Chapter 2: Start From X (part 1)

The technology in this world was kind of all over the place.

On Earth, technology had moved like this: from man power, to the water wheel

and windmill, to the steam engine, and then on to the combustion engine. It was a

series of incremental advances.

If you wanted to fly freely through the sky, before you could build an airplane,

you would first need to discover the concept of lift, and a propulsion system (the

internal combustion engine) would need to be created. In order to create that

propulsion system, you would need to understand the system behind how things

burn. In the history of Earth, new technologies had always been built atop other

technologies that had laid the groundwork for them.

However, in this world, there were mysterious creatures and magic. If you

wanted to fly freely through the sky, you could just ride a wyvern. These people had

skipped past the concept of lift and propulsion systems and just gone flying.

In a world where you can create fire, ice, and more with magic any time you want

to, the difference between what is possible and what is not becomes extreme.

In this world, they had large tamed beasts that could haul as much as a four ton

truck.

There were steel battleships, only they were drawn by massive sea dragons.

There was no electricity, yet the nights were bright in this country. The street

lamps had lightmoss in them, which stored light energy during the day and was

phosphorescent at night, keeping the town lit.

They didn't have gas, they used firewood, ovens, and fire magic (or magic items)

to cook.

There were no aqueducts; however, all around town, there were wells with water

elemental spells cast on them that drew water from deep below the earth... well,

that's enough examples to get the point.

In this country, even without science, many things could be done with magic.

Turning that around, if you were to take away their magic and mysterious creatures,

this country's civilization would not be that advanced. Comparing it to a point in our

own world's history, they were probably in the late Middle Ages or early modern

period, at best. The feudal system was still intact, and the industrial revolution a

long ways away.

That was the kind of country I was now king of.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Liscia, agricultural reforms don't happen overnight," Souma told me. "So, for the

time being, I suppose we'll have to increase our imports from other countries to

compensate."

I sat across from Souma, nibbling on my toast as he talked. On the narrow table,

there was a basket of bread, as well as plates with scrambled eggs, sausage and salad

for two on them. It was breakfast time.

"But didn't you say imports are expensive, and that causes a decline in consumer

spending?"

"I did. That's why we'll probably end up having the country buy up goods, then

resell them at domestic prices for a time. We'll take a loss on the tariffs, but we need

to bear it for now. I'd like to make up the shortfall with exports, but first we'll need

to find a replacement for our current primary export, cotton."

"Sounds hard... Anyway, let's set that aside for a moment." I asked the question

that had been bothering me for a while now. "You're the king, so why on Earth are

you eating in here?!"

This was the castle cafeteria. What's more, it was the general cafeteria which the

soldiers and maids used. What we were eating right now was the A-Set lunch for this

morning. The king of a country was sitting amongst the guards, eating the same food

that they did. There were limits to how little dignity a king could be allowed to have.

"The constant curious glances from the guards and maids are starting to hurt,

you know!" I protested.

"Don't let it bother you. The whole castle is being frugal right now, so I can't allow

wasteful spending on my meals."

"Didn't you say austerity measures were a bad influence on the economy?!"

"If you just accumulate the money you're saving, yes," he said. "But if the extra

money is used properly, it makes the economy go 'round."

"Still, that doesn't mean we have to eat here."

"Well, do you want to eat this stuff at the big royal table? It'll feel even more

unsatisfying that way."

"You may be right, but still..."

Even so, it felt wrong eating with all these people watching us. Even if I was used

to it from my days at the officers' academy, I was technically Souma's fiancée, a

person under the scrutiny of the masses, and to their eyes, here we were having a

rendezvous. How could I stay calm like that?

I sighed. "If we're cutting back on food costs, should I speak to my parents?

They're always eating cakes and such at tea time."

"Oh, that's fine. Those are all 'offerings' anyway."

"Gifts, you mean?" I asked in surprise. Could our people afford to do that?

"Well, they're from large stores and stores owned by the nobility, you see. Even

with a guy like me as king, being a purveyor to the royal family is prestigious,

apparently. Even with the food shortages, we still get sent a lot of stuff."

"Please, don't speak ill of yourself like that," I said. "You're a king now."

"A lot of the foods are sweet, but they don't have a long shelf life. Since I don't

have much of a sweet tooth myself, I give them to the former royal couple or the

maids and have them write reviews. Then, for the ones that are rated highly, I give

them a royal warrant of appointment. It's gone surprisingly well."

"So that's why..." I murmured.

Lately, I'd been hearing "all's not quiet on the weight-loss front" from the maids.

There had even been reports that some of the maids were joining the guards for

training.

...I'd better be careful, myself, I decided.

In contrast to me as I made promises to myself, Souma was looking off into the

distance.

"I-Is something the matter?" I asked.

"No, it's just... If the food budget were tighter, we might be subsisting on a diet of

cake three times daily... Hahaha... I nearly put 'If they have no bread, let them eat

cake' into practice myself."

"If people didn't know the circumstances, there could be a revolution over those

words..." I said.

"You two seem to be enjoying yourselves."

When I turned in the direction of the sudden voice, I saw a young man in the

fluted armor (minus helmet) of the Royal Guard. He was tall, with a sufficiently

sturdy frame, and from behind his long, straight blonde hair peeked a beautiful face

that probably made him popular with the ladies.

"Why, Sir Ludwin," I said.

"It has been too long, my princess. No... perhaps I should call you my queen now."

"Um, well... I'm not either of those at the moment, actually."

