1. Retired - Chapter Ten – Wedding


    Date: 11/15/2014, Categories: Science-Fiction, Author: Brootforce, Rating: 89.7, Source: sexstories.com

    some time to visit and tell her parents secrets about me. I started to look over the numbers for my duchy again. It was the largest of the four grand duchies with more than four hundred worlds. My problem was simple -- figure out how to adjust the taxes and make everyone happy. I was just about to draft a decree to lower the taxes to a ten-five split. I actually had the notice rough-drafted when a quiet voice spoke from behind me. “That would be a mistake,” Ezekiel said softly. I looked back over my shoulder to see him standing behind me. I had not even heard him walk up. “I need to lower the tax rates. People are being crushed under the yoke Daria left me.” “I see they are currently a fifty-ninety split. If you lower them that much people will go spend crazy and you will put your economy in shock. Lower it just a bit to start with, and the people will be ecstatic. Small amounts will help them in a lot of ways. That also leaves you more room to play. If you see tensions building you can lower it a bit more, later, and everyone throws another party.” “What would you recommend?” “Well, looking at your account balances, you have a huge cushion for running the duchy. So you have room to play in all the venues. I would say lower it to a thirty-fifty split. That would be like giving everyone in your duchy a forty-percent raise. Plus your sub-nobles would get a raise of four hundred percent larger tax income. Most of the people will think you are a god for a while.” “That still has ...
    way too much money coming into my accounts.” “Use that money to fund some of the larger projects for the worlds. Form ducal parks, museums, and libraries. Those will be very popular and will make the people see you are trying to improve their lives. Once things balance out, you can lower the taxes more and people will start thinking you are the greatest thing to ever live.” I looked him straight in the eyes. I knew in that instant exactly what I needed to do. “Ezekiel, how would you like a job?” “I have a job.” “I need you. You know more about finances than I could ever learn. I want you to be my exchequer. You handle the financial part of my duchy.” “That is a huge responsibility. How would you ever be able to trust me? As an accountant, I know all the tricks for hiding money. I could rob you blind.” “That is simple. Anything you steal would be coming out of your daughter’s pocket. This will very shortly be her money also. I will pay you ten million credits a year plus room and board in the ducal palace.” Then a thought occurred to me. “I could hire your wife as the palace seneschal. She would keep the palace staff working and you would keep the duchy working. I will pay her the same salary as you.” By this point Lizell and Beatrice had walked up to us. They had heard the last part of the conversation. In the time Lizell and I had been together, she had never seen the list of my accounts and the monies they contained. She was staring at the screen. “Drake, that account, on ...
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