The first day of the Grand Bazaar was sunny again this year . Even last year and the year before that, the weather mysteriously cleared up on this day . As far as Marcel knew, or at least since his great grandfather‘s time, there had never been a drop of rain on this day . However, the chill was still harsh . During this time of year, if it wasn’t raining, it was cold . The old and thin Marcel, who was thickly dressed in baggy clothing, gathered his clothing merchandise . Marcel was secretly relieved that the Grand Bazaar would launch just like last year . It wouldn’t be a pleasant thing if something bad happened as soon as he became the chairman of the City Council . At any rate, the previous chairman, Bachschouf, was now a criminal . Marcel, who had been recommended by the council because of his position as the Master of the Textile Crafts Guild, was the safest choice . His only wish was that everything would end with no serious mistakes . Marcel would have to climb the stairs of the main gate to greet the approaching sunrise and recite a prayer from the scriptures to the Goddess . He hoped that many merchants would gather this year . The amount of business that took place during the Grand Bazaar determined how much tax revenue Aitheria received . If possible, he wished for as many merchants to come as possible . As he rubbed his hands together to warm them up, he ascended the staircase to reach the bell tower . Once the City Council Chairman rang the bell, the Grand Bazaar would commence . This prestigious role was a privilege of being the City Council Chairman, but it was also a responsibility . Marcel had another concern, but the opening of the Grand Bazaar was the top priority for now . Holger and Gernot, who were on duty this year, were already waiting by the observation window, where they could see past the main gate . The both of them seemed to be so busy looking out the window that they didn’t notice Marcel . 「Ehem . 」 Marcel cleared his throat with utmost dignity . Even though Marcel was past 60 and still had some vigour, he was just a figurehead for the City Council . The balance of influence between Bachschouf’s faction and the current mainstream faction was being unsteadily maintained . Even so, there were two people who were likely to listen to him: Holger and Gernot . It was because of this that he had nominated these two people for this job . However, for some reason, they did not turn around, even when he cleared his throat . He cleared his throat lightly again, thinking they had not heard it, but it was ignored a second time . At this point, it was useless . Marcel humbled himself and decided to greet them . 「Good morning, both of you . Did the line of carriages you could see extend past the front hill this year?」 From the bell tower, one could see three hills along the highway . There was one in front, one in the middle, and one at the back . If the carriages and convoys extended beyond the middle hill, the Grand Bazaar would be a great success, but in the last few years, the line of carriages had failed to even reach the front hill, due to the issue with the Northern Three Territories . Marcel had higher expectations this year, since the situation in the North had calmed down . 「Oh, Chairman . This is a little…」 「This might sound a little crude . 」 Holger and Gernot both gave ominous sounding responses, and Marcel’s stomach tightened . Had the line of carriages failed to reach the front hill? If that was the case, there would be less revenue than he had predicted . There were a lot of things he wanted to work on as the Council Chairman, such as repairing the city walls and dredging the canals . It would be good if he could secure enough revenue to start work on them . 「Is that so…I was prepared, to an extent . So, how many came? You still need more fingers than you have on your hands to count them, right?」 「Both hands, huh . What do you think, Gernot?」 「That would be a little difficult . 」
Marcel’s shoulders dropped when he watched Gernot literally counting with his fingers . It might have been better to buy stomach medicine from the flourishing pharmacy that had recently opened on Inns & Stable Street . It was only the first year of his term, and such a terrible situation had already come up . He wanted to apologise to the citizens who were looking forward to the Grand Bazaar, but there probably wasn’t going to be one next year, given this year’s insufficient experience . 「Then again, hasn’t it been a long time since more than ten crest-bearing carriages came?」 「There has been no record of that for at least the past ten years . 」 「Crests…?」 Marcel tilted his head at their exchange .
