Chapter 137 - 137 A Happy Ending Except for Sherry
Alex returned to the Kingdom of Cascade. After reporting to the King, he met with Count Cutter.
Count Cutter asked if he should congratulate Alex on his return.
"Congratulations on your safe return. I have heard you had a difficult time, so I was thinking of holding a party within our faction to celebrate your safe return."
Alex thought a little about Count Cutter's proposal and fleshed out the plan.
"I want to use the party to select someone from the faction to grant land. His Majesty has allowed me to handle new territories at my own discretion. Well, the ports will be under national jurisdiction, but even so, I will be entrusted with their governance. And it is up to my sole discretion which other territories to give to which nobles."
"Lord Remington seemed to accept that quite well."
"Well, this time Lord Remington did nothing. That is why he did not take such shameless action as to claim rights."
"In that case, what will be the selection criteria?"
"During the party, have them propose how much land they can use to work for me. If they cannot keep that promise, naturally, taking it back is an option. After all, these are distant lands. My eyes will not reach there. Those who only pursue their own interests in such places and have no intention of pushing me to the throne will be cut off."
"I see. They will have to work hard even after going there."
Alex had been granted the right to freely dispose of the territory by His Majesty the King. This was a return for the trouble caused by being the King's overseer. Alex thought that if he obtained vast lands and could spend his later years there as a Grand Duke, it would be fine, but Alex had not given up his dream of becoming King.
He was considering giving the territory obtained here as a fiefdom to the nobles of his faction and expanding the power of his own faction.
However, even doing that much, the gap with Prince Carter would not be closed.
"But this time, we turned a disaster into a blessing. When I heard that Your Highness was under house arrest, I was terrified."
Hearing Count Cutter's words, Alex thought in his heart:
He would have just thought of ingratiating himself with Carter once I died.
He muttered. The relationship with Count Cutter was only because their interests aligned. Alex thought that if Count Cutter found no benefit in him, he would immediately move on to the next target.
Alex himself intended to cut him off immediately if he judged Count Cutter to be useless, so it was mutual, and Alex thought there was nothing to get angry about. So, he never let such feelings show.
"It was just luck. It just so happened that Queen Sherry was targeted, and Lord Archibalt stepped in. If it had been someone else, I don't know what would have happened."
"We ended up using Lord Archibalt without intending to."
"That is not something anyone can control. I learned this from this incident. It is understandable why His Majesty avoids him."
Alex said that, remembering when Steve came to save him.
Count Cutter, who had not seen the scene, could not understand that feeling.
"Is it really that much?"
"Undoubtedly. Without prior knowledge, it is no wonder one would think he is a god. His body turns into liquid; whether you slash him with a sword or thrust him with a spear, he takes no damage at all. Moreover, even if he is injured, he heals instantly with magic. Enemy soldiers with fatal wounds recover immediately and start walking. Enemy soldiers who were scolded for fleeing, cut down by their comrades, and fell, started worshipping on the spot after recovering from Lord Archibalt's Healing Magic."
"Such a thing. Then, if Lord Archibalt so wishes, is it possible for him to conquer the entire continent?"
"Likely. We are kept alive at Lord Archibalt's whim."
That was Alex's impression after seeing Steve's power up close. However, precisely because of that, it was a necessary card for the purpose of obtaining the throne.
It was a trick to turn the tide of battle. Carter, who would inherit the throne if things went smoothly, would never adopt such a strategy.
"This time, borrowing Lord Archibalt's power was a stroke of luck. Tell those who wish to participate in the party and want land to report their management plans to me."
"Understood."
Count Cutter decided the date of the party and, following the instructions of His Highness Alex, informed the nobles of the faction that if they wanted land, they should report their management plans to His Highness at the party.
Many nobles without land applied.
On the day of the party, Alex heard the nobles' plans individually in private rooms so they could not reference each other's opinions.
After listening to everything, he conveyed his impressions to Count Cutter.
"As expected, the plans of those without land are very naive. If such plans could be realized, any noble would not struggle with land management."
Everyone, wanting land, said only pleasant things to Alex. And Alex was not foolish enough to believe them.
"Was there nothing that pleased you?"
"Well. However, even so, to expand the power of the faction, I must give strength to those who support me. I will give land to a few slightly better groups and let them gain strength. I will make a list later and hand it over, so I want to hear your opinion as well."
"I understand."
Looking at the nobles fawning over him, Alex couldn't help but compare them to Steve. Even though he was given barren land unsuitable for agriculture, the territory was managed profitably.
