“For the reasons the Imperial Princess just mentioned. We need to quickly clear the suspicions cast on the Daudabiner family. If we do not, other nations will claim, ‘Since this is a phenomenon caused by a subject of the Empire, the Empire must take responsibility, solve the problem, and provide compensation.'”
“Hmm…”
“It will be too late once more countries suffer casualties. Even if the Empire tries to clear the suspicions then, it will only be criticized as a performative measure for indemnity. From the perspective of other nations, the truth of the suspicion isn’t important; what matters is whether they can use it to shake the Empire’s prestige and gain profit. The Empire must strike first.”
I spoke those words with a very serious and grave expression.
In truth, in the Original Work, there was never a situation where other countries pressured the Empire by holding them responsible.
If such a thing were to happen, the Imperial Family would have to admit that they were blinded by wealth and stole the fief from Reysir, apologize, return the land, and even vomit up all the profits made in the meantime along with compensation.
Did the author, Senna, ignore it and pretend not to know because such a development didn’t suit the Angst Genre? Or did they fail to reflect it in the work because they didn’t think of the idea that other countries could use such suspicions politically?
‘Which of those two is the correct answer is none of my business.’
The development of the Original Work isn’t what’s important right now. I am the only one who knows the fact that nothing would happen even if the suspicions against the Daudabiner family aren’t cleared. However, looking strictly at plausibility, my opinion that a diplomatic problem would arise sounds perfectly reasonable.
“Young Lord Karbaldr. You mentioned that the Imperial Family should return the fief in a ‘different way’.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Is that way… perhaps… for the Imperial Family to officially apologize, announcing that they fabricated crimes for the boy’s deceased parents just to snatch the hometown of a pitiful boy who lost his family?”
“Is that possible?”
“That… Sigh… We must make it possible before these anomalies start popping up like mushrooms both at home and abroad.”
Contrary to her words, Fjodra touched her forehead with a look of utter despair. Seeing that, it hit me again how rotten the current Imperial Family truly was. Since I brought up diplomatic issues, the Imperial Family would eventually have to apologize and return the fief to Reysir.
‘But… the problem is that there’s no guarantee the small-minded and selfish Emperor won’t take his anger out on someone!’
If Fjodra falls out of favor with the Emperor during the process of persuading the other royals, and if she ends up dying like in the Original Work, the Imperial Family will rot away at an uncontrollably fast pace. Even with this terrible class system, I really don’t want to live in a country ruled by a corrupt Imperial Family.
“Are you reluctant?”
“It is not that. It is just… No, it is not something you should worry about.”
Seeing her words falter, it seemed Fjodra also realized the Emperor’s wrath might be directed at her.
“If you are concerned that the prestige of the Imperial Family will be tarnished, may I suggest ‘another way’?”
“Ah, now that you mention it…! You only asked me if it was possible; you never said my guess was the correct answer.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“…You must have judged that the Imperial Family, mired in self-righteous authoritarianism, would not easily admit to past mistakes.”
Fjodra let out a self-deprecating remark with a bitter smile. The only reason she could say such things about the Imperial Family was that she was a member of it. Even so, she wouldn’t dare let those words slip in front of other royals. In other words, I couldn’t openly agree with those words.
“I do not know what you are talking about. It was merely a ‘misunderstanding.’ If it must be publicly announced as something ‘taken unjustly,’ it would naturally be frustrating, wouldn’t it? I was simply considering the position of the Imperial Family.”
“……”
When I answered by slightly adapting the words Reysir had spoken in the previous chapter, a sense of self-reproach settled on Fjodra’s face. Since she saw this, there shouldn’t be a situation where the Original Protagonist doubts Fjodra’s humanity and becomes hostile toward her.
With that thought, I shifted my gaze and looked at Reysir, only to meet his eyes.
‘Why is he looking at me so intensely…?’
I reflexively turned my gaze away too quickly to examine his expression properly, but once I became conscious of it, I could feel Reysir’s eyes constantly lingering on me. I wondered if I should look back at his expression now, but I couldn’t because Fjodra hurried me.
“Young Lord Karbaldr. So, what is this method you have in mind? Speak quickly.”
“The heir of the Daudabiner County happens to be celebrating his nineteenth birthday this year and is set to become an adult, is he not? And that means he will be able to formally succeed the title. I think it would be good to return the fief to coincide with that time.”
“Which means…”
“If the Imperial Family takes the stance that they were holding the fief to protect a young boy who lost his guardians, the matter of the Count and his wife’s honor being tarnished can be handled by expressing deep regret and condolences.”
“Mmm……”
Fjodra let out a groan-like sound while closing her eyes tightly. Her conscience must be hurting quite a bit at the thought of disguising the Imperial Family’s ill-will as benevolence.
