Chapter Ten: The King’s Art Appreciation
I’ve come to view paintings.
The exhibition title is [Light and Darkness of the Lerois Royal Palace ── The Kings and Queens Who Colored Early Modern Santeneri ──]. The venue is the Palais-Lumière, a 10-minute walk from Victory Square. The exhibition period is September 11th, 10:00-11:00.
That masterpiece [The Emperor’s Daughter] is being shown in our country for the first time!
Today we have the honor of the presence of the Imperial Ambassador to the Kingdom of Santeneri, courtesy of our sponsoring Empire.
In other words, the venue is my house.
The Palais-Lumière has five grand halls, each filled from walls to ceiling with overwhelming paintings. In one of them—a hall used for entertaining foreign dignitaries and ambassador audiences—I’m sitting in a large chair. The room is packed with the usual crowd of high officials. There are even a few families scattered about.
The Imperial Ambassador respectfully advances before me sitting on the throne. Accompanied by an attendant holding a painting covered with blue cloth in both hands.
“To His Majesty Grois XIII, Lord of ‘sole kingdom on earth that is the protector of Orthodox faith,’ from His Majesty Gergyu V, King of Estvilg and Lord of ‘”The Land Ruled by the Lord of the Human Realm, Granted Authority to Unite the Kings Under the Majesty of the Orthodox Faith,’ I present this painting.”
I nod deeply. The Ambassador, confirming my gesture, slowly removes the cloth.
A large painting, about half the size of a man, reveals itself in full.
“This is the honorable visage of Her Imperial Highness Princess Analise-Vor-Estvilg, eldest daughter of His Majesty Gergyu V, King of Estvilg and legitimate holder of the Imperial throne of ‘The Land Ruled by the Lord of the Human Realm, Granted Authority to Unite the Kings Under the Majesty of the Orthodox Faith.'”
Ohhh—a stir runs through the venue. Exclamations arise even though from their angle they clearly can’t see it. This means these aren’t cheers for the portrait itself. They’re for the single fact that Santeneri and Estvilg are putting an end to their longstanding discord.
To be honest, it’s too far away, so I can’t really see the painting either. All I can vaguely make out is abundant brown hair. Following the predetermined procedure, the Ambassador’s attendant hands the painting to our servant. The servant brings it right before my eyes.
Analise-Vor-Estvilg.
A sixteen-year-old girl with ash brown hair done up, a faint smile on her face. Her amber eyes show a strength of will that can’t be hidden even in her smile. Though it’s not something to think about in such a formal setting, hmm, she’s like the serious committee chair character you often see in manga, I suppose? Is this the pattern where she grows up to become a career-oriented type like Mary-san? In any case, she’s cute.
It makes sense that princesses are often beautiful, you know.
The Central Continent has a concubine system, right? The difference between a concubine and a mistress is whether the children born have inheritance rights. If a child born to a concubine has inheritance rights, that means the child could ascend as the next King—in other words, they could become the legitimate line of the royal family. And the status requirements for concubines are considerably looser compared to principal wives. So various bloodlines enter the legitimate line. In short, the concubine position is one where even if you’re a bit lacking in status, you can manage if you’re a world-class beauty. First, the blood of such world-class beauties gets mixed in.
Second, good health.
There are no nutritional concerns, so development is good. And cleanliness. Oh, we of the Central Continent do have bathing customs. In fact, everyone loves it. We didn’t have the various incidents that weakened bathing habits like in medieval Europe—superstitions derived from religion or epidemics.
That’s why princesses are basically cute and princes and kings mostly have well-proportioned faces. Well, for men. If they’re hot-blooded, they might recklessly charge on the battlefield and lose an eye or an ear or something.
“Ambassador-dono. Thank you for your service. Princess Analise-dono’s beauty seems not of this world. I am a fortunate man to welcome such the finest lady in all the Central Continent as my principal consort. Please convey my regards to His Imperial Majesty. After all—I am to become His Imperial Majesty’s son-in-law.”
“Your Majesty’s words—on behalf of the Empire, I express our deepest gratitude. Princess Analise-dono is praised for her beauty not only in Estvilg but throughout the entire Empire. Devout in Orthodox faith and kind-hearted, she is truly like the ideal of a pure maiden. His Imperial Majesty, her father, is particularly delighted that Princess Analise-dono, the Empire’s treasure, will be under Your Majesty, who is renowned across the continent as wise and vigorous.”
