Rose Empire

Chapter 44 - The Assassination Plan and the Citizen Assembly Fails

"Make the citizens feel my troubles, you say?"

Martin Kramer looked at Charlotte, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

"Mr. Kramer," Charlotte began, her gaze steady, "what line of work are you in?"

"Pearls," Martin Kramer replied, choosing a single aspect of his business to present.

Charlotte was aware that Ambratu's elders often had interests in multiple ventures, but she didn't probe further. "And where do the pearls you sell originate?" she inquired.

"Naturally, my slaves harvest them by diving into the sea. We also purchase from other ship owners and coastal villages," Martin Kramer answered truthfully, seeing no reason for secrecy.

The Sokya Peninsula wasn't known for pearl farming; their pearls were all natural, requiring divers to plunge into the ocean depths, unburdened, to retrieve them.

"If, one day, you were to suddenly announce you would no longer buy these pearls, wouldn't the villages and ship owners who rely on you feel the pinch?" Charlotte pressed.

"Undoubtedly..." Martin Kramer began to grasp Charlotte's line of reasoning.

"Pearls are just one example," Charlotte continued, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It could be any number of things: pottery, leather, fish, wool, or… grain."

Martin Kramer's mind raced, but he quickly checked himself. Discussing such matters with an outsider like Charlotte, even an "enemy," felt imprudent. He composed himself, straightened his posture, and declared, "Miss Charlotte, let's move past this hypothetical. Ambratu is a democratic city-state. The council elders are elected by the citizens; we represent their wishes and interests. We cannot simply pass on any minor losses we might incur to the common citizen."

Charlotte merely smiled, letting the topic drop.

Martin Kramer then turned his expectant gaze towards Harvey Sherwin, who had been lingering quietly nearby. Feeling the weight of the elder's stare, Harvey Sherwin felt compelled to speak. "Miss Charlotte," he began, "life in Ambratu is already a struggle. Heavy taxes would stifle commerce, making life even harder for the people. Furthermore, Mr. Kramer is a highly respected figure in Ambratu. If these negotiations yield no progress, he will face the scorn of the commoners upon his return, a truly undignified outcome."

Harvey Sherwin's words were clumsy and ill-considered. Martin Kramer hardly knew where to begin his critique. Should he first clarify that he wasn't a nobleman? Or emphasize that the citizens were not "ignorant fools"? Both were crucial points of political correctness in Ambratu.

However, Charlotte, on the other side, simply raised an eyebrow at Harvey Sherwin's statement. "Knight Sherwin," she inquired, "are you particularly close to Elder Kramer?"

Harvey Sherwin, unsure of the direction of Charlotte's question, gave a vague reply. "Mr. Martin has shown me great kindness during my time in Ambratu…"

Charlotte nodded, continuing the thread of conversation. "Since Knight Sherwin is a friend, then I really should ensure Mr. Kramer doesn't return empty-handed."

Martin Kramer felt a surge of unexpected optimism. Harvey Sherwin, too, was taken aback; Charlotte's apparent favor was more generous than he had anticipated.

"Out of respect for Knight Sherwin," Charlotte announced, extending a delicate finger, "I can waive one year of tariff compensation."

Martin Kramer was delighted. He hadn't imagined that a few meals with Harvey Sherwin could yield such a significant return.

"Miss Charlotte, your generosity is truly commendable. But as Mr. Harvey mentioned, the citizens of Ambratu face hardship. I wonder if you might consider being even more generous, perhaps waiving compensation for another year…" Martin Kramer ventured tentatively.

Charlotte covered her mouth, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "Mr. Kramer, you flatter me. I am indeed kind, but my kindness is not an invitation to take advantage."

Martin Kramer shifted uncomfortably, rubbing his hands together.

"However… let's do this," Charlotte suddenly added. "I will concede further. Instead of four years of compensation, Ambratu can pay over eight years, with only half of the annual tariff due each year."

"Thank you for your understanding, Miss Charlotte," Martin Kramer said, his spirits lifting. Although not ideal, this outcome was sufficient. He could present this to the council and the citizen assembly; no one could accuse him of returning from his mission empty-handed.

Martin Kramer departed for Ambratu immediately after the negotiation.

