“I’m a dreamy young man, so I understand Mary-dono’s concerns well. Of course, not just Mary-dono’s, but everyone’s anxiety who drafted this proposal.”
“Concerns? I would never—”
“It’s fine. I’m aware. And I bear no ill will toward anyone. This is true. —You see, Mary-dono. I’ve realized that those who can be conscious of their powerlessness become just slightly better people.”
I try stepping in myself.
In other words, whether I think everyone “forced this through” on me or not. Whether I’m truly convinced—that’s what everyone wants to know. The Royal Guard Commander too, of course.
This is indeed frightening.
I am the king. Even if I’m cooperative for a while, I might suddenly change completely. Just as I became like a different person about two months ago, I might change again.
Therefore, everyone who compiled this proposal must live in fear that days, months, or even years from now, they might suddenly have their mansions surrounded by the Royal Guard and be arrested and executed on the spot. I can only respect everyone who pushed this proposal forward while harboring such terror.
This is an amazing thing. Really.
Mary-san especially knows me well from the past. In the old days when Royal Guard was my favorite, I would visit the military encampments for any reason. I often saw her there, and sometimes invited her to tea parties like this.
She never openly objected no matter what extreme things I said back then. Perhaps she even had some favorable feelings toward me. After all, I was loudly calling for the expansion, doubling, tripling of Royal Guard.
Actually, maybe not.
Anyone is happy when their work is appreciated. However, when overappreciated, the appreciated person thinks: “Do I really have that much ability? Or is this person just stupid?” The more excessive the appreciation, the more the appreciated person moves toward disdain for the appreciator. I don’t know which way Mary-san went, but I’d guess about 70% “this guy’s an idiot.” Probably.
“How about you, Mary-dono? Surely you also have thoughts?”
“…! Nothing of the sort—”
I can understand her hesitant manner. The transformation about to begin won’t stop at just foreign affairs.
The peace treaty with our mortal enemy the Empire makes it possible to reduce the national military. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say we want the treaty because we want to downsize.
Military reduction is the royal road to fiscal health. Having lived in 21st-century Japan, I know things aren’t that simple, but in this Santeneri, economics isn’t even an independent field of study yet. There are just scattered individual “thoughts” and “predictions” that aren’t systematized. In other words, the simple idea that “spending is bad” is common sense. So if we’re shrinking the national military, the other military—Royal Guard—must do the same. In other words, we’re downsizing her workplace.
“I spoke honestly, didn’t I? Now it’s Mary-dono’s turn.”
Not good, this way of applying pressure.
I can only do this because fixed hierarchical status exists. If this were a company, even with a subordinate, I could only casually slip the question in during trivial small talk. But this is Santeneri, and I am the king.
“—I am proud to serve in Royal Guard. Since the time of our founder Marie, protecting the royal family has been my house’s pride.”
“Indeed. Mary-dono carries the name of that loyal retainer. Having you in Royal Guard is reassuring to me as well.”
I understand. I get it. I understand Mary-san’s feelings. I even try to show an awkward smile to express that.
“That Royal Guard will… change its form brings me a tinge of loneliness.”
Well, we’re not so much changing its form as eliminating it. We can’t do it suddenly, so we’ll take time over a ten-year span to integrate it with the national military.
Because there’s no choice. The chain of command, equipment, food, barracks, suppliers—everything is different between these two armies. It would be fine if it were one unit within one military. But both are completely incompatible militaries. I’d understand if they were as obviously unable to be unified as land and sea, but the national military and Guard are both land forces.
We don’t have money, so there’s no choice. I want to economize even a little. What about palace expenses? Well, they’re fairly high. But the palace functions as a consumer, and the sellers are our own citizens. If the consumer suddenly tightens their purse strings, the merchants suffer, right? Of course we’ll correct excesses, but we can’t cut too deeply. The same goes for the military. The military is also a consumer.
So we’ll reduce gradually. While reducing, we’ll channel people into new industries. It’s extremely tedious work, and I’ll probably have white hair by the time it’s done. Or maybe time will run out and my head will be separated from my body.
“However!”
I accidentally drop the pastry I was eating at her sudden loud voice. This is the pattern where Braune-san will scold me.
“Your Majesty has made Your decision. Royal Guard is the final bastion protecting Your person. That You would change it means You are exposing Yourself to danger for Santeneri’s sake.”
Exactly right. Royal Guard is the king’s personal protection weapon for emergencies. So reducing and dismantling it means laying down my sword and going unarmed. It’s actually quite life-threatening.
“I cannot speak for others of Barois. But to me, Your Majesty’s decision displays courage equal to or surpassing that of King Fleisch!”
Mary-san basically doesn’t show strong emotions. Of course she laughs when she laughs and jokes around. But there’s a line, and she absolutely never steps over it. She’s an ordinary woman but has the bearing of a professional.
And such a woman is unusually vocal now. Dignified.
I stare intently into her green twin eyes, just like those of Lady Marie, founder of House Barois.
“His Majesty King Grois XIII. —Your Majesty has entrusted Your person to all the people of Santeneri, from us nobles to the commoners. There is no other king as brave and noble as Your Majesty. As a citizen of this nation, I am proud that the crown of ‘the sole kingdom on earth that is the protector of Orthodox faith’ shines upon such a person’s head.”
