Chapter 55

"Still, the atmosphere in the palace is just not right..."

Although I was the one who caused the trouble and fled, I pretended to be unaware and asked.

"Yes, it seems the secret ledger has been made public. His Majesty is furious. As a result, many of the involved nobles and servants have had their titles stripped and have been sentenced to execution."

"His Majesty?"

"He has finished his heavy workload and is now in his chambers."

As if to release all the pent-up emotions, he spoke without hesitation.

No matter how much information the pro-king faction, led by the Paletris Marquis, had obtained, without the cooperation of King Crianes, such a speed would not have been possible.

'That's why he's even more inscrutable.'

-Dave...

She sighed briefly, as if there was something more she wanted to say to me.

-You're as stubborn as ever.

Moreover, the noble faction, due to their mutual excuses, is now divided.

"I will guide you to the Prince's Palace."

"Sure, I'll follow you."

Originally, I should have immediately met with King Crianes, but since he has already retired to his chambers, it would be better to wait for another day.

As I walked silently behind him,

"Who is this?"

It was a very provocative voice.

"Calus."

Turning my head to the dark corridor, I saw a boy with a familiar but ordinary appearance looking at me arrogantly.

"Isn't that Brother Dave?"

As he approached me with a smirk, I nodded to Vesperus, the head butler.

"Then, I will see you later."

"Good luck."

After he left, I turned to look at the boy.

"So, how have you been?"

"Well, I've been doing fine."

The boy, grinning slyly, came closer with a provocative attitude.

Then, after scanning the surroundings, he frowned and muttered irritably.

"Looks like a commoner is feeling smug after a successful business."

"So, did you come here just to see a face you hate so much?"

He grinned at my smile.

"If it was a business that a commoner like you could succeed in, anyone could have succeeded. Don't get cocky just because you got lucky. The dirty blood of a commoner can't be changed."

"You little brat, there's nothing you won't say to your brother."

"Ha! Who's your brother?"

He still doesn't understand the magnitude of what I've accomplished.

"Tsk, that's why you'll be a nobody and never escape from Queen Liness's skirts."

"What did you say?"

At my words, the boy's expression turned vicious.

It was a menacing look, as if he was about to throw a punch at any moment.

"You've got some nerve..."

"You're the one with nerve."

As I easily shook off his hand that grabbed my collar, his expression became even more twisted.

"What... What?!"

"Seems like you're deluding yourself into thinking you've accomplished something just because people praise you. Even a fool has limits."

"Wha... What...?"

"A person who only has a silver spoon and is also stupid should at least have some sense."

"Are you daring to insult me?!"

Ignoring the fact that I'm his brother, he lunged at me with a punch.

Yeah, if he wasn't this much of a lunatic, he wouldn't have shot an arrow at me during the hunting competition out of spite.

Ah, thinking about it makes me angry.

Snap!

"Ow?!"

Bang!

It happened in an instant.

I caught his punch and flipped him over, causing his face to show both confusion and pain.

"Do you know that the words you spout thoughtlessly are a disrespect to His Majesty?"

Even if my mother was from a border barony, my father is the king of this country.

If I, his blood, am a commoner, it's the same as insulting King Crianes.

"Does it hurt?"

At my light question, the boy started to squirm and groan.

After I stimulated his pressure points a bit, his face turned red and he began to gasp for breath.

In response to my playful question, I said,

"It hurts because you're young."

-That's a ridiculous line. If it hurts, you should see a doctor or a priest.

'That line was from my past life.'

-It's a surprising philosophy.

Perseurk's expression was full of disdain as he clicked his tongue.

The boy, looking at me with eyes full of hatred, humiliation, and incomprehensible pain, was completely distorted.

"Ugh!"

Watching the boy, who was groaning in pain and looking up at me, I suddenly wondered how I could make him suffer in a clean and clever way.

After a brief moment of thought, I let him go without hesitation.

"Grgh... What did you do...?"

His eyes showed a desire to attack me again, but perhaps because of what just happened, he soon took a step back and started to scream.

"Just wait! The things you're so confident about won't be yours anymore!"

As he ran away, Perseurk looked at me.

-You, who have such anger towards that human, why did you let him go?

"I didn't just let him go."

Believing in a family member who is a complete mess until the end is enough for a life before falling into a coma.

At my smirk, she closed her mouth.

"You had some fun, didn't you?"

At my grin, she frowned.

