29. The Kingdom’s Government - The Price Too Great to Pay

Prime Minister Dill Weissman paced restlessly back and forth in his office. 

Though it was late enough to be called the middle of the night, he neither worked nor sat still, but just wandered aimlessly.

The reason was…

"…What is going on? Why hasn't there been any report?"

The Dark Side sent to the Earl of Heartfield's territory had not returned. In fact, not even a single message had arrived from them.

"It has already been ten days since then."

Dill sat down in his chair, but his irritation was evident as he bit his thumbnail repeatedly.

The Dark Side agents had infiltrated the area using the Rail River, which divides the kingdom north and south. Traveling via waterway is much faster than by carriage or on foot, so they should have already completed their mission and returned. Yet there was no sign of them—no letters, nor any kind of work.

Even as prime minister, Dill had a rough idea of why they hadn't returned. But acknowledging it was another matter entirely. To admit it would mean acknowledging his own downfall.

(It must be a coincidence… Perhaps some irregular event like a road blockade on their way back…)

Clasping his hands together, Dill closed his eyes as if clinging to hope. Just then, there was a knock at the door to his office. Startled, he opened his eyes, his face momentarily lighting up with relief.

"Come in—"

It had taken some time, but if they were finally back, there would be no problem. 

Dill's gaze fixed on the open doorway, but standing there was not one of the agents, but rather his butler.

"Lord…"

Seeing the man bow, Dill's face briefly reflected disappointment. But assuming the butler was here to deliver a message from the agents, he listened closely.

"…His Majesty has summoned you."

"What?"

The words Dill heard were entirely beyond his expectations.

"His Majesty has summoned you. A carriage is already waiting outside the mansion."

"Why…?"

Unable to grasp the situation, Dill asked in confusion. The butler, looking uncomfortable, hesitated before replying, "I do not know, but it would not be wise to keep His Majesty waiting…"

Dill instinctively glanced at the clock. Though it was not yet a new day, being summoned at this hour was far from normal.

This is not normal… Realizing this, Dill's face turned pale. Something extraordinary was happening, and it was unfolding around him in real time.

"Could it be…?"

He faltered, unable to finish his sentence. Urged by the butler, Dill hurriedly made preparations and dashed out of the mansion, rushing toward the carriage waiting for him at the entrance.

"Prime Minister, His Majesty Summons You"

The messenger bowed respectfully, delivering the message. Just as Dill nodded, multiple shadowy figures silently emerged around him. Their movements and aura unmistakably marked them as agents of the Dark Side. 

Overwhelmed, Dill's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.

"Lord—!"

The butler attempted to rush to Dill's side, but the messenger raised a hand to stop him.

"Prime Minister, His Majesty summons you."

Without further explanation, the agents supported the collapsed Dill and loaded him into the carriage.

A prime minister reduced to a trembling mess.

A late-night summons.

The butler and the other servants, completely bewildered, could do nothing but watch as the carriage carrying Dill disappeared into the darkness of the night.

———-

When Dill arrived at the royal palace, he was led to the usual council hall.

Unlike normal, the hall was dimly lit and quiet, and the only person available was the king, who was probably waiting for Dill.

"Y-Your Majesty…"

Dill opened his mouth cautiously, but King Gerald's voice cut through the air with disdain.

"Prime Minister, you've done something outrageous."

The grinding of Gerald's teeth was almost audible, and his face was contorted with fury. Overwhelmed, Dill instinctively stumbled forward, kneeling and pressing his forehead to the floor.

"Th-that's not true—"

Before Dill could finish his plea, Gerald tossed a letter onto the floor. It slid toward the prime minister, who hesitantly picked it up and read its contents.

It was a report from the Dark Side agents detailing the investigation into the Earl Heartfield's territory. The document clearly affirmed the innocence of the Heartfield family.

As Dill's hands trembled, clutching the report, he stammered, "B-but…" and began referencing the export of slimes and Evil Plants mentioned in the report.

"Indeed, raising magical beasts or trading them isn't explicitly prohibited, but—"

Gerald, coldly watching Dill's excuses, interrupted him sharply.

"They're just for cosmetics."

"Huh?" Dill responded, caught off guard by the abrupt statement.

"Slimes and Evil Plants are used as materials for cosmetics."

Gerald explained further, detailing how the products in question had been presented as gifts from the Heartfield family and a minor duchy. He elaborated:

• The new business involved using magical beasts from the Earl of Heartfield's territory and processing them with the duchy's technology.

• The initiative aimed to foster further development between the kingdom and the duchy.

• As a gesture of goodwill, the new cosmetics were being offered to the royal family and the grand duchy's ruling house.

"Do you understand? These are not military supplies, just cosmetics and beauty products. And at the very least, they followed proper protocol, unlike you."

Snorting derisively, Gerald glared at Dill. Though the king's expression suggested disdain for mere cosmetics, he failed to grasp the immense wealth potential they held.

"Despite this, you act arbitrarily and break the ancient covenant…"

With that, Gerald handed Dill another letter. It bore the official seal of the Heartfield family. Hesitant and trembling, Dill opened the letter and froze as he read it.

The letter expressed outrage over the treatment of the Earl of Heartfield's family, who had followed due process. Moreover, it revealed that the Marquis of Blauvelt was also involved in the business, assisting with trade routes for the product.

"Do you understand? Your actions have violated agreements with not just Heartfield but also the Marquis of Blauvelt!"

Two of the kingdom's most influential families were now aware that the covenant had been breached. This meant they could unite and revolt against the royal family at any moment.