“After the anomaly occurred on the day of the Graduation Ceremony, Aether Glass was growing like weeds around the Grand Hall. Although I don’t have much interest in botany and don’t know the names of everything growing there, I suspect there are many rare plants besides Aether Glass. The Daudabiner Count’s Territory must have been the same, and considering its area…”
“You do not need to speak so indirectly. You are saying that since the Imperial Family has gained great wealth by selling the herbs grown there, that wealth should be returned to Reysir, correct?”
“Half right and half wrong. Hasn’t the Imperial Family been managing the fief and protecting the young boy from greedy people targeting the herbs grown in that land? There must have been costs incurred in gathering, processing, and distributing the herbs. So, I was going to say that using that as a justification, the Imperial Family only needs to give back a portion of the wealth.”
“Well, that is certainly something the Imperial Family would welcome…”
Even if I hadn’t said it, the Imperial Family would have come up with such an opinion on their own. That’s why I purposely mentioned it first. To ask them to help Reysir rebuild the fief, since they had taken so much from that land for ten years.
“Since His Majesty the Emperor is a person of benevolent character who knows how to look after his subjects, even going so far as to protect a young boy who was the sole survivor of a disaster, I believe he will willingly lend a helping hand if the boy seeks to rebuild his fief upon reaching adulthood.”
“Do not worry about that part. I will speak well to my father.”
I designated the Emperor, not Fjodra, as the provider of the benefits. Even so, Fjodra would try her best to provide maximum benefits to Reysir as long as it didn’t shake her own position. Even so, what Reysir could gain would be far less compared to the Original Work. Unlike the Original Work, he wasn’t receiving a reward for an achievement, so he would have no choice but to take what was given without making any demands.
‘Still, it’s much better to have fewer gains than to fall out of favor with the Imperial Family like in the Original Work, isn’t it?’
Fjodra had essentially acted quickly in a way that preserved the Imperial Family’s authority and profit as much as possible before a diplomatic issue arose. Thus, she wouldn’t be assassinated for losing the Emperor’s favor. Perhaps it could even serve as an opportunity to solidify her standing.
‘I was quite troubled to meet the Original Protagonist again only five days after saying goodbye… should I call this a blessing in disguise?’
My heart felt a bit lighter knowing I could remove one of the hardships Reysir would face in the future. I had always felt guilty about the fact that I was turning a blind eye while knowing he would walk a thorny path paved with sorrow. This much should be enough as a farewell gift.
“By the way, when is Reysir’s birthday?”
“It is May 20th.”
“Mmm… that is too late.”
Fjodra glanced at me with a troubled expression. I had already spoon-fed her the meal; was she now asking me to feed her snacks too? I couldn’t help but look at her with an incredulous expression. Sensing this, Fjodra reacted with embarrassment as if she had realized something.
“Ahem! I can just mention it when the rewards are granted this time. I will tell him to prepare to become a Lord, as the fief will be returned once he reaches adulthood on his birthday.”
It wasn’t a particularly difficult problem, so Fjodra found the answer quickly. Not only that, she remembered the original topic.
“Ah, right. Speaking of which, I was going to ask what you two wanted as a reward, but I almost sent you back without asking.”
The Imperial Princess’s gaze was fixed on me. If I, who had the greatest contribution, spoke of what I wanted first, Reysir and Liolikin wouldn’t be able to ask for anything more valuable. It was a clear display of her will to avoid experiencing something as troublesome as when Reysir had demanded the return of his fief.
“Since we don’t know when we might be caught in another anomaly, I would like to receive an artifact that can help with self-defense.”
“Nyao!”
Unlike ‘Aether Engineering’ products, which are closer to mass-produced items, ‘Artifacts’ are crafted with great effort by masters, making them expensive and difficult to obtain. Among such artifacts, those related to combat were especially rare. Because they were so difficult to make, only a few skilled masters could produce them, resulting in a severely lacking supply. In contrast, demand was so high that it was widely believed one couldn’t buy them even with plenty of money. But if it was the Imperial Family, they surely had several self-defense artifacts secured.
“Since you almost died due to the negligence of the professors at the Imperial Academy, I think I can provide that much as compensation. But, your Familiar…”
“Myaong, nyanyanyang?”
When I requested a self-defense artifact, Yor had quickly pulled out his whiteboard and wrote the word [Me too]. And now, with a tilted head and an expression asking if there was a problem, he efficiently composed a new sentence by adding three characters behind the existing ones.
[Me too played a role]
“If you have received a report on what happened on the day of the Graduation Ceremony, Your Imperial Highness must already know. My Familiar stopped the monster’s movements temporarily, buying time for the students to escape.”
“Myang, myang~!”
When I spoke of his achievements, the cute, adorable, and great baby Dragon puffed out his chest (?) and took a triumphant pose. To this, the Imperial Princess replied:
“I will try to make the suggestion, but do not get your hopes up. There has never been a case where the achievements of a Familiar and its master were viewed separately.”
Perhaps because I knew how stingy and greedy the Imperial Family was as a group, I truly didn’t have any expectations. Yor seemed to have the same thought and looked as if he had already given up.
Jajaja