He was impressed by the idea of cutting losses on agriculture and focusing on industrial products for land management. There was not a single person in his own faction capable of such thinking. Even Count Cutter was just maintaining what he inherited from his parents. Alex looked at the Count's face and wondered what would have happened if he had been given the Archibalt Territory.
"Is there something wrong with me?"
"I thought you might not want land."
Noticing Alex's gaze, Count Cutter asked, and Alex deflected like that.
"It might be too early for the children. Besides, if we split the retinue, it might hinder the management of the current territory. As you can see from the territories spreading in all directions, every territory is suffering from a shortage of manpower."
"Doesn't your side utilize commoners?"
"I would like to, but we cannot treat lightly the connections of those who have served us until now."
Count Cutter also wanted to promote excellent commoners, but if he did not promote those connected to existing retainers, their dissatisfaction seemed ready to explode, so he could not make such a decisive policy change.
The next day after the party, Alex created a land distribution plan, consulted with Count Cutter, and made the final decision. The King was aware of this movement but deliberately did not stop it. If Carter were to lose to Alex, it meant Alex was suitable as King, and he did not think it was necessary to force the eldest son, Carter, to inherit the throne.
However, he was a little worried about Alex. If Alex tried to seize the throne too forcibly and provoked Steve's wrath, the impact might not be limited to Alex but could spread to the Kingdom of Cascade.
And the Kingdom of Merda also had the issue of territory.
It was about how to handle the personnel to be entrusted with the management of the newly increased territory. If nobles who lost their lands in the war with the Kingdom of Cascade were restored to power, the hard-won centralization would regress. On the other hand, there were no officials to assign to such vast lands immediately.
King Abel and Sherry were huddled together, worrying.
"It is a bright topic for once, but if the people know the reality is a shortage of personnel, they will be disappointed."
"That child went too far."
Due to His Highness Alex's concession, the number of ports increased, and they no longer had to defend the eastern border. From the people's perspective, although they lost territory in the war, they gained territory again through war. There were even opinions to make it a holiday to celebrate as a Victory Day, and it was getting lively, but the problem of how to manage the increased territory was not visible.
It would be easy if they could hire officials from the Kingdom of Meizack, but they are scheduled to be transferred to another part of the Kingdom of Meizack. Only a part of the Royal Capital had been shown Steve's magic, and to them in the provinces, they did not understand why the country was ceding territory. So, becoming officials of the Kingdom of Merda was something their pride would not allow.
Incidentally, some soldiers who were shown a part of the magic were accepted after requesting to migrate to the Kingdom of Merda.
"How about implementing an emergency promotion examination to select new governors?"
Sherry proposed.
In the Kingdom of Merda, where centralization was progressing, the administrative units were Prefectures, Districts, Counties, and Cities/Towns/Villages. This was Steve's advice, but it was functioning reasonably well, which was a relief.
Regarding the size, Prefectures were managed by local Margraves, Districts by Counts, Counties by Viscounts, and below Cities by Barons, roughly speaking. This time, the territory expansion was enough to add two Prefectures. That is, two Margraves would be added, and their illegitimate children would increase along with them.
Naturally, officials to support those leaders would be needed, so a huge amount of people would be required. What was then a concern was the decline in quality. Therefore, they would hold an examination to select governors and let excellent people manage them. The thinking was that if there were excellent people above, the organization would run even if some below were a bit incompetent.
The promotion examination Sherry considered targeted officials to a certain extent, selecting from those who already had a track record as officials. Therefore, the possibility of drawing a bad lot was low.
King Abel heard this and agreed with approval.
"Perhaps your home country was always like this?"
"I did not get involved in politics, but every time my younger brother went out, the territory expanded, so it must have been like this. I saw Father worry about how to manage it when his title was raised and his lands increased."
Brian also had his lands expanded and struggled with their management. Whether it was the Margraves managing the provinces or the King and Chancellor managing state-owned lands, they were all troubled by the speed of territorial expansion.
"Well, let's say new employment will be created, so that is fine. Besides the emergency promotion examination, we must implement recruitment examinations for officials. Also, there were no schools for commoners in the Kingdom of Meizack, so we must build new schools and send teachers."
"Oh, that was there too. You cannot increase teachers that easily."
"If we secure personnel who can read and write and explain how to use teaching materials, simple education should be possible, right?"
"It is truly only provisional. I do not know if quality can be secured."
"In that case, we must review the annual plan, slightly increase the number of teacher recruits, and re-plan which Prefecture to prioritize for teacher deployment."
"Even in the original territory, teachers do not reach everywhere."
