I'm Going to Redevelop!
“Tell me more in detail.”
Kalian’s voice held not a single trace of playfulness. It was a sovereign-vassal relationship. Right now, he and I stood as ruler and subject. There was no need to act spoiled, nor any reason for him to indulge it. In this moment where the empire’s future could shift, Kalian yielding to my whims would mean neglecting the empire itself.
For the empire’s sake, to change the future even a little, I had to persuade him.
“To speak plainly, we must provide relief supplies to Grey Garden immediately.”
A low, drawn-out sigh slipped from between Kalian’s lips.
“Give me the reason as well.”
There were more reasons than I could count. The possibility that hunger might drive them to unite and turn their blades against the empire was real, and it was only natural for the empire to look after its own people.
“The condition of Grey Garden that I witnessed was horrific. People collapsed on the ground from starvation, and others had already died of it… If they come to harbor hatred for the empire because of their hunger, it will become a stumbling block to our future.”
At my words, Kalian suddenly clapped his hands and broke into a smile he couldn’t contain. While I stood there bewildered, he finally spoke.
“To think my daughter had thought that far ahead—Father is honestly surprised. It’s no less impressive than anything the ministers might say.”
A gentle smile spread across Kalian’s face.
“So, do you have the funds to provide those supplies? The imperial treasury is hardly flush these days.”
There was no way a girl my age would have personal wealth. At this age, wasn’t raiding your parents’ wallet basically the rule?
And it’s an empire—it should be living well!
Even after cutting taxes to around fifteen percent, an empire was still an empire. With so many peasants paying taxes, it was best to see the numbers for myself.
“Could I examine the budget proposal?”
“Hmm, that’s not difficult. Wait just a moment.”
Kalian rummaged beneath his desk and pulled out several documents.
“If you like, you may sit on Father’s lap and read them. I’d like to review the budget together with my daughter.”
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
It wasn’t a difficult request, and I owed him gratitude for producing the documents, so I obediently climbed onto Kalian’s lap and began scanning the pages. I had never reviewed anything like this in my previous life, yet I felt no doubt that I could manage it. After all, I had Teacher Kalian right beside me.
If there are errors or impossibilities, Kalian will point them out.
The first thing that caught my eye was the total budget. There were so many zeros I could barely count them.
“Father, exactly how large is this total budget?”
“Hmm… It’s enough to sustain two or three small nations for a year.”
Had I misheard? Not one, but two or three?
Author, you crazy bastard. Did you throw probability out the window?
The second item that jumped out was the defense budget—the largest share in the empire’s proposal. Such a heavy proportion suggested a high chance of inflation somewhere. I immediately began peppering Kalian with questions.
“Father, isn’t the defense expenditure too high? There may be corrupt officials, or perhaps we could trim it somewhat.”
Of course I could be wrong. Top-grade equipment, high salaries, and substantial dignity-maintenance costs could combine into a perfectly justifiable budget. But I was confidently mistaken.
“Since Father personally oversees the defense budget, let’s set that aside. Our knights are numerous and powerful, so reducing the budget further would be difficult. The neighboring countries are already watching the empire with greedy eyes—how could we cut more?”
Hmm… Well, even an empire needed to maintain its dignity, I supposed.
After that, I continued discussing possibilities with Kalian, searching for areas where we could cut spending, but—
All this budget vanishing into thin air…
It felt like staring at the bank balance of office workers earning close to minimum wage on payday.
“Daughter, do you now understand how absurdly low a tax rate of fifteen percent truly is?”
Indeed. Reduced national taxes had directly shrunk imperial revenue. I hadn’t realized it at first, but this budget was the result of Kalian’s insane level of control. The belt had already been tightened to its limit.
“But we cannot raise the tax rate. Let’s find another way.”
I spun my thoughts quickly. Since the author—that madman—had made the empire ridiculously overpowered, there had to be something valuable underground, whether gold, silver, or anything else. Especially in the volcanic region of Grey Garden.
Volcanoes had been disasters since ancient times, yet they were also chalices brimming with honey. All kinds of minerals poured forth around them. It had been mentioned in Dr. Hong’s Verified Medieval Life as well: creating natural concrete, mining the spewed minerals, extracting sulfur. The applications were endless.
Of course, if the volcano erupts, it all becomes useless.
“Father, is there a gold vein or anything similar near Grey Garden?”
Kalian let out a sigh.
“That area… we have never investigated it.”
Discovering a vein would be the perfect bonus.
“Please dispatch several surveyors to Grey Garden. A landmark would also be good.”
“Landmark? What is a landmark?”
Oops. Of course there would be no such foreign term. I cleared my throat lightly.
“Ahem. A special tourist attraction for Grey Garden.”
“But… what could possibly be in a volcanic zone…”
I grabbed Kalian’s hand and flashed him a bright grin.