And that wasn't the worst possibility…

"What… what about the other territorial nobles—?"

Dill's pale face reflected his growing dread. If word spread to other territorial nobles, the central government could face complete isolation. 

Though each noble pledged loyalty to the royal family, they typically lacked strong ties with one another. However, an infringement on their collective pride—their autonomy—could compel them to unite against the crown.

　What This Meant Was the Isolation of the Central Government.

Realizing the gravity of the situation he had caused, Dill looked at Gerald with lifeless eyes.

"Fortunately, they have agreed to keep this matter confidential from the other territorial nobles."

Gerald let out a sigh of relief as he handed Dill another letter. This one bore the seals of both the Heartfield family and the Blauvelt family. A joint letter—clearly an orchestrated move by Marquis Lucian.

The letter outlined the following demands, using the breach of the covenant as leverage:

1. To cease all tributes involving the products they planned to sell in the future.

2. To allow free trade for their products.

However, what caught Dill's attention most was the final line:

"…Mercy for Prime Minister Dill Weissman. Everyone makes mistakes."

It took Dill a few moments to fully comprehend what he was reading. The letter essentially called for his actions to be pardoned and for him to remain in his role as prime minister.

(Mercy…? No. This isn't mercy. They find it more convenient to keep me where I am.)

Even Dill could grasp this much. The nobles weren't showing him compassion; they were keeping him in place to exploit his weakness, making it easier to assert their influence over the central government.

(A puppet…)

The word surfaced in his mind, and it was clear that King Gerald understood this as well.

"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't even consider such a ridiculous demand. Frankly, handing over your head to them would be a better option."

Gerald muttered bitterly. If not for this one line in the letter, Dill knew that might very well have been his fate. His body trembled at the thought.

"But if I were to punish you without reason, it would only invite suspicion among the other nobles. That could lead to the ancient covenant breach accident becoming public knowledge."

Gerald heaved a deep sigh, fixing his eyes at Dill with a piercing glare.

"Understand this: we have no choice but to accept their proposal. From now on, you will have no right to speak in the council."

The king's gaze carried a tremendous menace, and Dill could do nothing but nod silently. His reckless actions had nearly sparked a civil war, and in exchange for avoiding immediate punishment, he was now condemned to a life as a powerless puppet.

For someone as proud as Dill, there could be no greater humiliation.

"If you understand, then leave for today. And don't even think of doing anything stupid. Remember, you are being watched."

With that, Gerald gathered the three letters and left the council hall, leaving Dill behind.

Dill, still dazed, showed no sign of moving. The sound of the hall door opening signaled the arrival of a man, presumably to escort him.

"Prime Minister, your carriage is ready."

Dill weakly nodded, muttering, "Ah, I see," before slowly heading toward the door. As he passed the man standing by the door, the figure spoke in an icy tone:

"Don't worry. When the time comes, we'll send you to our Goddess's side… in the grandest way possible."

It was undoubtedly someone from the Dark Side.

Even the option of dying on his own terms had been taken from him. Stripped of his pride, he could only await a cruel end.

This was truly a living hell.

Dill let out a broken, hollow laugh.

"Ha… hahaha… hahaha… hahahahahaha…"

The eerie, dry laughter echoed faintly down the silent corridor, reaching no one.

———

"I've Returned."

In the office of the Marquis of Blauvelt, Cedric, the son of Marquis Lucian and Liz's elder brother, knocked on the door. He had been overseeing the negotiations with the Hartfield family on his father's behalf.

"You're back."

"Yes. The Earl sends his gratitude to you, Father."

Cedric smiled, to which Lucian replied with a warm grin, "And you? Were you well?"

The two exchanged a brief discussion of the situation before Lucian broke into a chuckle.

"You've made quite an impressive move."

"I'm relieved to have met your expectations," Cedric replied with an exaggerated sigh of relief.

The mastermind behind the resolution of this ordeal had been none other than Cedric.

From the beginning, Lucian and the Earl of Heartfield had agreed to keep the matter confidential from other territorial nobles. Spreading word would only incite widespread anger, plunging the kingdom into chaos.

• Avoiding unnecessary conflict was essential for protecting the citizens.

• A conflict would disrupt the newly built enterprise.

• Any delays in the business would harm the prosperity of their territories.

Thus, it was imperative to handle the situation discreetly. However, if Dill were punished, it might provoke suspicion about the reasons behind his dismissal.

Though Dill himself posed no real threat, some form of retaliation was necessary. That's when Lucian entrusted his son Cedric, a capable and politically astute individual, with the task.

Cedric had transformed Prime Minister Dill into a puppet, effectively neutralizing his influence. At the same time, he secured freedom for future business endeavors.

But there was an even deeper layer to their plan.

"A puppet… that's just a bluff, isn't it?"

Lucian smirked, and Cedric, widening his eyes in mock surprise, laughed.

Neither Lucian nor the Earl of Hartfield had any interest in influencing the central government. What mattered more was rendering the Prime Minister's position meaningless.

Controlling an exposed puppet was stupid; it would be like showing one's hand to the opponent. However, allowing others to think they had a puppet could be advantageous.

As long as Dill was perceived as a puppet, he would be denied any real authority. A powerless figurehead filling the prime minister's seat was as good as having no prime minister at all.

Even if the prime minister were replaced, it would only aid the central government regain their strength.

"When the time comes to bring them down, it's best to do so decisively."

Lucian gazed out the window, his sharp eyes seemingly fixed on the royal palace far in the distance.

———

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