Chapter 8: extra 6

There were some minor problems here and there regarding the Forseed County territory change, but they were sorted out somehow, in the end.

After confirming that the count had moved to his new territory, the front lines of the Demon Forest were receded till where the pioneering was taking place.

“That’s one problem straightened out.”
“Yes. With this, the army can manage the forest without any problems.”

The Demon Forest was rapidly approaching to no end, but the quality of monsters had dropped leagues below, allowing even the central army could hold its own against them.
There were strong monsters initially, and equipment and other items had also started breaking.
Things had almost reached a point where the central army alone would be incapable to manage the situation, so recent events also served as a respite for the Defense Minister.

With the level of monsters they were facing now, they could afford a long drawn-out battle.
The selling price of monster stones would certainly go down, but it was within tolerable range.

These few months were one misfortune after another, but a part of that was over now.

“Then let’s begin our meeting to discuss next year’s budget.”
“Certainly. This is our forecast for next year’s expenditure.”

Saying that, the Finance Minister handed out copies of the documents.
At the same time, the entire room grew restless.

“This is less than half our budget from this past year! What is the meaning of this?”
“Finance Minister! Isn’t there some sort of mistake?”

Outraged voices rang out one after the other.
Unsurprisingly too, because less than half of our past years’ budget was printed on those papers.
If no one else had lashed out, I would have done so myself.

“Finance Minister. I am also curious as to how this happened.”
“Certainly. Since we handed over most of the breadbasket to Count Lunan Forseed, no taxes shall be collected from it.”
“Nonsense! We should be earning taxes from it, regardless of whether we have direct control or not.”
“That is not possible. A nobility that undergoes territorial change, is exempt from paying taxes for 3 years. Making exceptions out of isolated cases would only serve to harm us.”

When I ask the Finance Minister for a reason, I receive an answer from the Home Minister instead.

So that’s the case.

To earn the support of its residents, as well as to effectively enact new policies, a territory was exempted from taxes after territory exchange.

“Since Count Lunan Forseed was shifted from those undeveloped lands to one raised by the royal family, is there any reason to refrain collecting taxes from him?”
“Indeed. It would have been different had they been of equal value, but this time’s territory change was already quite generous of us. We have no reason to spoil him any longer.”
“Mmm…”

The Finance Minister follows up with Defense Minister’s opinion.
Home Minister seemed like he wanted to oppose them, but held his silence.

“As decided, the House of Lunan Forseed shall pay 50% in taxes like before, is that alright?”
“? Finance Minister, wasn’t the 50% tax slab exclusive for Duke families? Lunan Forseed is only but a Count.”
“Apologies, You are correct. I wonder what’s the tax slab for Counts? There are barely any who hold lands, so I forget.”

Typically, Dukes and Marquis were the only land-holding aristocrats.
From there, that land is divided between the lower houses of Barons and Viscounts.
Of course, since most of the country is divided between Dukes and Marquis, the 50% tax is also indirectly levied from Barons and Viscounts as well.

Since land wasn’t typically granted to Count houses, everyone had forgotten the tax slab they belonged to.

After a while, the Finance Minister’s subordinate looked it up and whispered it to him.

“What! Is that the truth!?”

Upon hearing the message from his subordinate, the Finance Minister widened his eyes to the point they might pop out.

“Finance Minister? What’s the matter?”
“Yes, it’s…”

Hearing my anxious inquiry, the words get stuck in his throat, yet he manages to continue.

“…It seems, that the tax collection rate of Count houses is 5%.”
“WHAT!?”
“Normally, gifting land to a Count was, well, largely done as a reward, so their tax is set to be 5% at most.”
“…..”

I see.
It’s the work of that lascivious king.

The lascivious king of 15 generations before, had laid his hands on daughters of multiple aristocrats.
The angered aristocrats were about to revolt against him, so he decided to quell them by promoting them to Count status.
He possessed a formidable record in wars, and had already laid waste to two countries before that.
The achievements of the lascivious king were made the achievements of the aristocrats, and the Counts of the time were promoted to Marquis status, owing to their contribution in his forces.

