Side Story 69
“What sort of nonsense…..!”
Crown Prince Lucio was the protagonist of the voice that rang out from within the national assembly hall of the Acreo Empire’s imperial palace. It was a sudden emergency council meeting. Duke Tonz’s seat was vacant and Viscount Grant, who had put forward an assembly agenda, was also absent.
But Lucio couldn’t say a word properly.
“However, there are too many of those who find it unfair.”
In contrast to Lucio, the Marquis of Weiand, Jack, was calm. He was controlling the mood of the council.
“Then…….”
Was the public sentiment over such trifling things so important?
But Lucio soon came to his senses and didn’t merely say that. Instead, he expressed his feelings temperamentally.
“I organized it a bit for that reason this time.”
Count Alvin’s voice followed up as soon as Jack finished speaking. “Before I begin, I would like to say that the rationale for this case is that the use of the words ‘ship tax’ were found to be ambiguous or unjustified.”
Everyone in the Council was concentrating on Count Alvin’s voice.
“It concerns the bronze fountain statue that was suddenly erected. It was supposed to be constructed in the name of boosting public morale, but first and foremost, it was impossible to find the data on which this was based on.”
Lucio frowned at those words. And the nobles turned their heads and covered their mouths.
There was a rumor circulating openly among the nobles. The genetic characteristic of the imperial family was curly hair. While it was under the pretext of promoting so-called goodwill, the nobility could not have been ignorant of the crown prince’s ambition contained in it. They just pretended not to know.
Who didn’t know that every emperor wanted to be commended for their own achievements. Lucio tried to build a statue for a good reason, so everyone let it slide.
“There was a conclusive report that the money collected there would be credited to the imperial family. Its use, however, is unclear- that’s the second reason.”
Lucio’s eyes turned to Jack. He was openly making a mockery of him. But as always, Jack’s face appeared nonchalant. He neither smiled nor frowned as per usual. He looked on as if it were obvious.
“In addition, it’s believed that an exact grounds for such a decision should be provided, as gifting Minnippi to a certain family in the name of exclusive trade rights may be an issue of fairness. That is all.”
The Council was silent after Count Alvin finished his words. Only a fiery staring contest ensued. It was roughly concluded with a decision that the majority of the aristocrats needed an in-depth discussion of what was unclear.
“Marquis Weiand. Isn’t this an important juncture?” Lucio said to Jack, who was the last of all the nobles about to leave. “Even despite knowing how much preparation I made for Minnippi?”
Of course it was this period of all times. When he was trying to establish his own position. Lucio clenched his fists.
“Your Highness, it doesn’t matter when. Furthermore, there is no setback to the event Your Highness is preparing for. All Your Highness wants is cultural exchange through trade and the prosperity of the empire, isn’t it?”
Jack’s countenance was the same as it was during the assembly. But his gaze was even sharper as he directed it at Lucio who hesitated to answer.
“Is there any reason why it must be those families in particular or is there another reason why the taxes were suddenly increased?”
The reason why he was siphoning off the money perhaps meant that he was trying to do something in collaboration with those families.
“……… Of course not.”
And Lucio’s answer was determined. Jack smiled at his response.
“If so, then there seems to be no problem, Your Highness. Do you mind if I take leave now?”
Jack saluted him with a bow and left the assembly hall. There was no one left but Lucio, who remained speechless.
The outcome of the assembly meeting was quickly delivered to Minnippi.
*
“Thank you. Young Master, thank you so much. Your Ladyship Weiand*, thank you very much.”
[TL/N: I looked up how aristocrats are properly addressed and it turns out this would be a correct form of address by a commoner towards any noblewoman of peerage other than the Duchess. The way the peerage has been orally addressed has evolved over the centuries to currently be ‘The Lady…’ in general, but I’ll use ‘Your Ladyship’ to signify the difference between commoner and gentry’s address of the peerage, and those of aristocrats.]
The townspeople came to the castle in the morning upon receiving the news. They then proceeded to bow their heads to the point where the crown of their heads was visible.
“I heard about your upcoming departure. It may be a simple one, but there will be a small event in the evening a few days from now. I sincerely hope for your attendance.”