The Kingdom of Merda, watching the Kingdom of Cascade, understood the importance of education. They were trying to educate all the people somehow, but since training teachers is not easy, they still cannot place teachers in all administrative districts. With the birth of new administrative districts, the shortage of manpower became serious there as well.
"Also, laying new railways. Not only the newly increased territories, but I want to connect them to the lands of the Kingdom of Cascade in the east."
"Can't the Kingdom of Cascade do that? Originally, the railway network of the Kingdom of Cascade is laid in the north. If they extend it to the east and build stations along the way, our country doesn't have to do anything."
"We should consult with Lord Sowell about that."
Yes, besides the shortage of manpower, there was the issue of laying railways. The Kingdom of Merda was not permitted to export steam locomotives from the Kingdom of Cascade, so they were using trolley trains for railways. However, they were high-power ones using Golems instead of people. Now, the possibility of connecting the northern lands of the Kingdom of Cascade with the eastern lands of the Kingdom of Cascade via railway had emerged.
If the Kingdom of Cascade bore the cost of laying new routes and built steam locomotive stations within their country, it would be a great help.
Incidentally, this railway was not in His Highness Alex's mind. Alex, who rarely left the Royal Capital, lacked such perspective.
Abel and Sherry concluded that since they could not ignore Aurora's intentions regarding this railway, they should leave the negotiations with the Kingdom of Cascade to Aurora instead.
And as a result of Aurora's negotiation, the Kingdom of Cascade would bear the cost of the route for steam locomotives. In return, the rights around the stations would belong to the Kingdom of Cascade. As for what profit Aurora had in this, she could expect demand for the routes connecting to those steam locomotive stations.
For this large-scale public works project, Steve was once again mobilized. Land clearing for laying the railway, creating rails, and creating new parts for steam locomotives.
Furthermore, as punishment for her rampage in her own form, Sherry demanded additional Golem trolley trains. Complaining and all, Steve completed all of them.
The railway connecting the port and the city will bring great profits to His Highness Alex. That is a story for a little later.
Steve, who had been called by Aurora regarding the railway business, went to the Kingdom of Merda together and discussed future matters with the King and Queen. Now, the four of them were sitting around a table.
"As expected, Your Excellency. The request from the Kingdom of Cascade is finished, and the request from the Kingdom of Merda is finished too."
Aurora said that and swirled the chilled wine glass placed before her, as if to show off her bright red lips.
"It is still cold and delicious. I wish I could hire an ice mage myself."
"I deliver rock ice regularly, you know."
Saying that, Steve created a small ice in front of his eyes.
"I want you to come every day. If it is Your Excellency, I will hire you with extraordinary treatment."
"I do not want to be suspected by my wife."
Steve declined Aurora's invitation. Although, Aurora did not know how serious she was either.
In the wine glass before Steve, wine was poured, and gold leaf floated on top.
"Well, the domestic railway network is quite well organized now. Shall we sell this new specialty, Sherry Wine, vigorously to tourists?"
"I am not convinced by that name."
Sherry showed displeasure to Steve, who held up the wine bottle.
The white grape wine created as a new specialty was given the name Sherry Wine, bearing the Queen's name. It was wine with gold leaf.
White grapes for wine were ordered from the Kingdom of Meizack, and Steve used his magic to crossbreed them for several generations to improve the variety. He did this specifically in Sherry's form, so another unnecessary legend was born, and Sherry's expression was terrifying.
"Regardless of the appropriateness of this wine's name, the taste is good, so I think it will sell. With the new routes, human movement will increase, and alcohol is the best business for tourists."
Ignoring the angry Sherry, Aurora took a second sip.
"I think it would be good to operate some routes in the Kingdom of Merda. If we monopolize it, we will never accumulate know-how no matter how long it takes."
Aurora proposed that. Although they were monopolizing the railway rights in the Kingdom of Merda, they intended to give up some of the new routes. They had gained various rights by taking advantage of the defeat, but since the people of the Kingdom of Merda began to show patriotic movements, they had made concessions.
Well, it was widely known that Aurora's relationship with the King and Queen was good, so there would be no immediate movement to expel them, but Aurora wanted to show a posture of making concessions to the Kingdom of Merda proactively.
Aurora came to the Kingdom of Merda to convey such concessions.
The reason for the concession was that His Highness Alex approached Aurora and invited her to develop the area around the Kingdom of Merda together, so she wanted to show she was not interested in such things, and thus did not seek new rights. However, only Aurora knew this.
In the end, as a result of the incident caused by Crown Prince Karl of the Kingdom of Meizack this time, only Sherry was the one who suffered the loss.
Thank you always for your typo reports.