Breakfast ended. The manor's main hall was quickly rearranged. It became a temporary meeting room.
Sunlight fell through the wooden window grilles. It cast dappled patterns on the stone floor. The smell of baked bread lingered.
A few simple wooden tables were pushed together. A clean linen cloth covered them. It looked humble, but felt formal.
Aeneas sat at the head. His fingers tapped the table lightly. His expression was focused. Serious.
Thaleia stood attentively at his side. She held parchment for notes and Aeneas's new ink. Her posture was elegant. Professional.
Her jet-black hair was braided neatly today. A few stray strands framed her wheat-toned skin, making it glow.
Achates entered calmly. He carried a wax tablet for records. It was covered in dense markings and numbers.
Nisus, Euryalus, and the recently-healed Sergestus followed him. Their expressions varied. But all held a note of anticipation.
Finally, a proper management meeting. The tools are crude, but it's a start.
Aeneas looked at his team with satisfaction.
He cleared his throat. Made a gesture. "Begin, Achates."
Achates nodded. He unrolled the wax tablet. Began his report in a clear, structured way. "As you ordered, we've repurposed the old bandit stronghold for civilian use. Some of the Red Bean Forest folk have been relocated there—it's safer, and the housing was already in place. They're now supplying the estate with suitable yew timber."
He paused briefly. Glanced at the data. Continued. "Using your designed smoke kilns to speed the drying, the bowyers have produced nearly fifty serviceable longbows."
Aeneas nodded, pleased. He picked up a sample longbow from the table. A craftsman's work.
The bow was about six feet long. The yew grain was visible in the sunlight. Its lines were smooth. Graceful.
Fifty longbows. A good start.
Once the users are trained, this is a formidable ranged force.
He calculated internally. His fingers traced the curve of the wood.
Thaleia took notes diligently. She occasionally looked up at Aeneas. Her eyes held admiration.
She had tried this type of bow. It took great effort to draw. But the power was truly astonishing.
Her stylus moved quickly across the parchment. She recorded every important detail.
Nisus and Euryalus exchanged excited looks. They were clearly interested in the longbows' progress.
Nisus was already imagining hunting with the new weapon. Euryalus was calculating its potential in future fights.
"The salt operation has seen a breakthrough," Achates announced. He straightened his back unconsciously. A note of pride colored his tone.
He lowered his voice. Ensured only those in the room could hear. It was like sharing a precious secret.
"The hidden salt pans operate smoothly. Using the solar evaporation method, we produce vast quantities of cheap, coarse salt. It's very popular with the estate's people."
He paused. His gaze shifted to Aeneas. "As for the filtered, refined salt... as you predicted, the common folk cannot afford it. But the manor has switched to it entirely. The servants' talk of you being the 'God-Blessed Son' has increased again."
Aeneas heard this. He gave Thaleia a wry, 'see-what-I-mean' smile. "The God-Blessed Son again... Okay, at least the title is useful now."
He gave a light cough. Tried to steer the topic back on course. But Thaleia's lips curved upward at his humorous tone. Her slender fingers absently twirled a stray lock of her jet-black hair.
Achates moved on to the wine report. A slight, knowing smile touched his lips. He recalled the incident with some amusement.
"The upgraded still works. The first batch, undiluted, knocked a few curious souls flat. They were out until the next afternoon."
He cast a rare, playful look at Nisus and Euryalus behind him.
Nisus—the hunter with deep brown, reddish hair—scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. He seemed to remember the fiasco. Euryalus just grinned unapologetically. He even smacked his lips as if relishing the memory.
Aeneas cut in. His tone was light for the group.
"So we keep a small portion as a top-tier luxury. The rest gets diluted. We'll call it 'Nectar of the Gods' and 'Crystallized Fire and Water'. Sell it exclusively at the Temple of Aphrodite in Maple Ridge."
A merchant's gleam shone in his eyes. He continued, "Tell the traders it's a blessing from the Love Goddess and the Wine God. That's why it's pricey. Oh, and... limited quantities."
Hmm. Scarcity marketing plus a divine story. That combo works in any era, he calculated internally.
The upgraded still was simple. They kept some triple-distilled, high-proof alcohol for medical supplies. But most was just single-distilled, low-proof spirit.
Aeneas had tasted it. Felt like... well... maybe 25-35% ABV. Potent even by modern standards.
Those two greedy idiots drank it straight. They were out cold until the next afternoon.