Honorifics are difficult, aren’t they? In Japanese, you’d generally use humble language for family members, but here in Santeneri it doesn’t work that way. You elevate your own family while also elevating the other party.
“I am doubly blessed. First, to become husband and wife with Analise-dono, the Empire’s treasure. And second, to become the catalyst for building an intimate relationship between our House of Lerois and House Estvilg. I could wish for no greater happiness. ——Ambassador-dono. You have done well.”
The Estvilg Ambassador bows gracefully and leaves the hall. A servant shows Analise-san’s portrait around to everyone present.
The ceremony is finally over.
Now then, this is where things really begin.
The news of my engagement to the Princess will start here in Shtrois and take about a month to spread throughout all of Santeneri. What will happen, I wonder?
The people’s reaction won’t be very favorable. After all, the Empire is our longtime enemy. Some just vaguely think that way, while others are soldiers who actually fought and killed Imperial soldiers on the battlefield. And their families too.
By the way, the island nation of Angland to the west is also a super-enemy nation. Or rather, there are almost no countries that aren’t enemy nations. Therefore Santeneri is quite particular about international marriages.
Well, it’s exclusionary.
Everyone thinks “we are the center of the Central Continent,” you see—Santeneri people. Educated people don’t show it outwardly, but deep down they look down on other countries. The diplomatic lingua franca of the Central Continent is Santeneri, and the center of culture, thought, and fashion is here in Shtrois, so it’s no wonder they’ve come to believe “we’re number one.”
There’s no such system, but if hypothetically there were approval ratings, the current administration—me—would see ratings drop quite a bit. Oh, is a collective resignation imminent? On the other hand, if I married someone like Zofie-san, my approval rating would go up.
“The King understands the goodness of Santeneri women!” There’d probably be an old man answering interviews in front of Shinbashi Station saying that. With a red face.
I proceeded with this peace treaty fully understanding all of that.
Now that the continent’s two great powers have joined hands, Angland won’t stay quiet. They’ll probably vigorously instigate Prosan. Conversely, if Santeneri had allied with Prosan, they would have approached Estvilg. Either way, that pattern. That country is staking its life on stirring up the continent.
Really, I’d love to just conquer and destroy Angland. That country could be number one in a “most hated country” survey of successive Santeneri Kings. Well, it’s impossible though.
There’s an ocean.
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Now then, this afternoon I’ll leave the Galerie-Palais-Lumière art museum and stroll through the attached gardens. A garden tour from the gallery. And dinner at night. Kind of like a slightly refined marriage-hunting date course?
I’m happily engaged now, so I won’t be dating. Accompanying me on the garden stroll is the Minister of Internal Affairs, an old man.
Clemence-ene-en-pleuville..
Head of the Viscount pleuville family, which traces its origins to a military count of the eastern Shtour region. The Shtour region borders the Empire on the eastern frontier, and the Kingdom of Stuburg, an Imperial principality, is also broadly included in the Shtour region. Shtour sounds similar to Shtrois, doesn’t it? I’ve explained before that Shtrois was originally a contracted form of Shtour-En-Lerois. And Shtour-En-Lerois means “Lerois Castle.” Shtour means “castle” in Santeneri. So what about the Shtour region? The “Castle” region.
That area is dotted with mountain castles—or rather, fortresses. Why are there so many? It was probably a land of carnage. Long ago.
And Clemens-san, whose ancestor was a military count from there, is a slender, tall man in his late forties with hollow cheeks. He has the atmosphere of someone from a yakuza movie. Duke Gaillou has the presence of a major corporation president (self-conscious type). Minister of Internal Affairs Clemens has the presence of an intellectual yakuza (self-conscious type). Whether I look right or left, it’s all presence.
“pleuville-dono, what’s the current situation? Will the people resist as expected?”
“They will. Since this is a major policy shift, it won’t be without incident.”
An assertion that leaves no room for misunderstanding. He’s saying implicitly: you made this decision knowing that, didn’t you?
