Reborn as a Bully

BUYING A DUKEDOM FOR FATHER

The entrance to the main hall was marked by a colossal door embellished with intricately carved depictions of various historical battles in the city's annals. 

Stepping into the heart of the prince's court, we found ourselves amidst a diverse assembly. The brightest minds from across the kingdom had gathered here, dedicated to serving the prince. 

Accompanying them were formidable conjurers and emissaries from the Church of All-seeing, creating a formidable presence that reflected the influence and power wielded by Prince Raslee, the Crown Prince of Drachia kingdom, the ruler of Tarah city.

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"We announce the arrival of Oriese, scion of the Kaleon family", an announcer announced my arrival in the court, and I walked toward the priest before giving him a customary bow.

"Your highness, I am pleased to have an audience with you", I said to Prince Raslee who was seated in the middle of the hall, flanked by his many advisors.

"The Kaleon family just came to our city from Starri city, they are not a part of us, why will your highness even see these people", someone asked the prince.

"Minister Holden, let's hear from the young master, why he wants to see me," the prince replied to his advisor before addressing me and asked, "young master, I am curious, what business brings you to our court?"

"I do not want to waste your highness' time, so I will be brief. Our family understands that the war in Starri city has brought too many refugees into Tarah city who graciously accepted us, but this is not a long-term solution. There are many problems that come with an influx of people from another city", I said to the prince.

"You are right, your people are a drain on our city's resources, and we are debating whether to chase you all away", Minister Holden said to me.

"Minister Holden, let's hear the young master out first. He must have some idea about this if he brings out this matter to us", Prince Raslee told the old advisor.

"Minister Holden, it will be simple to chase all the refugees out of the city but the consequences for the dignity of this court is at stake. The Crown Prince will not abandon his own people even if they are not from his city. We are after all citizens of Drachia kingdom", I told the minister.

"How dare you speak to me about our city's dignity, you peasant?" the minister scolded me, but the prince stopped him with a gesture.

"Continue", the prince said to me.

"There is a large piece of land in the east of Tarah city that is currently inhabited by dangerous wild animals. The land is of no use to your highness other than the collection fees for hunting permits. Sell this land to us", I said to the prince.

"Preposterous, that land is our hunting grounds", Minister holden protested.

"There is a better use for the land, to resettle the thousands of refugees from Staari city, and our Kaleon family will pay for the land's development. The tax on the land in the future will be more than the collection fees for hunting permits. This solves the problem of the refugees' draining resources on the city's coffers and at the same time increases the wealth of the city in the future", I said to them.

"But…", minister Holden wanted to protest but the prince stopped him.

"I can sell the land to you, but it will not be cheap", the prince said to me as his advisors calculated with their counting instruments.

"We cannot sell for anything less than a hundred and fifty million Aurs for the undeveloped land", an advisor reported to the prince.

"That amount is agreeable", I agreed to the prince immediately.

"Are you sure, that is not a small sum of money?" Minister Holden asked me.

"And Minister Holden, you reminded me earlier. A peasant has no right to deal with this esteemed court, so I have a counter offer", I said to them.

"What counteroffer?" the prince asked me.

"We will double the asking price for the land but in return the Title to the land shall go to our family", I replied to the prince.

"What is the meaning of this?" Minister Holden asked me.

"The land that we are going to buy shall come with the Title of the Duke of Kaleon, and my father, Orol shall be the first duke of this land", I said to them.

"Preposterous, did a peasant come to our court to buy a Dukeship?" Minister Holden asked me angrily.

"This is a win-win situation. Nobody in this city has the respect of the refugees like our Kaleon family. We brought them out from Starri city and saved their lives. Somebody else might not have their loyalty. If you allow us to rule these people, they will soon become integrated as loyal subjects of this city and the coffers of the city will grow. Win-win-and-win", I said to the prince.

"Do you have this kind of money to buy this land and Title?" Prince Raslee asked me.

"I wouldn't come to this court to waste your time, your highness, If I am not serious. You can write the deed right now and I will pay to this court three hundred million Aurs immediately", I said to the prince as Aur stones dropped on the floor beside me.

The advisors and clerk quickly counted the Aur stones and the magic inside. Before long, the accounting was complete.

"There are three hundred million Aurs in these stones", the accountants told the prince.

"Alright, scribes, write the Deed to the Dukedom of Kaleon", the prince told his scribes.

"Your high…", Minister Holden tried to protest but stopped half-way.

"Is there something that you want to say about this arrangement?" the prince asked the minister.

"The minister shall have no objections because there is no loss to the court of Tarah city from this sale but everything to gain. Only a fool will not recognize that", I said to the prince, silencing the minister even before he opened his mouth.

"Yes, Minister Holden, you should stop calling this young master a peasant, he is the new Earl of Kaleon", the prince said to the old minister.

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