◆ Domestic Reform (Part 1)
"Ugh..."
A groan escapes involuntarily as the sharp pain reverberates through my body. Looking up at the ceiling, I immediately recognize that this is my room, not a carriage.
(Ah, that's right. I was attacked by an assassin yesterday... Did I survive?)
I question myself and instinctively pinch my cheek. I glance down at my collar to check the wound on my chest, but there are no noticeable external injuries. How was such a severe wound healed?
"Your Highness, are you awake?"
A voice suddenly rings in my left ear. I had thought I was alone, so it genuinely startles me. If this weren't Henrik's body, I might have stumbled backward in shock. This body always seems to remain calm, almost as though it looks at everything with a detached perspective.
"Ah, where am I?"
"This is Eldoria Castle."
The vivid, burning sensation of being pierced by arrows still lingers in my mind. Given the blood loss, reaching here alive should have been nearly impossible.
"Was there an exceptionally skilled doctor here? No, no ordinary doctor could have healed those wounds so neatly. You were the one who healed this, weren't you?"
"Yes."
She gazes at me with unblinking eyes. There is no trace of falsehood in her gaze. I let out a deep sigh in my heart. I’ve been saved by a younger girl.
"My memory is vague, but it seems that the treatment you used on me back then was magic, after all. To think you were so close by."
"If I were to reveal it, everyone would target me for this power. I would never be treated favorably, and would likely be used by those in power until I am spent."
In this world, magicians are rare. Only a few exist in each country.
I’ve seen them a few times in the Retouar Empire, but they all lacked any shine in their eyes, which left a creepy impression on me. As Sharon’s words explain, magicians are harshly treated.
If she’s capable of magic, then Sharon must be a descendant of the Lapto tribe. The Lapto people live in a small ethnic group in a port town beyond the vast forests to the north of Ecudole. Magic is a power only passed down to their descendants, and it manifests exclusively in women. However, it doesn’t appear in every female descendant, only a select few. Sharon, for better or worse, is one of them.
"Many nobles don’t understand the true cost. They’re overworked, and in the end, they’re driven insane, meeting a tragic end."
When I says this, I notice an odd silence and glance at Sharon, who’s staring at me with wide eyes.
"What’s wrong?"
"I... I’ve never met anyone who understands the cost. But of course, it’s only natural that someone like you, Henrik-sama, would know."
"That trust of yours is unsettling."
The words Sharon is saying are unlike anything I would have heard from her before, which makes me suspicious.
"Don’t mind it."
"Still, you seem rather at ease. I now know that you're a magician. Under my orders, I could manipulate you as I please. In that situation, leaving me to die would have been the best choice. I don't know what changed your mind, but it was a poor decision."
"I have no regrets. You protected me, and even though you were gravely wounded, I thought it was only right as a person to act."
Even if the person you dislike is in danger, when they protect you and nearly die for it, it’s hard to abandon them without a sense of guilt.
"But I ordered you to flee back then. You understand the responsibility for disobeying my command, don’t you?"
Although I should have bowed my head and said thank you, my mouth ended up reproaching Sharon instead. Well, it would probably be unpleasant for me to humbly bow anyway.
"With all due respect, we’ve followed His Highness and come all the way here. If our employer dies, we will be left stranded."
"I gave you enough gold coins to live on for a while, but fine. This isn’t getting us anywhere."
I faintly hear Sharon muttering, "You're not being honest," under her breath. What’s with that strange attitude? It’s really throwing me off.
But then again, it wasn’t something worth pressing further, so I made an effort to ignore it.
"You used magic and must have paid quite a price for it. What exactly did you sacrifice?"
"I’ll be in a coma for a while."
"Is that all?"
"...Yes, that’s all."
"If there’s anything else, say it. I don’t like being kept in the dark."
"It’s nothing serious. Please don’t worry about it."
Could there really be a greater price she’s hiding? I was somewhat—no, very—curious, but since she stayed silent and showed no intention of revealing anything further, I gave up on pressing her for more.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"About fifteen days. A little longer than me, actually."
"......Where is the Duke?"
If two people were brought here unconscious like that, the Duke must have been quite shocked. It wasn’t exactly an explanation, but there were various things I wanted to ask him.
"If it’s the Duke, he’s probably in his office."
"Then take me to him right away. There’s a lot I want to ask."
"Understood."
First and foremost, I wanted to know why I ended up coming to this country in the first place.
◆
I was led into a reception room with a predominantly white interior, adorned with golden decorations. Within a few minutes, the current Duke and his daughter appeared.
"Prince Henrik, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Aleon Lugoa La Ecudole Sorteria, the current Duke of the Ecudole Sorteria Duchy."
