Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Persuading His Majesty
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King Sedes pressed a hand to his forehead. He was already racking his brains over the recent string of incidents. On top of that, the Sharton Street plan hadn't even been put into motion yet, so how on earth was he supposed to track down the reasons for its failure...
'What kind of children's homework is this...'
Sedes let out a quiet sigh as he eyed the hefty proposal, which felt far too substantial for mere kid stuff, then ordered refreshments brought out for the prince.
"Your Majesty, I know you're busy. You don't need to devote so much time to me. If this is interfering with your duties, I can take it back with me."
"...Prince, does this Sharton Street proposal strike you as doomed to fail?"
Sedes tapped the document lightly, his heart heavy. It had been crafted over long months by his investigators and administrators, who had poured their heads together on it. Yet even this young prince could spot so many flaws at a glance. That spelled real trouble. And sure enough, the plan had fallen apart before it even launched.
Lianus caught the king's hardening expression and frantically shook his head, rushing to explain himself.
"No, Your Majesty. The proposal was far too perfect. But my dear friend told me this: a project's failure doesn't stem from a flawed plan. So I thought, doesn't the very definition of 'failure' depend on who's judging it?"
"Hm. Go on."
"First off, my proposal focuses not on redevelopment, but on relief efforts. Relief typically means handing out food or daily necessities to boost quality of life. But Your Majesty, you must consider whether those efforts truly deliver results."
One of Sedes's eyebrows twitched upward at that.
"...Are you saying relief efforts lack effectiveness?"
"Don't slums usually get regular aid?"
"They do."
"That's exactly the problem."
"...Explain."
Sedes narrowed his eyes and gazed down at his son, whose face had taken on a remarkably serious cast.
"The very fact that relief is provided regularly proves they haven't been saved at all."
"Hm?"
"We can't eradicate slums entirely, of course. But we should at least reduce their numbers."
"Enough. I grasp your intent, Prince. Wait here a moment."
Sedes cut Lianus off and began poring over the proposal in earnest.
For a long while, the only sound in the reception room was the rustle of turning pages. Even Abel, who had until then viewed the prince with fond amusement, wiped the smile from his face and picked up a copy of his own.
Sedes finally glanced up after reading it through. Lianus, who had grown bored enough to munch away at some cookies, startled when their eyes met. He hastily set the cookie down and wiped his hands with a napkin.
"Prince, mandating magic-secured identity cards is a fine idea, and training issuance officers to accommodate the illiterate is thoughtful too. Distributing dry rations instead of perishables saves on labor, and makes storage and transport easier—brilliant touches."
"Really?"
Lianus beamed at the lavish praise. Sedes's lips quirked up faintly in response, but he quickly schooled his features and pressed on gravely.
"But you placed unusual emphasis on free educational facilities."
"...Yes."
"What benefit is there in educating the ignorant?"
Lianus stiffened at the question. His friend's voice echoed in his mind.
'...But is there really any profit in teaching those kids?'
Lianus clenched his hands neatly in his lap. Nil had known. He'd known this question was coming.
'Relief is still a business, after all. The costs are enormous. No return means it's pointless.'
You're right, Nil.
Lianus took a short breath and spoke slowly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I know relief is a business, plain and simple—not some feel-good volunteer work. Without returns, there's no point to it."
Sedes's eyes widened slightly at the prince's cool, businesslike tone. He straightened up, expecting the boy to crumble under such harshness. Instead, he responded with such maturity.
Abel, who had watched anxiously from the side fearing for the tender prince's feelings, was equally stunned.
Sedes ventured cautiously onward.
"And yet you insist on free schools?"
"I know what troubles you, Your Majesty. But isn't it premature to assume there'll be no profits?"
"Are you saying there will be?"
Lianus recalled his conversation with his friend and continued calmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. This is politics—and an investment. Anyone with money, even vulgar upstarts, can toss supplies at a problem. The royals must do better."
"Hm. And what exactly do we stand to gain?"
Lianus explained passionately but without losing his composure.
"They're a small faction, true, but they're still citizens—and their numbers can't be ignored. Win their loyalty, and it bolsters royal authority."
"Can free schools really secure their hearts? They might prefer simple food handouts."
