Chapter 18
"Baron Colonna, have you ever heard of seaweed?"
In the social circles where failing to keep up with trends meant becoming obsolete, there were no nobles who didn't know about seaweed.
Yet, there was a separate reason for asking such a question.
In short, it was to tease, "Hey, isn't your family totally broke?"
The person on the receiving end not only had their pride hurt but also suffered a slight political blow as their family was subtly disrespected.
The Baron wanted to throw his gloves down in anger but suppressed his fury.
Because challenging someone to a duel over such a trivial matter would be disgracing his ancestors.
"Haha, how could a noble of the Tuscan Empire not know about seaweed? I've heard about it too. It's really good for postpartum mothers, isn't it?"
Baron Colonna managed to respond somewhat politely.
However, his opponent had no intention of letting him off easily.
"Indeed, you did know. Actually, I managed to obtain a small quantity recently."
The opponent handed Baron Colonna a box that was clearly luxurious.
Inside the box was about 100 grams of dried seaweed.
The value of the contents was a whopping 10 gold coins, 100 pounds.
While it wasn't a large sum for nobles of baron rank, it certainly wasn't a small amount either.
"Our Delle baronial family succeeded in securing about 2kg of it this time. So I thought I should give a little as a gift to Baron Colonna, who has a close relationship with us."
Baron Delle supported Duke Visconti, while Baron Colonna supported Duke Sforza, making them political opponents.
Giving 100 grams of precious seaweed to someone in such a relationship?
It was nothing more than a deception to show how much wealthier they were than the other family.
Moreover, since money was power and strength, it was also mocking that they were weaker.
A large part of the reason why seaweed sold well was that it enabled "legal teasing of enemy families," which says it all.
However, on the surface, it was a free gift of a medicinal ingredient worth its weight in gold, so he couldn't get angry.
'I'll be labeled as someone who repays kindness with enmity.'
Baron Colonna could only grit his teeth at this ploy.
"Ah, then I'll be going now. I have to greet others as well."
There was a clear contrast between those who had secured seaweed and those who hadn't.
Baron Colonna, despite feeling furious inside, couldn't throw away the box containing 100 grams of seaweed.
"This is utterly miserable."
Such a feeling was something he hadn't experienced since he directly witnessed his once-favorite courtesan having an affair with another commoner man.
"Even our family's vassals won't be able to show their faces."
If a count, no, even a viscount did such a deceptive act, it would end with feeling a 'difference in class' and a bit of inferiority.
But what if rumors spread that a fellow baron, even a political opponent, did this?
Just thinking about it was truly horrifying.
And the Baron's wife, who attended the banquet together, immediately voiced her complaints.
"I don't understand why I have to be disrespected for not being able to get seaweed even at a banquet like this."
Although the Tuscan Empire was a world of male dominance.
The relationship between a legal wife and husband was clearly a symbol of the semi-permanent alliance between two families.
Therefore, wives and husbands were almost equal in status, just with different roles.
That's why Baron Colonna had to resist the urge to strike his wife.
"I'm sorry I'm not powerful enough."
"Today, Baroness Dornar was boasting that she gave birth 10 days ago, and her body condition improved quickly after eating a soup called seaweed soup."
"......"
"She said it wasn't dangerous at all because she gave birth at the hospital made by that Fabio, the second son of the Medici family."
The wife gently stroked her belly while staring at the Baron.
It wasn't a loving gaze towards her husband.
"Giving birth is a natural duty for a noble woman. But wouldn't it be better if it could be done a little more safely?"
Even if giving birth was considered natural, it was still scary.
Her husband, Baron Colonna, understood that much.
"Hmm, that's true."
"In that sense, can't you use your influence to get me that seaweed and allow me to use that Medici hospital or whatever it's called when I give birth?"
"But the Medici family is our political opponent..."
"Even if we'll be disrespected for not keeping up with this trend?"
It definitely didn't end at just being called unfashionable for not keeping up with trends.
Above all, being disrespected for not following trends was unbearable, especially when it came to honor, which was more precious than one's own life.
"No matter how precious seaweed is, we should be able to get it somehow through the black market. And as for that Medici hospital or whatever, I'll personally bow my head to the Duke if necessary to get a place."
