Chapter 29. Strictly by the Contract (1)

There's one misconception we have about Western family life.

The idea that after marriage, you don't have to be so bound by your in-laws.

That's half right and half wrong.

They say that if the in-laws are poor, you can enjoy a much freer married life than in our country, but if they're wealthy and have high social status, you suffer during holidays as much as the main family branch.

They say there's a beautiful traditional culture where the daughter-in-law goes to her in-laws' house three days before Thanksgiving holiday to cook.

If you don't follow this, you can hear all sorts of clear and gentle voices.

And the reason why I'm thinking about this is.

'What if I'm branded as a younger brother who refuses to help his older brother in noble society?'

It's obvious that I'll be branded as an ignoble bastard throughout the Tuscan Empire.

Because it's a duty that humans should naturally keep for an older brother to help his younger brother and vice versa.

"Sebastian, isn't this too much? Usually, it's the older brother who inherited the family that should help me, right?"

"That's the case in most noble families, but…"

Sebastian trailed off while answering my words.

Yes, even if it's a place where no one else is around, it must be burdensome to criticize our Baron Albert de Medici.

"Still, young master is trustwor… no, never mind."

That I'm trustworthy and someone he can deeply rely on in his heart?

It seems like he just sees me as a pushover…

Sebastian probably knows that too, so he can't even comfort me with empty words.

"I'll prepare a cake for you to eat when you return today."

I'm not the type of person who extremely loves sweet food and has all stress relieved just by eating it.

However, when I see Chloe eating it and stroke her head or dote on her, my stress is relieved.

Is this how those people who say they live for the joy of seeing their wife after work feel?

With this conversation over, I immediately went to our brother's office.

**

"Hello, brother. Have you been well without any troubles?"

Albert got up from his seat upon hearing those words.

As soon as he stood up, that person even gave me a light hug.

With a subtle smile on his face too.

"Although I've become Baron Medici following father, you must be having a hard time because I'm still lacking. How have you been doing, Fabio?"

Albert and I have maintained an ambiguous relationship from before.

Not deeply affectionate, but not to the extent of stabbing each other in the back either.

Albert needed dignity that distinguished him from other siblings as the heir to the baron family, and I respected that, which is why this relationship was formed.

So I raised my speech to respect the 'baron', but.

He approaches as if we've been close from before?

It's obvious he's going to make some uncomfortable request.

"I'm doing my best to succeed as a merchant, following the example of our family's founder."

"I see, I should work hard like you too."

"What do you mean?"

"A few days ago, His Grace the Duke held a tea party gathering young nobles."

It might seem strange for men to drink tea femininely.

But tea parties are often held not only by women but also by men.

The difference is that unlike women's parties, they only serve real tea instead of cakes or sweets.

"He spoke about the virtues that young people should have there. Among the examples to follow, your story came up. He said one should become a man who does his best to develop his abilities and has the guts to throw his life into something he's confident in. Like you."

Duke Visconti, you bastard who should die by cracking your head after stepping on dog poop and falling backward on the street.

Try bringing up that story in a place where young barons and viscounts are gathered.

Then those gentlemen will be wary of me trying to receive your favor.

You've gone and made it so that I can't live without openly pledging loyalty to you.

That damn bastard, does he have a hobby of locking up a real beauty in the basement and training her?

To train people using such gloomy methods?

For a moment, jealousy towards me was revealed in Albert's eyes.

"I'll do my best not to become an embarrassing older brother to you."

The moment I heard these words, only one option flashed through my mind.

'Should I kneel down and bang my head?'

No, this bastard can't destroy me.

So there's no need to be afraid even when hearing remarks that would normally be used in noble families to mean 'I'll purge you who are so excellent as to make me embarrassed.'

I'll have to grow my body even bigger in the future, to survive.

"No matter how much a bastard like me flies and crawls, I can't even reach the tip of your toes, brother. Please don't say such things even as a joke."