Seeing our exchange, Souma had a look on his face that said "Who is this guy?"

"Souma, this gentleman is Sir Ludwin Arcs of the Royal Guard," I said, introducing

him.

Despite his youthful age, just under thirty, Sir Ludwin was a genius who had been

made head of the Royal Guard. In times of peace, the head of the Royal Guard was

responsible for security in the capital, Parnam, as well as at Parnam Castle, but in

times of crisis he was also given command of the king's personal forces, the

Forbidden Army. Though, that said, practical military control of the country lay in

the hands of the Three Dukedoms.

"The Three Dukedoms" referred to the two dukes and one duchess who held

control of the land, sea, and air forces.

The current holders of the Three Dukedoms were, as follows:

General of the Elfrieden Kingdom Army, Duke Georg Carmine. A beastman with a

lion's mane. He commanded his troops with the intensity of a raging fire, striking

fear into the hearts of our enemies.

Admiral of the Elfrieden Kingdom Navy, Duchess Excel Walter. A sea serpent

descended from pirates. She was an incredible woman, adept not only at fleet battles

but also in politics.

General of the Elfrieden Kingdom Air Force, Duke Castor Vargas. A dragonewt. He

was king of the skies and leader of the stars of the royal army, the Wyvern Knights.

In exchange for swearing fealty to the kingdom, their families were allowed to

hold territory (duchies) within the kingdom, where they were given self-rule.

At the time of the kingdom's founding, this kingdom having been created by the

coming together of many races, this system had been put in place to protect their

races from friction with the others. However, even now, with all of the races living in

harmony, the system still remained in place. In exchange for territory, their families

put their lives on the line to defend the country they loved. That was the pride of the

Three Dukedoms.

However, at present, the Three Dukedoms had taken their forces and were

secluding themselves in their own territories. It seemed these three, with their great

love and respect for the former king, had not yet recognized Souma, who had

ascended the throne in a manner that looked like he was usurping it, as their liege.

That was the source of Souma's current worries.

If you combined the three duchies, they made up a third of the country. Without

their cooperation, Souma's reforms would be difficult to accomplish.

I myself had written to Duke Carmine, who loved me like a daughter, a number of

times, asking him to meet with Souma directly, but the reply was always, "As yet, I

see no cause to trust him."

He was a man who was resolute in his convictions, but I had never known him to

be so blindly stubborn. So why was he being so stubborn this time? For my part, I

hoped he would accept Souma as soon as possible.

Without any idea how I was feeling, Souma was shaking hands with Sir Ludwin.

"I'm Souma Kazuya. Technically, I'm the king of this country now."

"I'm Ludwin Arcs. I've heard rumors of your hard work from the civil servants."

"Well, you tell those civil servants, 'If you have time to gossip, work harder' for

me."

"Hahaha, I'll do that. Would you mind if I joined you for breakfast?"

"It's fine with me."

"Thank you."

Sir Ludwin brought over a breakfast tray, and sat down next to me. "So, how are

things going? With these reforms of yours, I mean, Your Majesty."

"...Not so well," Souma complained between bites of toast. "We're especially

suffering from a lack of qualified people. At present, I've inherited the previous

king's advisors. In other words, the people who left the country alone until it got this

bad. Setting aside Prime Minister Marx, the rest are all useless."

This country was an autocratic state. The will of the king was strongly reflected

in its politics.

There was a Congress of the People which all citizens had the right to vote for

representatives in, but it was merely a place where laws and policies to "suggest" to

the king were drafted, and these laws and policies would later be "suggested" to the

king by the prime minister. In short, it was a glorified suggestion box, and whether

these suggestions would be implemented or not was entirely up to the king.

Though, that said, if the king were to just do whatever he pleased, he would lose

the hearts of the people, and would likely see himself deposed by the Three

Dukedoms...

Furthermore, when the king wished to consider different policies, he could

summon advisors other than the prime minister. The king would confer with his

advisors, deciding if his policies would be effective or not. The selection of advisors

was left to the king's sole discretion. He could hire whomever and however many he

wanted,

In truth, even before taking the throne (in this kingdom, from the time one was a

prince), a prospective king would begin to gather people who might become his

advisors. But with Souma having ascended the throne so suddenly, he had none.

"People who can tell me the things I want to know, and who will work hard at the

tasks I set them to," he said. "Those are the sort of personal retainers I want."

"I understand. All those who stand above others long to have capable

underlings," Sir Ludwin said.

"Is it the same for you in the Forbidden Army?"

"Yes. Most of the graduates from the Officers' Academy request to be assigned to

the armies of the Three Dukedoms. Since, while they call us the Forbidden Army,

we're basically just the capital's defense force. It's not a popular posting, is it,

Princess?"

"Well... I guess not. Most of my classmates went to the armies of the Three

Dukedoms."

I was in the land forces, but that was because there was no point in me joining

the Forbidden Army, since it existed to protect the royal family.

"Well, there you have it. These days, the Forbidden Army has a lot of misfits and

eccentrics in it. We even have a mad scientist who drifted over to us from the

Weapons Development Branch."

"Oh, now that sounds like someone I'd want to meet!" Souma said.

Seeing Souma's enthusiasm, Sir Ludwin replied, "I'll introduce you sometime." He

laughed wryly.

After that, we made small talk for a while and then parted with Sir Ludwin.

When I get back to my room, I'll send another letter encouraging Duke Carmine to

meet with Souma, I thought to myself