Chapter 405: The Spider and Viper (2)
“Count Palatine, I am sure you are aware of this as well, but our government currently does not have the spare funds to pay back the interest.”
“It is only a seven percent interest annually.”
I took a sip from my fruit beverage. It was insanely sweet for alcohol. It was so sweet that I was sure even children would spit it out in disgust.
Lately, I’ve found myself deliberately sipping on this unnaturally sweet fruit alcohol. The reason? Lapis managed to clear out every last bottle from my wine reserves in my Demon Lord Castle, including those hidden away in my office and bedroom. It’s absurd; all 13 of my secret stashes, large and small, obliterated.
How did she know that I had secretly dug out a storage underneath the lake in my castle? Is my private life perhaps a concept that doesn’t exist to Lapis?
In the end, my only permitted beverage is this alcoholic concoction, indistinguishable from sugar water. Lapis handed it to me with a casual, “If this works for you, be my guest.” It’s almost like the cigarettes people use to quit smoking……. I, the wealthiest Demon Lord, can’t even relish a proper drink. Life is indeed unjust…….
Originally, among the Demon Lords, Paimon was the wealthiest. Her wealth had now entirely gone into the imperial treasury. Thanks to that, the Empire secured a budget for the next 20 years. Habsburg was “my” empire, so in a way, it was my pockets that were being filled.
Paimon’s estate became entirely mine, not a single thing was left behind.
I smiled.