His barbarity didn’t just end there.
Since he didn’t own those lands in the first place he set their taxes to the bare minimum, and in exchange, he pushed the women he impregnated to those Counts.
The lands entrusted to them were originally part of another country, so it was convenient that they were far away from the royal capital.

That’s also a part of the reason why Counts, despite belonging to higher echelons of the aristocracy, were treated with disdain.

“C, can’t you do away with such old policies?”
“T, that is…”

Home Minister looked at me helplessly.
I too had taken a few concubines from the Count houses.
The tax slab couldn’t be increased on my behalf, no matter what.

The few aristocrats present also had pale faces.
They must have made requests to Count houses as well.

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Regardless, this would be a big wound to the country.

“Y, yes, since is an important piece of land after all, it is outrageous for a Count to be allowed to govern it. How about promoting him?”
“Hmm. But what explanation shall we give?”
“T, that is…”

The Count had no impressive combat achievements.
Being granted this land, was nothing but a sheer coincidence.

The one who did hold combat achievements, Lain, was chased away by the Count so that reason couldn’t be used any more.

“That’s it. What if the royal family married down? Making the daughter of the royal family his concubine and legal wife, is enough to serve as precedent!”

The Finance Minister wracked his head and came up with an idea.
It seemed like a sound one, even to me.

An ancestor of mine had raised a house to Duke status, on account of his daughter’s cuteness.
He was as foolish a king, as there could be.
But having a precedent made things all the more easier for us.

Even foolish royalty hit the mark, sometimes.

“That’s a good plan. Who do you think is the most appropriate?”
“…My Liege.”

Home Minister speaks up with a pale face.
I had a bad feeling for what I was about to hear.

“What? Are you against the royal family marrying down?”
“Not at all. I have no qualms about that part, especially since we’ll have a precedent. However, Count Lunan Forseed suffered grave injuries during a visit to his old territory, making him incapable of conceiving children.”
“WHAT!?”
“The eldest son who was supposed to succeed him passed away, while the second son is only 5 years of age. Waiting for him to mature, means no tax from that land for at least a few years.”
“Muu.”

It would cause several problems, if the taxes were halved for a few years more.
I wanted to be done with the marriage as soon as possible, and promote him to Duke.

“Also–“
“There’s still more!?”
“Yes. It seems, that the Count’s company also suffered grievous injuries due to the knight corps, which failed in subjugating the oncoming monsters. As a result, there are many in his house who hold a grudge against the royal family. His wife also passed away during the onslaught, so whoever we marry off would surely suffer greatly. I wonder if there are any of the royal family who’d accept…”
“Wha!”

For such a thing to take place.

The fact that a child cannot be conceived implies that his son with the concubine, now first wife, will inherit the County.
With no successors left, it wasn’t hard to imagine the hardships awaiting those who entered a house that hated them.

None of the others would agree to it.

They wouldn’t defy me, the king, if I were to order them but I would certainly earn their grudge.
I wanted them to agree of their own volition.

I suppose we’ll have to carefully select the candidates.

“…Who do you all think is the most suitable?”

Hearing my question, everyone in the meeting hall becomes silent.
The one who raised their voice would have to come up with a persuasive argument.

I suppose they were simply hesitating.

“…My Lord.”

It was the Defense Minister, who broke the silence in a terrified voice.

“Speak. Who do you think fits the role?”
“How about the third princess?”
“WHAT!?”

I shout in surprise, hearing a name I didn’t expect to hear.
I then begin to glare at the Defense Minister.

“Is this a joke? You know that child is 15 years of age, do you not?”
“…To begin with, this all started because the third princess refused to get engaged with the anti-demon aristocrat. In that case, isn’t it partly her responsibility as well? How about letting her marry into the Count’s house, as vindication?”
“But… However…”

I look around the room seeking help, but no one met my eyes.

“The military faced budget cuts, despite its increased role in defending against the forest. The royal family lost its crucial breadbasket, and the house of Count Lunan Forseed suffered grave injuries, starting with him. No one below the third princess, the root of these misfortunes, can serve as a satisfactory sacrifice.”
“…..”

None of the present members raised their voices in objection.
I couldn’t think of a clear-cut reason to refuse either.

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