Chapter 56

Chapter 56

“It’s more than half of the kingdom’s annual expenditure. It is true that the income tax Prince Davey has paid has rescued the Rowane Kingdom out of a financial crisis and brought hope for our recovery. You all seem to be getting ahead of yourselves. Shouldn’t we discuss the root of this matter first?” Duke Bariatta maintained a tone that made it seem like he had no other intentions, and spoke as if he was trying to help Davey.

“Discuss the root of the matter?”

“That’s right. What you are debating about is how to make the moon grass business beneficial to the kingdom, isn’t that right?”

“Yes. This is a revolutionary business. If we utilize it well...”

“However, why are you trying to give the business rights to the kingdom and make decisions about it without the opinion of Prince Davey, the biggest contributor?” Everyone went silent as Duke Bariatta spoke, and so he went on. “Are your statuses greater than the royalty of this kingdom?”

No one seemed to be thinking clearly because of the sudden success of this business; in reality, there was really no reason to nationalize the moon grass business.

“Also, isn’t Prince Davey already independent from the palace?” Duke Bariatta pointed out.

“B—But...”

“Marquis Farondis.”

“Y... Yes.”

“If you were told to give all your wealth to the kingdom for its well being, would you do it?”

“Th... That is...”

Everyone remained silent.

-Why do you think he is helping you?

‘Does it look like he’s helping me? To me, it looks like he’s playing a trivial trick.’

Perserque nodded. Unfortunately, Davey could already sort of see what Duke Bariatta was trying to do.

“Ahem!” The conference room was filled with silence and a few awkward coughs. Most of the people were trying to gain some profit from the business by not allowing it to be monopolized. Some were probably trying to find a way to use the money earned by the territory to fill their own pockets.

“As such, everything is up to Prince Davey. This is not something for you people to argue about.”

“Ahem... Of... Of course.”

“I wasn’t thinking straight.”

The atmosphere started to settle down, and it seemed like the end of the conversation. However, there was no reason for Duke Bariatta to take Davey’s side without any insidious intentions.

“Let the Heins Territory take care of their own business. That’s what is beneficial to the kingdom, is that not right, Your Majesty? If this business were forced to be nationalized, that would be oppression. Then, no one would want to start a business in the future.” Duke Bariatta stared at Davey with indifference.

Davey just silently nodded. Then, he commented with such sarcasm, “There’s an old saying: give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.”

The faces of the nobility and royalists turned red with embarrassment.

“So, Duke. That’s not all you had to say, am I wrong?” Davey spoke to Duke Bariatta.

“Did it seem that way? But yes, there’s something more important. I just felt that the situation needed some intervention.”

If anyone else saw this, it would seem like Duke Bariatta was looking out for Davey despite being aloof. As Duke Bariatta spoke, he pulled out a small bunch of papers from his chest pocket. It was a properly wrapped parchment, which looked like a command paper from an emperor. “It is correspondence from the High Priest of the Valchas Empire.”

“Correspondence?” King Krianes asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Duke Bariatta handed the letter to King Krianes. He continued, “They are asking to examine the stigmata of Prince Davey, and if it is confirmed, they are proposing that he be moved to the empire so that he could be given the title of a saint.”

Duke Bariatta had checked the correspondence from another country’s High Senate, the people right under the Pope, who was the commander of the entire empire, without the king’s permission.

-What a selfish man. And this kingdom is a mess.

As soon as Duke Bariatta stopped speaking, a boy who kept silent until now finally stood up. It was as if he had been waiting for this very moment.

It was the Second Prince Carlus; he attracted even more attention because he was wearing a weird hat unlike before. He gave Davey a big smirk, then stood up. He bowed to King Krianes and confidently opened his mouth. As everyone was waiting for his speech....

“

Ribbit!”

A strange frog-like croak came out of Carlus’ mouth.

–

Giggle!

At the same time, Davey shook as he held in his laughter and Perserque, who couldn’t hold it in, covered her mouth with her small hands. It was only right for a present to be opened at an important place, right?

24. How to Get in Touch with Dwarves.

“Th... This is...” As if even he was bewildered by the sound coming from his mouth, Carlus frowned. However, unlike his intentions, his voice just kept proudly boasting its presence. “

Caw! Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

When the nobles saw Carlus making all kinds of weird bird noises, their jaws dropped. This was even enough for the composed Duke Bariatta to lose his cool. He asked, “Carlus. What are you doing?”

“Th... That is...

Squeak!

” Carlus stuttered. He looked so confused by how he couldn’t control the sounds from his mouth, even though he was making them. “Y—Your Majesty!

Growl... Woof woof!

”

It just seemed like Carlus was goofing off.

-Y... You. This is a little... Hup! Ahahahaha!!!

Perserque, the former Demon Lord, couldn’t hold it in and burst out in laughter.

“

Snicker

!” In fact, it wasn’t just Perserque who couldn’t hold in her laughter. Everyone else was in the same situation. Some of the nobles laughed at how ridiculous Carlus looked, then covered their mouths and tried to keep their composure. Among them, Davey was barely holding it in too.

“How dare you try and joke around in the royal court! Get out!”

As King Krianes shouted angrily, Carlus tried to express how this wasn’t his doing. “Your Majesty, please believe me!

Quack quack

!”

“Guard! Lock him up in a room! Leave him there to think about his wrongdoings, and don’t let him out until I say so!”

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doo!”

As the guard pulled him out of the room, Carlus, who was desperately shouting, began to flail so hard that his hat was tipped off of his head.

1. The Andong Kim family was a family of nobility that had become extremely powerful near the end of Joseon, the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, and had been the ones who held the power in the country. ☜