Chapter 68: Be Calm
Arabella frowned as the men continued to collect money from each house.
Her companions also knit their brows as they watched with obvious displeasure as the people who had just survived a flood and were already suffering from a financial crisis and food shortage, were paying money to suspicious men.
Alwin used a magic barrier so no one would notice them watching from the forest.
[They look like mercenaries. Is this also Marquess Gulliver’s doing? Aside from slavery, he is extorting money from the common people? Isn’t this too much? Just how many laws of the Empire is he breaking? I knew I felt something was weird about him before. I should have listened to my instinct. We shouldn’t have assigned him to take care of Prudencia. Back then he was the most suitable candidate since his fief was just beside Prudencia. But look at what he’s done. I have to take care of this personally.]
Arabella blinked twice when she realized it was Raymond and the ministers who have appointed Gulliver.
Gulliver had apparently volunteered and when the ministers checked his records, he had the qualifications and they share borders so it was approved. Thus, as the one who approved it, Raymond felt responsible for what was happening to Prudencia.
After all, it would have been hard to find a civil servant with a high rank willing to be assigned to a territory so far from Riva. Especially when it was a newly conquered territory.
Raymond and the ministers had good intentions and high expectations when they assigned Gulliver since he had always performed well in his tasks so far. His fief was prosperous and well-managed as well.
She learned from Raymond’s thoughts that Gulliver was the fifth son from a dukedom near Prudencia. He was far from becoming the next duke since he was the fifth son.
Thus, Gulliver took the Exam in Riva to be a Civil Servant since he knew he would not get an important position from his family. He passed and was a civil servant for two years and performed well.
However, he soon joined the ranks of the knights instead of continuing to be a civil servant. Gulliver achieved great feats as a knight until he was given a fief and the title of Marquess.