Carriages bore crests if there were distinguished people inside . If anything, it was customary for Baron Branton and Marquis Sachnnussenburg to come to Aitheria’s Grand Bazaar . Some nobles might come incognito, but nobles who visited publicly with a crest bearing carriage were rare . 「Marquis Sachnussenburg and Baron Branton attend every year…what are the other crests, Gernot?」 「That crest belongs to the Count of Bardenburg, His Excellency Johann Gustav . After that are the Counts of the Three Northern Territories: Count Wyndelmarc, Count Karlsenmarc, and Count Sistinemarc . Then is minstrel Baron Crowvinkel and the district Archbishop, perhaps? There’s even the flag of a Cardinal from the Rupsia . How unusual . 」 Marcel couldn’t believe the lineup of eminent people that Gernot had suddenly listed, so he stuck his head out of the observation window . It was an unbelievable spectacle . Banners, carried by knights who were leading the way for crest bearing carriages, fluttered on top of the front hill, and carriages stretched out endlessly behind them . The amount of luggage transported was often inflated if there were many escorts, but this year was different . Due to the fact that the retainers of royalty and nobility were leading the procession, the scale was not even comparable to that of an average year . The line continued up the furthest hill, and there were no doubts that it continued even further beyond that . Just what in the world had happened?
「Hey, hasn’t this suddenly become serious, Chairman?」 「We do not have enough lodgings for the officially visiting nobles . The Council must hold an emergency meeting and assign hosts for them . Of course, we shouldn’t leave out lodgings for the merchants and escorts either . 」 「Oh, yeah…we need to prepare dinner for them, too . 」 「No, it might be better to ask about their arrangements first . 」 The way Gernot spoke, as if his words were stuck on the tip of his tongue, showed his doubt . It wasn’t likely that the nobles would go out to bars to eat and drink as they pleased . There were some prestigious shops, but it would just cause more pressure, since there were a limited number of them . His head hurt . Marcel searched for some parchment in his pockets, since he wanted to write down the things he had to do . At that moment, a letter fell down onto the floor with a thud . 「What’s that letter, Chairman?」 「It seems to be on a fairly good quality piece of parchment . 」 「Yes, I also wanted to consult with you two about this . 」 When it was unrolled so that they could read it, the words flowed in a way that made it seem that it wasn’t meant to be understood . 「”The person named Damien, who has been captured in your city, is under the protection of the Eastern Kingdom (Oiria) . He is to be released as soon as possible . From, Princess Regent of the Eastern Kingdom, Celestine de Oiria . ” …What?」 Regarding the Princess Regent Celestine, she was an important person who ruled over the nation in the place of the young King Jurg . Why was this person purposely writing about a criminal in Aitheria? 「There is certainly a man called Damien in prison, but…」 「What’s his crime?」 「He was the instigator behind the witch hunt . He seems to have been under the protection of the Archbishop, but that relationship was broken . 」 「I don’t understand this at all . 」 The three of them nodded silently at each other . This was surely an elaborate prank . The parchment was excellent, but it became even more suspicious because it didn’t have the seal of the Princess Regent . 「Anyway, the Grand Bazaar is more important right now . 」 「That’s also true . Chairman, please ring the bell . 」 「Ah, right . 」 After he cleared his throat, Marcel reached out for the rope extending from the bell . Once he pulled this, the Grand Bazaar would commence . He had lived while being swept along by the currents until now, so at the very least, he wanted to pull this rope by his own will . While thinking that, Marcel glanced outside through the window again and saw something that was not supposed to be there . On top of the hill, a large banner depicting “a three-headed dragon and a hawk’s talon” was fluttering in the sky . 「Hi-His Majesty the former Emperor!」 Marcel, who had almost collapsed from the surprise, grabbed onto the nearest object in a hurry . Ding, dong . Ding, dong… The heavy bell rang when the rope was pulled, and the sentry corps, who were on standby, removed the latch of the grand gate of Aitheria . The head of the convoy slowly began to head for the gate, and those behind followed it down the hill like a small wave . Somewhere, someone whistled, and the bells and drums began to sound . Thus, the curtains of Aitheria’s Grand Bazaar opened .
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