The Thuheldian Gold

Mathilde is a rich merchant in all of Celeste. She has various businesses built in different cities and villages in Celeste such as Shyna, the capital city, The Valley, Hepieus, and Chroisa. Those cities were initially known as good areas to stand a business. Mathilde also has good relationships with every component of the Duchy, she designed their timepieces and horology.

It made her quite the fame and fortune for retailing these goods. Aside from that, Mathilde has stood an organization in the city of Hepieus that is comprised of skilled designers who were responsible for the making of the dresses and suits of the noblemen.

Her estate served as a leisure accommodation for many noble who'd come to Shyna to rest or if they have duties to fulfill within the perimeter of Shyna.

"If Enric is not within Mathilde's household, do prepare yourself, Cecilia…" she threatened.

Cecilia gulped, her hand fidgeted as she felt nauseated with such fear that surged all at once. The carriage stopped at a massive estate. It had big silver gates and fences. For a merchant, it was easy to barter their goods with minerals so it was no wonder why Mathilde's place is surrounded by many objects that were coated with minerals.

The porch of her doorstep was made of bronze and the handle was gold. That was the only thing made of gold in that estate. Simply put, Thuheldian gold is costly, not because Thuhelda's empire was ravenous, but because Thuheldian gold was the finest quality.

Not all gold from Thuhelda had the best quality, their price varied on weight and quality, but mostly, many wanted to acquire gold from them that came from the deepest part of the caves. That kind of gold was called Lucre Gold.

These kinds of gold are found in the mountain foot of Lucretia, a land privately owned by Emperor Venemiah in the southern borderland of Thuhelda. It was rare and enchanted as they said. Milford used a great spell to store them, thus, their quality was high and so was the price of buying them.

Mathilde used to boast about the golden handle of her door, back before, Mathilde was the only person who possessed gold that came from Thuhelda in all of Celeste. Not even the nobles had them because of the costly tariff of gold per gram. The main source of gold before was from Tejaya, an empire in the continent of Theseus. Theirs was less costly than Thuhelda's so they have more trades than Thuhelda, back then. Tejaya was known as the primary source of earth minerals, they were abundant in wealth and prospered greatly with the sovereignty of their Emperor.

Tejaya occupied 24% of Theseus' mainland, thus making it even greater. But four years ago when Tejaya decided to conquer Thuhelda, Emperor, Venemiah had just started his reign.

Though the Emperor was a complete novice at that time, he was always a fierce dragon, he was a great warrior. He led the battle whilst he defend Thuhelda. Tejaya fell in his hands and so did Tejaya's Emperor. That day became eventful to Thuheldians, they celebrated it every year and called it Tejaya's Fall. They use that day to offer gifts and praises to the Emperor. Some even gave their children to him to be his servant, that day reminded them every time how great their Emperor was.

Even though Tejaya was on the other continent, it was acknowledged as Urshaya's land since its fall. Tejaya was also called Thuhelda thereafter. Thuhelda created a bridge between the great river of Euphra that connects both empires of Thuhelda.

After Tejaya's fall, Thuhelda became more abundant with gold and earth minerals. They've become the primary source of riches all around the world. Both Tejaya and Thuhelda's caves were abundant with streams that came from numerous continental volcanoes in Theseus and Uryasha.

Mathilde, as a merchant vied to get her hands on the greater gold but because of the cost, it will take years for her to get what she wished. A gram of gold from Lucretia, specifically, the Lucre gold costs about the same amount as a couple of hundred satchels of harvests from Celeste. But it was already costly since a satchel of harvest from Celeste is already a bounty of ten thousand Ucrestus, Uryashan currency. The Celestial Majesty was only able to purchase less because of the fear of lacking royal funds in future years needed.

Unbeknownst to Selestia of how great Thuhelda and its Emperor were, she was still ungrateful for her coming nuptials with him.

"Milady, Madame Mathilde is in the living room. I will escort you to her." A maid suggested.

"I came here for Duke Grandel, is he here?" Selestia sternly inquired.

"Yes, milady. He's conversing with the madame."

"Very well, take me to her."

"Yes, milady."

Selestia followed the maid, she brought her to the living room and from where she stood, she saw Enric sitting on a couch, conversing with Mathilde just like what the maid had told her.

"Greetings, madame Mathilde…" she smiled.

Enric's eyes glowed lovingly as soon as he saw Selestia, he had this look on his face that wanted to get close to her. But because of the task, he was given, Enric had to cast his feelings aside.

'Duke Grandel does not have any feelings for the princess, I have to be devoted to my task. I should act exactly as the Duke to be worthy of my princess's praise.' He thought.

"What a pleasant surprise!" Mathilde glistened.

"What brought you here?" Teasingly, Enric gestured as he strived to imitate Grandel.

'Brilliant! Just brilliant, Enric! He truly imitated Grandel. Thanks to him the princess wouldn't have to cut my neck…' Cecilia thought.

Selestia snickered at him, "Don't I have the right to be here? Mathilde is known to all nobles, I'm certain you know that well. In that pretense, I don't have to clarify why I am here."

"My, my! As lively as ever, you two."

Selestia's eyes then looked at Enric. "Duke Grandel, your father has been looking for you. I informed him you have been working with the discipline of the guards that patrol the gates here in Shyna, he must've come to visit you. How come have you not told your father about this matter?"

"I was vying to arrive here as soon as possible so I was not able to tell him of my whereabouts for the next few days. I'm sorry if I have caused you such inconveniences, milady." Enric bowed.

"Very well, I reckon Duke Barlock will be arriving any minute. I will give you time to talk to him before you return to your post and fulfill the duty I gave you."

"I'm grateful, milady."