-You... Even though it's hard to say, that smile is best not shown.

"Why?"

-To be honest, it's scary...

She muttered, her eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.

Was my expression that bad? This is also a bad habit.

I had such thoughts but quickly dismissed them.

Then, I swept the items in my hand into the air and continued walking.

"Baldness, which can't be cured by magic, is a universal sin. The pinnacle of it is?"

-Wow, circular baldness! You wouldn't...

"And I left one more gift. You'll see it at the meeting tomorrow."

-Hic!

He seemed to realize what I did to the fleeing Calus, and his face turned pale as he hiccuped.

Yeah, I can't easily kill him.

I hate the idea that being young means no punishment.

If you do something wrong knowing the consequences, you should be punished.

Especially for someone who is old enough to know better but isn't completely innocent.

* * *

It will be mine, it won't be mine.

That's what Calus said as he ran away.

Even if I try to put a good spin on it, most of his words can be ignored since he's just a fool...

"Even a fool wouldn't think that throwing a tantrum would make everything go his way."

-It's a possibility. The state of that boy, Calus, might be worse than you think.

"Surely not..."

That surely can kill a person.

"Remarkable. Indeed! This is a blessing for the Kingdom of Rawn!"

"Exactly. It takes about four months to cultivate Moon Grass, but the quarterly profit exceeds the kingdom's annual expenditure."

"With this amount, the kingdom can flourish and develop even more!"

"We can immediately increase the defense budget. We can also provide funds to each territory to further prosper the business!"

The nobles were shouting, spitting as they spoke.

Why are they drinking the soup among themselves when I, the business owner, am not saying anything?

'Ah... Once the facilities in the territory are completed, maybe I'll try the restaurant business.'

-Restaurant business?

'They say the most profitable businesses are the liquor and food industries.'

-Do you have something in mind?

'Well... I want to try making Korean food. I'm a beginner in this field.'

It's a pity that there were no chefs among the heroes.

In the royal council room.

In this meeting room, where numerous nobles were barking, I was the only one lost in my own thoughts.

Bang!

"Therefore! To support the cultivation of Moon Grass for the peace of the country!"

"Heh, you're being too hasty, Baron Velis! The cultivation of Moon Grass isn't something that can be done just by throwing money at it! I heard that only a certain part of the land in the Hines territory is suitable for Moon Grass!"

"Therefore! If we nationalize the business, conduct more research, and expand the scale, we can launch it ambitiously..."

My head started to hurt!

King Crianes, sitting on the throne, also seemed to have a headache as he held his forehead with one hand.

What a mess.

The arguments between the noble faction and the pro-king faction were making my head throb.

The Paletris Marquis, who was absent, was not there to keep the nobles in check, and they were taking advantage of the opportunity to show their greed.

In the end, both the pro-king faction and the noble faction were showing their greed for power, just in different directions.

"Everyone, stop."

Finally, King Crianes, who couldn't bear it anymore, stepped in.

"First, we must reward Prince Dave, who has brought a blessing to the kingdom."

He looked at me as if searching for something and asked,

"Dave."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I stopped thinking about my next business venture and turned my head.

"You did well. You accomplished a great feat without any support."

"I am humbled, Your Majesty."

"Thanks to the income tax you sent from your territory, the kingdom has overcome a major crisis. Speak up, I will grant you any reward."

Instantly, the eyes of numerous nobles turned to me.

King Crianes's words implied that he would grant any request I made.

Of course, if I did make a request, they would likely come up with various excuses to delay and eventually ignore it.

"It was just my duty."

"Prince Dave's contribution is greater than any other in the past ten years. Speak freely."

His words, as if testing me, made me momentarily irritated.

However, I maintained a naive expression and said,

"Your Majesty, I haven't thought of a grand reward. Please give me some more time."

"Granted."

With that, he fell silent, and the nobles started talking again.

The main point was that the successful Moon Grass business in the Hines territory should be expanded and supported, or nationalized and managed at the national level.

Of course, all of these suggestions were close to impossible.

The situation became even more chaotic.

It started with the Varretta Duke.

"There is something we need to confirm first."

Despite the Varretta Duke's influence waning, he still seemed powerful, and everyone fell silent.

"Prince Dave's contribution to the kingdom through the income tax from the successful Moon Grass business is approximately 70,000 gold."

After a brief pause, he scanned the room and continued with a blank expression.