Chapter 27 - The Transformation of Crown Prince Eirik
"What is the meaning of this?"
Crown Prince Eirik Nadar did not even try to hide his irritation.
He was not in a position to be blamed for showing his mood in the first place.
"The Royal Guard is in a position to depart at any time.
However—"
The Minister of War, who answered, glanced at the lords lined up.
"The preparations for launching the army are not ready—for a while, just a little longer."
The Minister of Agriculture apologized in a state of prostration.
"I've already heard that.
I'm asking why it's like that."
"Even if we launch the army, preparations for provisions and other things are essential.
It depends on how many troops we mobilize, but we must certainly exceed the number that can be mobilized in the Marquess Mares territory and overwhelm them with numbers.
If that happens, we will need to have them provided at various locations along the Mares Road. However—"
The Minister of War added while stroking his goatee.
"I know. I also know that the stockpiles were stolen.
If so, we have no choice but to transfer them from further west than Ezrin. What on earth is not ready?"
"The, the scribe in charge of stockpiling and transferring supplies suddenly resigned—"
"—Huh?"
The tone of the Crown Prince's voice rose a notch.
"At a time like this? In this emergency?
What kind of supervision are you giving your subordinates?"
"Yes, well, from his business trip destination suddenly—only a letter of resignation."
"—At your place too, Minister?"
To the Minister of Agriculture, who was flustered and lining up excuses, the Minister of Commerce spoke in a groan-like voice.
"'Too'?"
The Crown Prince raised a suspicious voice.
"A similar thing happened at the Ministry of Commerce.
The scribe in charge of managing merchant ships sent a letter of resignation from his business trip destination."
The Minister of Commerce, who had a bitter face, responded.
"The scribe suddenly resigned without any handover, and on top of that, the scribes and underlings who were working within the ministry are being pulled out."
"What is that? Who pulled them out to where, at a time like this?"
The lords looked at each other.
No one wanted to say that name out loud.
Naturally, gazes gathered on Count Nord Ludovico Foscar.
The faces of several people were saying, 'You're the Minister of Internal Affairs, aren't you?'
"—It is that exile, Your Highness.
Under Your Highness's approval, they were sending scribes and underlings to departments in the Government Administration that lacked personnel, or they were taking over part of the duties at the Marquess's royal capital residence."
'Give me a break,' Ludovico explained while screaming in his heart.
Even Ludovico does not grasp everything.
He had merely summarized the stories he had gathered by meeting with the lords over the past few days.
The Crown Prince himself seemed to have remembered that fact.
His expression became like he had chewed and crushed several bitter insects at once.
"—How many would that be?"
"It would vary by department, but I have heard they were dispatched here and there.
At most about two people per department, but—"
The Government Administration has many such departments.
With the development of the country, the thoroughness of document-based administration, and the development of commerce and distribution, the amount of necessary judgments and documents increased exponentially.
The departments of the Government Administration, which originally numbered only nine under the name of ministries, have repeatedly branched out through specialization in order to carry out the increased duties without delay, and have come to have a huge and complex organization.
Even the ministers, who are called by adding 'Minister' to the name of the ministry, cannot grasp what is happening at the ends of the branches that have split from the ministry unless they are very conscious of it.
Much less, if you were to ask if they could keep an eye on each and every scribe and their subordinates working in those terminal bureaus.
"Argh, enough!"
The Crown Prince spat out.
"First is grasping the missing personnel.
We must replenish the missing parts. Place people in the departments necessary for this war.
Minister of Ceremonies, understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness, as you command."
The complexion of the Minister of Ceremonies, who governs personnel, was poor.
If it were low-level administrative officers, it wouldn't be impossible to replenish them somehow.
However, the scribes, who supervise the administrative officers and give them instructions, are not easily replenished.
If you pull someone from some department, confusion will occur there. He had imagined that.
Nonetheless, if it was the Crown Prince's command, he couldn't get away without doing it.
Much less if it involved war, there could be no answer other than 'I'll do something about it.'
"Until when?"
"Huh?"
A question mark appeared on the face of the Minister of Ceremonies, who failed to measure the meaning of the Crown Prince's short question.
"I'm asking by when the system will be ready and we'll be able to fight."
In an irritated voice, the Crown Prince repeated the question.
"Yes, we are thinking as early as possible—but after all, scribes are difficult to replenish—"
"That's why I'm asking when that is!"
"That, with all due respect, Your Highness."
"What is it, Count Nord?"
The Crown Prince responded to Ludovico, who had interjected from the side.
The Minister of Ceremonies, released from the sharp gaze, showed an overtly relieved expression.
The Crown Prince's foul mood remained the same, but his manner was somewhat softer.
More than the fact that the opponent had changed, the fact that he was the father of his fiancée was likely a big factor.
"It is only natural to want it as soon as possible, but if we launch the army before the system is ready and, by any chance, just by any chance, we were to lose, it would affect your prestige, Your Highness."
The Crown Prince let out a groan-like sound, "Hmm."
"You must also understand that we must hurry, Count Nord.
If we dally, winter will come."
"It is exactly as you say, Your Highness.
If it is war, it is better to move quickly. However, unless at least a minimum system is ready, we cannot say that victory is certain.
For now, I believe we should consult with several ministers.
Unless we decide who investigates what and how, and who moves what and how, we will only pile up labor in vain and things will not move forward."
The Crown Prince, who had been thinking in silence for a while, nodded, "I see."
"What you say makes sense, Count Nord.
Consult with the lords who seem necessary."
"Yes, I am truly grateful that you have listened—"
"You are the facilitator. I'll give you one hour."
"—Huh?"
"It's not 'huh.' You're the one who brought it up, Count Nord."
"Yes."
"You facilitate the consultation, summarize the results, and report to me. Understood?"
The Crown Prince said, punctuating each phrase and pointing his finger at Ludovico each time.
Ludovico harbored a feeling of not being able to understand why.
"I'm going back to my room. You can use this place freely.
—Understood, Count Nord, in one hour. I'll be waiting."
Saying only that, the Crown Prince stood up quickly.
Sent off by the bows of everyone present, he walked out through the door opened by the chamberlain.
The lords left in the office and Ludovico looked at each other.
Since it was a consultation across ministries, Ludovico was more suitable to facilitate the consultation than the head of a ministry.
Nonetheless, if it had been the Crown Prince of a few days ago, he would have either dumped the response on someone like the Minister of Ceremonies or shouted in irritation.
—What on earth is going on?
They didn't put it into words, but that was everyone's question.
The episode where the failure of a Crown Prince became just a little bit more decent and the pitiable middle-aged man unintentionally gathers authority.