So they kept only a tenth as a premium product. Limited sales. The rest was diluted two or three times. Marketed at the temple as a collaborative divine blessing. 'Nectar of the Gods'. 'Crystallized Fire and Water'.
See how even noblemen's wine has sediment? But this 'Nectar' is clear and bright! Beautiful, right?
Drinking this makes you supremely distinguished!
Of course! A divine product! It has to be expensive. Extremely expensive!
This, ironically, made the local nobility flock to it. The market was slowly opening. It promised a steady stream of income.
When the topic shifted to paper, however, Achates's face fell. His tone grew hesitant.
"Following your method, the paper is excellent. Very soft. Perfect for... hygiene. But when we distributed it among the manor staff..."
He paused. His voice held frustration. "Apart from you, the Lord, the Lady, and Terani... almost no one dares use it. They... prefer the traditional methods."
Aeneas sighed, rubbing his forehead. Papermaking was a new industry here. All the workers were estate servants. The product wasn't suitable for writing yet. But it made fantastic toilet paper.
He'd eagerly shared it with his parents and the staff. They were horrified!
Paper? That expensive stuff from Egypt? Even royalty hesitates to use the fine quality! And our young master wants us to... wipe with it?
He'd tried to explain. His method was cheap. Mass production would make it affordable for everyone. But nobody believed paper could ever be inexpensive...
He was determined to convince Thaleia, at least. Pottery shards? Pebbles? Are those meant for human skin? Please!
He turned to her. Spoke in a low, firm voice.
"Thaleia, trust me. Pottery shards are not friendly to your skin. We need to lead the change in this habit."
Thaleia's face flushed crimson. She shot a glare at the mischievous young master. Yet the corners of her mouth twitched upward despite herself.
Her heart beat faster. He'd let her use something so valuable. Did the young master…? Her thoughts swirled, shy and grateful. The sunlight in the room seemed softer now. Warmer.
The product report ended. The atmosphere shifted easily to military matters. Nisus stepped forward. His sun-bronzed face radiated confidence.
"The thirty-five new longbowmen are all elite," he announced, his voice booming with a hunter's boldness. "The range and power of these bows are stunning. Honestly, I've never seen arrows punch through leather at three hundred paces."
Euryalus jumped in immediately. He gestured animatedly. "They're learning fast. Nisus and I could barely keep up with those lads! A little more training, and they'll be seriously deadly." He winked, playful. "Especially the recruits from Red Bean Forest. Their talent's almost as good as mine… Well, close!" He held up his thumb and forefinger, measuring a tiny gap for emphasis.
Then, Sergestus stepped forward steadily. He offered a deep bow. His movements held a slight stiffness, remnants of his healing wounds. But his deep brown eyes shone with resolve.
"Lord Aeneas," he said, his voice earnest and sincere, "thank you for your care toward my sister Thaleia. And for welcoming my mountain folk." He straightened up. His broad shoulders looked solid, dependable beneath his plain robe. "Nine of the finest hunters from Red Bean Forest have joined the longbow corps. They will prove their loyalty and worth with their bows."
Nisus added, "Under your direction, we've begun building simple watchtowers and defenses along the border. They're just rough log structures for now. But they already give us a clear view of the entire river valley."
After the reports, Aeneas rose. He held his custom-made longbow. His sharply defined features held a gentle smile. His gaze swept over each core member present. He felt a surge of anticipation.
"With this fledgling long-range force and our improving finances," he said, "we can face future threats with greater confidence.
He walked to Thaleia. He presented her with a longbow, carefully adjusted for a woman's strength. His movements were tender, deliberate. "This bow should suit you better," he said, expectation in his voice. "Try it."
Thaleia accepted the bow. A spark of delight lit her eyes. Her slender fingers tested the draw of the string. A smile touched her lips unbidden.
Aeneas also set another finely crafted longbow carefully aside. It was clearly meant for Melanippe later. He thought of the stubborn Amazon princess. A complicated feeling stirred inside him. "I wonder if that headstrong Amazon princess will like this gift." The notion made him absently rub the bridge of his nose. He could already imagine her—trying to act aloof, yet secretly pleased.
Everyone watching shared a warm, knowing smile. Nisus and Euryalus exchanged a look. Sergestus gazed at his sister, relieved to see her rare happiness. Even the ever-steady Achates gave a slight, approving nod.