Ch.46Bar (2)

“…”

The office was engulfed in silence.

Ines and Chloe were forcing awkward smiles, seemingly at a loss for words, while the other servants held their breath, carefully watching my reaction.

I had ordered a thorough investigation to see if there were more cases like this after discovering that the plunder money and support funds weren’t properly reaching the farmers…

“…This is maddening.”

It wasn’t just the nobles who were pulling this crap.

As I mentioned before, the Duchy of Burgundy has feudal territories owned by nobles, but there are also many church territories owned by the church.

Since I couldn’t directly exercise administrative power over church territories, I gave funds to the church to take care of farmers suffering from the aftermath of war, but… those crazy bastards.

“At least the nobles, except for those in Bar, are behaving themselves.”

The war didn’t just happen in the Bar region, so support funds weren’t only given to Bar.

Nobles outside of Bar—for example, those in Nevers—properly used the support funds I provided for the farmers.

‘I must look quite pathetic to them.’

But the church territories showed no such tendency whatsoever.

Whether in Nevers or Bar or wherever, these bastards simply gobbled up all the support funds meant for post-war recovery.

Even though most of what I provided wasn’t money but grain, farming tools, and such, these bastards didn’t give them to the farmers but sold them to merchants instead.

No wonder the farmers are refusing to pay taxes—it’s only natural they’d desperately resist when paying would lead directly to their deaths.

“…Leclerc, what would happen if we punished them for embezzlement?”

“For Bar’s nobles, it’s possible if we strike before they can properly respond, but the church territories would be much more difficult.”

“I figured as much.”

The minor nobles of Bar, divided as they are, could all be arrested or charged with embezzlement if we strike before they properly unite.

But such action is impossible with church territories.

Unlike the nobles who are divided into various interest groups, church territories are united as one, and their leader, the Holy See, is someone even I, the Duke of Burgundy, cannot rashly confront.

I’m already walking a tightrope after executing the Bishop of Dijon—one wrong move here and I could fall off that rope.

Did the church territories act this way because they know this? Sigh…

“…For the church territories, just gather evidence of their embezzlement for now.”

Fortunately, evidence is abundant.

The farming tools provided for post-war recovery were all made in Dijon’s forges, each bearing Dijon’s seal, making it very easy to trace their distribution routes.

Moreover, with the cooperation of conscientious clergy, we were able to gather decisive evidence that church territories sold off the farming tools.

For now, I can only gather evidence and let it sit until the time is right.

“But the bastards in Bar need to be dealt with decisively.”

“Without question, Your Grace.”

Of course, Bar’s nobles don’t have a fearsome backer like the church territories do, so there’s no need to tread carefully.

It feels somewhat self-deprecating to moderate my anger depending on who I’m dealing with… but what can I do about reality? Tsk.

“Then I’ll have the arrest squads ready. If we charge them through messengers and give them time to unite, it will be difficult to deal with them.”

“No, I will send a message charging the nobles with their crimes.”

“…Pardon?”

Leclerc, who was preparing to arrest Bar’s nobles, responds in confusion at Claude’s unexpected words.

It’s only natural.

If a message is sent instead of immediate arrests, it would give them time to unite, which would complicate matters.

If they were to obstruct policies or apply political pressure, that would be one thing, but if they decided to rebel—

‘—Rebellion?’

Leclerc, trying to guess his lord’s intentions, realizes something.

Claude, having experienced rebellion before, must have considered the possibility that this action might trigger another one.

‘The punishment for treason is naturally more severe than for embezzlement.’

If a commoner embezzles, that’s one thing, but if a noble does it, the punishment at most would be limited to a fine. While making laws is the Duke’s exclusive right, public perception is something even His Grace cannot control.

If he were to impose a punishment more severe than a fine, other vassals would become discontented, which would adversely affect governance.

However, if their crime becomes not simple embezzlement but treason… literally any punishment becomes possible. From confiscation of all property to revocation of titles, even execution—everything.

