Extra Story: Thereafter of the Foolish Royals II ①

“We shall begin today’s meeting.”

Today was the first meeting since the start of spring.
A lot took place during winter this year.
It feels like I’ve aged all in one winter.

“*War Minister. Your report please.”
“Yes! The income and expenditure of the army this winter is as written in the handouts…”

My wife and daughter still won’t entertain me, and I still can’t sleep at night unless I get drunk with cheap alcohol, but the country has become much more stable.
By lowering the army’s front line to a point where the Demon Forest can’t be seen, the army’s casualties had decreased, and it has become possible to manage things within the budget.
There were reports that the Demon Forest was slowly encroaching, and the frequency of monster attacks were on the rise.
However, due to a fall in quality of monsters that appeared, there shouldn’t be any more casualties even with the encroachment.
It would take around ten years for the forest to reach the current front lines, and by that time, adventurers would be able to take on the monsters with their strength, making it possible pull back the central army.
That’s because the front lines to the forest will be at the same level as our neighboring country.

“…That is all.”
“Mm.”

The military is functioning without any problems.

“Now then, Home Minister. Your report please.”
“Y-, yes.”

The Home Minister stood up and began his report.
His position had deteriorated considerably this winter.
By virtue of his position, the Minister of Home Affairs belonged to a faction that sought to protect the rights of the nobility, called the Aristocratic Faction.
At the top of this faction stood the house of Disroll Grandheit, but its eldest son ended up murdering Duke Lunan Forseed.
The eldest son was cut off, but that didn’t absolve the Duke of his sin completely.
The Duke then left the faction after reporting the wrong-doings of its upper-echelons.
Most probably he did it so that they would have their hands full in dealing with their own crimes, and they wouldn’t have the leeway to deal with Disroll Grandheit house itself.
Since the Duchy at the top left, and the wrong-doings of the higher ups were revealed, the entire faction lost a lot of its power.
The Home Minister who belonged to said faction, was scrunching up his shoulders at this meeting.

“…T-that is all.”

He sat down with his shoulders still scrunched.

“Mm. Come to think of it, the search for Lain-Lunan Forseed was also left to you, Home Minister. How fares that?”
“Y-yes. We have inquired with neighboring countries as well, but there has been no information regarding such a person.”
“I see. It’ll give you a hard time, but I entrust you with the search.”
“I’d like to find him soon as well. I have plans to add his mighty power to our own army’s battle-power.”
“!”

On the other hand, the Military Faction gained power.
Using the opportunity, I decided to reduce the Aristocratic Faction’s power since it had become an eyesore, but it seems that I overdid it.
It wasn’t a particularly big move, but seeing the power of the faction weakening, the opportunistic aristocrats switched sides to the military faction, which was the second largest.
The Counts shifting was an especially large factor.
It seems that the aristocrats of the military faction also forced their women into those Count families, so there was also a connection.
As a result, the Military Faction has become as powerful as the previous Aristocratic Faction.

What’s even more painful is how difficult it has become reach out to the Count families.
I was trying to treat the Count families the same as any other country would, but it ended up being a bust.
Unless something further happened that weakens the power of the military factions, it would be difficult to proceed with further domestic reforms.

…No, it would be best if nothing happened.
If something were to happen, it would be our nation’s power that would suffer as a result.
Lain-Lunan Forseed’s departure has already cost our nation quite a bit of power and prestige.
It would be for the best if nothing happened.

“P- pardon the intrusion!”

A breathless soldier rushes into the meeting room.
It appears that my wish was not granted after all.
Even before, problems found their way here whenever a meeting was taking place. Could they be aiming for this time?
Well, I’m sure that’s impossible.

However, if something had happened then countermeasures would have to be taken.
Let’s hear him out for now.

“What’s the matter?”
“T-the neighboring country! The neighboring country has attacked us!”
“WHAT!?”

It would seem that God despises me.
Wait, could it be that he granted my faint wish from earlier of something that would weaken the Military Faction’s power?

Oh God, if you’re going to grant my wishes then please grant the ones that benefit this country, please!
I sat back in my chair, folded my hands, and offered a sincere prayer to God.

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* – this translates to “minister of military affairs”, but shortening it to ‘defense minister’ seemed wrong so I changed it. Apologies for inconsistency.

A short chapter this time!
Next one will be about the youngsters that escaped from the village, leaving it in its desperate state.