Interlude 1: The Prudent King and the Far-Sighted Prime Minister
Seven days had passed since the Magic Academy's gratitude banquet.
There was no doubt that the farce at the banquet had caused a major shock to the upper echelons of the kingdom. The next day, a morning council was convened, and the decisions made on that day at that place were announced. Those who had not been present at the event were astounded by His Majesty the King’s decision, with some even thrown into a state of panic.
The King, observing the scene from his throne, cast a cold, piercing gaze. Beside him, the Prime Minister wore a sly smile and watched the flustered nobles with interest.
The morning council became chaotic, but His Majesty’s will had already been firmly decided, and there was no way for anyone with the title of mid- to high-ranking noble who had the right to attend the meeting to come up with a reason to overturn it.
After the announcement, the castle was thrown into a commotion, like a hornet’s nest disturbed. The morning council was quickly concluded, and His Majesty, accompanied by the Prime Minister, headed to the King’s office.
On their way to the office, several attendants reported that many nobles were voicing doubts about His Majesty’s decision. Ignoring them all, the King swiftly entered the office, and the heavy door was firmly shut behind him.
The royal office was not what one would expect from the office of such a noble person. The luxurious decorations were discarded in favor of sturdy, practical furniture. A large map covering the entire kingdom hung on the wall, with pins marking many locations.
Beside the desk, a mountain of reports was piled high.
All of these were highly confidential documents that His Majesty himself had to read. There was not even a tea set or a light snack cart. The only indulgence in the room was a bottle of strong distilled spirits placed in a built-in cupboard.
"Well, well, so many fools."
"It’s been peaceful for a long time, thanks to your efforts. The last major war was against the northern invasion, wasn’t it? You led the troops yourself when you were the crown prince. Come to think of it, ever since then, you've crushed anything that could have led to a major war. Well, you've done well as a king. It’s inevitable, though, that such successes lead to the appearance of those who squirm within the kingdom."
"Looking around, about half of those at the morning council accidentally showed their dissatisfaction. After such a blunder, it's absurd to think that they could still be fit to bear the weight of this kingdom. The atmosphere that tolerates it is equally unpleasant. What’s with those attendants? They follow the formal procedures in reporting, but their rudeness is beyond measure. Hey, do you know who’s behind this?"
"Of course. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Commerce, the grand ducal and ducal families… Well, some families who are connected to that side. It's always more convenient to carry a lighter palanquin, after all."
"Wait, wait... So, how far are you plotting? Tell me."
"Well... I suppose our perspectives are different. Let's see... Let me start from the beginning. In this world, human societies exist in the gaps of the Demonic Forest. Expanding one’s sphere of survival requires time, effort, and constant diligence, but there are those who wish to shortcut that process. Is this clear so far?"
"The northern kingdom, right? I know that already. They’ve been poking at us roughly every twenty years because they covet our rich lands. They love to meddle. Hey, was that farce part of their manipulation too?!"
"No, that’s not it. They haven’t gone that far. I can answer that with certainty. However, it’s also true that their failure to stop the escalation was part of the problem. I’ll continue."
The Prime Minister plopped heavily into a big leather armchair, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped as he watched His Majesty the King, who was seated at the desk. In the Prime Minister’s eyes shone a calculating, strategic light, a clear intention to make full use of the chaos that would inevitably follow.
The two exchanged words casually and with a somewhat rude tone. They were long-time acquaintances, and although they had their own differences, the Prime Minister was the only one who could calmly argue against the king. Perhaps out of shyness, outside of moments like this when they were alone, they played the role of perfect master and servant. However, deep down, both of them recognized each other as true companions, something no one else could claim.
This mutual recognition dated back to the time when the King was still a prince, and he had once confided his heart to the Prime Minister.
"I’ll give my all to this country. I’ll protect the peace and well-being of the people. That’s my duty and my vow. I need your help. I believe your deep cunning will be the power that protects the people."
Naturally, the two had ended up in a fistfight, but it had led to a lifelong friendship, one that endured to this day.
The Prime Minister continued speaking.
"The feast of fools could be suppressed immediately. It was also possible to nip it in the bud at this stage. However, you chose to make this a test. A test to gauge a person’s character. And that boy failed. He is already paying the price for it. In fact, your second son was already transferred to that place in the royal domain. After the gratitude banquet, he returned to his private chambers in the royal castle and began a drunken feast with his friends, thinking it was the right time now that he had reached adulthood. ...A feast that could happen anytime. In fact, the Chief Lady-in-Waiting of the Harem served him sleeping pills, and while he slept, they performed sterilization and magic-sealing, and then he was transported. His carelessness was astounding."