Even though I was around the same age as his daughter, Aleon did not let his guard down in the slightest. His posture and demeanor reflected the difficult position of the current Duchy. However, at the same time, his presence as Duke was undeniable.
"I am Henrik Retouar."
I maintained my haughty attitude even in front of the Duke. However, Aleon did not seem to take offense, and I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was absolutely horrified when I heard you were attacked by an assassin. But I am relieved to see you safe. I am glad to meet you like this."
I could hardly believe that he was truly happy or relieved. His words didn’t convey any genuine joy or relief. It was only natural—having the Imperial Prince marry into the Duchy was not something to celebrate for them.
"This is my daughter, Alcyana. Alcyana, greet His Highness."
Alcyana, the Duke's only daughter, was strikingly beautiful, with captivating blue hair and sharp, slanted eyes that gave her an impression of strength and determination. From the way she glanced at me, it seemed that this impression was accurate. While she didn't glare at me outright, it was clear that she harbored displeasure about the engagement to Henrik Retouar, someone who was regarded poorly in the Empire. Nobody would want to marry such a person. I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her.
"I am Alcyana Laptrica La Ecudole Sorteria. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
Her greeting was devoid of emotion, and I wasn’t surprised in the least. I never expected her to offer a warm welcome. I had no intention of forging a personal connection with her, either. After all, I planned to eventually position this country as the leader in the anti-Empire movement. With such motives, I couldn’t truly regard Alcyana as my wife, not in the slightest.
"Ah."
I deliberately avoided eye contact, responding coldly as if I had no interest from the start. I knew that acting this way would avoid disappointing her later. I noticed her eyebrows twitch slightly, but I paid it no mind.
"Prince Henrik, about what we need to discuss..."
"That’s important, but I arrived in this country without any explanation and almost as if I were being driven away. This country, a vassal of the Kingdom, why would I, the Imperial Prince, be forced into an engagement here? You will explain this to me."
It was well-known that the previous regime had been overthrown in a coup by Geleo Watan Samigaret, and the fact that I, Henrik, the son of the former emperor, was being treated with disdain made perfect sense.
"Understood. First, the Sorteria family was originally just a noble family of the Kingdom. Through the achievements of the first head of the family, we were raised to the status of a sovereign ruler."
The Sorteria Duchy had once been just a noble house in the Kingdom of Varan, but the first head, Alexis, achieved great military feats during a war that seemed certain to end in defeat. As a result, he was granted land in Ecudole and became Duke, with considerable power and autonomy.
Although Ecudole was a geographically isolated and harsh land, the discovery of silver mines eventually brought the Duchy back to life. At the time, when there were no silver mines to speak of, the land seemed barren and unappealing. However, for a marquis family like the Sorteria, the opportunity to rise to such a position within the Kingdom, second only to the royal family, must have seemed like a great reward. The land was renamed after the Duchy, symbolizing its establishment.
"However, since then, our family has been burdened with concerns about our position within the Kingdom, as well as serious financial difficulties."
"I’ve heard that the financial troubles stem from the previous generation. I’ve heard they were rather incompetent."
Aleon did not deny this statement. Even his own son seemed to view the previous Duke as a fool.
The first Duke had been the Kingdom's most formidable warrior, but his administrative skills were lacking. He delegated all matters of governance to others. Perhaps it was due to being raised in that environment, but the previous Duke indulged in extravagance, which led to the financial crisis.
"Then one day, a silver mine was discovered within our domain. This single discovery brought the Duchy back to life, but..."
"Of course, neither the Empire nor the Kingdom would overlook such a development."
"That is correct. We were forced to concede half of the mining rights to the silver mines to the Kingdom, and many of the nobles began to vocally call for severing ties with us."
"At that time, the Empire intervened. Is that what happened?"
"Yes. The Empire did not interfere with internal affairs, but promised to grant us some of the rights to the land we captured from the Kingdom. We agreed to an alliance under the condition that we would only transfer 20% of the silver mine resources."
Geleo had keenly observed the situation and extended a hand. Originally, Ecudole was isolated by the vast Regil Mountain Range, and the Duchy had a strong sense of independence, dissatisfied with the Kingdom’s oppression.
Breaking free from the Kingdom’s rule was an attractive proposition for them, and by demanding a lower resource transfer than the Kingdom had, they were able to convince the Duchy while securing a profitable venture without interference. Considering the Empire’s recent growth, the possibility of the Kingdom being overwhelmed was very real, so a shift in allegiance made sense.
The part about transferring silver was suspicious, but it had become so ingrained in daily life that nobody questioned it. Geleo Samigaret, the mastermind behind the coup, was as cunning as ever, and there was no flaw in his execution of the plot.
