Published: September 6, 2025
After the prayer ceremony ended, preparations for the lords’ council kept me busy. At an Italian restaurant, I met with the owners of major shops, including the Plantin Trading Company and the Guild Master, to discuss last year’s shortcomings, possible improvements, acceptable thresholds for this year, and the current situation in downtown.
In addition, I had detailed talks with the Plantin Trading Company regarding printing and publishing requests and minimum standards. I planned to submit this to my mother for the lords’ council, so she could revise it from the nobles’ perspective.
Once discussions about downtown were over, I returned to the castle for a meeting with my foster father.
“In talks with Dunkelfelger, Hartmut said that Ehrenfest has a non-negotiable line here, and that around this point, negotiation is possible. Ideally, if they accept up to this point, future negotiations with other territories will be much easier.”
We had thorough discussions with the Plantin Trading Company about borrowing materials, printing, sales, and translation royalties. I thought it best to start with my knowledge and gradually adapt to methods suitable here.
“Regarding trading partners, it’s basically difficult for Ehrenfest to accept any more merchants from other territories. According to the Merchant Guild, they do not want to increase the number of trading partners.”
Last year, we accepted eight trading companies from the central region and Classenburg, totaling sixteen. Though we worked hard to accommodate them with high-class inns, the limit for proper management is said to be twenty. If merchants pushed beyond that limit, even minor troubles would become unmanageable, so they want to keep it that way.
“But we can’t refuse to increase trades when negotiating printing matters with Dunkelfelger.”
My foster father frowned, saying that refusing Dunkelfelger is difficult even if others can be turned away. I nodded strongly in agreement.
“I conveyed that to the merchants downtown. While thinking of solutions, Benno from Plantin Trading Company proposed issuing new matching tally papers to reduce the number of merchants from Classenburg, and instead accommodate merchants from Dunkelfelger.”
“What does reducing merchants from Classenburg mean?”
My foster father asked, and I relayed Benno’s opinion.
“As I already reported, merchants from Classenburg left their daughters behind in Ehrenfest when finishing business and returning. The Plantin Trading Company took them under protection, so the daughters are safe for now. However, protecting people unprepared for winter for over six months is very difficult for Ehrenfest.”
Because prolonged snow causes problems, we must prepare food for an entire season, including reserves. Even one extra person significantly changes the amount of food and firewood needed.
“It would be problematic if merchants thought Ehrenfest would protect anyone they left behind, or that they could bring them back the following year, or gain new product information. Now that troubles have occurred, we need measures for Classenburg merchants—either limiting their numbers or reducing the number of trading companies. That way, we can accommodate merchants from Dunkelfelger instead.”
Last year, we accepted eight trading companies from the central region and Classenburg, but if we keep eight from the central region and reduce Classenburg to six, then six from Dunkelfelger can be accepted.
Benno smiled impressively, suggesting we turn the trouble with Carin to our advantage, applying pressure there while securing spaces for Dunkelfelger’s merchants. It seems the Carin incident has really upset him.
“The final decision lies with you, foster father. We can set it so each territory accepts six trading companies equally, or include Drevannel and have five each. Since Ehrenfest’s acceptance limit is twenty, I leave the decision to you.”
“…Understood. I will consider it.”
The need to limit merchants is because there’s no other town that can accept more. Downtown Ehrenfest alone is limited, so we need to develop other towns somehow.