As I left the conference room, I very briefly glanced at the Fifth Prince’s expression.
For now, I could breathe a sigh of relief. The look from earlier was gone.
If anything, when our eyes met, the corners of his mouth even lifted slightly.
Was he grateful that I hadn’t taken the side of his eyesore of a half-brother?
Or was he thinking, To refuse the Emperor’s will—what a madman?
Whatever it was, it didn’t seem to be, I’ll have to kill you.
That was a relief for now. Not being put on the death list immediately was something.
“Ethan.”
As I stepped outside, a familiar voice reached me.
I smiled at the man who casually threw an arm around my shoulders.
“Godfather.”
“You impudent little brat. To think you would dare refuse a reward bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor right in front of him. If your father were alive, he would have had a fit.”
“Would he? If it were Father, I think he would have told me I did well.”
“That’s possible too.”
My late father’s friend of thirty years, and my godfather.
Gilbert Loublen. The current Count of Yutorar and Vice Minister of Finance.
The man most likely to be appointed as the next Minister soon.
He was the reason I had chosen the Ministry of Finance as the first stage for my activities.
A place with someone closer to me than anyone else was easier to maneuver in.
Connections existed to be used at times like this.
“What is the mood among the nobles?”
“You mean regarding the Crown Prince? Noisy. Extremely noisy. Without exaggeration, I don’t think it was even this bad when His Majesty became the new heaven.”
“So it is as expected.”
“The bigger problem is the Chancellor. Perhaps he already discussed it with His Majesty, but he has come out in very strong support of the Eighth Prince. That is what is fanning the flames even more.”
The right hand publicly acknowledged by the Founding Emperor. Chancellor Cheriot Merken.
His abilities were certain. He had perfectly assisted an emperor who had only martial might.
He also had a vision for the future, and the executive power to lead it.
Without any political reason or anything else of the sort.
He was an extraordinary man who had risen to the position of Chancellor entirely through his own ability.
‘The problem is that he’s radical to an excessive degree.’
Politics is not something you can simply force through just because you are right.
Those who oppose you do not oppose you because they are villains.
It is because their interests—and their survival—depend on it.
That is why negotiation and compromise are essential qualities for a politician.
Chancellor Cheriot was terribly weak precisely in negotiation and compromise.
Because of his overly firm faith in his own judgment and vision.
He judged and treated others only as allies—or enemies.
As a result, those who followed him trusted the Chancellor unconditionally.
But conversely, those who opposed him hated the Chancellor fiercely.
The virtue most necessary for standing at the very top of the political world.
Ability was, of course, important, but unfortunately it was not the first priority.
Acceptance. One had to know how to accept others, and be accepted by others as well.
Without that, even if one stood above all, one would only cause strife every day.
In politics, it was more important not to make enemies than to make allies.
“It would have been better if he had named the Minister of the Interior rather than the Chancellor.”
“I think so too. Though his abilities fall a little short compared to the Chancellor’s, the Minister of the Interior receives a certain degree of support from each faction.”
Unlike the Chancellor, the Minister of the Interior had a rather gentle way of speaking and acting.
The nobles, too, followed the Minister of the Interior more than the self-righteous Chancellor.
Because of this, even though the Chancellor had won the Founding Emperor’s absolute trust,
in the political world, he had to split influence half and half with the Minister of the Interior.
“But considering the Chancellor’s abilities, it is no wonder His Majesty chose him.”
It was only natural that the Founding Emperor asked the Chancellor to support the Eighth Prince.
His right hand, whom he trusted more than anyone. The kingmaker who had made him Emperor.
Of course he would want to attach such a great man to the son he had marked as his successor.
Hoping that, just as he had, the Eighth Prince would receive a great deal of help.
“More importantly, will you be all right?”
“What do you mean?”
“From what I saw earlier, Kamag Rezestis’s expression was not good at all. He seemed extremely displeased that displaced people would be entering near their territory. He may bear a grudge against you over this.”
“A grudge? Isn’t that a bit narrow-minded for a man who will one day become the Crown Prince’s maternal uncle?”
“That is what politics is like. It is a place where narrow-minded men strike and fight one another. A true saint would never set foot in such a mud pit.”
As we talked, we had somehow arrived near the Ministry of Finance.
Then my godfather suddenly looked around and whispered.
“So. Do you plan to support the Fifth Prince as well?”
“Godfather?”
“Honestly, considering what you showed earlier, it would not be strange for others to think so. Even if the opinion you offered was out of good intentions, to them it may have been interpreted as a sign that you do not want to join hands with the Eighth Prince and Rezestis.”
“I see.”
“What is with that reaction? Don’t tell me you were really aiming for that?”
Instead of giving any particular answer, I simply shrugged once.
At that, my godfather was shocked, saying he had wondered if it could be, but it had really been true.
He said he had told the people around him that I had merely suggested it because there was naturally a better course.
Or something to that effect.
“Then are you planning to go seek out the Fifth Prince like this?”
“No, not that either.”
“Not that? After going out of your way to say you are not on the Eighth Prince’s side?”
“Why are you doing this? I never said I was not on the Eighth Prince’s side. I merely suggested a better path for the Empire.”
I felt sorry toward my godfather, but I could not reveal all of my true thoughts.
The same applied even to my family. I had to carry this alone.
This was my duty as the head of the house. As the one responsible for my family and house.
A heavy burden that, following Father, had now been placed on me.
