As soon as I heard that we’d been reported to the church, I was stunned.

This isn’t Joseon during the era of strict Confucian rules, where men and women over the age of seven shouldn’t mix. Are they really reporting us for men and women happening to meet and talk here?

It’s not as if we’re setting up mixed tables like in a club.

“So, what exactly is going on?”

A sigh escaped my lips, and I clenched my fists without realizing it.

Samuel, my butler, shook his head.

“Baron Valiano reported to Vice-Bishop Christian, accusing Café Medici of promoting natural encounters between men and women, which he claims is a vile act that goes against the Bible and church doctrine.”

Sure, in principle, noble marriages are supposed to be arranged by the family.

Romantic relationships are considered as obscene as walking naked through a park and having public relations.

But this principle is rarely upheld in practice.

For all but the most high-ranking nobility, it’s quite common for younger children to fall in love and marry from a chance encounter at a ball.

“Hypocritical bastards. They think they’re so pure?”

In medieval and early modern Europe, it was generally expected that a man would take one woman as his wife and love her for life.

But in a society where macho pride was a measure of power, loving only one woman was almost an impossibility.

They satisfied their lust with “free love,” with courtesans, with maidservants selected solely for their looks, and so on.

Men who didn’t participate in such practices were branded as weaklings and became fodder for gossip.

The same goes for the Tosca Empire, and the church here doesn’t clamp down on it.

In confession, they’ll just take this as an opportunity to extract more donations.

In fact, church priests often go out the back to “relieve” their troubles or enter de facto common-law relationships.

But when someone powerful breaks moral codes, it’s called a “romance.” When someone weak does it, they’re a criminal just for breathing.

“Vice-Bishop Samuel claims Café Medici is a den of debauchery, where young men and women commit indecent acts that defile the Lord’s name. He intends to punish us severely in the church court.”

“And, of course, the judge will be the Vice-Bishop himself.”

When people hear “church court,” they probably think of witch trials where the guilty verdict is predetermined, and the punishment is usually burning at the stake.

However, sentencing someone to be burned alive is considered one of the harshest executions, even by medieval standards, and is rarely carried out.

More than likely, they won’t kill me outright since I’m a Medici noble and I haven’t openly defied the church.

But the punishment will be far from light.

“He’ll likely order Café Medici to be shut down, all our profits confiscated, and label me with all sorts of excuses as a godless heathen.”

Café Medici is already a trend in the Tosca Empire.

Nobles seek natural encounters and conversations here, and our cakes are a staple at every banquet.

If I continue like this for a year, I could earn enough to buy a small village.

And the political influence I’ve garnered is far beyond that.

Plus, it only took me a few weeks to achieve all of this as a twenty-year-old kid.

Our rival noble factions must be dying to crush this emerging competitor.

“That Vice-Bishop... he must have been promised quite the sum to ruin me.”

“Even if I can withstand the café’s seizure, being labeled godless will end me.”

In the Empire, being labeled “godless” is akin to a serial killer conviction in modern Korea.

Because faith is something that every human in this empire is expected to have.

“What should we do? Should we ask the Baron for help?”

In a modern trial, if there was no solid evidence, a decent lawyer would probably get the charges dismissed.

But in the Tosca Empire, trials are centered on testimony.

Even if I bring mountains of evidence proving my innocence, it’ll mean little against consistent testimony from the other side.

The higher the status of the witness or accuser, the stronger the impact of their consistent testimony.

As a second son of a mere baron, I stand little chance against a vice-bishop and a baronet, no matter how much evidence I present.

In the end, I’ll have to seek out someone of higher standing to survive.

“The Baron doesn’t like me. I’ll have to find someone else.”

I am a blood relative and vassal of the Medici barony, and if I asked, the Baron would help.

But in return, Albert would use this to bind me with obligations.

I didn’t come to this world to end up shackled like that.

“I’m thinking of going to Duke Visconti.”

The Visconti Duke, who is the superior of Count Bovang, our barony’s lord.

He’s a distant figure from us, but surely he won’t just stand by and let his subordinate’s subordinate be crushed unjustly.

“Duke Visconti has ambitions of becoming the Empire’s top noble by bringing down Duke Sforza. I need to convince him that I can help fulfill that ambition.”

To be honest, I’m more capable than my brother Albert.

Albert only became Baron Medici because of his bloodline.

In terms of competence, it hardly matters who sits in that chair.

But who else could achieve what I’ve done in such a short time if someone else were in my place as the second son of the Medici family?

Realistically speaking, almost no one.

Even though this godforsaken empire is a class-based society, talent still counts for something. I have enough achievements to make a compelling case.

“Send a letter to Duke Visconti, saying Fabio de Medici, second son of the Medici family, has a proposal that may be of interest to His Grace.”

Normally, a letter from the second son of a baron would never reach a duke.

It’d be torn up by the Duke’s head butler or steward.

After all, a baron’s second son ranks about as high as a second lieutenant in the military, while a duke is akin to a field marshal.

“Your Grace, Fabio de Medici, the second son of Baron Medici, has sent you a letter directly.”

The Duke let out a small chuckle.

The Medici family is one of his top vassals among the thousands under him...

But even then, there’s a vast chasm between a baron and a duke.

For the second son to be making requests, it’s almost laughable.

But there’s something about a young man bold enough to make such a request.

If it’s a desperate move, he’ll be disappointed, but if it’s calculated?

“Fabio de Medici... the one who created that cake and Café Medici. How bold of him. What did the letter say?”

“He claims to have a proposal that could benefit Your Grace.”

“The kid’s crazy.”

The Duke smirked.

Even though he said that, he was curious to see what this young man, who made such an impression with his cakes, had to say.

“And it seems he’s currently being prosecuted by Vice-Bishop Christian.”

“A man with that little sense? He’s either crazy or a genius.”

As Duke of the Visconti family, he’d met all kinds of people over the years.

Among them were some of the most talented individuals.

“Talented people often make seemingly insane moves to achieve the best results.”

A brilliant mercenary captain, who he had once made a baron, had charged into an enemy camp of thousands with only a few dozen men when everyone else insisted on retreat.

It had seemed like madness at the time, but it won them a resounding victory in a nearly lost battle.

“It’s better than groveling for help with nothing to offer. Why should I aid those who don’t fulfill their duties?”

“Precisely. Those who beg for help without offering anything in return are worthless.”

“What do you think? Shall I meet with him?”

The Duke had a personal interest, but objectively, Fabio de Medici was worth investing in.

In just a few weeks, he’d grabbed hold of the Empire’s latest trend, political influence, and a sterling reputation in the social scene.

Despite receiving minimal support from his family, he’d accomplished all this.

If the Duke poured money into him and provided protection, who knows? Fabio might bring forth diamonds, not just golden eggs.

“Clear my schedule for tomorrow afternoon.”

_____________________________________

TL Notes:
 

As we see Fabio navigating the power struggles of the Tosca Empire, his frustration with the era’s rigid norms is palpable. In a world where the church wields significant control over personal freedoms, Fabio's resourcefulness and bold ambition set him apart. His struggle against the church’s influence is a reminder of how deeply ingrained societal expectations can be—and how difficult it is to challenge them, even with modern insights.

Fabio’s sharp commentary and clever tactics make him a unique protagonist who not only aims to profit but also to disrupt and reshape the social landscape. As he seeks allies like Duke Visconti, we’re beginning to see how he might tip the scales in his favor. Stay tuned as Fabio’s journey continues, and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts on his strategies and confrontations. What do you think will be his next move?