23. I Became the Finance Director of a Kingdom on the Brink of Civil War
23. I Became the Finance Director of a Kingdom on the Brink of Civil War
Alright, let me think this through calmly. With any problem, if you stay calm, you can find the connecting thread.
1. Civil war has inevitably erupted in the Delphia Kingdom.
2. Because of that, Beatrice is trying to return to her homeland.
3. I'd made a deal with Crown Prince Zeke, so I stopped her.
4. And in exchange... she wants an engagement???
......I have no idea.
"So, Your Highness? Perhaps you misspoke, or maybe it was a slip of the tongue."
"An engagement."
"Ah...... I see."
Had the girl lost her mind from stress? Or was she simply toying with me?
Either option was a problem. If the former, it meant I could no longer easily accept bribes. If the latter, same deal—an offended princess isn't going to keep paying up.
Why would royalty, even from a kingdom in civil war, suddenly propose an engagement to someone like me...
"......Don't tell me."
"Go on."
"Is it...... because of the civil war?"
".........."
I was leaning heavily toward that explanation.
What if Beatrice was faithfully carrying out Crown Prince Zeke's request? That is, for the purpose of staying safe at the academy?
The civil war in the Delphia Kingdom was a conflict between the faction led by Crown Prince Zeke and the sitting king, and the faction led by Grand Duke Wiguk. And that meant—
'If Grand Duke Wiguk's faction wins.'
......The royal family is guaranteed to be annihilated. And that wouldn't be much different for Beatrice, even as a hostage in a foreign country. Even if the kingdom's chaos bought her some time for now, once Beatrice graduates—or once Aken Delminos declares the hostage arrangement over—she'd have to return to the Delphia Kingdom immediately.
If Crown Prince Zeke's side won, that would be fine. But objectively assessing their military strength, the sole 8th Rank in the Delphia Kingdom was her enemy. Their chances of victory were slim, and even if they won, they'd have to accept catastrophic casualties.
Which meant Beatrice was talking about what happens if Crown Prince Zeke loses.
When the civil war ends in defeat, and in time the hostage arrangement dissolves or she graduates—
So that even then, she would not have to return to the Delphia Kingdom.
'Because marriage is the most certain method.'
It was madness, but if she married and even discarded the family name 'Delphia,' even Grand Duke Wiguk would have a hard time interfering with her. If the partner were some run-of-the-mill noble or a commoner, Grand Duke Wiguk would simply intervene anyway, but with me the situation was different.
Granted, I'm 1st Rank and a fake noble, but the problem was my status as the Chairwoman's closest aide.
With the Chairwoman's protection intact, even if Wiguk won the civil war, as a mere foreign 8th Rank he could do nothing to the academy. And if he protested to the Aken Delminos royal family, they'd obviously refuse while watching the Chairwoman's mood.
From Grand Duke Wiguk's perspective, the goal was surely to kill or control every member of the Delphia royal family. If Beatrice voluntarily discarded her surname and married someone beyond his reach, that would give him a headache.
Of course, he wouldn't give up just because of that. Beatrice was someone who could rally the remnants of the Delphia Kingdom, using her legitimacy as a weapon, and oppose Grand Duke Wiguk himself.
In any case, if Beatrice was pursuing only her own safety, it was, in many respects, the optimal choice...... at least, it had been. It had been, but.
"Why me, of all people?"
"The Chairwoman's closest aide, whom not even the royal family can treat carelessly. Do I need a better reason than that?"
"If that's the case, an engagement to a scion of the Kingdom's great nobility would be best."
".........."
"While I agree I'm a good option, the place that would most desire the hand known as 'Your Highness the Princess' is the Aken Delminos royal family. From the royal family's perspective, if the princess—a justification to intervene in the Delphia Kingdom at any time—were to offer to marry one of the nation's great nobles, they'd gladly accept. Royal protection would be a bonus."
".........."
"If safety is your goal, that is a far more certain choice."
The academy under the Chairwoman was safe, yes, but royal protection would still be better. The academy couldn't exactly assign a personal guard of 7th Rank or higher to Beatrice at all times, let alone an 8th Rank.
