Son (Part 2)

The days always flew by. In the blink of an eye, it was already November, and the cold wind howled bitterly.

It had snowed yesterday. Thick snow blanketed the earth, and in the morning, goose-feather flakes drifted ceaselessly down from the sky.

The distant scenery was obscured by the snowflakes, leaving only blurred outlines visible.

At the desk, the floor had been waxed, and ten candles burned on the bronze lamp, brightly illuminating the room.

Romon was writing a letter. Once he had finished, he sighed, sealed it with wax, stamped it, and said, "Send this letter to the estate in the Delanya Kingdom."

Though he had not said where, the attendant knew the destination and replied, "Yes, my lord!"

After the attendant withdrew, Romon rose to his feet. A tea table stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by a circle of sofas.

A fire burned in the room's fireplace, its warm currents filling the entire room.

The walls and fireplace kept out winter's bitter chill.

Of course, if one needed to travel, thick furs were more than enough to provide warmth. Still, everyone in Tatshaw Territory would be able to enjoy a good New Year this year.

Taxes could not be reduced at will; that was a rule handed down over thousands of years. Romon could only make adjustments within the permitted limits. The taxes paid by the people of the territory now stood at thirty percent, which was already an astonishingly benevolent policy.

However, all the miscellaneous taxes that could be collected or waived had been exempted in Tatshaw Territory. That alone was enough to win Romon the people's love.

In the distance, bells rang. It was time for prayer. Knowing that Eileen was due to give birth this month, many residents voluntarily went to the