This could implicate even those who didn’t commit embezzlement. The minor nobles of Bar are often connected through blood and alliances.

If this happens, Bar would completely fall to the Duke—

“I’ve been thinking… don’t I have too few direct territories despite being a Duke?”

“…So that was your intention.”

Claude’s response confirms what Leclerc was thinking.

The territories gained from previous traitors were all distributed as titles to appease the nobles, leaving nothing. It was an unavoidable choice since most traitors were related by blood to other nobles.

But if Bar’s nobles were to rebel, a different scenario would unfold.

There are no nobles in Burgundy with blood ties to Bar’s nobles, and even if there were, they would mostly be weak enough to ignore.

“But due to the aftermath of the execution, the likelihood of them rebelling is low.”

“I’d like it if they rebelled, but I’m not hoping for that much. People who would commit such acts are bound to have some who will make statements crossing the line, so confiscating their territories will be enough.”

“…Yes, understood.”

Chloe and Ines, immediately understanding what Claude meant by “statements crossing the line,” adopted grim expressions, while Leclerc, deliberately ignoring their expressions, barely opened his mouth to agree with Claude.

“Good, how should we write the letter to those bastards?”

“…We should write it in a way that they feel insulted enough. In such cases, the previous Duke would—”

Swish—

Chloe and Ines’ eyes met briefly before quickly looking away, but Claude, deeply engaged in conversation with Leclerc, couldn’t notice.

……….

“What is this!?”

The Baron, who thought this was a response to his previous request for support, is furious as he reads the letter brought by the messenger.

[We have secured numerous pieces of evidence and witnesses that support funds meant for farmers suffering from the aftermath of war have been embezzled. Properly deliver the support funds that should have reached the farmers and apologize to them. Furthermore, to prevent such embezzlement crimes in the future, you must accept my official into your territory.]

“This… this…!”

The content of the letter could be summarized like this.

Handing over money to farmers is one thing. But telling me to apologize to those lowborns and accept the Duke’s official into my territory? What is this about?

It’s devilish and impossible for noble blood to apologize to dirt-digging lowborns, and accepting an official is a terrible violation of my sovereignty.

“That filthy bastard…!”

You dare set such a trap and insult me?

What nonsense is this about support funds for lowborns being embezzled? Considering all circumstances, it was clearly a bribe given under the pretext of helping farmers…!

What lord in the world would care about a vassal’s territory without the vassal requesting it first?

And now he suddenly accuses me of embezzlement after I received his bribe? There’s a limit even to madness.

“…!”

The vassals’ faces turn pale at the Baron’s words.

It’s only natural. What the Duke did with the “murderous butchering tool” in Dijon’s square was so shocking that news of it spread beyond Burgundy’s borders to foreign countries.

If a Duke with such terrible tastes were to hear those words, it would surely spell disaster for us vassals who serve the Baron.

“Y-Your Lordship…”

Until recently, these vassals had been flattering the Baron to gain benefits, but now it’s completely different.

If they were to agree with those words and they leaked out, execution would be certain.

“Why are your expressions like that? There’s only you and me here—surely you don’t intend to report me to the Duke!?”

“N-No, of course not…!”

A noble with proper common sense wouldn’t have made such remarks, but unfortunately, this Baron belongs to the category of nobles without proper common sense.

Due to the war with Burgundy thirty years ago, all the previous Barons died, and he inherited the title without proper education, living his life as he pleased.

For him, considering others’ feelings is impossible. In his territory, he is the king.

‘My father-in-law also said he received money from the Duke like me, so many must have received this pathetic letter. If that’s the case, Bar must unite…!’

The Duke has clearly insulted and trapped Bar’s nobles.

If we remain idle, we’ll not only be looked down upon but also have our rights taken away. I must quickly send messengers to Bar’s nobles requesting the formation of a faction to oppose the Duke.

If I become the leader of that faction… that would be excellent.

“Hehehe…”

Among the vassals who had turned pale and frozen, only the Baron wore a sinister smile.