Chapter 32

Each has their own thoughts, and it seems they are sending me out of the palace, but I already have them playing in the palm of my hand.

‘I apologize, Your Majesty, but even if I leave, there will be someone to take my place.’

For now, they will only be monitoring the movements of the noble faction and restraining them.

The moment he sees the gift I have prepared, this palace will turn into a sea of blood with purges upon purges.

Since the nobles value justifications, it will be difficult to quell their momentum easily.

Baris and Winry, who have a high probability of being involved, will soon return to their original fiefs, so there's no need to worry about them getting caught up.

“I will follow your command.”

“Very well, when do you think it would be best to leave?”

“Is there a need to delay? I will leave as soon as I am ready.”

The faster the decision, the better.

It might be good to say I will leave immediately, but preparation is still necessary for the journey.

* * *

As I left the audience chamber and returned to the First Prince's Palace, the clean walls greeted me.

The First Prince's Palace, which initially seemed almost like an abandoned house, has come a long way.

Now, it's time for me to leave.

“Amy, go to the Treasury and the Land Department and bring all the documents related to the Haines fief.”

“Information? What kind of information should I request?”

“Everything, without a single omission. If you say I sent you, they will hand it all over without hesitation.”

The amount might be too much to grasp in a short period, but that doesn't matter.

I am confident I can read and memorize hundreds of pages of documents.

‘Know your enemy...’

-If you know yourself, you will win a hundred battles out of a hundred. Quite an interesting phrase. Is it from your past life?

‘Isn’t there a similar phrase here? ’

-It existed in the era when the original me lived.

Proverbs are indeed intriguing, making one wonder about their origins.

Perseus, giggling, seemed to find the situation amusing.

-Do you really dislike it?

“What?”

After Amy, who had bowed quietly, left, there was no longer a need to communicate telepathically.

In response to my question, she flew onto my lap.

Then, she sat down with her legs folded outward and looked up at me.

-The original me also liked intense things, and you possess considerable strength and skill.

“Hmm.”

-Yet, you never cross the line of arrogance you set for yourself. Truly fascinating.

I can't understand her tastes.

“Is it some kind of vicarious satisfaction?”

-The original me lived a passive life, unlike this one. Perhaps she is feeling vicarious satisfaction through you.

“I never thought I would become a model of vicarious satisfaction.”

-You can be proud; the former Demon King is almost a fan of yours.

She giggled and bowed.

Then, she closed her eyes and rested her cheek on my thigh as if falling asleep.

-A little... sleepy...

I discovered after our symbiotic relationship that she is the perfect embodiment of a sleepyhead.

Her overwhelming beauty comes at the cost of many hours of sleep.

To put it positively, she takes good care of herself by getting plenty of sleep.

To put it negatively?

She just gets lazy when she has free time.

-Something... feels strangely unpleasant...

She has an uncanny sense.

Without using her power of insight, she can read people due to her extensive experience.

-The original me will... sleep a little... don't move...

“My thighs are expensive.”

-Your... thighs are quite firm yet soft, making them perfect for sleeping...

With those words, she fell asleep.

Although she didn't disappear as she used to, I didn't want to wake her, so I left her be.

“Your Highness! I have brought what you asked for!”

At that moment.

I thought it would take longer, but it seems it didn't.

“Is this all of it?”

“Yes, Your Highness, this is all the information available on the remaining fief.”

“Indeed, fitting for a remote and desolate fief...”

I let out a hollow laugh at the unexpected amount of information.

I thought it would be a lot, but I never expected it to be so little.

“Remarkable.”

As soon as I took the documents and quickly scanned them, a sigh of disbelief escaped my lips.

“Cursed land? How did they manage to hold onto such a place?”

It was a straightforward and unadorned evaluation.

* * *

Cursed land.

Barren wasteland.

A fief where drought never ceases.

A dying land.

There are many ways to describe it, but a simple evaluation of the Haines fief I am about to go to would be just that.

At first, I thought Queen Liness was trying to block information about the fief I was to go to, but in reality, it wasn't the case.

The state of the fief was so dire that there was no point in hiding it.

“Except for 10 percent, the rest of the land has dried up due to drought.”

-Hmm... the situation with the mines is also dire. However, this item requires further investigation. Additionally, there is no adjacent sea, making it impossible to engage in seafood or maritime trade.

Perseus, who had been lying on my lap and sleeping, yawned and muttered.

Perseus is a rather intelligent Demon King.

She was once a ruler of a species and had lived for thousands of years, even if she was sealed.

In terms of insight, I am not at her level.

“For the past five years, the fief has been unable to pay taxes, and the state has been granting exemptions.”

The policy of exempting poor fiefs from taxes was a bill pushed by my father, King Kryanes, in his youth.

The reasoning was that imposing excessive taxes on fiefs so poor they couldn't pay would only lead to civil unrest.

The current state of the Haines fief is a perfect example.

Until ten years ago, it was a land that could still function as a fief.

However, aside from its strategic location as a key transit point between the Holy Kingdom, there are no notable advantages.

“Perhaps it would be better to throw it in the middle of a desert.”

Not really, but it's that bad.

-Even if you try to till the barren land, nothing will come of it. What kind of support can the kingdom provide?

“It seems to be limited to a few slaves and material resources. I refused everything because it was a good deal.”

-That won't be enough. There's no clear answer until we have a thorough investigation.

“What do you think is the best course of action?”

-Do you see this item about the curse?

The drought began five years ago.

The culprit is unknown, but according to rumors, an unknown curse has been placed on the land.

Some say it was the work of non-human races living in the forest, but the possibility is low.

-If the curse is limited to the severe drought, then if the rain returns as it used to, a significant portion of the land could be used for agriculture again.

“The soil is already dead, though.”

-You underestimate your potential. Spirit magic and alchemy can do more than just cook a pot of soup.

“You're right, thanks for the advice.”

Perseus is a good conversationalist and advisor.

She knows what I have, at least.

While I have learned a lot in the corridors, I have never studied geography.

Surviving on my own and changing the world require different knowledge.

She has extensive knowledge in areas I have yet to discover.

Not only that, but we also get along well.

-Whatever the case, it's difficult to make judgments without seeing it firsthand. However, as a result of our symbiotic relationship, I can lend you my foolish wisdom, albeit limited.

“Is the price my thighs?”

-There's no better bed than your thighs, you know.

She giggled and smiled cutely.

* * *

A few days passed.

The information classification we started by putting our heads together is now thoroughly complete.

Discussing the development of the fief with Perseus led to many sleepless nights, and she now sleeps deeply, as if she has fallen into a deep slumber.

Perhaps the longer she maintains her physical form with her ethereal power, the faster she tires.

The palace was bustling early in the morning with the preparations for the departure to the Haines fief.

The size of the group leaving was not large.

As the new lord of the fief, I am accompanied by my personal maid, Amy, and a few attendants and maids.

In addition, a few knights will accompany me for a temporary stay.

I am a poor mendicant...

-Your thoughts are frivolous, showing that you have plenty of leisure.

‘Cough.’

I have no knights or nobles who have sworn allegiance to me.

Thus, this modest entourage is a natural result.

When Baris and Winry heard I was leaving, they immediately came to me, fuming.

They know what kind of place the Haines fief is.

One of them was about to shout, “I will petition the king again!” but left the room in tears after I told him to trust his brother.

Later, Winry, wiping her tears with a handkerchief, hugged me quietly and said,

-Brother, if you ever feel the slightest bit of strain, you must contact us. We will come to your aid no matter what.

What can two fourteen-year-olds do?

Still, I was grateful for their concern and patted their heads, which made them cry even more.