“The water temperature in the volcanic zone is quite hot. Wouldn’t it be nice to warm the body there?”
“Ah, aah…!”
With a booming cry, Kalian pulled me into a crushing hug.
“Haha! My daughter is no ordinary genius!”
“C-can’t… breathe…”
Noticing my face had turned scarlet, Kalian quickly released me. I had nearly scheduled a meeting with the King of the Underworld.
Watching me cough, Kalian seemed at a loss.
He must have been that happy. As the good person I am, I should understand.
“Instead, it seems we’ll need to use some of the treasury!”
“Th-that is…”
“Not allowed…?”
I put on the cutest, most pitiful expression I had shown him on the first day of my possession.
“Kk, ugh…! D-don’t look at Father with that face…!”
The winner was, naturally, me.
“A-alright… Let’s use just a little…”
“Thank you!”
“Father, sleep well!”
Leaving the office for Kalian, who had worked late into the night, I soon arrived at my cozy bedroom.
“…I may have grown up sleeping in a bed, but this is quite the spectacle.”
Roclea scratching her pure-white belly and licking her lips, while Riana seemed to be dreaming of searching desperately for me.
“Mmmnya…”
“Princess…”
I slipped between the two of them.
When else would I get to sleep surrounded by beautiful women?
“I shall… have a happy dream as well…”
That night, I enjoyed the happiest dream imaginable.
A week passed.
Having little to do as usual, I had been devouring every book in the imperial library. I was flipping through them without missing a single one when—
Knock, knock, knock.
A sudden knock sounded at the door. Riana was training under Roclea and Kalian’s guidance, so no one should be visiting. I opened the door with considerable tension.
“Who is it… Hm? Cal, what brings you here?”
Looking more closely, Cal wasn’t the only visitor.
“The princess’s sword, Jack, is also present!”
“Dias is here as well!”
Cal, Jack, and Dias—all of them had sworn loyalty to me. Cal smiled awkwardly and spoke.
“We have resigned from the knight order.”
As soon as he arrived, Cal dropped pure nonsense. The imperial knight order was the second most powerful group after the nobility. In Korean terms, it was like passing the civil service exam at a young age.
“…What do you mean? Didn’t I clearly tell you to wield your sword for the empire?”
At my words, Cal didn’t even blink—he simply smiled. I couldn’t understand why Cal, who stood on the threshold of becoming a sword master, would abandon a golden nest.
“Princess, you don’t think I came all this way merely to deliver that message, do you? We are blades who have sworn loyalty to you. Please accept us as your retainers! We beg you!”
“We beg you!”
The three of them shouted in perfect unison, loud enough to rattle the heavens. My ears rang as I subtly covered them.
“Have you spoken with His Majesty?”
“Yes! There was a small scuffle, but it’s fine!”
Claiming they had fought the emperor was already insane, yet he said it so casually. I clutched my dizzy head and waved my hand weakly.
“I understand. Well, it’s not a difficult matter, and since you wish to become my sword, there’s no reason to refuse.”
“We are grateful that you accept such lowly ones as us!”
Lower your voices, you three. You’re making my ears ring.
“Lower your volume. Since you have become my retainers, go observe Riana’s swordsmanship.”
“Yes!!”
Why were they so hyped? Had they all taken something together?
After sending the three off to Riana, I went to find Kalian. These days, seeking him out upon waking had become my daily routine. I needed to greet him and discuss the Grey Garden reconstruction project.
Before long I stood before Kalian’s office. After three knocks, I entered. The moment I stepped inside, Kalian looked at me with an irrepressible smile, eyes shining with satisfaction.
“Iris! A massive gold vein has been discovered in the Grey Garden volcanic zone! And that’s not all! While developing the mine, hot water began pouring out like a waterfall!”
“Wow, really? That’s wonderful news!”
Grey Garden was exactly the lottery I had imagined. The revenue from it alone would likely be enough to replenish the imperial treasury. I sat down across from Kalian. The real work was only beginning.
“Father, is there a lord governing the Grey Garden territory?”
“Of course. Grey Garden belongs to the Greighton family’s domain.”
“Then let’s confiscate Grey Garden.”
At my thunderbolt of a statement, Kalian’s pupils slowly widened.
“No matter the circumstances, confiscating a granted territory is…”
“The reason for confiscation is dereliction of duty. In the current lord’s eyes, Grey Garden is nothing but a source of money. What crime have the vagrants living there committed?”
No matter what the lord might say, the benefits to the imperial family would be far greater.
Who knows what he’ll do once blinded by money.
“I understand. We should first send a notice to the Greighton family…”
“No.”
I curled the corners of my mouth at Kalian.
“I will go myself. Simply inform them that I am coming.”
I needed to see whether our Riana was truly earning her keep.