This Money is Now Mine (6)
Gibraltar and Morgania were joining hands. If word of this alliance spread, the capital would descend into chaos that very day. Therefore, it had to remain a secret.
"Publicly, I'm in a position to keep Gibraltar in check. You know that, right?"
"Yes. Letting our alliance slip would be foolish."
"Exactly. So even if I approve this venture, I'll have to play some tricks."
Tricks, huh. Considering the audit would come later anyway—
"Are you perhaps planning to provide materials directly instead of budget funds?"
"Ho."
Carmen Queen curled the corner of her mouth playfully.
"Trying to swallow 50 billion gold in one gulp? The kid's already scheming embezzlement. Does 50 billion gold look like pocket change to you?"
"There are ways to hand over cash under the guise of material costs."
"The Gibraltar margrave buying official materials? Nonsense. There are plenty of merchants who'd undercut prices on a naive border lord."
She had a point.
"How do you think your father handles merchants who sharpen their tongues like knives?"
"Even with me backing him, he'd just say 'handle it yourself' and be done."
"Right. No one would dare fleece a margrave, but merchants always grab any opening for profit."
Once Gibraltar announced the project and called in the merchants, they'd treat them like easy marks.
"So I can't give you the full 50 billion. We'll handle all construction support from Morgania. You just manage the operational funds you're given."
Carmen Queen took out a piece of chocolate, broke off a tiny fragment smaller than a fingernail, and handed it to me.
"Don't feel hard done by. This is only natural."
She bit into a full piece herself.
"Don't get too greedy. Five billion might be one thing, but entrusting 50 billion from the national treasury to an unproven child? Impossible."
"Can't you do even that much for your political secret son?"
"To appeal to sentiment, you haven't shown enough yet."
She lightly brushed her lips with a finger.
"Your words are smooth and eloquent, but reality is far colder and more ruthless."
"So you'll watch how I handle this?"
"Of course. Show results, and I'll match them accordingly."
"...Lucky me."
I swallowed the tiny piece she'd left me.
"I was worried you'd hand 50 billion to a 10-year-old on a whim."
"Think you can eat it all?"
"I could, but there'd be talk. The margrave's changed. He's picky with money now. That son of his is a nuisance. Something like that."
"If you were a genius like me, maybe. But then we'd have to intervene even more."
Carmen Queen's face turned serious as she fiddled with her chocolate.
"Don't stand out too much from a young age. Assassins are everywhere."
"Like when you nearly got killed?"
"Yes."
In the past, Carmen had been a genius ducal lady targeted for assassination.
"I know the gist. Some idiot count's daughter picked a fight with the ducal lady at a party, got humiliated, and the count sent assassins after her."
"Right. He was mad. The whole house got wiped out. You know more than I thought."
"Of course. That was Father's first meeting with you."
"...Right."
Carmen Queen smiled like a girl.
"I was nearly killed by assassins, but your father saved me. Even though he wasn't a master yet—he said a knight must protect a lady."
Easy to fall for.
"Haah, really. That man..."
A young, handsome older cold-blooded knight risking his life against assassins to save her? Is that why?
Something about it reminded me of someone, so I let Carmen Queen sink into her memories for a moment.
"...Hm. Sorry. I got lost in thought."
"No, it's fine."
Carmen Queen straightened up, crossing her legs and linking her fingers elegantly.
"Materials will arrive in Gibraltar within a month. Hire the laborers by then. You can manage that much, right?"
"The iron ore for construction comes from Morgania mines."
Her finger twitched slightly.
"The royals issued an iron requisition order, and Morgania just happened to respond."
"Hiding in plain sight?"
"Who'd complain about using the kingdom's finest iron?"
The gap between kingdom and empire hit me anew.
"And you skim some off the trade payment?"
"Naturally. Nothing's free in this world."
The empire used public bidding for projects: at least three firms submit plans, best one wins. Sure, bribes happen, but the kingdom skips even that.
"Rest easy. It's for repairing the shield against the empire. No funny business with the steel."
"Anyone but you sends low-grade iron, and the margrave will be furious."
"Obviously. Would I risk offending him?"
I'd worried about cheap scrap, but being her political son had perks.
"...That's a scheming smile."
"Was I smiling?"
"Yes. Your eyes are laughing, just like your father's."
"His Majesty said my eyes take after my mother."
"Ha! Just flattery. Speaking of which..."
Carmen Queen hesitated, then sighed and spoke.
"Our busy king is indulging in hobbies right now, so don't take it personally if you don't meet him."
"Hobbies..."
"...You wouldn't know, right?"
Her eyes wavered. No wonder— the king's "hobby" was something best kept secret.
"I'd look into it if I needed to, but luxuries and pleasures? Whatever."
"......"
"All the capital nobles do it. Summoning beautiful women, tsk."
One problem.
No chance to deliver the letter.
