Chapter 254

Words : 2316 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

“The king took the lead in overcoming the plague. Rumors are spreading among the people as well.......” Jacques Juan’s complexion hardened at the voice of Mike Teroa, which clearly revealed his discomfort. On top of that, Ivan Claude added a grim prediction. “Our position, which claimed the massacre at the Raftan domain, has become troublesome. If word of this leaks out.......” For the first time in a long while, Jacques showed his emotions clearly. “If it leaks out, what then?! What are you saying? Do you mean to suggest that these village idiots will rise up against the nobles?” Peasants, after all, could be slaughtered by the hundreds, even by a mere hundred knights. Though these were just thoughts spoken aloud, Mike and Ivan did not hide their displeasure at Jacques’ increasingly raised voice. “Count Jacques! We’re talking about your plan to pressure the king using public opinion! And what’s with this attitude now? Are you considering us mere underlings or what?” Chastised sharply by Mike Teroa, Jacques managed to control his expression at last. “Hmm. My apologies. I lost my composure due to an unforeseen situation. I apologize once again.” Despite his words, Mike and Ivan’s expressions did not fully relax. ‘Such a mistake.......’ Blaming himself for not controlling his emotions, Jacques took a deep breath once more. Then he smiled broadly and opened his mouth again. “Hmm. And as I was saying, even if the king turns the hearts of the people, what truly matters is the will of us nobles.” Their expressions remained unchanged. However, Jacques had an idea that could easily mend this minor rift. “And I have a plan to significantly strengthen our power. This will require the cooperation of you two gentlemen and several other nobles.” Only then did their expressions change. “......What plan?” “Don’t beat around the bush, just tell us, Count.” “It’s quite simple. You both know it’s about time that the peasants start starving.” “Hmm. And what of it?” “These peasants going hungry is nothing new. But what does that have to do with us?” Jacques grinned at the two men who showed no interest whether the peasants starved or not. “Last year, ‘because we had to’, the nobles collected much more tax than usual due to the king’s coercion. This year, the peasants won’t just be simply hungry.” He filled his glass with wine worth more than 1,000 gold per bottle as he sighed lightly. Of course, he never thought that one bottle could support a peasant family for a year. After all, this was a privilege that nobility deserved to enjoy. But now. “When it’s time to farm, some will starve to death. If the labor force needed to farm dies out, our income will decrease, so we must take some measures, right? Like distributing food.” Mike and Ivan reacted with surprise, unanticipated thoughts creeping into their minds. “Why would that be an idea to strengthen our power?” Clearly not having thought of that, Mike Teroda replied with a grunt. But outwardly, Jacques maintained his smile, raised his glass gently, and met the eyes of these two foolish nobles. “We distribute food to the peasants and then collect interest during the harvest season. Perhaps five-tenths will be appropriate.” “Ah......!” Realizing this scheme would further fill their storerooms, the two nobles admired the idea. But. Then Ivan, who was not entirely foolish, raised an objection. “Couldn’t we accomplish the same by simply wringing out more taxes? Why bother charging interest?” Of course, Ivan Claud did not say this out of concern for the peasants. His intent was straightforward. Why go through an intermediary step for something that could be done at once? Of course, Jacques had prepared his response, and now the real discussion began. “It’s not just our realms, but also the royal direct domain, Esperanza, and the Maclaine domain whose population could benefit from our food distribution. We will charge them interest. Especially the royal domain, isn’t it quite close to our three realms?” Hearing this, the nobles gasped. “If we offer a ‘legitimate’ reason to absorb the people and lands of other domains, even the king won’t be able to stop us.” “Ooh......!” “Indeed.......” Within the exclaimed praises of the two simpletons, Jacques felt his earlier discomfort ease into comfort. ‘By now, the taxes I’ve drawn in have been depleted. The royal family is stretched thin. Even if the sentiment from the plague shifted slightly, fate remains unchanged. Soon this kingdom will bend to my will.......’ Count Jacques Juan’s hopes rose high once again. * * * “Geron, I’m terribly sorry... if you have some leftover food at home, could you please lend a bit to us? I will certainly, certainly repay you!” Farmer Geron had reluctantly approached his next-door neighbor after much hesitation. However, his dear friend and neighbor Lethe did not welcome him warmly. “Ah! Man! Do you think I have any surplus?” “Yet your household has fewer mouths to feed than ours! As for my own home, we don’t even have food for tomorrow!” “We can barely survive a few more weeks ourselves, let alone until the harvest season......, I’m sorry!” Slam. With a pallid face much like Geron’s, Lethe closed the door with firm resolve. Geron, left with no choice, collapsed where he stood. The fact that they had no food for tomorrow was not an exaggeration. Having stretched their meals to one porridge a day over the past few weeks, their vision became blurred with hunger. ‘Must I really resort to approaching our lord?’ The recent decree noted something about borrowing food. At first, some residents celebrated thoughtlessly, but they soon realized the weight of the five-tenths interest. It meant trading their current hunger for a guaranteed hell in the future. But. ‘If not, my family will starve now.’ Stand up. Go to our lord. Even if it means enduring for the moment. Yet, knowing that such a decision would plunge him deeper into despair, his legs refused to lift. That was when. “Ge, Geron!! Did you hear the news!?” From a distance, another neighbor, Soren, came running, shouting. Knowing him to have been hungry since yesterday, Geron was shocked by his neighbor’s sudden burst of energy. ‘Where did he get that strength?’ Inevitably, such questions arose. “The royal officials are distributing food!! They are lending it without charge, only asking for the same amount in return after the harvest!!” “What!?” Geron was momentarily so astonished that he appeared dazed. Bang! The door that had shut firmly before burst open, and Lethe rushed out. “Hey, man. What are you saying!? Is it true that they’re lending food for free!?” Finally understanding, Geron was jolted awake and sprang to his feet. “Where, where is that person from the royal family!?” “What?” “I mean, where is the royal official!!” “He’s in the, the city.......” Before Soren finished speaking, Geron, as if he had never faltered, sprinted towards the castle like a whirlwind. – The royal family lends food for free. No strings attached, just return the same amount at harvest time. The royal decree, announced as soon as the farming season started, swept across the entire kingdom overnight. Regardless of crop outcomes, the numerous peasants who were worried about their immediate food concerns cheered throughout the kingdom. “We’re saved! We’re saved!” “Long live King His Majesty!” “Thank you so much. Thank you!” Not everyone was happy. “Why did they raise taxes in the first place if they were going to do this?” “That was the nobles man, not the royal family.” “What are you talking about? It’s because the royal family raised taxes that the nobles followed suit.” “Well, they’re both the same, aren’t they? But there’s a difference between those distributing food for free and those wanting to take half of it in interest.” “...True. The royal family is better than the nobles, at least.” Though there were criticisms, the sentiment towards the king and the royal family had notably improved compared to before, which could be felt by all. And so, sensing this shift in public opinion, the nobles gathered once more. Bang! “The royal family has no more strength? Wasn’t it Count Jacques who said that!” Mike Teroa, who had agreed to Jacques’ strategy when it was favorable, now yelled ferociously, tightening Jacques’ expression further. Adding fuel, “The strength of the royal family is completely different than expected!” “Then what about the army!? Isn’t it targeting us?” “Ah, come on. Have we done anything to offend His Majesty? If so, why would they need to...” All the gathered nobles viewed him with doubtful eyes. ‘Foolish fools thinking this now...’ Even as he bit his lip, Jacques could not easily come up with a response. For him, too, the situation was extremely unsettling. How did the royal family have such resources? If they did, why would they go to such lengths? ‘In a few years, they could have expanded their army gradually. There was no need for such a desperate move.’ It was a natural conclusion for those unaware of Logan and his confidants’ fears of the empire’s invasion. Eventually, Jacques arrived at his own conclusion within the confines of his understanding. “They gathered such funds suddenly? From where? Surely it’s not from a legitimate source?” Already having tasked various information guilds with uncovering answers, no clear ideas came to mind as he muttered to himself for weeks. Then, like hearing his whispers, one of his subordinates rushed in loudly. “Co, Count! We’ve received the results of our request!” The paper held promising information that brought a smile back to Jacques’ face. Three of the kingdom’s most famous information guilds provided the same details. Why would the empire help our kingdom out of nowhere? When explored deeply, it seemed completely absurd, but people tend to see only what they wish to see, even in identical scenes. ‘Right. The star of Grandia. The emperor’s high praises for King Logan are well-known.’ With that thought, Jacques suddenly stood up, raising his arms. “Everyone, don’t be anxious. Listen to me. It’s clear the royal family is out of strength. They squeezed out everything they had and engaged in a trick. When the harvest season arrives, the royal family will pay a much larger price for this reckless distribution of food.” With a confident smile on his face as he spoke, Jacques was genuinely convinced. If they had borrowed food from the empire, the turmoil in the royal court would not end there. Maclaine and Esperanza’s domains could collapse—no, they would certainly fall into such a bad move. ‘Thank you, foolish King.’ He couldn’t help but smile naturally. ‘Everything will be decided this harvest season.’ His mind clearly envisioned himself as the true power of the kingdom. * * * “That friend, Demian, is finally doing something proper. Well, the Imperial support is factual, although in the opposite direction they intended. Puhaha.” A faint smirk. “Yes. Well done, Philip.” Logan once again felt fortunate about being the first to scout Philip. Philip not only addressed the issue of food procurement this time but also showed his strong presence in the policy of distributing it to the people. Not a free distribution, but a free loan. Unilateral support would mean even those who don’t need it would collect their share, Philip argued, leading to several times the necessary cost. And that was proven true by the more efficient food distribution, changing public opinion far more favorably than expected. But Philip, after laughing, immediately turned serious. “This incident makes it clear. Your Majesty, the empire’s invasion isn’t just a paranoid worry.” Gazing at his vassal’s gray eyes filled with severity, Logan also nodded with a stern face. “...That’s why your role is still important, Philip. But won’t this action cause problems with the empire’s activities?” “The schemes they’ve plotted would have happened eventually. For now, they show no sign of active interference, intending to keep business going as if oblivious. The food was sent under various other names.” “Good work.” “And why must you go to such lengths? After all, these are your nobles that need to be taken care of.” “It’s necessary. I’m going to change the very nature of the country.” To Logan’s firm reply, Philip simply nodded. All close to him agreed on the necessity of preparing for an imperial invasion, but they were still on the path to that goal. Especially when it came to dealing with the nobles, Logan shared his plans with no one. Could be that his confidants assumed Logan simply aimed to make an example of a few insubordinate nobles. In truth, Logan’s thoughts were somewhat different. ‘This isn’t about punishing one or two people to change the nature of things.’ He knew he wasn’t particularly clever, but the undertaking before him had successfully transformed a neighboring country centuries ago. Therefore, he proceeded without consultation. Moreover, in case the information leaked, he could face rebellion from his ‘noble’ confidants. So. “I will settle everything in the kingdom by this year.” [I’m looking forward to it.] As numerous thoughts and expectations diverged, Fall approached quickly. The confirmation of a large amount of food under various names from the empire. The emperor’s fond regard for King Logan. This Imperial support from the Royal House is set to last only until just before the harvest season, and after, the Royal House will repay the interest. The royal treasury is presumed depleted. Food rations for the training army are being reduced.

Chapter 254

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