CH 159

“Well, that’s one job done.”

“Good work. Master.”

A gathering of nobles from all over the kingdom. The first event to be held since Raidorl became regent and stood at the centre of state affairs went off without a hitch but the event ended on an unsettling note.

Returning to his office, Raidorl sat down on the sofa and received a drink from his maid, Neimilia.

As soon as he sips the magically chilled fruit water, the fresh citrus flavours are pleasantly released into his nose.

“It was a stiff-necked meeting, but……at any rate, the first stage of reform is now complete. We have cleared out the rebellious aristocracy.”

“Congratulations, my king. This will eliminate a little bit of potential danger that has accumulated in the Kingdom of Zain.”

It was not Neimilia who addressed the King in a gentle tone, but a boy by the wall of the room.

Today, Sven Arbeil, who has officially become the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Zain, stands embraced from behind by his older sister, Angelica Ilkas.

Angelica’s lush breasts press against the back of Sven’s head, agitatedly reshaping it….Perhaps accustomed to excessive displays of affection, Sven no longer seems embarrassed or ashamed.

“Hm. I thought regent was a tedious task, but…it’s not a bad feeling to do something that even my big brother and Lockwood couldn’t do.”

Raidorl chuckles with amusement.

The kingdom of Zain was a monarchy, but the king was not always able to wield power, and the internal situation was far from monolithic.

Although the king reigned supreme, he was not able to exercise tyranny over the nobility.

Although Granard and Lockwood were capable politicians, they were often interfered with by the nobility, and their well thought out policies were often crushed when they failed to implement them.

In the first place, behind every regime, law or regulation, there are powerful people who have a vested interest in it.

Even in a system that is, by all accounts, ‘bad law’, reform will inevitably involve confrontation with powerful interests seeking to protect their vested interests.

Raidorl has succeeded in crushing the rebels who would have stood in the way of any real reform before it has even begun.

“It is fortunate for His Highness Reidl that the ‘pus’ that is eating away the country has been dealt with at an early stage. We have the Empire to thank for this.”

“Muuu……Sven, I’m not impressed with your praise of the enemy.”

At Sven’s murmur, Angelica frowned.

They had both lost their homes and families to the Empire, but their attitudes towards it were contrasting.

Sven sees the value of the relationship with the Empire, even if he doesn’t see it in himself, and he is positive about the peace. Angelica, on the other hand, is unhappy with the friendship she has established with the Empire and does not try to hide it.

She has not acted overtly because she has a younger brother who she loves dearly…….If it were not for Sven, she might have taken out her hatred on Raidorl even though he made peace with the Empire.

“But……the reforms have only just begun. The war with the Empire has given us an opportunity. It’s a good idea to take advantage of it.”

“Well, the chaos caused by the ravages of war has not yet subsided, so there will be no problem in forcibly carrying out reforms. You can purge them as traitors!”

Sven nodded his head with an innocent smile appropriate for his age.

The Kingdom of Zain has just finished its war with the Arslanian Empire. The effects of the deaths of Granard and Lockwood have not yet fully subsided.

It is precisely because of this situation that the reforms can be carried out by force on the kingdom.

Even if the noblemen who opposed the reforms have not committed any conspicuous injustice or treason, it is possible to take advantage of the chaos and dispose of them.

It is called ‘dictatorship’. A barbaric practice that will be condemned by future historians.

However…..Raidorl believed that it was necessary to correct the aristocracy’s arrogance and oppression that had been tolerated until now.

“The power of the nobility is too strong in this country. The nobles who rule the provinces impose taxes as they please to line their pockets and accumulate power by organising armies in the name of maintaining public order. And yet, while the country is being invaded by other countries, those who are supposed to be the king’s vassals are refusing to cooperate in the defense of the country with whatever theories they want. It’s insane.”

“If the nobles betray us, their territorial army will become our enemy’s army……We need to eliminate the privileges of the nobles and reduce their economic power, and the king must take full control of the military power to prevent rebellion.”

Many nations have risen and fallen in human history since ancient times, but surprisingly few have fallen solely for external reasons, such as invasion by other nations. In many cases, a nation’s downfall is the result of a combination of internal and external factors.

In fact, in the last war with the empire, many noblemen took advantage of the invasion from the empire and worked in the dark.

Raidorl aims to be a strong country that can crush such “internal troubles” and face the national crisis of “external troubles” as one.

“However, repeated purges will cause unrest and a decline in public order. The reforms must be carried out at once and in one go.”

Sven, still looking like a fool in Angelica’s arms, turns serious and talks about his theory.

That’s right. We’ve crushed most of the outspoken rebels, but if we start to……reform in earnest, there will be others who will rebel. Before they are ready to rebel, we’ll strip them of their noble privileges in one fell swoop and strip them naked!”

Raidorl made a blunt declaration and poured the fruit water given by Neimilia into his mouth at once.