Mother had written to the king, but no opening. Hand it to Carmen Queen? She'd read it and report to Father immediately.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. I just thought His Majesty was avoiding me."
"...Maybe. But you really want to see him?"
"Yes."
"Something to deliver?"
"A message. From Father."
"......"
She closed her eyes. Since I'd fabricated this, she might suspect.
"...Fine. No reason he'd write to Saint. Mind if I hear what it is?"
"You'll pass it on? Father said deliver personally."
"......"
"...I see. Follow me."
Carmen Queen tilted her head reluctantly but stood.
"But don't breathe a word of His Majesty's hobbies. Got it?"
"Yes."
She was hiding it this hard, yet risking political fallout by visiting the king herself.
"Thank you for indulging me, Mother."
"Too soon for that. Don't get ahead of yourself."
She was helping because she truly meant to ally with me.
"I'm still Saint Geo Nostrum's wife. If his flaws burden me or my house Morgania, I'll eliminate you without mercy."
"Understood."
"Good. You're his son, not him. Etch that in your bones. ...Follow."
Carmen Queen stepped forward.
"Your Majesty. I'll escort you. Let me take the lamp—"
"No need. I'll carry it. We're going to His Majesty."
"Ah, yes...!"
She waved off the attendants and picked up the lamp illuminating the dark hall, walking ahead.
"Here."
The third bedroom.
"...Inside will be a mess, but mind your manners."
At the door to a place she clearly dreaded, she whispered in my ear.
"He's still the king. Even if a drunken mad dog waves a sword, I can't protect you."
"Understood."
Anger him, and you're dead. Incompetent or not, Nostrum blood ruled this castle.
"Your Majesty. Carmen here."
Knock knock knock.
"Grey Gibraltar wishes an audience. May we enter?"
"......Come in."
The door creaked open to a sunken voice.
Creeeak.
A stench hit immediately.
Empire vintage.
Beneath the heavy fermented grape aroma, a faint familiar scent made me close my eyes briefly.
Still up to his old tricks.
Slumped sideways on the sofa amid scattered empty wine bottles, face flushed, glaring at me through slits—that was the king.
"Your Majesty..."
"What. Why."
"...Late as it is, Gibraltar's heir comes to pay respects."
"Hm."
The king glared at me with his blotchy face.
"...Seen your face. Now leave."
"Your Majesty."
I stepped forward past Carmen Queen, kneeling on one knee in courtesy.
"Grey Gibraltar, eldest son of Gibraltar, greets the sun of the kingdom."
"Sun my ass. It's all me..."
Drunk as he was, he'd spotted it peeking from my chest.
"...Hmmm."
The king straightened up.
"Fine. You're that bastard's son, but hers too. Come, chat."
"Your Majesty?"
"Out. Queen. Everyone out."
"You can't mean to have Gibraltar's son serve drinks...!"
"I said out."
The incompetent king gripped an empty bottle's neck, grinding his teeth.
"...Pardon me."
Carmen Queen bowed and retreated. Fury, shame, and worry for me flashed in her eyes.
Creeeak, click.
Door shut. The room was sealed off.
"...Why do you have that?"
The king shifted.
"You, don't tell me?"
"Above."
"......?"
"No eyes, no ears up there."
I pointed to the ceiling.
"...Even the margrave teaches that?"
"No. Someone else."
"......Leave."
Not aimed at me.
"Now."
Shhhk.
A shadow in head-to-toe black appeared behind the king.
"The kid wants a private audience."
"But Your Majesty."
"Defy my command too?"
Every king had a guardian at his side.
"She's his mother. You know."
"......."
"Five minutes. Just five. Please."
"...As you command."
The shadow glared murderously at me, then vanished.
"Good. Just us now. What message?"
"Mother wrote Your Majesty a letter. She said deliver personally."
"!!"
The king shot up.
"R-real?!"
The energy drained from his face; his eyes trembled like a boy's first love letter.
"Yes."
I drew the letter and offered it with both hands.
"This... the handkerchief I gave her for her birthday."
Good. This mad king had a knack for noticing details.
Worth the packaging.
Mission accomplished. No real business with the king; deliver and done. Capital trip already exceeded goals.
"Your Majesty."
"Uh, y-yeah."
He nodded dazedly, peeling the wax seal with his fingers.
"May I withdraw?"
"......Yes."
Low voice, hint of displeasure.
"Such a filial son. Must hate seeing my face because of your father."
"Mother's request."
"Right. Heh, real filial. Filial."
The king waved me off.
"Go."
"Pardon."
I bowed and backed away.
Before leaving, I saw it clearly.
"Sniiff, haah. Charlotte, heh. Hehehe..."
Empire vintage.
Didn't know this even in the future. Good trip to the capital.
Not the wine—the white powder beside it.
He's using.
It clicked why Mother ended up like that.
Still.
Of all things, cheap crap.
Mixing with red wine was the worst—I nearly said it aloud.
"Hoo..."
Midnight clarity sharpened my mind.