"I do not think aligning with the Empire was a wise decision. You expect the Empire to send reinforcements, but the Empire will never send troops."
"...Why are you so certain of that?"
Aleon’s expression stiffened at my firm words.
"First, the benefits for the Empire are minimal. If the Empire moves, the Kingdom will put in serious effort. If this turns into a prolonged war, it will be a significant risk for this country."
"Risk?"
"This country is too far from the Imperial capital. A long-distance campaign would be unavoidable. Combat here, in a land with long winters, will be far harsher than you imagine. If the army is large, they will need to camp out in the winter. As the battle drags on, the burden on the soldiers will increase, and morale will decrease. How many commanders will be able to escape to the Imperial capital if the army is forced to retreat? There are many reasons, but fundamentally, it’s not a risk worth taking."
"...There are concerns about supplies as well."
"Moreover, many nobles from the former Kingdom will view this with skepticism. The possibility of betrayal will undoubtedly cross their minds."
"Betrayal? That’s unthinkable..."
Aleon initially spoke forcefully, as if denying the possibility, but as he reflected on his own inability to unify the vassals, his words faltered and trailed off.
"You can’t deny it. In fact, there are pro-Kingdom factions within the Duchy. There’s no guarantee that those who are opposed to us won’t turn against us. Also, I am an obstacle to the Samigaret family. Abandoning me would help eliminate the Retouar faction within the country. I believe the current Emperor would see that as more beneficial."
"Then the benefits we receive from this alliance are..."
"At least it serves as a deterrent. With the Empire behind us, the Kingdom will think twice before making a move. That is the greatest benefit of this alliance at present."
Even if the Kingdom acts, considering the Empire’s backing, they will have to prepare accordingly. Therefore, it’s likely that the Kingdom will bide its time for now.
"At present?"
"Yes. At present, the Duchy gains very little. It’s uncertain how much we will be granted in terms of rights over the territories we capture from the Kingdom. It would be pointless to expect anything. However, if we break the contract now, we will make enemies of both sides. That’s something we must avoid. Therefore, I intend to make this alliance beneficial for the Duchy."
"Prince Henrik, do you?"
Aleon’s gaze was filled with skepticism, without a hint of concealment. Given the rumors surrounding me, his reaction was entirely understandable. In any case, strengthening national power was indispensable. I was not going to shy away from any efforts required for that.
"I don’t intend to make some convenient plea asking you to trust me. I’ll show results with the personnel and funds I have now."
To Geleo, it didn’t matter whether the Duchy survived or perished. The mere fact that "the Kingdom was abandoned by the Duchy" could serve as one of the key elements to destabilize the Kingdom.
Therefore, even if there was some military support, it was unlikely that reinforcements would ever arrive.
"What specific results do you intend to show?"
"The immediate issue is the financial situation that relies entirely on silver. Creating industries other than those based on silver resources—this is my first goal."
"...But doesn’t that require capital?"
"Of course, it will. But what’s most important is achieving this without borrowing anyone’s power. Isn’t that right?"
"....From the beginning, I intended for Your Highness to live freely. Even if nothing is achieved, I will consider what you have said here as though I never heard it."
That was the most polite way to put it. From the outset, they likely never intended to involve me in the internal affairs of the Duchy. Getting involved would lead to internal interference and deviate from the terms initially proposed by the Empire. That would certainly affect the Duke's reputation. Hence, it was necessary to have Aleon and the Duchy’s nobles acknowledge me without receiving any aid.
Aleon’s choice was rational. It was only natural to distance oneself from someone who couldn’t be trusted and might bring disadvantages by getting involved. I didn’t take offense at this decision.
"That’s unnecessary concern. I will absolutely show results, and honestly, my reputation couldn’t possibly fall any lower than it already has."
Though I spoke these words with self-deprecation, I could feel a combative energy rising from deep within me, and all I could do was sigh inwardly.
◆
The office provided for my work was stripped of unnecessary items, creating a calm and orderly environment. To put it plainly, it was simple. Eldoria Castle, in this way, wasn’t always lavish; only the essential places were decorated with grandeur.
"Are you sure it’s really alright to say such things?"
Sharon, who had been standing behind Henrik during the meeting with Aleon, asked with a tone of concern.
"Hmph, do you think I can’t do it?"
"Of course not. I trust you, Your Highness."
She spoke with a clear and sincere gaze, and for a moment, Henrik’s words faltered.
"You’re free to speak of your shallow trust, but you must think I’m unsure about the funds, don’t you?"
"So, do you have a plan for funding?"