But the royal family could. If Sir Julius were to step forward right now and provide ironclad protection, Beatrice would be absolutely safe unless Grand Duke Wiguk showed up in person. Our Chairwoman couldn't offer that.
A marriage was good in itself, but there were far better candidates.
"What is it you really want?"
"......A chance to return to the Delphia Kingdom someday. Because the Aken Delminos royal family would never permit it."
"You're saying I would permit it?"
"Yes. Once there are no more bribes to offer, the marriage relationship would dissolve anyway."
No, I—
Did she see me as some money-and-bribe-obsessed bastard? More than that, was she seriously planning to offer bribes just to get someone to marry her? What even is "marriage payment"—it's not a friend fee.
But still, I wasn't that level of scum. If it were Kirke, or Milia, or Professor Alon, maybe, but Beatrice had shown me ample goodwill up to now. What kind of merchant discards a long-term customer that easily?
No, more to the point.
"All of this assumes defeat in the civil war, doesn't it? If you instead win the civil war, you'll be in a rather awkward position then."
"......That won't happen."
"Pardon?"
"Even if they call it a civil war, the balance of power is clear. Most of the army has sided with Grand Duke Wiguk. They're hurriedly conscripting peasant levies, but there's no way those can stop a regular army and an 8th Rank."
".........."
"But, still."
"Then why were you trying to return to your homeland? That's essentially—"
"Suicide. I know that well. Nevertheless, there was something I had to see."
Could it be—that story?
After witnessing Beatrice and Chloe's duel trial, when I brought Beatrice to my dormitory.
She had mentioned, hadn't she, that her nanny—who'd raised her like a child in the Delphia Kingdom—had fallen ill and was bedridden.
'Though for someone who said that, she didn't seem particularly concerned.'
Regardless, Beatrice had a reason to return to the Delphia Kingdom, even if it meant facing death. Enough of a reason to first preserve her life by getting engaged to me, and later even try to return to her homeland.
Rather than being captured and killed by Grand Duke Wiguk, or being subsumed into the Aken Delminos Kingdom and effectively imprisoned.
She intended to marry me and return, even if it meant handing over her entire remaining fortune as bribes.
"If I may ask your reason for wanting to return."
"I am Amatrius Delphia Beatrice. Is there a reason beyond that?"
That was a lie.
It was game knowledge that hardly came to me anymore, but in <Dark Kingdom>, after advancing to the second year and facing Beatrice as a mid-boss.
From that point, while recruiting Beatrice as a companion, you could hear several lines from her.
And among those lines—
"The Delphia Kingdom."
".........."
"You don't particularly like it, do you."
There were words that sounded as if she loathed, or even hated, the very kingdom where she was born and raised.
Born with talent recognized by the Archmage, but gradually shunned because of a chronic illness.
She didn't like the Delphia Kingdom, where no one expected anything of her anymore, treating her only as a hostage or a marriage tool.
Yet even at my words, Beatrice remained expressionless.
"You're slightly wrong, Finance Director."
"I'm listening."
"What I hate...... isn't the Delphia Kingdom."
Rather than expressionless—
It was an expression desperately feigning indifference—
"It's the Delphia royal family."
On this continent, where the royal family was synonymous with the kingdom itself...... what that meant.
At least for that moment, I couldn't fully grasp it.
Clap!
"I've rambled too long. Finance Director, if possible, please give me your answer now."
"......You mean regarding the engagement?"
Beatrice clapped her hands to shift the subject, then her expression shifted and she beamed brightly.
It was a smile different from what I was used to seeing—somehow artificial.
"Since I have to change my surname, we will eventually need to proceed to an actual marriage. A wedding ceremony isn't necessary. Rumors reaching the ears of the Delphia Kingdom and Grand Duke Wiguk will suffice."
".........."
"Additionally, every month I'll offer triple the bribes I've provided so far. My fortune will run dry within half a year, but that should be sufficient time."
Smiling as she said that, Beatrice was, how to put it.
A little—
"Of course, if you need time, I can give it. But it would be most effective to circulate news of the marriage before the civil war escalates, so as quickly as possible—"
"........."
"Finance Director?"
"......Thinking about it now, didn't you say that His Highness Crown Prince Zeke is likely to lose?"
"That's, correct?"
