Chapter 372
Now, who in this country suffers from the worst stomach pains?
"Your Majesty, you've lost weight."
"So have you, Prime Minister."
"Yes, well, busyness. At this age, one's appetite tends to decrease."
It's undoubtedly either the King or the Prime Minister.
While it's good that the King's influence increased after Boldrinnde's rebellion was suppressed, the reality is that it's a case of "a fox borrowing the authority of a tiger"—the tiger being Duke Adelgard—which is nothing to laugh about.
Before the rebellion, the tax revenue from the north was properly collected, but now it has drastically plummeted. On top of that, funds for reconstruction have the national treasury stretched thin.
If the Adelgard Ducal House hadn't fully cooperated with the financing, they wouldn't have taken over the northern territory as state land.
However, the northern territory holds prospects as a route connecting to the central continent, and being able to divide the cooperation of the eastern and western dukes is a significant advantage. Furthermore, managing it as state land increases freely usable territory and offers the potential for income not skimmed by nobles.
That is, if they have the personnel, know-how, and can maintain public order.
Turning the northern territory, devastated by Boldrinnde's misrule, around to turn a profit will take at least ten years, no matter what they do. The residents of such a ruined land distrust the state and are uncooperative with the officials.
Applying military pressure here would cause residents' discontent to explode, saying "See? This is what we expected," and the King would lose the people's support.
It has become an extremely delicate and troublesome land.
"In this case, there's nothing to be done without time. I bear responsibility for having left that situation as it was."
"With patience, then? Fortunately, thanks to Duke Adelgard, we've avoided raising taxes, but our debts only increase."
However, as King, he cannot abandon those residents.
He is desperately managing funds out of that sense of responsibility.
"Perhaps if we could at least establish a connection with that land, we might find a solution."
"Liberta?"
"Yes, Lord Liberta."
Into this talk of territory management comes the name of a once-unknown boy.
A common child discovered by Duke Adelgard.
That was the initial perception. But he was proven to be an apostle recognized by the gods. He heroically helped suppress the Boldrinnde rebellion and, with minimal losses, defeated Azhdaha, a calamity-level monster that could have destroyed the country. He is someone the King should have taken the lead in welcoming and incorporating.
"Is there no way to establish a connection?"
"Our actions are being watched by Duke Adelgard. If we make any unwarranted moves toward Lord Liberta, our relationship with the Duke will deteriorate first. In our current state, we cannot stand if abandoned by Duke Adelgard."
"So, we must first deal properly with Duke Adelgard?"
"Yes. While we hold the authority to select the diplomat to Lord Liberta's independent territory, we made a grave mistake with our first move. From now on, it's not hard to imagine what would happen if we selected someone arbitrarily without the Duke's permission."
But by the time they thought to respond this way, it was too late.
By the time the King, moving sluggishly, decided to act, the relationship between Liberta and Duke Adelgard was already deeply intertwined, leaving no room for even the Royal Family to intervene.
If they tried to wield authority forcefully, they would be met with greater force from Liberta's independent territory, beyond their control. In the Royal Family's current state, they can do nothing, even knowing this. Yet, Liberta's power is so alluring that they still want to reach for it.
"Even so, we cannot give up on his construction technology. It is the most suitable for restoring the northern territory."
"I understand. With that in mind, I have been attempting to persuade the Duke from a humanitarian standpoint, but..."
The last chance to keep Liberta close was during the reward negotiations after the battle with Azhdaha.
If they could have somehow granted him a noble title there, there might still have been a way.
"Our words, coming from a position receiving financial support, must have sounded like we were asking for even more money."
But the reality is, they couldn't.
Leaning his elbows on the desk in the study, resting his cheek in his hand—a sloppy posture unbefitting royalty—the King gives a wry smile.
The Prime Minister standing across from him wears a similar expression.
"Being forced into a politically weak position is quite constricting for a ruler."
"I am the King of this country, you know... How about I simply abdicate the throne to Duke Adelgard?"
"And we retire in comfort, is that it? A very tempting proposal. But if we did that, the eastern and western dukes would not stay silent. A civil war would begin, which Duke Adelgard would suppress. After that, it would turn into guerrilla warfare, with the former noble factions, now unrestrained, cooperating with forces from other continents to try and reclaim their territories, opening a conflict that draws in other nations."
"Wouldn't the heroes of other nations stop that?"
"Do you think so?"
"No. I cannot imagine the powerful of other nations leaving this continent in a weakened state alone. They would use their well-oiled tongues to win over those around them, fill in the outer moats, and move the hero into action."
"One cannot become a hero without valuing the will of the people, it seems."
The person in question adamantly refused any noble title, and Duke Adelgard supported that stance, causing that plan to fail.
"Thinking back now, Liberta might have been aware of the danger of being swayed by public opinion."
"He refused to be called a hero quite stubbornly, one might say."
"And the position of a noble as well."
So even now, there is no clear connection between the King and Liberta.
"If we could at least have declared him a hero in a public ceremony, something might have been possible."
"If even that ceremony were refused, there would be nothing to do. No, even if we forced it, I can only see a future where he resisted and relations worsened."
"Either way, it was a failure."
The more they think about creating that connection, the more they hit the wall that is Duke Adelgard, and the conversation leads to them sighing simultaneously.
