Chapter 50
In the Middle Ages, or rather in pre-modern times, even executions were merely a form of entertainment.
It was also an era where human rights didn't exist.
Because in a world without TV, or even radio, there was too little to enjoy.
It's so bad that there's even a joke that the high birth rate in that era was due to the lack of contraception technology and TV broadcasts.
Therefore, this place now is like the scene of a slightly mature TV broadcast, and when the highlight, the execution, was carried out, everyone cheered.
"That evil bastard, serves him right!"
"This is why people should live kindly, why mess with the food for poor soldiers?"
"Eat this on your way, you bastard."
Even apart from Christina and the Pereira Trading Company case, that guy deserves to die.
For soldiers of this era, pickled herring is a food that comes out as frequently as kimchi for the Korean army.
But to give them not just cheap ones, but rotten ones?
He's a bastard who deserves to eat only mysterious ingredients from a country with just a large landmass even in the afterlife.
If this were a normal execution, now that the highlight is over, it would be time for the soldier who carried out the sentence and the herald who read the Emperor's letter to withdraw.
But they were still standing there.
Unlike Koreans who leave immediately when the movie credits start rolling after a movie ends, Florence citizens didn't leave their seats until the herald and his party left.
And as if to fulfill the citizens' expectations, the herald declared in a loud and clear voice:
"His Majesty, who is righteous and merciful, has confirmed that Alfredo Modina and his family, who were framed and executed by this evil criminal, are innocent."
Christina, standing next to me, covered her mouth upon hearing those words.
Tears flowed from her eyes.
And a short, low sound escaped her lips.
"Ah, finally..."
I quietly handed her a handkerchief.
"Therefore, by His Majesty's order, this herald hereby declares the restoration of the Modina family, and orders the Pereira Trading Company, to which Alfado belonged, to return all of the Modina family's property to Christina Modina, the family's only survivor."
In any era, in any world, people support and advocate for evil people being punished and good people being rewarded.
Even if they themselves are truly evil criminals, they cheer to the extent of shouting when another bad guy meets such a result.
The citizens, lacking entertainment, shouted hurrah as if they were high on the Emperor.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor! That's right, this is how the world should work!"
"Bad guys should be punished, and good guys should be blessed."
"I'll treat everyone, follow me!"
If you've watched an interesting movie or drama, you should share your impressions with people around you.
The citizens of Florence dispersed in groups of three or five to share their thrilling feelings by medieval standards with others.
"Lady Modina, let's slowly head back now."
And that night, unusually loud crying sounds didn't stop at the mansion.
**
Christina, who came to my office, sat without saying a word for nearly 30 minutes.
I'm not a person with time to spare either, but I'm willing to keep waiting if necessary.
I'm not so petty that I can't spare this much time for a partner who has achieved great merit this time.
In the long silence, she finally opened her mouth.
"Thanks to you, I was able to avenge my family. I'm deeply grateful."
"It wasn't out of goodwill. I did it because I had to."
I need to conceal as much as possible the fact that I acted on the Emperor's secret order.
My vassals and servants naturally don't know, and even Chloe, who is closest to me, doesn't know that I received a secret order.
Therefore, the only person who knows that I acted according to a secret order is Sebastian, who can be called my right-hand man.
'I've received a lot of help from Sebastian, knowingly and unknowingly.'
Christina shook her head.
"If you hadn't helped, I wouldn't have been able to take revenge on that Alfado, and our family's honor wouldn't have been restored. And now that we've received words of comfort from His Majesty, my father can rest in peace."
She stood up, held her skirt, and bowed her head deeply.
"I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life."
My avenging the Modina family was just a byproduct that occurred in the process of dealing with the Pereira Trading Company.
However, the restoration of the Modina family and the return of their property is close to being done out of goodwill.
It's not good to just keep saying it's not.
"This much can be done for allies who fought against the same enemy. Anyway, what do you plan to do from now on?"
Hearing those words, Christina answered as if she had been waiting.
"If you allow it, I'd like to work under you, young master."
"Is there a reason for making such a decision?"
For me, I strongly approve if Christina says she will work for me in our family.
Seeing that she was able to organize and secure accounting ledgers to catch the misconduct of the Pereira guys, I could entrust her with the office work of my trading company right away.
She must have a lot of debt of gratitude to me, so it's like gaining a much more trustworthy talent than hiring a complete stranger.
"It's not that I don't want to raise the Modina family again. But for me, a woman, to revive the family, I would have to have a political marriage."
We often tend to think that political marriages are only for nobles.
In the Tuscan Empire, no, on the Albania continent, even serfs belonging to the lowest social class often have their marriage partners decided by their parents' circumstances even before they're born.
'It's just that there are more love marriages among lower classes.'
Especially as Christina said, if it's a marriage for family revival, it can only be 100% political.
"Although the family's honor has been restored, as an orphan, the only political marriage option I could choose would be a man from a poor family. If I give up on age, I'd end up as the second wife of a 60-70 year old man from a middle-class merchant family."
There's a Korean saying that when a prime minister dies, people don't come, but when the prime minister's dog has a funeral, people flock.
It means that if there's no one in the family holding real power, even for a former prime minister, there won't be anyone to come even to the funeral.
Christina's situation is exactly like that.
"It's also dangerous to become an independent merchant using the assets our family has. The head of the Pereira Trading Company will be sharpening his blade of revenge, and even if I move elsewhere to become a merchant."
She looked down slightly at her chest.
"Because of the wall of being a woman, no matter how excellent my abilities are, it would be difficult to stand on the same competitive line as other men. So when my father was alive, I was going to forcefully enter the trading company using the power of a director, and then prove myself with my abilities. But that's all in the past now."
Parachute appointments are not particularly something to be cursed at in our empire.
It's actually being encouraged to the extent of being recommended.
Of course, it's close to impossible to send down a woman, but in an environment where parachuting is encouraged, if you show 'top 1%' ability, everyone will have to acknowledge it.
In our country too, parachutes without ability are cursed, but parachutes with too much ability are eventually acknowledged.
"Moreover, from what I heard from Chloe, whom you assigned to serve me for a while, I heard that you are kind not only to servants but even to mere serfs. Even maids who only aim for social advancement through marriage want to stay even after marriage because it's such a good place."
There are two reasons why I'm good even to servants.
Because I was also just like them, a low-level employee or commoner in 21st century Korea, so I could empathize.
And to prevent anyone from backstabbing me if something happens.
And Christina smiled looking at my face.
"Even though you could have freely used my body and heart using revenge as bait for a fallen lady from a mere merchant family, you treated me as an equal collaborator. And you even restored my property and my father's honor."
I know too.
That the consideration I often show as a 21st century Korean can be felt as an enormously great favor in this era.
That's why when I was young, not long after being possessed, I once got caned for using honorifics to a maid.
"I will serve you, no, young master Medici, with all my body and heart."
I need Christina now.
"Please use my capabilities as you wish, young master."
"Alright, Chris."
Shortening a long name arbitrarily is a privilege only superiors or close friends can do.
I called her with both meanings included.
And honestly, since I've come to another world, it's okay to have another woman besides Chloe, right?
"Entrust everything to me. I'll let you demonstrate all your capabilities as a merchant."
"It's an honor, young master."
"As soon as this matter is settled, I think I'll have to leave for my territory right away, so try to fully demonstrate your abilities there. So that others can never look down on you just because you're a woman."
**
Some time later, I set out for the new territory I had to pioneer.