"Naturally. First and foremost, I am the rightful heir to the Empire. Even if I take gold coins from the national treasury, there will be no issue. They originally belonged to the Retouar imperial family."
"You secretly took them, then?"
"That’s right. Of course, I made sure not to make any mistakes that would expose me. I’ve been quietly taking a little at a time since I was a child, storing it in a hidden room behind a secret door in my chamber."
Henrik had been collecting funds in preparation for the day when the Empire would have the opportunity to be reclaimed. That opportunity was now.
"It’s not just that. There is a small faction within the Empire as well. I’ve secured commitments for both financial and personnel support."
"...As expected of Your Highness. I didn’t realize you had already made such preparations."
Without such support, Henrik couldn’t have made such bold claims. However, the plans he was about to implement relied on knowledge drawn from modern-day Japan. Even if he devised groundbreaking and effective measures, without the knowledge and wisdom that formed their foundation, there was a very real chance that the lack of resources would cause his plans to falter. In that case, he would have no choice but to swallow his pride and seek Aleon’s help.
"However, even with funds, it’s meaningless without effective strategies."
"Of course, Your Highness must already have those strategies prepared, right?"
"Obviously."
"Heh, my apologies."
Sharon offered a bow with a confident smile. Her attitude stirred frustration in Henrik, and he furrowed his brows, speaking in a tone that expressed his irritation.
"You understand your position, don’t you? I can do whatever I want with you. Don’t forget that. You will work like a draft horse for me."
"Understood."
Henrik had not only ignored the great favor Sharon had done for him by saving his life, but he also held her rare status as a magician over her as a form of leverage. He then proceeded to openly confront her with this fact, making a statement that would send a chill down anyone’s spine.
A deep sigh almost escaped Henrik’s throat, but despite that, he felt a faint trace of satisfaction from Sharon’s expression. Surely, it was just his imagination.
"First, we will proceed with preparations for stockpiling and the production of famine-resistant crops."
"Are you talking about securing food?"
It wasn’t quite a surprising response, but Sharon looked confused, as though she had expected something far grander.
"Food is the fundamental necessity for the people. I’ve heard that there are many people in the lower districts of Eldoria Castle who can hardly obtain even daily sustenance."
"...Yes. I’ve heard that the city is troubled by starvation deaths in the winter."
"The cause of that is the over-reliance on the silver mines and the difficulty of developing other industries."
It might be more accurate to say that other industries had declined rather than struggled to develop.
"That means there are few alternative sources of employment aside from the silver mines?"
In the impoverished capital city of Eldoria, there are few jobs available outside of the silver mine labor. Most of those engaged in other industries are residents of the middle-class districts, and many of the impoverished residents of the lower-class districts have no choice but to work in the silver mines. While the social classes are not strictly divided, the disparity in living standards between districts accelerates the divide and acts as a restraint for the residents of the lower-class districts.
"Labor in the silver mines is incredibly harsh. Surviving the frigid winters requires immense energy. Yet, despite that, this country has relied on food imports from the Kingdom for the majority of its food supply until now."
For the time being, food will be procured from the Empire, and Aleon is also moving in that direction. However, I intend to eventually cut off that supply route. Therefore, in the future, it will be necessary to reduce the country's dependence on foreign supplies and establish a system where we can at least sustain ourselves for a while using only domestic resources.
"If that supply is cut off, this country won’t be able to stand, is that what you're saying?"
"Yes. Without aid from other countries, the disruption of food exports will be a fatal blow to this country."
Currently, the dependence has merely shifted from the Kingdom to the Empire; the dependence itself has not been resolved.
The reason for this insensitivity is due to the fact that, as a vassal state of the Kingdom, the concern over the interruption of food imports had never existed before.
Despite having the silver mines, a source of wealth, the country’s finances are in poor condition, partly because a significant portion of the funds is allocated to food imports from the Kingdom.
Of course, there are many other contributing factors, but these various factors have compounded, resulting in the issue of a significant number of starvation deaths every year.
"Will you stockpile a large amount before the aid is cut off?"
"Stockpiling alone will not be enough to cover everyone. That's why famine-resistant crops are necessary. First, I’ll secure seed potatoes, identify suitable farmlands, and recruit people for reclamation work."
This plan will not only secure food but also provide employment. Sharon widened her eyes in slight surprise and then, with a proud smile, lifted the corners of her mouth.
"A strategy that looks two or three steps ahead. I must admit, I underestimated you."
Her words, which were clearly not flattery, made me feel slightly uncomfortable in the best way.
With a few backup plans still in mind, I decided to proceed with the first strategy without delay and set off for a local inspection.
◆