Chapter 85

1/6

Sei immediately took action. She had received a report listing the business operations, personnel, and the pros and cons of acquiring each merchant guild.

Based on this, she began to make moves against one of the guilds.

She worked behind the scenes to avoid drawing attention, further deteriorating the guild's business conditions.

What she was doing was truly the work of a villain... feeling a bittersweet sentiment, she calmly issued her instructions.

Still, with the tariffs not yet normalized, she couldn't afford to back down.

Speaking of tariffs, by the way...

"Why is Lord Ed's faction setting such high tariffs on us?"

She muttered this question, which she had pondered many times.

"Perhaps it's simply to harass you, Miss?"

In response, Tanya, who had been standing by, replied.

"No... while that's a strong possibility, considering the country's overall situation, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, so I can't help but think there's more to it..."

Indeed, the Duchy of Armenia has fertile land and is one of the top two or three regions in the country for crop yields. However, due to the recent turmoil, exports have naturally decreased, meaning fewer crops are flowing into other regions.

Exporting to other regions doesn't yield much profit... in contrast, our territory is seeing an increase in population, and we need to prepare for disasters, including poor harvests due to bad weather. Therefore, we have started a policy of stockpiling within the territory, and the current situation is that the territory is buying up crops, making it more profitable to sell within the territory rather than to other regions.

"Well, even if we think about it, we don't have enough information right now. So, Tanya, please keep an eye on the movements of the nobles in the capital and report back regularly. Also, monitor the price trends and reactions in the capital's market. ...For now, that's all for today..."

She signed the last document and handed it to Tanya.

At that moment, a knock was heard, and Sei entered the room.

The timing was so perfect that for a moment, it seemed as if she could see through the walls.

"Miss, the guild in question is willing to come to the negotiating table."

The guild in question was the one she had been relentlessly pressuring recently.

"Well, finally. What's the schedule?"

"They hope for the day after tomorrow."

"Alright... I understand. Please inform them of our acceptance. Tanya, please adjust my schedule for the day after tomorrow."

The two bowed in response to her instructions and left the study.

With a sigh, she let out the breath she had been holding and sank deeper into her chair.

Since things had reached a good stopping point, she thought about taking a walk around the estate. She had been in the same position for a long time while working, and her body was starting to ache.

Deciding to do so, she stood up.

She thought about drinking tea and reading a book in the courtyard. As she walked, she happened to bump into Bern.

"Oh, Bern..."

"Miss, what are you doing now?"

"I've finished today's work, so I thought I'd take a break."

"Could I have a moment of your time?"

Bern's question made her smile wryly.

"Is this something we can discuss in the courtyard?"

In response, Bern also smiled wryly.

"Sure. Let's go back to the study, then."

We'll have tea in the study. Tanya should be sending someone to handle the minor tasks for her soon.

So, she led Bern back to the room.

"So, what's up?"

"It's more of a consultation... or a report..."

His hesitant tone made her brace herself for bad news.

"Recently, a proposal to dissolve the military was submitted."

The unexpected words left her speechless.

She must have looked like a silly noble lady.

"Y-You mean, the one that Lady Yurie Neumann mentioned a while ago? She actually submitted it..."

She sighed, feeling a chill. The fact that her words had enough influence to actually move to implement it was alarming.

"To submit it, she must have gained the support of several nobles, right?"

"Yes. It seems to have happened when Father was unable to act due to the excommunication incident."

To some extent, I bear responsibility for that...

"However, you resolved the issue quickly, and Father, along with Grandfather Anderson and his faction, as well as the opposition, managed to stop it at the last moment."

"So, the dissolution of the military was rejected. How did they manage it?"

"I heard they invoked the War Mobilization Act."

"The War Mobilization Act...?"

It sounded familiar, but it was an unfamiliar term. She tilted her head, searching her memory.

Suddenly, she remembered seeing it in an old book at the main house a long time ago.

"Oh, that dusty old law..."

It was a law created when the country was established, prioritizing the state during wartime.

It had been used once over a hundred years ago and hadn't been used since.

It was used in the early days of the country when the autonomy of each region was even stronger.

At that time, there was no standing army, and each lord gathered their forces, which were then combined under the king.

During a war, a group of lords who opposed the war and refused to send troops were forcibly dragged out by this law, and after the war, their lands were confiscated.

This led to the creation of the current standing army. However, each region still maintains a minimum force under the guise of protection.

To the point.

The fact that this law hadn't been used for over a hundred years was simply because it hadn't been necessary.

With a standing army, during major national events like wars, the nobles, regardless of their individual interests, would unite against the enemy, and the country would move in one direction.

In other words, the very act of invoking this law again means the country is already in a state of disarray.

"...It's a ceasefire, not a truce. So, the law applies because we are in a state of war."

"Yes, that's correct."

"Father must have gone through a lot. But it's a relief that the worst-case scenario of the military being dissolved was avoided."

Really, it is. As Father said, we are in a ceasefire, not a truce. And... from the moment I had Lady Yurie Neumann's background investigated, I've been suspicious of the country's covert activities.

Still, as Father pointed out, I am just a lord and don't intend to intervene actively.

"Yes... but... there's more."

"Is there something else?"

"No, this is a consultation... Father gave me an assignment regarding this matter."

"An assignment?"

"Yes. He asked me to consider what the biggest problem is in this situation."

"What the biggest problem is... So?"

"Well... I came to report to you, and if you have any ideas, I'd appreciate a hint."

"Father wants me to report to him?"

"Yes."

She thought for a moment. If her thoughts were correct... Father, as the Duke of Armenia, must have given her this information not as a minister but as the acting lord of the Duchy of Armenia, to prepare her.

"...So, Bern, who were the nobles who supported the proposal?"

"Besides the Second Prince's faction, some of the neutral factions. I thought the problem was that the neutral factions had sided with the Second Prince's faction..."

"Father said it was different?"

"Yes."

She then asked Bern for the specific names of those who had expressed support.

Ah, this country is in decline... she couldn't help but look up at the sky.

"By the way, didn't they also propose a relief plan for the military in case it was dissolved?"

"Yes. Depending on the individual's preference, they could be employed by the regional armies in peacetime and conscripted under the state's name during wartime. In other words, the current military expenses would be borne by the regions."

Ah, as expected... she couldn't help but sigh.

"...Bern, I'm not sure if my thoughts are correct. I think Father wants to see how deeply I can think about issues without clear answers, how far I can plan ahead, and how I can act."

When working, I often think about how much easier it would be if there were clear answers like in school exams.

"I see..."

"The neutral factions siding with the Second Prince's faction... I see, that is a threat. But is that all?"

"Is that all?"

"Look at things from all angles. Consider why the neutral factions supported this, and what the future might look like as a result. Think about it. There are no right or wrong answers, so the more you think, the better you can handle any situation."

Bern seemed to ponder her words and eventually nodded.

"Thank you, Miss."

"You're welcome. Thank you for the information."

Bern left the room with a slightly more relieved expression than when he had entered.