"That's born of ignorance. But mere belly-filling won't let them advance. The royals shouldn't spoon-feed them—we must help them stand on their own."
"But schools exist already. The Royal Academy has plenty of commoners."
"Your Majesty, they don't see themselves as commoners. Our kingdom has no castes below them, yet they believe they're unworthy even of identity cards. Do you think they'd dream of the Academy just because they scrape together some coin?"
"..."
"I'm not talking advanced education. Just reading, basic math, telling dates—that's enough. The royals provide the minimal spark to let them think for themselves."
With that, Lianus placed two thick stacks of documents on the table—the ones he'd entrusted to Evan.
"These cover reactions and changes after commoners were admitted to the Royal Academy. There was fierce backlash at first, but now it's hailed as Lord Julius's greatest achievement. And this tracks the graduates' paths. Please review them."
Sedes flipped through the files, clicking his tongue in admiration. The prince hadn't just done the homework—he'd brought evidence to sway him. This was no small effort. With this fire, the boy might build the schools himself if denied.
"Basic education might not yield prodigies. So why not select top performers with clear goals for special Academy admission, with scholarships? Free schools as foundations, the Academy as higher learning. The royals claim talented wards early, securing their gifts effortlessly."
"Hmm..."
Sedes scanned the proposal thoughtfully, then nodded faintly. His eyes caught a smudged word on the final page, drawing a soft chuckle before he continued gently.
"Prince, I understand fully. The plan is excellent, as is its intent. I'll review it positively."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's better than what the administrators cooked up. Including contingencies bloated it, yet you wrapped it up masterfully. Must have been grueling."
Lianus flushed at the ultimate praise, then grinned brightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"However..."
Sedes pointed out something that had nagged him since first seeing the budget.
"The population figures and breakdowns are oddly precise. And remarkably... detailed."
One more thing bothered him: the bearish man and two children repeatedly mentioned in the Royal Knights' Commander's reports.
Sedes glanced at the prince's guard standing at a distance. Evan met his eyes, then lowered his gaze silently.
'...Bear... like?'
Sedes nodded slightly, figuring Evan's massive build could indeed resemble a bear, then turned back to his son with a casual question.
"2nd Prince."
"Yes?"
"Did you go there yourself?"
"...! Hic!"
The prince's eyes widened at the question, then he suddenly started hiccuping. He looked so startled and flustered as he clapped a hand over his mouth—it was utterly endearing.
"S-sor, hic, ry, hic, Your Majesty..."
Sedes pressed on as his son avoided his gaze, eyes darting everywhere.
"Was there trouble?"
"N-no? Hic, nothing, hic."
Sedes had long thought it, but the 2nd Prince was terrible at lying. Just like his mother.
Of course, that was part of his charm...
"Prince, how was the outing?"
"Y-yes? Wh-what do you, hic, mean, I don't, hic, know."
"Must have been dangerous... Did your friend look after you well?"
"Yes! He packed food and medicine, and oh, my friend even hunts... Eep!"
Lianus had blurted it out in his eagerness to boast about his friend, then belatedly clamped his mouth shut. Too late.
"...Did he catch pigeons with his bare hands, by any chance?"
Evan quietly rubbed his face in the distance.
"...Hic."
'He's taking his time.'
Nihil stretched lazily while eyeing the grandfather clock in the reception room. He'd figured the kid's dad would be swamped and send him off quick, but he was apparently listening to Lianus's pitch with unexpected gravity.
Left alone with the etiquette tutor against his will, Nihil couldn't stand the boredom any longer and rose from his seat.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Ignoring the tutor's call, Nihil slipped out of the reception room and headed to his study. The lessons were for Lianus anyway. Plus, the heavy medicinal scent clinging to the countess's clothes today was especially grating.
'It wasn't this strong when we first met.'
Nihil wrinkled his nose, recalling the aroma of narcotic painkillers reserved for terminal patients. But he shook it off—this wasn't his concern—and began jotting down a list of herbs he needed.
Soon, the sound of a carriage approached from outside. Peering out the window, he spotted Lianus's ride in the distance. The luxurious dark green vehicle was gold-trimmed, emblazoned with the massive royal crest reserved for royals.
It was the flashy one Lianus hated using, but Nihil had insisted on the best.
'The queen will summon him soon.'