Seeing that Charlotte made no move to detain him, Harvey Sherwin also prepared to return to Ambratu. He had been enjoying a comfortable life there recently and had no desire to return permanently.

After seeing them off, Charlotte returned to the castle, finding Lily in the midst of packing her luggage. An idea sparked in her mind. "Lily, since you are traveling to the Sokya Peninsula, could you do me a small favor and eliminate a few individuals along the way?"

According to intelligence brought back by Robin Mancini, the twelve Ambratu citizens detained by the Little Sarnians were being held captive, hung on flagpoles at the docks as a public humiliation. Charlotte deemed this insufficient. She intended to escalate the already tense situation between Ambratu and the Little Sarnians.

Lily, upon hearing Charlotte's request, gave her a sidelong glance. "I am an adventurer, not an assassin."

Charlotte then turned to Renee, who stood beside her. Renee offered a slight smile. "I am merely your maid, please do not burden me with tasks outside my domestic duties."

Charlotte pouted, realizing she would have to resort to summoning Knight Eric Scamario.

Charlotte was confident that with Renee's skills and superhuman speed, she could easily make seven swift trips into Little Sarnia. Even if the assassinations were unsuccessful, no one could apprehend her. Unfortunately, Renee was unwilling to leave Charlotte's side, and Charlotte couldn't persuade the determined maid.

Shortly after, Eric Scamario arrived at the castle, and Charlotte received the knight in her study.

"Knight Eric, I have an assassination mission, and I am unsure whom to entrust it to. I understand you are well-acquainted with the knights of Lanwan, so I called you in to brainstorm," Charlotte stated directly.

"Viscountess, please speak freely. I will dedicate myself to your service," Eric Scamario replied.

Charlotte then outlined her plan: to dispatch someone to assassinate the twelve citizens held captive by the Little Sarnians.

As he listened, Eric's mind reeled. The information Charlotte revealed was overwhelming, shocking.

The citizens of Ambratu detained by the Little Sarnians – what connection did this have to the Viscountess of Lanwan? Why would Charlotte want to assassinate citizens of Ambratu? What was her ultimate aim?

Could it be that Charlotte had designs on Ambratu…?

Eric swiftly recognized that this was more than a simple consultation; it was a test.

The Viscountess of Lanwan was testing the southern knights no, perhaps not just them. She was assessing the reliability and capability of the local knights of Lanwan.

Eric's thoughts raced. He suddenly realized this could be an opportunity…

"If it's just Little Sarnia, I believe no one in the Viscountcy of Lanwan is better suited than myself," Eric declared solemnly.

"Oh? Is that so?" Charlotte seemed intrigued by his response.

"I have frequented Sokya before, and I've visited Little Sarnia more than a dozen times. I even have a few acquaintances there," Eric said with a relaxed smile. "To be frank, the wool from Little Sarnia is quite exceptional; selling it to the Green Plains Duchy can be very profitable."

"Very well then," Charlotte said, a smile playing on her lips. "Since Mr. Eric is so familiar with the situation, I shall entrust this task to you. Besides the assassination itself, I have two additional stipulations: first, even if the assassination fails, you must not reveal your identity as a Lanwan knight; and second, you must return alive."

Eric Scamario stood, placed his right hand over his chest, and stated firmly, "Your will be done."

Meanwhile, Martin Kramer returned to Ambratu and presented Charlotte's proposed terms to the council.

The democratic elders were highly satisfied with the outcome. The fact that the Viscountess of Lanwan wasn't demanding an immediate lump sum payment significantly relieved these elders, who were acutely aware of the public treasury's precarious state. They showered praise upon Harvey Sherwin, whose supposed close relationship with the Viscountess of Lanwan was credited with this diplomatic success.

Harvey Sherwin basked in the perceived glory, feeling a surge of self-importance.

The oligarchic elders, however, remained conspicuously silent, neither voicing opposition nor support. The democratic elders were unsurprised; the oligarchic faction's previous staunch opposition made a reversal of stance politically difficult. Their silence, in effect, served as tacit approval.

The democratic elders swiftly resolved to convene the citizen assembly, intending to capitalize on the momentum and swiftly ratify the agreement.

