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I Favor the Villainess (Web Novel) - Chapter 86: Seventh Episode – Royal Palace,King’s request
Chapter 86: Seventh Episode – Royal Palace,King’s request
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“Special official…? I do not understand. What is Your Majesty telling me to do?”
I asked as I warily stared into His Majesty Rousseau’s eyes.
His Majesty looked at me for a while as if testing me, and before long he spoke.
“How do you view the politics of this country?”
His Majesty suddenly changed the flow of the talk.
“It is a world that I do not understand as a commoner”
“Drop your humility. I am aware of your results from the time in the academy. I also understand you have a deep understanding of the political situation”
No, that’s simply because I memorized the game knowledge – I can’t say that.
“Your Majesty’s meritocracy policy succeeded, not only royalty and aristocracy, but also excellent commoners are being promoted”
“On the other hand, a radical movement like the Commoner’s Movement happened”
His Majesty sighed.
“The government of this country is showing signs of corruption. The important government positions are a hereditary oligopoly of influential aristocrats. I wanted to bring in fresh blood. I introduced meritocracy policy for that reason”
“Has it not achieved a success to a certain degree?”
“Certainly, talented commoners are starting to become appointed little by little. However, the structure of nobles on top and commoners below remains completely unchanged”
I understand the cause, His Majesty continued.
“It’s because there’s a hierarchy a hierarchy with prominent aristocrats on top. It’s not easy for royalty to make a move against it. To say nothing of commoners”
To correct the corruption, this structure needs to be brought down, His Majesty said.
“Therefore, you”
“I may be repeating myself, but what does Your Majesty ask me to do”
“I wish you to assist in exposing the wrongdoings of prominent aristocrats”
“I would like to refuse”
I immediately replied.
“Why”
“No, even in the current state I was served poisoned meals, I do not want to incur further enmity”
“Do not lie”
“I am not lying”
“Aren’t you full of life”
“I detoxified them”
“Then there’ll no problem”
Gu.
Difficult.
His Majesty surprisingly has a way with words.
I guess.
He’s the number one politician in this country.
“Well, listen. I don’t think every aristocrat commits wrongdoings, but I’m highly suspicious of at least two people”
“Haa…”
“They’re Prime Minister Salas Lilium, and Minister of Finance Dor François”
“――!”
I need to change my perception of His Majesty Rousseau’s abilities.
I wonder if he was aware of Salas-sama’s and Dor-sama’s wrongdoings at this point.
In 「Revolution」 His Majesty didn’t have that big presence.
Although he created the meritocracy policy, other than that he had an impression of a mediocre king.
Rather, he had the impression of a dim-witted king who invited the emergence of Commoner’s movement and depending on the route brought upon the downfall of monarchy himself.
Of course, it might have been that he wished for happiness of his people with no regards for himself.
But, I couldn’t get rid of the impression he was a king who couldn’t do anything with prominent aristocrats.
“What could a commoner like me do to important aristocrats who serve as the Prime Minister or the Minister of Finance”
I implicitly denied His Majesty’s request.
Such development wasn’t in the game either.
Depending on the route, there were things like investigating Dor-sama’s and Salas-sama’s wrongdoings, but it’s the capturable princes that played the main role.
I can hardly think of anything I could do alone.
“You are intimate with both Salas’s daughter and Dor’s daughter”
“!”
That means he insists I use Lily-sama and Claire-sama, huh.
“After all I would like to refuse”
“Hmm, I see. In that case, not to mention you, Lily and Claire will also be charged with the crime of high treason for participating in Yuu’s matter”
“Yuu-sama’s matter was done under Yuu-sama’s orders”
“That’s how it is now. But, it can also turn into you three enticing him”
In other words, this is a threat.
Moreover, it’s from the person who stands at the top of this country.
“If that happens, neither Salas-sama nor Dor-sama will stay silent?”
Because Claire-sama is Dor-sama’s and Lily-sama is Salas-sama’s daughters.
