Chapter 66 - Plans of Rebuttal (2) (1/2)

Chapter 66 – Plans of Rebuttal (2)

“Yes. Would you like to try one? This is dried palm that Kurkans eat. I had a hard time looking for this.”

Count Valtein flamboyantly displayed his expertise in date palm eating etiquette. “Eating this is quite difficult. You must learn the proper way! Trying it once or twice without the correct technique will waste the dates. I assure you, many are unaware of this method.”

The unique and interesting goods piqued Finance Minister Laurent’s interest. He took the fork he was using for refreshment, picked up a date and ate it. Then he drank the tea straight away.

“Oh no, it is quite a bit of sugar…”

“It’s not sugar! Date palms are naturally sweet.”

Despite the count’s rebuttal, Finance Minister Laurent, could not easily iron out the frown on his forehead. Count Valtein smiled as he watched the minister drink his second cup of tea.

Even though Valtein detested sweet things, he had eaten two dates already—just like season, his taste bud changes. Leah, who was with them, could only look at him in astonishment.

“I think this is popular nowadays because it is good for one’s vigor,” Valtein continued to praise the sweets.

“…”

While they were eating, Ishakan’s memory of eating the dates suddenly popped into Leah’s head. Imagining the man, she hurriedly shook it off.

The culture of Kurkans was getting popular in Estia these days. The foreign customs had been quite appealing to the aristocrats who were awfully fond of new entertainment.

From the ruler’s perspective, it would not be favourable. However, the more one tries to suppress the people from doing something they wanted to try, the more they wound it fascinating. Thus, preventing the Kurkan culture in becoming a trend was not an option.

All they could do was wait for the Kurkans to return to the dessert after negotiations took place, thus taking the trend with them.

Count Valtein offered the dates to Leah, but the latter only refused to eat them. She instead sipped some lightly brewed black tea and raised the main topic she wanted to tackle.

“What happened to the favor I asked of you?

“Yes, princess.” Count Valtein immediately put down his teacup. “I found out the Kurkans are currently moving in Estia with three divisions.”

The first was tasked to meet and appease the key figures of the kingdom. They had already seen this in action. The Kurkans had taken the initiative to approach Count Valtein.

The second was to track down gypsies and arrest them. In the first place, the relationship between the Kurkans and the gypsies was already marred. However, there appeared to be more than meets the eye for their conflict.

“The last one was the same as what the princess had expected. They have been looking for the Kurkan slaves that had been captured here in Estia.”

Leah nodded as she heard the words of Count Valtein. Slavery was illegal. However, in the face of money, the law did not exist. There was an immense demand for Kurkan slavery, they were strong and valuable. Slave dealers would illegally capture them, and sell them off, making a fortune.

“Therefore, did you do what I instructed?”

“Of course. It will proceed as you wish.”