I Don't Trust My Twin Sister Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

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The important thing was the movement of the duchy’s funds. I needed to confirm the progress of the people’s businesses and liquidity.

Thinking that the reason behind his obsession with money laid with decreasing funds was an accurate prediction.

Over the last 10 years, the entire a.s.sets of the dukedom decreased 5% each year. If it had been only been one or two years it would be an issue in itself, but the continuous decrease of 5% to the last 10 years was a considerable problem.

The sudden decrease in a.s.sets could be due to several matters, but it's clear the answer was debt.

No matter how much wealth the territory of a rich man had, debt would always exist. If you looked at the bad side of debt you would be entangled and suffer liabilities, however debt also secured business functions.

That said, the Aztane family also had a considerably large amount of debt. Of course, the scale of our debt was not enough to drive the  family head mad.

However, the debt of the duchy was neglected for a long time. In this case, the interest of the private loan used was not growing.  Simply put, the situation was that money was lacking due to the debt increasing every year.

The duchy needs a colossal amount of funds to maintain the military. I heard every year from someone that due to the Northern kingdoms allying themselves as a confederation there was threat of an attack. Even returning to the past, I've seen news of the Confederation of the Northern Kingdoms approaching the borders and pestering the kingdom so the need of a strong military force was imminent.

“Hmm.”

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So even with this disadvantageous situation, the prodigal Ian was spending money for pleasure? That doesn’t seem right. In my opinion, at the very least he was a character that knew how to distinguish self-interest.

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Scratching the middle of my forehead I looked towards the guild member informant who stood in front of me.

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“I had heard that funds given by the imperial family supporting the military was being withheld but the budget is disgustingly lower than I thought. Did you miss something?”

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“You have looked at everything properly. The funds provided to the military given by the imperial family is rather lacking. Incredibly lacking. In truth, even when the Archduke went to request more funds, he was rejected. I can’t help but think that his debt was caused by the loans the Archduke of Veridian took out in order to provide for his military, due to the Imperial family reducing funds due to them seeing the Archduke as a threat to their reign.

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This authority. For 600 years this family was loyal to the imperial family and built a military in order to protect them, but the imperial family continues to order them around without funding and keeps them under shackles. It’s similar to starving a hunting dog so they can’t fight back.

“Anyways the scale of debt is very large. Did he put everything up for collateral to carry the debt?”

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“The duchy has placed 12 mining locations up as collateral.”

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Once again I looked through the doc.u.ments. Just the interest sum was jaw-dropping. Of course, the debt accrued over 10 years with the interest would scale to an enormous amount. The previous Archduke, Mollind had trusted that the imperial family would cover the debt.

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I scratched my head when a sudden thought appeared. Even the entire budget of the kingdom for a whole year would only cover half of the debt. Because of this, his money for obsession started.

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“I got it.”

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“Pardon?”

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“It’s nothing.”

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I had found a clue.

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Before I returned I needed to ask Ian if he could spare me some time. I was informed by one of the servants that he was in the study, and I went to find him.

I entered the study once I heard a voice telling me I could after knocking. I laughed at the sight of Ian sitting and playing with a feather pen as he was buried under doc.u.ments. My mood lifted knowing that man would be part of my plan.

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“Oh, why isn’t it Lady Laurencia?”

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“How does a quick conversation sound?”

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“It doesn’t sound so bad. I need some time to rest my eyes.”

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I approached him as he leaned against the chair and pressed his eyes with tired expression. Turning my head and I saw some doc.u.ments  had fallen to the ground. They were supply lists needed for the military for the coming winter.

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I picked up the doc.u.ments off the ground, dusted them off, and handed them to Ian.

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“This is chaotic”

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“Well, all offices are like this. By the way, what is Laurencia’s business here? Did you come here to give me the two gold pieces we talked about yesterday?”

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Two gold pieces. While laughing I threw him the two gold pieces that were in my pocket. Although he looked at me with a look of surprise, he effortlessly caught the gold coins and placed them on the desk while returning a laugh.

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“Despite how you look, you are unlike other aristocratic ladies.”

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There was no other way to deal business with older men.

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“Although winter has not come yet, you must certainly be busy with winter preparations.”

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“Winter is a difficult season. Rations are lacking, protecting the borders become difficult, and spirits are low. To prevent the morale of soldiers dropping utilities against the cold need to be prepared.”

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“That is correct. Still, it is a relief that the West is not that cold.”

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“This neighborhood is like that. However, the soldiers guarding the lands towards the Northern borders must be s.h.i.+vering in the cold.”

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The sight of him leisurely spinning the feather pen and leaning his chair entered my eyes. The edges of his mouth went up.

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“So.”

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“Pardon?”

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“The reason for you coming here isn’t because the Lady is concerned about those protecting the kingdom. Correct?”

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“...what, that is correct.”

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With a bitter face I nodding my head. Ian placed the pen on top of the table and quietly looked at me. I returned his gaze. I had no reason to avoid his gaze, nor did I want to avoid it. The room became quiet as we looked at each other as I was about to bring up an important topic.