“That’s right. But, with the current Royal Family’s authority, I will be able to forcibly decrease their influence”
“…”
His Majesty seems to be bluffing.
If such forcible measures were possible, there’d be no need to request me to investigate their wrongdoings in the first place.
But, this matter is an unprecedented scandal for the Royal Family.
In the unlikely event that His Majesty is serious, Claire-sama would be in danger.
I desperately thought.
I mustn’t be arrested for such a thing now.
If it’s to save Claire-sama, I’d gladly accept going to prison, but I cannot afford to have that happen at this timing.
There’s not much time until Claire-sama gets caught in a dilemma.
Until I do something about it, I cannot leave Claire-sama’s side.
“I understand. I will accept the special official’s duty”
“Very well”
His Majesty nodded with satisfaction.
There are several reasons why I accepted His Majesty’s request, for one thing I thought this request might be helpful.
I’m taking several measures against the upcoming Claire-sama’s crisis, but I thought this might come useful as well.
I’ll get to how later.
“I would like to ask to be granted two requests”
“Speak”
“First of all, could Claire-sama and Lily-sama receive identical orders? Your Majesty’s request cannot be fulfilled without their cooperation”
This is absolutely necessary.
“Hmm. I do not mind. Rather, I have thought you would be opposed to involving them”
“No matter how I look at it, this problem is too big for me alone”
To be honest I don’t want to involve the two of them, but it can’t be helped.
“Very well. The other is?”
“Even in the case that I discover evidence of Dor-sama’s or Salas-sama’s wrongdoings, I would like Claire-sama or Lily-sama to not be charged”
“Hmm…”
“It is not a problem if their houses are crushed, but if Claire-sama or Lily-sama are to be punished for complicity, I shall forget this talk ever happened”
“…”
His Majesty didn’t reply right away.
Stroking his beard, he deeply pondered.
“Very well. I won’t charge those two”
“Your Majesty, I am grateful”
Now that I’ve got to hear that, His Majesty’s request is very advantageous for me.
“Before I start the investigation, I have to ask a question, what degree of authority does the special official hold?”
“I will grant them to you as necessary, but they aren’t universal. What do you need?”
“I would like to receive the authority to inspect financial affairs and the authority to conduct police activities at the very least”
The former is to follow the flow of money, the latter is to arrest them when their wrongdoings get exposed.
“Hmm. Very well”
“One more thing. This is rather important, I would like the authority to strike plea bargains”
“What is the plea bargain”
I see.
It’s not the thing in this world, huh.
“In cases of a person confessing to a crime, incriminating their accomplices, or cooperating with the investigation, the recommended sentence is reduced, or charges are withdrawn”
“… What happens if it’s done?”
“There are several benefits, but the biggest one in this case is obtaining information that will be useful in search for bigger crimes”
I explained to His Majesty how I’d go after Dor-sama and Salas-sama.
“… Hmm. In that case, this will be useful”
“?”
His Majesty called the lone soldier, and I was shown something alike a playing card.
“This is?”
“A recording magical tool. With this, sound can be recorded. Because copies cannot be made, it’s used in important transactions or investigations”
It’s a rare item, so handle it with care, His Majesty said.
“Is there anything else”
“At present there is nothing”
When I said that, His Majesty looked surprised.
“You won’t ask for a reward?”
“Claire-sama and Lily-sama not being charged is a sufficient reward”
“… You aren’t greedy”
“I wonder”
As long as Claire-sama safety is guaranteed, there’s nothing more I want.
“It was the same after the chimera attack in the academy, wasn’t it?”
“At that time, I managed to have Lene’s life saved. I received a sufficient reward”
“… If everybody was like you, this country would be a better country”
No, that’s an overstatement.
Or rather, even I’m aware I’m an oddball.
If people in the kingdom were like me, it would absolutely collapse right away,
“Then, I entrust it to you. You can ask Rod regarding the first steps of investigation”
According to His Majesty, it seems Rod-sama has been conducting the investigation until now.
I received the authority to see Rod-sama freely, and was released.
“How should I persuade Claire-sama… My head hurts”
