Chapter 711

Duke Smithmade P.O.V.

Something is different today, I just know it. I can’t tell what it is but it feels like something has changed. News that the war was paused for the next six years had started making the rounds two days ago though the bigger Houses got word from the crown earlier than that.

“My lord.” A nod from my friend and bodyguard pointed me towards my rival. Archduke Goldmancer, a title that had belonged to my grandfather but had been stolen away from my father by the very man holding it, had now walked in with his daughter.

Annabeth Goldmancer, much like her father she is a talented merchant, but where her father was also a gifted politician his daughter is mage with extreme potential. There are rumors aplenty about her having gained a Legendary Skill. With all the effort and gold her father poured into her I’m not surprised any scrap of talent was brought to the surface.

Her only being born recently is probably the only reason I have a chance to wrestle the title back for our family as her being the heir has caused extensive infighting in the House as well as put extra pressure on the Archduke, causing him to miss smaller opportunities.

Next to the two of them I see Duke Manashaper, not an oddity considering the good relationship between Annabeth and the Duke’s daughter, but she surprisingly isn’t there with them.

Despite Anna’s talent as a mage she is still considered to be the second best mage of her generation with Lexi taking the top spot. Not all that surprising considering Prince Xavier who managed to push an Uncommon Skill past level fifty before the age of ten was part of their group and his friend Benedict make up the tight nit group that was expected to become the champions of this generation.

“In attendance crown prince Xandor.” The announcement drew my attention away from the group and my social Skills had to show their worth to stop my frown from forming. Next to the crown prince who took a seat in his father’s chair signifying that he would be leading court and hearing requests and complaints today was the prince’s older brother.

“He’s here…”

“It’s him…”

“They say he killed champions…”

Seconds after the royals entered a wave of whispers traveled across the room, I didn’t even have to turn to know who had entered. The reason for my odd feeling finally made sense, Lexi not being next to her father and friend naturally tied in. The champions had returned from the war.

“Zero, milord.” My friend whispered to me but it was his next words that caused a small shiver to rise up my spine. “And he noticed me checking.”

Ajax Hearthbound. The undisputed genius of this generation and according to the reports coming from the war, possibly the strongest champion among humanoids. Information about that was still sparse and I expected it would become more accurate once the elites returned and stories spread.

“You’re sure?” I asked.

I had seen Ajax once before a few years prior when he took part in the Republic’s tournament. He had been impressive back then as well but nothing like he was now. I know my friend wasn’t so strong that he could claim to be a champion but he had evaluated Ajax back then. Not only did his Skill assure him he could protect me from the then boy but he hadn’t even been noticed. What had happened in the past few years to go from that to him not being able to protect me at all and even his Skill was noticed.

“Yes, he seemed surprised.” The answer drew my interest. “Doubtlessly I’m not the only one who tried to use a Skill on him but something about mine must have stood out.”

Considering that I would have to account for the Duke coming to speak with me some time today, during or maybe even after court. It wouldn’t do to be caught unprepared but a talk with Duke Hearthbound wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Truth be told my family was ecstatic about House Hearthbound’s most recent actions. While Ajax’s little sister Judy had shown herself to be a shrewd merchant and her sporadic release of high level goods had cost us more than it should have, we couldn't really complain. The influx of high level reagents coming from the Wild Lands were mostly acquired by my family or by other Houses that then requested that my family craft something for them.

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“You’re not worried about House Hearthbound claiming the Goldmancer title?” The question was a good one if one only looked at it from the point of view of the requirements for that Archduke title.

“No.” I answered with confidence. “It’ll be only a few more years at this rate until House Heartbound meets the requirements to claim the archducal title of Steelblade, even if they later become rich and entrenched enough to also claim Goldmancer no House can hold both titles.”

Left unsaid was my opinion that a fourth Archducal title would be created specifically for House Hearthbound. After all with Ajax’s rise in power, his family’s clear competence at ruling in his absence and their growing political and economical influence it wouldn’t be long until House Hearthbound eclipsed all three Archduchies and rivaled the crown in terms of influence and wealth. My eyes flickered from Duke Hearthbound and his fiance to the crown prince, how would they play this? I’m pretty sure there are strong ties between them and jealousy has been building against House Hearthbound.

Court proceeds as usual but the presence of the king’s eldest son is quickly felt and a lot of the appeals following the first few are withdrawn as he pushes his influence to belittle some of the obviously petty requests.

“You’d think he’d be in a better mood considering he’s come back from winning a war.” A viscount next to me comments as he looks towards the prince. “Usually he would delight in petty matters and while he wouldn’t take them seriously he wouldn’t dismiss them out of hand like this.”

