Chapter 8

While swinging my sword in the garden, I broke out in a sweat and became covered in dirt.

To wash off the dirt, I entered the bath.

I took off my clothes and entered the bathroom, where the dedicated maids washed me.

It feels good in the ordinary sense.

There are always places you can't reach with your own hands, and when you're tired, the way you wash yourself becomes careless.

When the maids do it, there's none of that, and the dirt, oil, and even fatigue are completely washed away.

It's a bath that truly has a physical recovery effect.

After finishing that, as I was being dressed by other maids in the changing room, a reception maid came in.

"Master, a guest has arrived."

I looked at the business card the maid was holding out without taking it.

Governor Murray Hojoi.

A name I've heard somewhere.

I entrusted the dressing to the maids and searched my memory for the visitor.

"Ah, he's one of the up-and-comers from my territory."

I finally managed to remember.

The empire often grants fiefs to princes, and there is a strong sense of territorialism.

Generally, it is common to revere the royal family member who is the lord of your birthplace as your lord, unless something extraordinary happens.

Murray, although he is now a governor in a different fief from mine, should have a strong sense of being my people, my child.

But what has Murray come for... or, I'll know when I meet him.

"Show him to the reception room, I'll be right there."

"Yes, sir."

The maid left the changing room as ordered.

I didn't do anything special.

After the maids dressed me properly and I tidied myself up, I finally put on Leviathan at my waist and walked out of the changing room to the reception room.

A maid was waiting in front of the reception room and bowed as I approached, then opened the door.

"Ah."

Inside the reception room, a middle-aged man who was sitting in the lower seat of the sofa stood up and knelt before me with a fluid motion.

"Dead Murray. I am deeply honored to see your noble face."

"Let's skip the formalities. Sit down."

"As you wish."

Murray stood up and waited for me to take the upper seat before he sat down on the sofa.

"Dead Murray, I believe this is the second time we've met, right?"

That's what my memory says, but I decided to confirm it.

"Yes, about a year and a half ago, when I was appointed governor by His Majesty, I came to pay my respects."

"Ah, I see."

So it was a courtesy call when he took up his post.

That too is a necessary formality for the lord of one's birthplace.

"I see, it's good of you to come. How is your post?"

"..."

"What's wrong, you look like you've bitten into a bitter pill."

"The reason I was appointed is largely because I am from Almeria."

"Because you're from Almeria...? Ah, I remember now, you were ordered by His Majesty to go and manage the waterworks."

"Yes."

Now I fully remembered.

Hojoi is a land located at a bend in a major river.

It is a fertile land as a granary, but it is also prone to devastating floods.

His Majesty's idea was to completely eliminate this and turn it into a stable granary, and for this purpose, Murray, who is from Almeria, the land of the water clan, was appointed as governor.

"Your expression suggests it's not going well?"

Murray nodded slightly.

"The budget hasn't been allocated, and I can't do anything without it."

"Budget? That's impossible. It's a royal decree."

"Yes, but the Ministry of Finance has been giving all sorts of reasons."

...I see.

So that's why he came to me, to see if I could do something about the Ministry of Finance.

"Alright, follow me."

"Eh? Ah, Prince Noa!"

I took the bewildered Murray and left the mansion.

☆

I had a carriage prepared and came to the Ministry of Finance with Murray.

It's a building that used to be a detached palace, located west of the palace, and it's a high-class building that combines formality and splendor.

In the most formal room, I faced the Minister of Finance, Maybrick.

Maybrick is an old man in his sixties, with a wrinkled face but greasy eyes.

I could sense a clear emotion.

Contempt.

He appears to respect me on the surface as a prince, but at heart, he looks down on me as a "kid."

It's a kind of condescending rudeness.

I often meet people like this, and I immediately recognized that he was one of them.

I sat facing Maybrick, and Murray, who would lose "status," stood behind me.

"What brings you here, Prince Noa?"

"I heard from Murray that you're being stingy with the budget."

"That's not true."

"Then why aren't you allocating it?"

"There are deep reasons for this—"

"If you're going to say something a child wouldn't understand, shut your mouth right now."

"..."

Maybrick's expression changed.

The look of contempt he had before disappeared.

"Of course, I would never be so disrespectful."

"Then explain."

"Yes. Hojoi was hit by a flood last year."

"Is that so?"

I turned to Murray, who nodded.

"So what?"