‘At present, the Eighth Prince has two powerful weapons the Fifth Prince lacks.’
One is a father, and the other is a mother.
Who supports the Eighth Prince most as Crown Prince?
The Founding Emperor himself. The master of the Empire. Their father.
No matter how much the retainers oppose it. No matter how many merits someone has.
If the Emperor says no, then it is no.
The will of the founder who opened a new heaven is, in itself, the mandate of heaven.
There is no one in the world who can defy it.
And the existence of his mother is also more important than one could imagine.
Whether one can receive aid from one’s maternal family or not. Whether one has a guardian or not.
That difference becomes an extremely important political asset.
Compared to the Fifth Prince, who lost his mother, the Eighth Prince has the Empress.
So long as she remains hale, the Eighth Prince’s position is unshakable.
It is clear that the Fifth Prince possesses outstanding abilities and receives much support.
However, the will of the Founding Emperor—the most important factor—points elsewhere.
The Empress, the most important person in the Empire after the Emperor, is the Eighth Prince’s mother.
This is why there is so much talk among the retainers.
No one can say with certainty that either side is correct.
Thanks to that, people like me who are watching the situation have more room to maneuver.
This is not cowardly fence-sitting. It is natural caution.
“As you know, Godfather, my family and house always come first.”
“Your father said the same. That is why he chose His Majesty the Emperor, and that is why he brought down Condor. But is this matter not a little different? Though the Eighth Prince is young, His Majesty’s will is firm.”
“That is why I have not yet made any official statement that I will support the Fifth Prince. Do you perhaps intend to support the Fifth Prince, Godfather?”
“If he helps the Ministry of Finance do its work properly, there is no reason I cannot.”
“Please don’t say that where everyone can hear.”
Of course, one could say that my godfather was right to some extent.
There was also the research by the author from Earth. I knew the novel was headed in a similar direction.
First, although the Founding Emperor was the Emperor, he was unexpectedly weak in politics.
And the other point was that the Empress’s health was poor.
Against expectations, the Eighth Prince might become Crown Prince.
Conversely, events might unfold exactly according to the historical research.
Either way, it was not something I had to involve myself in right now.
If I intervened too early and things went wrong, I would be purged on the spot.
There was still time. I also had room to observe the situation further.
What I had to do first was raise my own value.
Whether it was Rezestis and the Eighth Prince, or the Fifth Prince.
The goal was one thing. To make them recruit me personally.
Becoming a necessary existence was one path to survival.
“How is the establishment of the National Tax Service proceeding?”
“Smoothly. The Minister is frantic to make it his final achievement. As for me, I only have to take it and run it well. On top of that, since you happened to show His Majesty a good side of yourself, Ethan, matters will proceed even more smoothly. His Majesty mentioned your name personally, after all.”
My godfather’s words were indeed no empty boast.
Exactly one hour after I reported to the Ministry of Finance.
“Lord Montebello? The Minister is looking for you.”
I was summoned by the Minister, the head of our Ministry of Finance.
There are only two reasons to be called by a superior. Either it is good, or you are screwed.
Someone with something to hide would feel anxious. But I was not, not at all.
Then it must be for a good reason. There was no need to shrink back before the Minister.
“Welcome, Lord Montebello.”
“You may speak comfortably, Your Excellency. This is neither my house nor a social gathering. In the Ministry of Finance, I am a subordinate who receives Your Excellency’s orders.”
“Hearing you say that puts me somewhat at ease. Sit. My secretary will bring tea soon.”
Before the tea came out. And even after it was brought.
The Minister and I killed time with trivial conversation.
Rather than stealing wages, we were each arranging what we had to say.
“About that opinion you previously submitted. The matter of establishing the National Tax Service.”
“Yes, Your Excellency. Is there some problem?”
“No, not at all. Quite the opposite. News came in just a little while ago that His Majesty the Emperor specifically mentioned you, Ethan Montebello, and said to put more momentum behind your proposal.”
“His Majesty did?”
“It seems he has taken quite a favorable view of you. Is His Majesty not a man who is unstinting when it comes to pushing forward those he cherishes?”
It seemed my words and actions in the conference room earlier were the reason.
This was a good thing. If it was the Founding Emperor’s word, then it could never be delayed.
“For the time being, we plan to establish a Review Department, an Investigation Department, and an Enforcement Department within the National Tax Service. I intend to appoint you as the head of one of those departments. Is there a position you desire?”
“May I volunteer?”
“Thanks to you, His Majesty has shown expectations toward the Ministry of Finance. If it is burdensome, you may refuse, but that is not what you will do, is it?”
The Minister knew as well. Everyone was trying to quickly secure a position for themselves.
It could be simple greed, or it could be for survival.
Whichever it was, the Minister was extending a hand to me now.
With the meaning that, at least, he had no great desire to be hostile toward me.
“I would like to go to the Enforcement Department.”
“The Enforcement Department. Very well. Understood.”
“Ah, and. Your Excellency.”
This was not the end. It could not be wrapped up like this.
For the smooth operation of the National Tax Service. For my future position.
Because there was an example shown by the heavenly nation that served as the model for this structure.
“The personnel needed for the Enforcement Department will be somewhat unusual.”
“Unusual?”
“If the Enforcement Department moves, that means we are going to find those who did not obediently pay their taxes. We cannot very well go looking for them with only pens and paper in hand, can we?”