Saying I'll go to the Duke to correct the error here would be provoking that gentleman even more.

Because unlike me, our brother can't have a private audience with the Duke.

It becomes an act of deception that my importance within the faction is much higher.

"Is that so? By the way, there's a joyous occasion in our Medici family."

Considering the age of noble families and our damn brother, there's only one thing.

'Marriage'

The biggest joyous occasion in life, whether in 21st century Korea or our medieval fantasy world's Tuscan Empire.

"I'm going to marry a lady from the Farnese Count family."

As soon as I heard those words, clear and gentle sounds rose to my throat.

However, I barely suppressed it with the power of reason.

Although our Medici family is among the more powerful among barons, we can't even dare to rub shoulders with a count.

That's because if a baron is like a mayor, a count is like a governor cum mayor of the most prosperous city in that province.

It's extremely difficult to even be formally related by marriage.

"The marriage with the 7th daughter of Count Farnese, Lady Margherita, is set for three months later. It's an honor that will never come again to our Medici family."

Marriage with the Farnese count family is a political alliance.

To be precise, Count Farnese now has the obligation to help the Medici family even if he has to squeeze out his power.

For us, a mere baron family, it's a golden opportunity to expand the family's power and influence.

'I wonder if I'll get a share for helping to form this marriage alliance.'

But why on earth did that Farnese gentleman specifically designate our brother as a marriage partner?

Is the Duke using some trick?

"It's a joyous occasion for the family, but there's one unfortunate thing."

"What on earth is it?"

"The family lacks money."

Whether in 21st century South Korea or the Tuscan Empire in this fantasy world, marriage is a joyous occasion but also a crisis.

In fact, even in Korea, it's common sense that it takes 'a year's salary' just to hold the wedding ceremony.

In the Tuscan Empire too, regardless of status, it's basic to put in about a year's salary when getting married.

You refuse this common sense?

Then you become trash who disrespected the kind guests who came to congratulate your marriage, so you have no choice but to spend money.

That's why the cost of weddings for titled families like barons is astronomical.

'At least the total annual income of the entire family, up to five years' worth at most.'

"We've got a chance to welcome a count family's lady, but we can't refuse the marriage because we don't have money. This is a golden opportunity for our family."

My teeth gritted as I thought about what would come next.

The next thing that damn trash will say is…

"Lend me 70,000 pounds, little brother. You have a lot of money, so you can help that much for the family, right?"

7,000 gold coins, equivalent to 2 years of income from our Medici family territory.

For me, I could earn that much money in a few months by selling seaweed in the Kingdom of Lyon and receiving payment for steel.

Converted to Korean money, it would be enough to build about 3 63 Buildings in Gangnam and have some left over.

"No, even so…"

"Please, Fabio! Who else could I ask for such a favor?"

Ask other merchants.

Then those gentlemen would lend it with about 30% interest.

Since it's a family that can form a marriage alliance with the Farnese count family, if you say you'll push them appropriately with political power, they might even lower the interest, right?

However, in the Tuscan Empire where family love and duty are as alive as in Joseon, you shouldn't refuse your brother's help.

So I'll lend the money.

Instead, I'll definitely extract a price.

'They say from old times that someone who doesn't pay back money isn't family.'

"Let's write an IOU first."

"Fabio! I love you!"

Our brother hugged me tightly.

Don't hug me, only beauties like Chloe are allowed to hug me.

"Alright, then let's write an IOU first!"

Albert was so excited he was about to die.

It's strange to see someone borrowing money jumping around like that…

"Let's make it 5% interest, and repayment of 7,000 gold coins. In case repayment is difficult, we can receive something else instead."

"Okay. Let's do that."

Albert happily signed.

It seems he might come out saying 'to hell with it' using the weapon of family affection, like some personality-broken individuals do in South Korea…

Does he think I won't collect that money? Let's see after the wedding ceremony.

I'll extract it in some form or another.