
I gave a curt nod, making sure to hide my excitement. “As always, I am impressed with your work. Given that the rinsham and the hairpins have already expanded enough, what say we start establishing new paper workshops starting next spring?”
“Lady Rozemyne, Haldenzel will need to come first,” Benno said.
“I will settle any Haldenzel matters after the Dedication Ritual. Should you find that Gil’s reports are lacking in any way, please provide documents to fill the gap.”
“As you wish.”
It seemed that Benno already knew what he would need. I mentally clapped my hands together in approval, at which point Gustav asked what our approach was going to be with the pound cake.
“The plan is to sell the basic recipe at the Archduke Conference to those who request it. We are trailblazers with experienced chefs and more developed kitchens and thus will have an advantage for some time. Incidentally, as a free tip, those in the Sovereignty are so used to excessively sweet foods that they preferred the powerfully sweet honey pound cake more than any other flavor.”
“Oh? Honey, you say?” Gustav asked, having not expected to receive such intel. I was going to need his help with a lot of work moving forward, so giving out this information for free was something of an investment.
“You would do well to keep that in mind when there are merchants from other duchies flooding in after the Archduke Conference.”
“You have my thanks.”
“One thing I ask is that you prepare accommodation for the merchants and travelers who are going to be coming to our duchy. I imagine the inns won’t be able to support them all, and the city’s infrastructure must be prepared. This is not something I imagine nobles will care about in the least, but commoner merchants will for the most part be seeing our lower city.”
Another important matter was stock. It was ideal for merchants to come to Ehrenfest to market our goods further, but a shortage of products would decrease interest and perhaps even infuriate merchants. Social order would pretty much fall apart if a bunch of outsiders came and fought over sparse resources.
“We will want to remain in close contact with the city guards to maintain the peace, and coordination with the guilds for inns and eateries will also be essential. I am going to entrust these duties to the Merchant’s Guild.” Gustav responded to my words with wide-eyed shock, but I merely smiled at him and continued. “You may delegate any of this work to those merchants you trust so much.”
Benno looked over at Gustav, barely able to contain his laughter. “Those merchants who wanted connections with Lady Rozemyne will certainly be pleased now,” he said with a slight smirk that more or less said “you get what you deserve.”
Gustav glared at Benno before choking out a conflicted, “Understood.”
“Those local to our city might struggle to identify any flaws in its infrastructure. I am told that Otto previously worked as a traveling merchant. Perhaps you could learn something by discussing his perspective on things,” I suggested.
Benno very nearly broke into a grin as Gustav sat there, completely frozen in shock. It was only when Mark cleared his throat that he snapped back to reality, and in an instant, his expression became serious once again. “Lady Rozemyne, what exactly is the Archduke Conference?” he asked.
I was sadly unable to answer, having never gone to one myself. The most I really knew was that all the archdukes and archduchesses in Yurgenschmidt came together.
“I have never attended one, as I am not an archduchess,” I replied. “Aub Ehrenfest has said that the archdukes gather to discuss trade and deals, but that is all I know.”
Thankfully, Gustav seemed to know more about the conferences. “I only ever receive the results from scholar-officials, but the Archduke Conferences decide which merchants are dispatched to other duchies, as well as how traveling merchants are moved, so I am somewhat familiar with them,” he began. From there, he explained the developments that had followed particular decisions in the past. It turned out to be a pretty significant source of change.
“I am told that Aub Ehrenfest wishes to hear your perspectives on which duchies are best to work with and to what degree we should work with them. You will receive a summons from him once the blizzards stop.”
“My, my... Did you arrange for this, Lady Rozemyne?” Gustav asked. “I can hardly express my gratitude.”
I tilted my head in visible confusion, which seemed to prompt an explanation. It turned out that the archduke and other nobles never paid any mind to the circumstances of commoner merchants and generally informed them of the results of each year’s Archduke Conference in the form of orders sent through scholars. That made sense, given that nobles didn’t really see commoners as fellow human beings, but it was hardly an approach that would lead to success.
“A normal noble would never discuss things with us ahead of time as you are, Lady Rozemyne. Our contact would begin and end with their orders. Subsequently, the responsibility falls entirely on us if we fail, so we are extremely grateful to get in any words at all before the conference is held.”
That’s normal...? Unbelievable. That seems insane to me. No wonder Ehrenfest’s influence is so weak. No wonder Sylvester and Ferdinand disagreed with my suggestions; they had never consulted merchants before and were just stunned into silence by the idea of actually bringing up their thoughts at the conference.
“That said, even during the meeting at the Italian restaurant, Aub Ehrenfest came without his scholars and willingly listened to our perspectives directly,” Gustav continued. “Perhaps our lives are going to be a little easier, at least until his successor comes to power.”
When you put it like that, Sylvester seems like an outstanding leader who carefully listens to those beneath him, instead of a loose cannon who just wanted to visit the lower city and try new food.
“I will arbitrate as best I can such that your discussion with Aub Ehrenfest goes smoothly,” I assured Gustav, deciding not to correct him. I saw no good reason to cruelly dash his hopes.
“We appreciate it. Your support is a much-needed source of encouragement,” Benno said, this time giving me a look that said not to butt in too much. It was truly amazing what he was able to communicate through expressions alone.
“Is it safe for me to assume that everyone gathered here today is going to be attending the meeting?” I asked. “Letters of invitation need to be written for each individual ahead of time.”
“It is standard for each representative to bring one companion to the castle,” Gustav replied.
“I see. I will direct the scholars accordingly,” I noted. Gustav had done the most business with nobles out of all the commoners here, so it seemed reasonable enough for me to follow his advice.
With that said, I fell silent and looked at Lutz, who caught my eye and stiffened up at once. As much as I didn’t want to say what was about to come next, I didn’t have a choice. I inhaled sharply and then spoke, doing my best to stop my voice from quavering.
“It is possible the upcoming discussion will result in our magic contracts being nullified...”
We had to consider that the contracts I had signed with Lutz when I was Myne might no longer be valid. Benno had signed them ahead of time to engineer a way for us to stay connected even after my move to the Noble’s Quarter, but now they were very likely to be eliminated as an inconvenience. I knew it was necessary to scale up production and spread it through the country, but still—my connection to Lutz was already hanging by a thread, and this was going to make it even more precarious. The sadness welling up inside me at that thought was unbearable.
“The Plantin Company will receive three letters of invitation. Please do not fail to bring Lutz,” I said, keeping my gaze fixed on the floor, balling my hands into tight fists as I tried to stop them from trembling. Benno must have predicted this request as well, as he gave me a concerned nod.
“As you wish.”
We went on to clarify that the meeting in the castle would take place once the blizzard stopped, that I was going to be in attendance, and that they would want to prepare documents regarding their current production capacities and the amount of elbow room they had remaining.
“The blizzard is getting stronger,” Gil eventually interjected while staring out the window. Everyone fell silent in an instant. There was still a lot for us to discuss, but we simply didn’t have the time. The blizzard would only get worse from here, so it was in my visitors’ best interests to leave as soon as possible.
Benno indirectly thanked me for giving them the chance to talk things over before the archduke eventually summoned them, and with that, our meeting came to an abrupt end.
I let out a quiet sigh as I gazed out the window, watching everyone hurry home amid the increasingly heavy blizzard until the glass eventually clouded over. There had been too many people present during our meeting for me to hug Lutz, and the thought of our contracts getting canceled just made me depressed.
I know it has to be done, but still...
After drinking down the last of my tea with a dejected sigh, I returned to my High Bishop’s chambers.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login