While seaweed was just a commodity, a mother's death during childbirth could lead to the dissolution of a marriage alliance, which was a critical matter.
Moreover, what if this unlucky wife died while giving birth now?
If she died in the hospital, that would be one thing, but if she died because they didn't take her to the hospital when they could have, the other family would surely cause an uproar.
'My father-in-law would surely use his dead daughter to burden us with a huge debt.'
That was exactly how noble society worked.
As soon as Baron Colonna left the banquet hall, he shouted at his butler.
"Butler! Does it make sense that we can't even buy that damned seaweed or whatever it is?"
"Lord Fabio, under the protection of His Grace Duke Visconti, has monopolized the entire quantity. Don't you know?"
"Who doesn't know that?! Buy it right now!"
"To do that, we'd have to bow our heads to His Grace."
"I can bow my head to send her to the obstetrics department because of my wife's request. His Grace Duke Sforza would understand that."
In noble society, childbirth was a blessing that strengthened family alliances, but also a bomb that could break alliances if the mother died.
So even if they owed a favor to Duke Visconti to prevent this from going wrong, that Sforza fellow wouldn't have much to say.
Because childbirth was a matter of family survival.
"Go to the black market and secure at least 1 kg of seaweed! The price doesn't matter, even if it's several times higher. For our family's honor and face! This is an emergency."
This was the biggest reason why seaweed was selling so well.
It was good for the mother's health, trendy, but if you couldn't get your hands on it, you'd be treated like a fool in noble society.
"Yes, I understand."
"After securing the quantity, prepare for a banquet. I must get revenge on that Delle bastard who hurt my pride."
And on this day, Baron Colonna bought 1kg of seaweed for three times the market price.
He also barely managed to secure a hospital room for his wife, who would give birth in 5 months, by asking Duke Visconti for a favor.
The Duke was gaining political influence, while Fabio was even collecting income from seaweed sold on the black market.
They were taking care of everything meticulously.
**
"As expected, in the Middle Ages, touching the nobles' vanity is the best!"
The cake I first made, seaweed, and the postpartum care center.
All three were new things that stimulated the nobles' vanity.
Thanks to this, nobles were buying cakes in packaging boxes with the 'Medici' seal at more than four times the price of other cakes.
They considered it an essential item that shouldn't be missing from banquets.
Seaweed and the postpartum care center had become things that nobles had to secure even if they had to go into debt.
"I wonder how much money is coming in from seaweed and the postpartum care center."
I had Sebastian hire suitable people to handle it, so it should be about time for the settlement report to come up.
Speaking of the devil, Sebastian's voice was heard from outside the door.
"Young master, may I come in?"
For him, who had been a butler for over several decades, to approach hurriedly after entering the room?
This seemed like something to look forward to.
"Come in."
As expected, there was a smile on his face, suggesting the results were good.
"The sales revenue from seaweed and the net income from the Medici hospital exceeded 4,000 gold coins. To think this much in just a month."
Even in 21st century Earth, it's said that the top 1% monopolize 50% of the world's wealth.
Not to mention in the Tuscan Empire where wealth redistribution was even less prevalent.
That's why if you're going to do business, targeting nobles sells a lot, so I only sold products targeting nobles.
'This is a bit more than expected.'
Compared to when we made the ironworks last time, the sales scale was smaller.
Probably when the quantity of seaweed is fully consumed throughout the Tuscan Empire, a similar scale of income would come in.
And unlike steel, which always has a constant demand, seaweed and the postpartum care center would gradually lose their rarity, so the sales scale would decrease further.
"More money came in than I thought."
Sebastian widened his eyes looking at me.
It must have been unexpected to see a young man of 20, no, soon to be 21, getting his hands on a large sum of money by his own power and not even being surprised.
But honestly, it's a bit early to be jumping for joy here.
'I need to use this money to set up a trading company and build a foundation.'
The base would naturally be Bio village, my territory.
"Prepare to invest all this money in the village and the trading company. Let's properly grow Bio village."
Enormous money, basic industry, people.
When these three things are gathered, that area can't help but develop quickly.
Now it's our turn to take the first step.