"Then that's quite troublesome. There's a great deal I'm owed from His Highness Crown Prince Zeke."
For starters, the bribes I'm receiving in exchange for allowing Beatrice to stay at the academy.
Going forward, I'd need to squeeze Crown Prince Zeke for the bribes Beatrice would no longer be able to pay once her money runs dry.
He couldn't just go and die losing a civil war. Absolutely not.
"This, it can't be helped."
"Finance Director......?"
"It seems I'll have to go in person and speak with His Highness the Crown Prince."
In other words.
"However, this is my first time visiting the Delphia Kingdom, and being a foreigner unfamiliar with the roads...... it seems I'll need someone's help."
"......Finance Director."
"It truly can't be helped. I think I'll have to go with Your Highness. This is terribly inconvenient."
This was insane. I had lost my mind.
This wasn't something to decide on mere pity or sympathy. Unlike Beatrice, who was at least 6th Rank, I was 1st Rank—I could die without anyone even noticing.
──Beatrice. ──Adam. ──If I had known...... it would come to that. ──Adam. It's not your fault. ──If only I hadn't sent you off to that branch-school deal. Now there's no Chairwoman to keep that promise. ──......I'm right here. Adam. ──Thank you...... Chloe.
Why, though.
I simply felt like I couldn't leave things as they were. That if I did, I'd regret it terribly.
Was this my second out-of-office assignment since becoming Finance Director?
And the first one had been that shitshow, too.
'I really have gone mad.'
More than that, how was I going to persuade the Chairwoman? Even if someone else said they were going to a foreign country in the middle of a civil war, she'd be the one stopping them—and here a mere 1st Rank was volunteering.
But if I brought the Chairwoman along, there'd be no one to handle the critical financial work. Most importantly, if the Chairwoman set foot in the Delphia Kingdom, international relations would immediately erupt into chaos.
I couldn't disguise her, either, because the Aken Delminos royal family—who would soon mobilize their army to intervene in the civil war—would summon the Chairwoman, so I couldn't substitute her with an illusion.
And there was no way I could take any other student. This time, it really had to be just me and Beatrice.
"B-but, Finance Director. We don't know how long it will take to meet my brother. Leaving the academy for so long is......"
"It's fine. What's my job title?"
"Pardon? Well, Finance Director......"
"In the end, I'm just the guy who fiddles with money, aren't I?"
Of course, I wasn't some naive fool who was purely thinking of helping Beatrice out of the goodness of his heart.
Visiting a country in the middle of a civil war was the pinnacle of danger, but conversely, that very fact created opportunities. Since I was going anyway, I might as well wring every bit of value out of it.
Let me have a proper go at some money games.
"Will you be bringing that maid, Susanne, as well?"
"Of, of course."
"Perfect."
"Pardon......?"
Last time I saw her, she'd been carrying a heavy bribe box without breaking a sweat. Excellent!
......First, let me think about how to persuade the Chairwoman.
*
"Did you hear? Marquis Jern has fallen in battle."
"Marquis Jern......? No, surely not?"
"They say he was on his way to join His Highness the Crown Prince when he ran into Grand Duke Wiguk, who was traveling alone. Wiped out him and all his soldiers on the spot."
"B-but Marquis Jern was 7th Rank. Just the day before yesterday he was celebrating that he'd be bringing over three thousand troops......"
"I'm starting to think we ought to desert soon, too. If we stay here, it's a dog's death. And the worst part is the civil war hasn't even properly started yet."
"......Where do you plan to run? Yesterday we saw deserters get captured and executed, didn't we? Even if we try heading for the Kingdom side, they say the border's already got troops deployed."
"Fuck, the only reason we're still alive is because this is the rear! Just listening to the officers talk makes it clear we're screwed, so we've got to try escaping. They're even feeding us weird shit for meals!"
"That is true......"
"Goddamn royal family, goddamn Grand Duke Wiguk!"
Southern Delphia Kingdom, near a territory bordering the neighboring kingdom.
In front of a stockade at the edge of the forest marking the border, two soldiers on night watch duty were cursing in despair. Unlike the rest of the ignorant peasant conscripts, they were somewhat educated, which made the desperate situation all the more visible to them.