"At that time, His Majesty, out of kindness, issued a decree to exempt Hojoi from taxes for a year."

"And?"

"The Ministry of Finance's view is that there is excess tax revenue, and that it can be used for this purpose."

"...Are you mocking me?"

"Wha—"

"The flood hit, His Majesty exempted the taxes, why? Because there was no tax to be collected. Of course, it was an act of kindness, but the fundamental issue is that there is no tax revenue. To say otherwise is to mock me, aren't you?"

"Ooh..."

I could hear Murray's voice of admiration from behind me.

Ignoring it, I glared at Maybrick even more.

"That's not what I meant—"

"Then what is it?"

"Actually, it can't be allocated right now."

"Why not?"

"There's a plan to build a new summer retreat for His Majesty, of course you know about it."

"Yes. His Majesty is quite old, so there's a plan to build a summer villa in the north, away from the sweltering capital. What about it?"

"Even though it's a villa, it's something His Majesty will use. It's the same as a detached palace. In short, it's a city of about five thousand people under the name of a villa. It will cost a huge amount of money."

"..."

"That's why the treasury is tight."

"Be quiet."

"Eh?"

Maybrick flinched.

As he spoke, he had become more and more confident, but he flinched when he heard my low, suppressed voice.

"You, that's a serious act of disrespect."

"Wha—"

"Are you trying to make His Majesty, my father, look like a foolish ruler?"

"I—"

He tried to argue, but I wouldn't let him.

"A flood-hit area needs water management, but you can't allocate funds because you're building a villa? What you're saying makes His Majesty look foolish."

"It's a misunderstanding!"

Maybrick jumped up and prostrated himself before me.

"Then allocate the funds. Or would you prefer I go straight to His Majesty?"

"N-no, no. I'll allocate the budget to Hojoi immediately!"

"..."

I glared at Maybrick, who was still prostrated, and he let out a cry and jumped up.

He ran out of the room, shouting orders to his subordinates to send the funds to Hojoi immediately.

I let him do as he pleased, knowing he would come back to report.

In the meantime, Murray looked impressed.

"Truly impressive. This Dead Murray is in awe."

"Hm?"

"The way you pressured him in negotiations, not from your own position but by targeting his weaknesses and mistakes. I feel ashamed of my shallowness in seeking your 'position' as a prince."

I see.

He intended to push his way through by forcing me as a prince.

"That... was a speechless attack. I am truly humbled."

He was so impressed that he kept praising me until Maybrick returned.

☆

I parted ways with Murray outside the Ministry of Finance.

He had to return as soon as possible to push forward with the water management, so I let him go without holding him back.

Having finished my task, I was about to get into the carriage and return to the mansion when a young eunuch ran up to me.

A child, a little older than me, about ten years old, dressed as a eunuch.

He came up to me, out of breath, and knelt down.

"Th-thirteenth Prince, I have a message."

"What is it?"

"His Majesty has summoned you. He requests that you come immediately."

"His Majesty? Understood. Where is he?"

"I'll show you the way."

Led by the young eunuch, I got into the carriage and followed him.

Once inside the palace, we walked.

In principle, no one is allowed to be higher than His Majesty, so riding horses or carriages inside the palace walls is forbidden.

So I got out of the carriage and walked, following the young eunuch to His Majesty's favorite garden.

I found His Majesty feeding birds in front of a fountain, and after giving the young eunuch a small amount of money, I approached His Majesty and knelt on one knee.

"I have come in response to your summons, Your Majesty."

"You're here, you can relax."

"Thank you."

"First, I want to commend you."

"Ah..."

I tilted my head, wondering what he meant.

"It's about Hojoi, I hear you crushed Maybrick."

"Ah—!"

I was surprised.

It was just a little while ago, in fact, I had just left the Ministry of Finance.

How did His Majesty already know?

"Information is a weapon, it's good to always keep it sharp."

"...Yes, sir."

I bowed my head.

It was... amazing. That was the only reaction I could have.

"I'll say it again, well done."

"No, I just did what was right."

"Doing what is right is difficult."

His Majesty fed the birds that had gathered.

One by one, he threw the seeds.

"There are many who are good with words, who flatter. But few can do what is right, as it should be."

His Majesty turned from the birds to face me.

He came closer and gently patted my head.

"Amazing... even at six years old."

His face was a strange mix of joy as a father and as an emperor.