"...I'm sorry. I made him receive the same education as the First Prince, taught him the same formalities, and yet this was the result... I regret the strain on the Queen's heart."
"I deeply apologize for the distress caused to Her Majesty the Queen, whose heart has always been kind."
"Hey! Don't mock me. Now, just how far have you schemed?"
"Everything you dreamed of. All the corruption of the kingdom will be purged."
"......Is that even possible?"
"Normally, no. But this time, we have the perfect justification."
"What do you mean?"
"The engagement, which was arranged by royal command, was broken by the decision of a single prince. It's an undeniable high treason. The ones causing commotion haven't realized yet what the fate of those who aided in high treason will be. Oh, by the way, the First Prince proposed something interesting."
The king, standing with his arms crossed in front of the desk, had a serious expression on his face. As though recalling something, he spoke softly.
"He lacks royal presence. He wasted an opportunity. If he's going to stand as the crown prince, he should show the resolve and ability to do so."
"I see. Well, I'm sure the Lady from the Grand Ducal House had some influence on him. It seems like they’re already inseparable. How delightful."
"So, what did he propose?"
"He suggested completely crushing their schemes and significantly weakening the influence of the troublemakers within the kingdom. If we were to destroy their houses all at once, it would increase the chaos and expose us to external enemies. You see, they act out because they have nothing else to do. Keeping them busy is wise. So, he suggested changing their territories—Relocate them, he said. Instead of charging the problematic houses with high treason, their lands will be reassigned. Those stationed at key locations in the kingdom—individuals who have long been swayed by these troublesome figures—will have their roots severed. Clever, isn't it? Those young ones, after all, are truly the hidden gems of the royal and grand ducal families."
"So... you're saying we'll render those who plot against this kingdom incapable of exerting their influence. The reason for not killing them is to minimize the chaos... but changing their territories will likely cause considerable political disruption, won't it?"
"You... Don’t you see? By changing their territories, we tie their hands and feet. A new territory can't be governed overnight. For the next ten years, they won't be able to make any significant moves. Even if they try to take part in public duties in the royal capital, they can’t neglect governing their lands. Moreover, they won’t be able to interfere with the strategic locations, and those who once governed those territories will also be removed. Their family's power remains intact, but their movements are restricted. People and goods will move, and the kingdom’s economy will prosper."
"So, those loyal to us will sit in their place?"
"Exactly. In one swift move, a national unity will be established—the very system you once dreamed of. Though, the royal palace will likely become quite noisy for a while."
A dark smirk spread across the Prime Minister’s face, as if to say the decisions had already been made. His expression also reflected the care he had taken for the royal sentiments of his true companion, His Majesty the King. With this proposal, no one would be executed on the guillotine under charges of high treason. Those who complained about the reassignment of territories could be silenced with a simple reminder—that their actions amounted to high treason. That alone would be enough to make them comply.
High treason meant the total eradication of an entire family, including all its members. Their names, their honor, everything would be stripped away. The very existence of their house would be recorded in the kingdom’s history as evil. For nobles who placed immense value on their reputation, this was the most unbearable fate. It wasn’t just their own lives at stake; even the honor of their long-deceased ancestors would be dragged through the mud.
Deep within, His Majesty let out a low growl of contemplation. He had not underestimated the First Prince and the Lady from the Grand Ducal House as mere youths, yet he couldn't help but marvel at how far ahead they had thought. The idea also crossed his mind that those who had achieved the most notable accomplishments during this commotion must be rewarded appropriately.
"Hey, who should be recognized for their outstanding contribution in this commotion?"
"First, the Lady from the Grand Ducal House. Then, the First Prince and his few close aides. And... Who was it again? Ah, yes, the son of a knightly family. I heard he’s the third son, but his actions were also flawless for someone of his status as a bulwark of the domain. However, his title is too low. It would be impossible to promote him with that."
"He's no longer in the royal capital."
"What?"
"The Minister of War's new successor, who became the last lifeline for his punishment, caused a stir. Apparently, the boy had already returned to his homeland. When he went to greet him the morning after the gratitude banquet, his room in the dormitory was completely empty. It was as if he had never been there from the start, everything was neatly arranged as if he had already left. His exit was admirable. It’s no wonder the Lady from the Grand Ducal House feels regret."
"...I never met him. What kind of person is he?"
"Find out for yourself. You have all the connections you need."
"Damn it, I should've been there. I wanted to see him with my own eyes..."
This was the moment when the third son of a frontier knightly family was officially recognized by the highest government official in the country.
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