She says such gracious things. But you see, that’s a curse.
Everyone casually says things like “As befitting the master of the sole kingdom on earth” or “Truly one who occupies Santeneri’s throne.” I know they’re praising me. But conversely, it’s the same as being reminded “In the end, this is your responsibility.”
“Mary-dono. Thank you. And I feel apologetic. Once the peace treaty with the Empire is concluded, we will inevitably reduce the number of troops currently deployed in large numbers at the border. Of course the national military will weaken. And if we reduce Royal Guard, Royal Guard will also weaken. Everyone bears wounds equally. The only one unharmed, who can even obtain a wonderful wife on top of that, is me. I feel guilty.”
While making a mysterious apology to Mary-san, I close with a joke.
And gracefully change the topic.
“By the way, last night at Duke Gaillou’s soirée I happened to overhear that Mary-dono has a wonderful hobby?”
“Eh?”
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Mary-san freezes a bit at the suddenness. Of course. It was serious just now.
“That is… goodness. It must have been Braune-sama, wasn’t it? Who spoke of it?”
There seems to be a slight redness to her face. Is this Labor Standards? No, Santeneri’s compliance is loose, so this much should be fine.
“I’ve forgotten who I heard it from. However, I only know Mary-dono from work, so I became a bit interested.”
“How embarrassing, but, well, I… dabble a bit in handicrafts.”
The gap from her earlier resolute look is amazing.
“I see. That’s wonderful. Mary-dono has a very meticulous personality. Such detailed work seems well-suited to you. —What do you make?”
“…Stuffed animals.”
“Stuffed animals.”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
“Puppies. I’m making black puppies.”
Ah, that makes sense.
“If I recall, House Barois’s crest is a black dog. Is there some anecdote behind it?”
You see, noble folks are pleased when you ask about little trivia related to their house’s history. It must be their nature. Proof of a house with a long history. Incidentally, my (Japanese) family home also has grandfather’s scary-face legend and father’s youthful indiscretion legend. But they’re the kind of things you absolutely can’t tell people about.
“Yes. Our founder Marie was very fond of black dogs. There’s even a portrait of her holding a dog. Of course, it was painted much later from imagination.”
There are no photographs or videos. History is recorded in paintings.
House Lerois has them too. My favorite is the one called [Queen’s Coronation] displayed in the great hall of the old castle Shturl-en-Lerois. It’s a typical medieval painting with the scale all wrong, but I love those chilly eyes of the queen painted unusually large in the center. I sympathize, thinking this person probably also went through hard times. Well, the depicted Queen Marguerite was apparently a great ruler of the early Lerois dynasty, so it’s wrong to lump us together.
“I see. That’s nice. Would you show it to me sometime?”
“Yes… no, that is—”
Ah, that’s about the limit. I stepped in a bit too much. Though I genuinely wanted to see it. Rather, I’d like her to make one for me too.
Dogs are nice. They can entrust everything to their owner. They’re not required to take responsibility. I want to be a dog in my next life. No wait, this is my next life, so my next next life. I’ll accumulate as much virtue as I can in this life for that purpose.
“I was a bit discourteous. Please forgive me. —Is it that late already? It seems I’ve monopolized quite a bit of Mary-dono’s precious time.”
I open my beloved pocket watch to check the time. Mary-san smoothly rises from her chair.
“Ah, that’s right. Earlier Mary-dono praised me, but that praise should be given to your father the Royal Guard Commander. And to everyone who resolves to endure pain and devote themselves to Santeneri.”
Completely and utterly the truth.
Because I haven’t done anything. I just said “Don’t create sanctuaries, come up with ideas freely.” Royal Guard is truly a sacred ground. Just mentioning a plan to touch it could make one suspected of treason. That’s why the king had to explicitly state it.
The Royal Guard Commander who agreed to dismantle the sacred department they’ve protected for hundreds of years is amazing. Worthy of respect. Department closures are hell for both upper and lower ranks.
“Those are undeserved words. I will certainly convey them to my father.”
The Kingdom of Santeneri and the Empire will conclude the first comprehensive peace treaty in central continental history.
King Grois XIII of Santeneri will become engaged to Lady Analise-Vor-Estvilg, eldest daughter of the imperial House of Estvilg.
When Princess Analise reaches eighteen years of age, the wedding will be held.
Currently Analise-san is sixteen years old. I’m twenty. Two years from now. There’s not much you can accomplish in two years. There’s not much you can accomplish, but if we can avoid doing what we don’t need to do—namely, avoid war—that’s enough.
The central continent’s two greatest powers, Santeneri and the Empire, are joining forces.
I sincerely hope that seeing this situation, King Prosan will exercise restraint. Also, I hope that troublesome mortal enemy across the sea, Anglane, doesn’t make any moves. Like inciting King Prosan or providing him with new model guns.
It’s painful.
Anyway, let’s all get along. Skirmishes still continue in the New Continent, but setting that aside, let’s get along.
I don’t want any more expenses. Because Santeneri has no money.
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