Grand Duke Wiguk, who held the north centered on the capital, and Crown Prince Zeke, who held the south. At a glance it seemed like a stalemate, but in truth there was no way they didn't know Grand Duke Wiguk had the upper hand.
Especially at the point where Grand Duke Wiguk, having ambushed the royal castle, had taken the king hostage and publicly declared he would execute him in one week, the countdown to civil war had likewise been set for one week.
Several generals and nobles had volunteered to rescue the king, but every one of them had been cut down by Grand Duke Wiguk or his faction before even getting close.
The civil war itself had not yet begun, but the two soldiers—conscripted into Crown Prince Zeke's forces for no reason other than that the place they'd been living was in the south—wore gloomy expressions.
"Tomorrow they'll feed us that dogshit porridge again, won't they? Bland beyond bland, no flavor at all, can't even swallow it."
"But we still have to eat it."
"That's why it's fucked. Even if we somehow survive, this country has no future! The grain belt and the pastureland—it'll all be reduced to scorched earth!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! An officer might hear you!"
"......Anyway, we've got to do something— Huh?"
The soldier who'd been cursing suddenly held his breath.
Ahead, from within the dark forest that served as the border with the neighboring kingdom.
Someone was slowly approaching.
"You've, you've gotta be......!! Don't tell me the neighboring kingdom is sending troops, too!?"
"Ring the bell, hurry!"
[That won't be necessary.]
"!?"
The two soldiers tried to hurry and ring the bell, but their bodies would not move freely. Ordinary peasant conscripts might not have realized, but these soldiers had some education and could recognize it.
Magic. And of a very high level at that.
Purple chains had quietly risen from beneath their feet and were binding their bodies tight.
Fear shadowed the eyes of the two soldiers who had sensed death—
"Who is the commander here?"
"........."
"There's no need to be too tense. After all......"
At last, the ones who had reached the two soldiers were figures draped in suspicious robes. The soldiers were thrown into confusion, however, by the fact that the group numbered only three.
If this were an army, there would be no reason to come with only three. In the terror of death, the soldiers sensed a faint hope of survival.
The one at the front removed the hood that had concealed her face.
"I, too, am a person of this country."
"Y-your Highness......? Your Highness Beatrice......?"
"I'm glad you recognize me. That will speed things along. So, who is the commander here?"
"It is General Karthea! It is an honor to be in the presence of Your Highness the Princess!"
"Thank you. Susanne, Marx? I'll go on ahead alone. Don't bother escorting me."
"As you command."
"Understood."
Leaving the two addressed as Susanne and Marx behind, Beatrice entered the stockade first.
In the meantime, the two soldiers—finally freed as the purple chains vanished—stared with unsettled eyes at the remaining pair.
"Then, you two are......"
"Escorts to Her Highness the Princess. And this person is—"
"I'll handle this. Lady Susanne."
"......As you wish. Sir Marx."
A woman who was clearly high-Rank at a glance, and a white-haired man smiling gently as he approached. The woman in particular was unusually carrying a massive sack on her back.
But the soldiers' attention naturally concentrated on the man called Marx as he drew near.
At a glance, he seemed to be 1st Rank, the same as the soldiers, but as a companion of Princess Beatrice, he was worlds apart from them.
The soldier harbored a question: why was such an exalted person approaching him?
"The truth is, unlike Lady Susanne here, I am not a close retainer of Her Highness the Princess. We merely happened to be traveling the same way."
"Uh, pardon?"
"Since Her Highness has departed, shouldn't I attend to my own business as well?"
A soft rustle.
As the man called Marx opened his fist, something inside glittered.
Soon, the soldier's eyes flew wide as he recognized what it was.
"Th-this is......!!"
"My name is Karl Marx."
A thing desperately needed—and at the same time, in extreme shortage—in this country on the verge of civil war. Something that could not be given up.
What little existed had been almost entirely monopolized by Grand Duke Wiguk's side, becoming truly precious.
The war materiel that Crown Prince Zeke's side was buying up wherever they possibly could.
"A salt merchant."
Salt.
Karl Marx, who had introduced himself as a salt merchant, smiled brightly.
A truly amiable smile, yet—
......A greedy one.