"Your Highness."

Upon seeing Simon, Walter immediately cupped his hands in greeting, a fawning smile on his face.

Simon feigned surprise and spoke. "Walter? What brings you here? What a coincidence."

Walter thought to himself, I’ve been freezing out here in the snow for half the day just to wait for you. But instead, he said. "Your Highness, this only proves that we are fated to meet. I’ve heard that you’ve been keeping to yourself lately, declining visitors, and immersing yourself in scholarly pursuits. I never expected that just by strolling around today, I’d happen to run into Your Highness."

In truth, Simon had been avoiding the Goldwynd family, deliberately playing hard to get.

For the past few days, Brrambleford had been blanketed in heavy snow, and the bitter cold gave him the perfect excuse to refuse all visitors. Walter had come looking for him several times, only to be turned away each time.

Especially now, with the Chandlier family growing rich from Brambleford’s Finest, Walter could no longer sit still. He had been coming by every few days, and today, upon hearing of Simon’s whereabouts, he must have rushed over to wait for him.

"Oh, that is true," Simon responded casually. "I was indeed engrossed in researching something new recently, and I must have inadvertently neglected you."

"Something new?" Walter perked up like a cat catching the scent of fish. "Might I ask what ingenious invention Your Highness has come up with this time?"

To Walter, the current prince was no longer the useless fool of the past but someone with vast knowledge and a mind full of peculiar ideas. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

This transformation baffled them, but since he was still the same prince in name, they could only accept that he had somehow acquired special skills.

Now that Simon had secluded himself for intense study once again, this further confirmed their assumptions.

"This invention is quite extraordinary," Simon said mysteriously. "I must say, I was very pleased with how the Chandlier family handled Brambleford’s Finest this time."

Walter was itching with impatience. Not only him, but his father, Cedric, was also as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Last time, Simon had gotten him drunk with just a few cups of wine, allowing Simon to dismiss their accusations of favouritism toward the Chandlier family.

When Cedric sobered up and tried to seek out Simon, the prince had already shut his doors to visitors.

Now, everyone in Brambleford’s aristocracy knew that the Chandlier family had struck it rich. A single bottle of Brambleford’s Finest could fetch ten caps of silver, meaning a hundred bottles could easily bring in a thousand caps.

It was rumoured that Simon had even increased production, so now the Chandlier family was effortlessly raking in tens of thousands of caps every month.

In comparison, although coal stoves and briquettes were selling well in Eldora, their profits couldn’t compare to Brambleford’s Finest.

"Your Highness, you must not continue favouring the Chandlier family like this!" Walter pleaded urgently. "Lothair harbours wolfish ambitions! You may not be aware, but before Your Highness even established the Salt Transport Commission, the Chandlier family was already secretly sun-drying salt in Ashenford and engaging in illegal salt trading!"

His tone was desperate. If Simon continued to support the Chandlier family, within two years, they would surpass the Goldwynd family and become the largest clan in Brambleford.

At this, Roland glanced at Simon, his expression solemn.

The Eldorian Empire had extremely strict laws against the illegal salt trade. Even if Simon had not yet set up the Salt Transport Commission, ordinary merchants were still absolutely forbidden from selling illicit salt; otherwise, it would be a crime punishable by execution and property confiscation.

Although this was Simon’s domain, if such a matter reached Eldora, even if he wished to protect the Chandlier family, Alaric and the imperial court officials would pressure him into enforcing the law.

Clearly, Walter was using this to try and bring down the Chandlier family.

Narrowing his eyes, Simon asked coldly. "Do you have any proof?"

"Not yet, but there are indeed witnesses who saw Alfred transporting salt in Ashenford," Walter affirmed.

Simon nodded indifferently. "Very well. I am aware of this matter. I will have it investigated. However, this is a serious allegation. I cannot rely on your claims alone. You may leave now; I will handle this appropriately."

Seeing Simon’s darkened expression, Walter was secretly pleased. He did not need to destroy the Chandlier family in one stroke. If he could just make Simon lose trust in them, it would be enough.

After Walter left, Roland chuckled and spoke. "My Lord, the Goldwynd father and son are quite scheming. They are clearly trying to sow discord between you and the Chandlier family. However, this could be to your advantage."

Simon suddenly laughed. "I do love to see dogs biting each other. If Walter wants to use me, I can use this matter to divide Brambleford’s noble families completely, split them into two factions, one led by the Goldwynd family and the other by the Chandlier family. That way, I can play both sides against each other."

"My Lord is wise. The way of a ruler is nothing more than the word control. Once you grasp its essence, you can solidify your power." Roland commented. Despite his past as a merchant, he was not without intelligence.

"Precisely. It seems I should have a chat with Lothair." Simon said, smiling slyly like an old fox.

That afternoon, in the main hall of the prince’s Castle.

"My Lord, this is slander! Utter slander!" Lothair knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

In the Eldorian Empire, commoners were not required to kneel before the emperor unless they had committed a grave offence or wished to express deep gratitude. The fact that Lothair was kneeling now showed how terrified he was at being accused of illegal salt trading.

"Rise. I haven’t said that I’m convicting you." Simon said.

Lothair was so frightened because illegal salt trading was a capital offense. If Simon truly wanted to confiscate his family’s property and execute them, he would have no way to resist, doing so would be tantamount to rebellion.

"My Lord, Walter is falsely accusing me! He is the true villain here! Ever since Your Highness implemented the land cultivation decree, the Goldwynd family has not only refused to cooperate but has also been hoarding Plow oxen, raising their prices to exploit the commoners. They even hid their oxen from Your Highness, forcing you to buy from Prince Gerad instead! Please, Your Highness, investigate this!" Lothair spat with hatred, clearly seething at the Goldwynd family.

Simon mused internally: These noble families truly are all the same, saying one thing while doing another. If the Chandlier family hadn’t made a fortune, and if the Goldwynd family weren’t jealous, they would still be pretending to get along.

Now that he had torn apart their fragile peace, they would fight to the bitter end, perfect for his plans.

"Is this true?" Simon demanded sternly.

While the illegal salt trade accusation was about past events, the issue of hoarding Plow oxen had occurred after he enacted the land cultivation decree. Though the oxen belonged to the Goldwynd family, exploiting the crisis for profit left Simon deeply displeased.

"It is absolutely true! If Your Highness does not believe me, you may conduct a covert investigation of the Goldwynd family’s estates in various cities!" Lothair insisted.

Just then, Roland arrived at the hall’s entrance and announced. "My Lord, Cedric requests an audience."

"That old fox," Lothair growled. "He plotted against me first, and now that Your Highness has summoned me, he must know his scheme has been exposed!"

Simon was secretly delighted; having the two face each other directly was exactly what he wanted. Feigning anger, he said. "Since that’s the case, you will confront each other right here."

Before long, Cedric entered the hall. Upon seeing each other, both men bristled with hostility.

Stepping forward, Cedric and Lothair knelt side by side, both exclaiming. "Your Highness, I am guilty!"