"What are they planning now?" Pand, alerted to attend the assembly, asked the one-eyed old man beside him.

Initially, Pand had no intention of attending the citizen assembly. Ever since it had approved the council's proposal to cut off his father's allowance, Pand had come to view the institution as a farce, catering only to the interests of a select few.

However, he was compelled to attend. Citizens received payment for attending, and even the meager sum was something for a family struggling to survive.

The one-eyed old citizen beside Pand answered without hesitation, "What else? They just want to keep squeezing us dry."

"Rogan, don't speak like that," John Rice, an oligarchic elder, who happened to be passing by, interjected, attempting to mediate.

The one-eyed citizen, Rogan, chuckled derisively, gesturing towards the platform already erected in the small square. "John, if you dare to stand up there and declare that the council will definitely not squeeze us today, I will immediately apologize to every elder."

Young Pand looked at John Rice with a flicker of hope.

John Rice hailed from a lower-class citizen family, elected as an elder due to his youthful military achievements.

Contrary to the citizen's stereotype of elders as eloquent and long-winded speakers, John Rice was not articulate and rarely spoke in council meetings, leading many citizens to question his leadership abilities.

Yet, no citizen doubted John Rice's integrity. He had known poverty in his youth, living in the city's most decrepit quarters. Many elders from humble backgrounds shared similar beginnings, but upon gaining power, they typically relocated to grand houses or estates. John Rice remained an exception, still residing in his old home, wearing simple clothes, and eating food akin to that of ordinary citizens.

When other elders claimed they hadn't embezzled a single public penny, Pand would scoff, including Antanas, the leader of the oligarchic faction, who also came from a lower-class background. But if John Rice made such a claim, Pand would believe it implicitly.

However, this time, John Rice also disappointed Pand. Faced with Pand's expectant gaze, John Rice avoided eye contact.

John Rice couldn't mount the platform, not because he believed the tariff negotiation would squeeze the lower classes, but because he was aligned with the oligarchic faction, and Antanas had instructed them to maintain silence on the matter.

But in Pand's eyes, John Rice's silence was an admission of guilt.

On the platform, Martin Kramer was detailing his negotiation process and the resulting terms with the Viscountess of Lanwan.

"Ugh, still trying to raise taxes!" Rogan scoffed under his breath. "Don't these elders realize we're so destitute we're practically selling ourselves into slavery?"

Hearing Rogan's inflammatory words, the last vestiges of restraint in young Pand's mind dissolved. He abruptly shouted, interrupting Martin Kramer's speech, "You want to raise taxes?!"

Martin Kramer jumped, startled by Pand's outburst. Before he could react, Pand angrily demanded, "Answer me! Does the council intend to raise taxes?! If you aren't planning to raise taxes, how will you bribe that damned Viscountess of Lanwan?!"

"The council is planning to adjust some taxes…" Martin Kramer began, intending to explain the council's plan to establish a tax checkpoint near Ambratu on the Lanwan Isthmus. This would primarily affect merchants, with minimal impact on ordinary citizens like Pand.

However, Pand, having reached his breaking point with the council, especially democratic elders like Martin Kramer, was deaf to any explanation. He surged onto the platform, kicking over the water jar prepared for the upcoming vote. He brandished his fist at Martin Kramer and the other elders, yelling, "If you want to bribe, plunder your own family fortunes! Don't come robbing our pockets!"

A stunned silence fell over the square, as if everyone was frozen by Pand's audacious act.

Then, a cheer erupted from the crowd below. "Well said!"

The first to cheer was Rogan.

"Well said!"

"Well said!"

Two more voices joined in.

Then three, four!

Soon, the majority of the crowd was swept up in the fervor.

Waves of "Well said!" washed over the square.

Even citizens standing at a distance, unclear about the exact situation, were caught up in the contagious enthusiasm and joined the cheers.

Amidst this roaring approval, several democratic elders were driven from the platform in disarray.

With the elders ousted, the citizens erupted into a thunderous cheer, as if they had achieved a monumental victory.

"Perhaps…" Martin Kramer, dusted and disheveled, returned to the council and said to the other democratic elders, his face grim, "Perhaps… we should consider letting the citizens experience the troubles we've been facing lately…"