“Are there any actual movements?”
“We make arrests daily. However, we haven’t seen organized movements yet. It’s still at the level of excitement in taverns. But we cannot be optimistic about future developments.”
The Minister of Internal Affairs’s scope of duties is quite broad. Distribution, infrastructure, educational environment, regional administration. In other words, like combining the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The last one—regional administration—is hard to understand, but basically it’s the department that manages and supervises administrative officials in each region.
Regional administrative officials are similar to the magistrates of shogunate territories in the Edo period. However, the troublesome thing about Santeneri is that government magistrates run the administration up to medium-sized noble territories. The nobles who should originally be managing their own territories are now just landlords. Everyone lives in Shtrois and lives off the monthly rent income. Their children become bureaucrats, soldiers, or scholars. If they become bureaucrats, they’re assigned to regional posts as magistrates. This part is interesting. Other nobles manage their own territories as magistrates, while they serve as magistrates for other nobles’ lands. By the way, bureaucrat, soldier, and scholar aren’t positions exclusive to nobles. The doors are open to commoners too. Just to the upper crust though.
Oh, there’s one more thing under the Minister of Internal Affairs’s jurisdiction. Police. Especially the secret police.
“I hope it’s just letting off steam, but it’ll be troublesome if a solid core forms.”
“We have the whereabouts and movements of the main figures under surveillance.”
“Any interference from Angland?”
“It’s certainly possible. I’d like to compile the situation and explain it to Your Majesty. If you could spare some time within the next few days.”
What’s frightening in this situation is that a philosophical axis could form around these grumbling vents. That they could organize. Both the Minister of Internal Affairs and I are wary of that.
While having this tense conversation, we wander along the garden path. Large trees are planted here and there on the well-maintained lawn, serving as natural parasols blocking the sunlight. Under these natural parasols irregularly lined along the walkway, well-dressed families and couples have spread cloths and are spending time as they please.
This is my house, but at the same time it’s also a national park. So various people come here. Nobles and commoners alike. Entering the buildings requires complicated permission. On the other hand, the gardens are relatively freely accessible. If you’re well-dressed.
Actually, clothing is extremely important.
Being properly dressed—meaning for men, a quality jacket and large cloth necktie, for women, a casual dress with vibrant dyeing. You might think “it’s just clothes,” but in Santeneri where cheap ready-made goods don’t exist, wearing these things is proof of being wealthy.
Like driving a current model luxury car (not one with extreme modifications), maybe? It serves as proof of having a certain amount of wealth. Unlike cars, clothes are difficult to borrow from others. Everything is custom-made. There are also rental costume shops with various sizes available, but the rental fees are quite high. Like renting a supercar costs 100,000 yen for a few hours. Probably more expensive. I learned all this from the Minister of Internal Affairs-san.
In summary, people with “decent enough” clothing can generally enter this garden. Conversely, if your clothing is out, you can’t get in.
Kings are surprisingly open.
“Your Majesty! Good day!”
A couple who spotted me shouts greetings from the shade of a distant tree.
“Ah, good day!”
I shout back. That’s it. They don’t come running over or anything. If we just pass each other, it’s no big deal. If I summon them directly like I did with Braag-san the other day, it becomes a big deal though. They get super formal. It’s the same in Japan, right? Whether they’re politicians or celebrities, when you’re watching from a distance it’s like “Oh, there they are,” but if you’re going to talk one-on-one, you’d be pretty nervous.
By the way, opening this garden wasn’t my policy. It’s been a custom for about three generations now. It’s the product of a strong ideology that the King is the “father” of Santeneri’s citizens.
There’s also virtually no actual danger. Though they’re commoners, they’re the upper crust, so. You wouldn’t get picked on by street thugs in a super luxury hotel lobby, would you? It’s the same thing. Security personnel follow at a bit of a distance, so even if something were to happen, it’s safe.
Next time I have free time, I’ll interview these people relaxing in the shade.
“Are you anxious about the shift in foreign policy that the government recently announced?”
-Very anxious
-Somewhat anxious
-Anxious
-I support it
-I don’t really know
This would be in the newspaper the next day.
With a headline like “70% of citizens anxious about government’s foreign policy.”
Collective resignation, maybe?
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