"What shall we do?"
"What shall we do?"
No brilliant ideas come to mind, but the reason they don't decide to leave it to other nobles is the fear that if they entrust it to a subordinate noble, they might do something outrageous again.
The noble sent as a witness for the border demarcation between this country and Liberta's independent territory was, from the King's perspective, a noble who puffed out his chest, vowed "Leave it to me," and diligently performed his usual duties.
But he lacked true capability and was too ingrained with noble values.
Hence, the trouble. Since then, the King has been thinking he must handle it himself and trying to take action.
Normally, a single citizen would have no means to resist the absolute authority of the King.
However, Liberta, precisely because he knows the troublesome nature of nobles in this world, maneuvered to become self-reliant. The result is this outrageous situation where even a person in the position of King struggles to establish a relationship.
"Ugh, my stomach again..."
"Your Majesty, further consumption of potions is toxic to the body. Let me have some warm water prepared."
"Yes."
His body is screaming under the strain of a situation with no clear solution in sight.
No matter what he does, no good outcome seems to come.
Even trying to think optimistically, the result turns pessimistic; his thoughts have swung entirely into negative territory.
After instructing the maid and slowly drinking the prepared warm water, the King calms down somewhat.
"Have you calmed down somewhat?"
"Yes, a little."
He thought that if even a little solution came to mind now, they could manage.
"I'm starting to feel it might be better to throw all pretense aside, disclose everything, and go meet him directly under Duke Adelgard's supervision."
"If we could do that, we wouldn't be struggling. The other side would likely prepare various excuses to prevent you from coming."
"Even during his pioneering work is fine. No lodgings needed, no welcoming banquet needed, I'll even go without guards if necessary. Is it still a problem if I just want to meet and talk?"
The King is ready to discard royal dignity, endure being looked down upon by nobles, all to establish a connection with Liberta. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister shakes his head, negating that line of thought.
"Considering why Liberta sought independence and extraterritoriality in that frontier in the first place, it must be to avoid demands from us. For him, getting involved with us now would have a hundred harms and not a single benefit. He likely already feels aversion at the very stage of us stating our demands."
"What should we do then...?"
"Thinking about that is our job. If we leave it to a subordinate, they would undoubtedly request the dispatch of the knight order, saying, 'How dare they defy us?'"
Reality is not kind. Even if they reach for the golden fruit they can see, it will never fall.
Hearing such an outcome, the King, lately concerned with his increasing white hairs, leans back heavily in his chair.
Just then, a voice comes from a soldier outside the study.
"Your Majesty, Lord Gazes has arrived."
"Ah, is it already that time?"
"We'll continue this talk later."
"If I have any spirit left after hearing what's to come, that is."
The visit of the person he had an appointment with.
In response, the King straightens his back and hardens his expression.
The Prime Minister also moves from in front of the King to his side, preparing to welcome the guest.
"Enter."
A single word. A few seconds after it's uttered, the door opens, and a slender, tall man enters the study.
A man with round spectacles, lustrous dark blue hair tied back, and eyes as sharp as a hawk's.
While that sharp gaze directed at the King might be mistaken for hostility, he, Madeto Gazes, simply has poor eyesight, and his glasses prescription isn't quite right.
"Your Majesty, I have come to report regarding the budget matter for the medical department."
Knowing this, the King ignores the gaze and lets the usual noble greeting, meant to gauge his mood, go in one ear and out the other.
He is the court physician.
He manages the King's health and is the lifeline of this castle.
He can use healing magic and is also versed in pharmacology.
The potions the King and Prime Minister usually take are also made by Madeto.
If Liberta were here, he would probably say, "One of the rare, decent nobles."
He believes saving people is a noble's mission and, using his noble position, has established medical facilities in the Royal Capital accessible to citizens at low cost.
He is skilled, and his character is sincere.
It's fair to say that thanks to Madeto, there are no major problems with the castle's medical affairs or the Royal Capital's medical system.
After all, even nobles obsessed with power don't meddle with him and his house.
If something happened to him, the kingdom's medical system would collapse.
If that happened, both nobles and commoners would be unable to handle injuries and illnesses, earning hatred from all sides.
If Madeto were to grow complacent in his position, act arrogantly, and charge high medical fees, there would be backlash. But Madeto does none of that.
He simply and sincerely maintains the medical front, devoted to the advancement of medicine.
So, why would hearing from such a sincere man drain their spirits?
"I have calculated the amount needed to investigate the state of medical institutions in the north and rebuild the medical system."
"...I see. So it has come to this."
Because it confirms that the funds for northern reconstruction will be substantial.
You cannot wave a sleeve you don't have. Yet, considering the people, they must prepare it.
Precisely because they know such demands are coming, they are trying to request Liberta's cooperation to somehow free up even a little budget.
There is also an underlying hope, a selfish desire.
But at its core, there is a sincere wish to help the people.
"Your Majesty, I have a request."
"What is it?"
The King frowns as he looks at the budget report. If this budget passes, it can save many people.
He understands that.
The problem is how to get it passed and where to scrape the funds from.
But before solving that dilemma...
"Could you arrange a meeting with Duke Adelgard?"
Madeto's proposal echoes through the study.