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He looked at me as if he could look inside of me and with furrowed brows he opened his mouth.

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“I am not a businessman. I am not an entrepreneur either. Besides that, I am not a civil servant that declares wars with his mouth. So let me ask you straightforwardly.”

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I gulped.

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“Why have you come here?”

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A straightforward speech. It wasn’t familiar but it didn’t feel bad.

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“You have troubles right?”

“Troubles?”

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“Yes, a very big problem.”

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“I have nothing of the sort.”

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“Liar. Everybody lives while carrying troubles.”

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“Is the lady like that too?”

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“Of course.”

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I beamed a smile. His expression changed to a sulk.

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“So because of that, I will also have something troubling me.”

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“Yes. Of course.”

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“Oh, how interesting. I was not aware that a business household such as the Aztane family would have a lady magician who could read the minds people.”

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“To be able to read minds is advantageous in business dealing.”

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“That’s fun.”

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He carefreely stretched the small of his back. Unlike his words, the frowning expression in his eyes reflected how he was feeling.

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“So then the Lady must know what I am being troubled by.”

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“To an extent.”

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“Will you tell me?”

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As if copying him I looked at him and returned a smile.

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“You don’t have any money.”

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“...”

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I spoke immediately after seeing his face confirming me with a frown.

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“I know you have accrued a lot of debt. It’s not the debt that you want but the debt that has been unreasonably stacked against you.”

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“Inner finance circ.u.mstances are kept secret, how is it that you know this?”

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“Where in this world are there secrets?”

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He beamed a smile and let out a sigh as he got out of his chair and came closer to me. My throat twisted as I gazed at the Archduke gradually coming closer. Finally, he was a footstep away and face to face with me.

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“So, did you come to tell me to be careful because of my large debt? Like, because your debt is large please use your money frugally?”

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“You’re quite correct.”

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Seeing his expression rapidly crumple I thought that I had almost gotten him into my plan. This time I got one step closer to him and looked up to him and said.

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“Would you like to make a deal?”

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“A personal one, or a public one?”

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“Both.”

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As he was satisfied with my response he gave a fairly refres.h.i.+ng smile. I understood what his smile meant.

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“My lord, Archduke Veridian.”

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“Why call me, Lady Laurencia?”

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“I am the next in line for the Aztane family.”

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“So that’s what it was.”

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Seeing him shrug his shoulders I returned the gesture my shrugging my shoulders once.

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“The debt that was unfairly placed onto my lord, archduke by the imperial family. That the kingdom neglecting it’s sword and   like starving a hunting dog.”

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I raised my chin. It was quite arrogant. His expression was amused as I opened my mouth.

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“My lord, Archduke Veridian, I shall deal with your debt. In return, you will owe me a debt.”

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Covering debt with debt.

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For 10 years Archduke Veridian had accrued a debt of thirty thousand gold coins. If you were to add interest it would total to forty-five thousand gold.

To be honest, when I first saw the sum I thought it was a joke.

The amount of money was equal to the sum of gold of the kingdom that contained the most wealth on the continent. It was that valuable.

Gold was not something that was commonly used. Gold was used commercially while silver was used for personal use.

45,000 gold. Even to someone in an archduke position this amount of debt was a large burden. Besides the costs for the maintain the military that had accrued a lot of debt, and with the increasing interest it was debt upon another debt.

The imperial family was probably aware that the Archduke wouldn’t be able to solve the problem. Once the imperial family approved the request for a larger budget they made it so that more problems would occur to increase the Archduke’s debt.

I vaguely remember something I heard. That once the imperial family had taken back the duchy, he had given back the t.i.tle of the Archduke

It’s not a detailed memory. When I had heard about this news previously I had paid no interest to it. At that time I was busy trying to figure out the problems that were falling onto me.

“And in return, you’ll cover my debt?”

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“Yes. And in return owe me a debt.”

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“Then wouldn't the conclusion be the same? Is the Aztane family trying to take possession of my duchy? Sorry, but that will be difficult for you.”

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Of course, a person would think that. However, I didn’t want to take such a complicatedly dangerous gamble. (like taking over the duchy)

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“No, the debt doesn’t have to be paid off via money.”

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“...What?”

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An expression saying that’s preposterous appeared on his face. A person would normally think like this. Just saying that I would cover his debt was shocking enough, but I also added that I don’t require being paid back with money.

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“Are you playing a joke Lady?”

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This reaction is completely understandable. But to me, protecting my life and family is worth more than gold.

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“I’m not in the position to play a joke on the Archduke.”

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“...”

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Even something with a good personality would get mad if this was a joke. But the fact was that I wasn’t joking but telling the truth.

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Ian looked at me silently. It must be complicated. He’s probably wondering what this is about. He probably can’t figure out whether I’m scamming him, or playing a joke on him. Just in case I had prepared a trump card.

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“Anyways, I have something to prove my a.s.surance.”

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“a.s.surance?”

I pa.s.sed by and approached the doc.u.ment covered desk. I grabbed one and examined its contents. All the doc.u.ments were about the duchy’s spendings, the duchy’s business, and the lack of fund on providing for them.

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