The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 60.1
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‘Hmm, no, he might retaliate in private. Considering how things will unfold in the latter half.’
Although this man always smiles pleasantly, how can one possibly know what he’s truly thinking inside?
Grace briefly glanced at Benjamin from the corner of her eyes.
“If both His Highness and I move into the forest during the day, the attention will be drawn there. For safety reasons, some of the expedition will probably have to exert effort in diversion to accompany us.”
“Hmm…”
“Others have already confirmed that there are no beasts in the forest. The tracks of animals are not something only hunters can recognize.”
Animals have sharper senses than humans; if a place is uninhabitable or deemed dangerous, they would move their habitat.
There was no chance of any animals being near the source of contamination, which is near the territory of Count Ardel.
Understanding Grace’s point, Benjamin nodded.
“We’ll have to verify when the report comes in. If everything is prepared before the Saintess arrives, purifying can be wrapped up quickly.”
In the end, seeming convinced, Benjamin nodded and entered the forest with Grace.
‘Surely, I won’t die suddenly in this forest, so it should be fine.’
Though the thought of venturing into the dark forest with just Benjamin was a bit scary, Benjamin was among the top powerful figures in this world.
In this expedition, there was probably no one as strong as Benjamin, and as long as his sudden blackening does not happen today, Grace was safe.
Upon entering the forest, a faint light was seen deep within the dark forest.
“They’ve applied luminescent paint.”
Benjamin escorted Grace, lighting the path through the forest with lanterns.
Seeing the surprisingly powerful luminescent paint, Benjamin muttered,
“It wasn’t this strong when I tested its potency before. Maybe at that time, the surroundings were not that dark because we only closed the curtains.”
“…”
“Once we solve the persistent issue of its fading, it can be used quite nicely. It’s quite different from the conventional dyes…”
‘So, he doesn’t just like the Gates?’
While discussing the luminescent paint, Benjamin stared intently at the ribbon before proceeding further in.
“Your Highness has a fondness for magical tools?”
“Ah…”
It was then that Benjamin realized he’d been incessantly talking about magical tools.
“Magical tools greatly influence the quality of life for the citizens of the empire. While they may not heal people as divine power does, the convenience they provide saves time, and saved time translates to more leisure.”
He checked for obstacles ahead and led Grace forward.
“That’s why the Felton Duchy has been supporting the development of magical tools for generations, collaborating with the royal family to ensure that these tools are available at affordable and equitable prices.”
“Well, if they’re too expensive, only the nobility would be able to afford them.”
“Yes, the empire is vast. The number of commoners far exceeds that of the nobility. Thus, it’s our duty to enhance their lives. However, this often leads to discussions about taxes during the annual royal meetings.”
“Hmm…”
Speaking of Taxes. Grace recalled the tax structure of the Aizen Empire.
While there was a basic income tax, the nobility still had to pay additional taxes, making their tax amount even higher.
Not all nobles were wealthy, so they paid a certain percentage of their income. However, there were those who still found reasons to complain.
‘For instance, there might be those who pay less but still reap the rewards from this system.’
“I see. So, to offer magical tools at affordable prices, they need to develop them with consistent quality and no issues from the beginning.”
“Yes, that’s why we’re continuously researching even the magical tools that are already out in the market, like the Gates for instance.”
“You seem very concerned about it.”
“Well, compared to others, I’ve been called a businessman.”
“Others, you say?”
“Temples and Duke Jarte are prominent examples. Temples always operate on donations, and the pharmacist union led by Duke Jarte is funded mostly by the empire’s taxes.”
Grace felt like saying, ‘Is that so?’ but refrained.
‘But, when you break it down, aren’t all three similar?’
While the temple may operate on donations, the saintess is always born within the empire, making it the headquarters of the largest religion in the empire. Hence, it receives substantial donations each year from the imperial family and various wealthy noble families.
And while the pharmacists union run by Duke Jarte operated on taxes and kept prices low, wasn’t the magical tool association similar in this respect?
Currently, everyone’s lives were intertwined with magical tools and that was possible because they were supported through taxes, allowing the association to offer their services at relatively affordable prices.
‘But then again, what do I know? Just how valuable is medicine in this empire?’
Temples could heal diseases, but there were also separate physicians and medicines available.
Benjamin was referred to as a “businessman,” but that was certainly not meant in a good light.
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