At Klein’s words, Ver and Prillance looked towards each other, exchanged glances, and nodded.
“We’ll be sure to attend.”
“Thank you very much! I’m sure everyone else will be overjoyed!”
Klein left the drawing while repeatedly stating his anticipation of their attendance.
“I’m glad it worked out well.”
Prillance’s mood improved immensely thanks to the people she was fond of.
“It’s all thanks to my lady. I would have never done it if I were on my own.”
Additionally, Jack would have to exert great power within the Council. Ver had to wrap things up and return to the system.
“It was Sir Viscount yourself who put forward your opinion to the Council.” Prillance’s voice was full of vigour.
She looked back towards Ver with cheer but her gaze soon strayed; the same was true of Ver. Both of them were mutually trying to avoid seeing into each other’s feelings.
“She’s the one who planned to marry Duke Tonz. There’s no way such a person will like you.”
He wondered if his mind would have been a little more at ease if he hadn’t listened to Cecia’s cold words. But he knew best that wouldn’t be the case.
In spite of telling Jack that he would not let her suffer, his heart, which had seemed content just by being next to her, grew greedy. He thought he appeared to have drawn closer to the gentle and kind Prillance during this trip.
So he needed to turn away. So that these feelings wouldn’t grow further.
“The first is always an unforgettable moment for anyone.”
[TL/N: This statement is purposefully left ambiguous.]
At the same time, Prillance was also brooding over what Roman had said.
It is said that men who meet their first love again after a long time would rouse in them a feeling of excitement they had forgotten. He wouldn’t be able to forget the intensity of those initial feelings.
For Ver, the first one had always been Cecia. Feelings of excitement towards the other person and feelings of wanting to be happy all the time. Prillance did not exist in any of those memories.
For those two people, a part of their hearts must have been throbbing and hurting at the same time.
“The first…….”
“Yes?”
“It’s my first time, this festival.”
Prillance’s face as she carefully said that this was her first time did not contain any excitement as was expected. Rather, it was evidently conveying something as those eyes looked at Ver.
“Together….. Will you go with me?”
It would be Ver’s honour to be the one to go together with Prillance for her first experience. Besides, she was asking to go with him and not him. Choice was always preferable over coercion. Ver let out a small laugh.
Making a choice was solely up to oneself. And so far, all those decisions have been made by himself.
“Of course.”
He always had a definite answer. If Prillance didn’t tell him to leave, then perhaps he would keep making the choice to stay by her side. Of his own accord.
“It is my honour.”
Unlike before, Ver smiled. It was a little refreshing but it also contained a little sadness at the same time.
The same was true of Prillance, however, for her own smile was sad as well.
*
James came into Roman’s room. He held a box in his hands.
“That’s a sound box.”
It was a new device being introduced to the masses in the Barua Kingdom. It was to rescue the subjects who had no choice but to suffer one-sidedly under the nobles.
So what he came up with was a ‘sound box’.
A house was set up with the name ‘Soriham*’ to listen in on conversations in every region. The people who could enter were limited to those who were ‘non-aristocrats’. There, people could come in and release their resentments. Then, the person who was listening in on their conversations and laments on the other side could write this down by hand and send it to the royal family.
[TL/N: It’s the romanization of the words that mean ‘sound box’. Just thought it would sound less awkward.]
No one would be able to tell who the listener was. Furthermore, the soldier guarding the Soriham will only be assigned to do so for that one day to exclude the possibility of someone taking advantage of it as much as possible.
Contained in the boxes would be the voice of people transmitted from each region to the kingdom. The kingdom would then secretly dispatch an investigation to the places where the voices of the people were conveyed. Of course, only Roman would know where the destination is.
Aside from the letters in the ‘sound box’, there was also a letter from Brett who was managing Barua.
After reading all the letters delivered, Roman handed the box back to James.
Perhaps it would be better to head back to Barua earlier.”
Wrinkles formed on his forehead. His schedule was unexpectedly pushed forward.
Join our Discord for fun and spoilers! Support us for faster releases!