It’s clear to me and any other experienced noble that he is aiming for something. My guess from the glances Ajax is sending him it’s somebody complaining about House Hearthbound so that they can put on a predetermined show. The prince is doing a good job of hiding his intentions but it’s clear the head of House Hearthbound isn’t as used to masking things.

A silent conversation spoken through glances now breaks out among the rest of us more experienced nobles. All of them had also put together the same thing that I have, the only questions left were, could we stop it?, and if we could should we?

A quick look at the order of complaints brought before the court tells me that we can’t. We only have three more people before a baron near House Hearthbound’s lands is set to complain about their overreach thanks to them not paying taxes, we could obviously warn him off but with so little time it would have to be done crudely. This would make whoever does it an obvious target for the crown’s and possible Duke Hearthbound’s ire.

Choosing not to put my finger on the scales I simply sit back and enjoy the show. It doesn’t take long for everyone to realize the compromise was reached long before the complaint came but their way of handling it surprises me and some of the other nobles. For House Hearthbound to simply acknowledge they should pay some taxes and then pay them for the full year with a single item of such obvious value is not something anyone expected.

“So that’s what the fuss our people from the Republic’s capital were talking about.” My friend reminded me of the missives we’d received more than a month ago about Ajax pulling out something very valuable from the Republic’s dungeons but not selling it to them despite them being in open war.

I tune out the oncoming speech. I’m sure my friend will let me know what it all boils down to but I know it’s essentially the crown giving out a list of things they don’t want to hear anybody complain about in regards to House Hearthbound.

“You seemed pretty interested in my future son-in-law.” The words of Duke Manashaper draw my attention as I realize both he and his granddaughter have approached me. I scanned the crowd for Ajax himself but found him talking with Xavier, Anna and Benedict.

“My fiance isn’t here.” Lexi said. “He didn’t want to put your friend on edge.”

“If I may ask, what did I do to draw his attention?” My friend and bodyguard asked.

“Your Skill.” The answer didn’t surprise me but the next words did. “It actually worked on him.”

The implications that out of a room full of nobles and bodyguards so few people’s identify Skills had actually worked, not only that but he could pick out the handful whose did was a telling revelation. Them admitting to it so openly was also a deliberate choice that House Hearthbound wasn’t afraid to show their strength.

I would have preferred to ask Ajax himself the questions but considering that Lexi was most likely making most of the decisions when it came to ruling getting a direct answer from her was probably better.

“I have to ask, Lady Hearthbound.” Despite them not being married my use of title showed what my question intended. “Do you intend to challenge my House over our dominance when it comes to crafting?”

House Hearthbound’s focus on crafting was causing issues at the lower levels for now, but they were a long way off to even being close to my House when it came to high level crafting. Considering what their patriarch had managed to pull off however I knew better than to underestimate them.

“I won’t claim to understand all of Ajax’s motives when he asks us to get certain things done.” Lexi's answer further confirmed what I already was fairly certain of. Ajax wasn’t a good ruler but he had ideas, he only explained them as best he could and then the rest of his family tried to make them into reality. “But challenging your position wasn’t his intention when he started our schools.”

“So it’s just an unintended coincidence?” I asked, my question drawing interested gazes from the nobles surrounding us.

“We’re not challenging anything.” Lexi answered. “You’ll see in a few years that unlike you we have no intention of hoarding all our crafters. Our goal was completely different.”

I had made a mistake. It was only now that I realized it but it was clear. House Hearthbound might or might not be challenging us but I should have put together that they wouldn’t have a use for as many crafters as they were training. This entire conversation had been a bait. Their reputation will rise and if they keep true to their word and trained crafters spread out from their duchy in the years to come that act alone would make it so many more Houses that recruit them would one day possibly challenge our current market dominance.

“I’d like to ask you to overlook her youthful approach.” Duke Manashaper said as he passed a scroll to me as we both watched Lexi head towards Ajax and the rest of her friends. “But she is rather fond of her oldest and best friend.”

Looking at the scroll it was obviously a spell. Not a bad consolation prize considering I had been beaten by a young lady. Duke Manashaper was clearly trying to prevent any retaliation against her or her House. I accepted the gift with a nod, there was no need to mention that I wouldn’t have lashed out regardless. Despite his quick growth Ajax was still raised a commoner, I wouldn’t have risked moving against him or his future wife just in case he might react with an unproportional response.

“That mistake will cost us.” My friend says as we both watch Duke Manashaper also take his leave and I can only nod and plan how to minimize the damage.