Waking in the morning, I got out of bed as usual, left myself entirely in the hands of the maid squad to get dressed, and headed to the grand dining hall for breakfast.
Several maids were already waiting in the dining hall, bowing in unison almost the instant I appeared.
Once I sat down in the chair one of them pulled out, their service began.
A young maid brought dishes from the kitchen, which Zoe took and placed before me.
The drinks were handled the same way. A young maid brought them over, and Zoe received them to pour into my glass.
There was a hierarchy even among the maids.
Having served me for years, Zoe held a fairly respectable position among them.
I was the Wise Imperial Prince.
Even to attend to me directly, one had to rise to a certain standing among the maids—that was the unspoken rule of the nobility.
As I ate my familiar breakfast, I casually noticed a young—or rather, still childish—maid acting restlessly.
The girl, who looked a bit younger than my current twelve years, kept glancing anxiously out the window.
"You there... um, what was your name?"
"Her name is Gigi."
Zoe answered my question on her behalf.
"I see. Gigi, is something the matter with the window?"
"Um... the line outside is just incredible, and, well..."
"A line?"
What does she mean? I turned my gaze toward Zoe.
"Master's twelfth birthday is approaching, you see, so people coming to deliver gifts from various regions have formed a queue."
"I see. Have you never seen that before?"
This time I asked Gigi.
"Y-Yes, that too, but... the line has been going on for three days already, and it never ends."
"That's just how it is. It's not as simple as taking a gift and calling it a day. We have to receive it, inspect it, and record it. Because they do that thoroughly, the line takes a long time to clear. Last year, if I recall..."
I looked back to Zoe.
When it came to these household matters, you had to ask the servants to understand.
"It lasted for about a week."
"Wha... a-amazing... To think that birthday... presents? So many of them would come..."
Gigi, who was probably from some farming village, widened her eyes even further, but after receiving a stern look from Zoe, she hurriedly returned to work.
☆
After breakfast, I headed out of the mansion.
The gift procession had been directed to the back gate to form their queue, but because it was a massive crowd that would last a whole week—with people arriving one after another until it was completely over—a glimpse of the lively bustle was visible even when leaving through the main gate.
Bypassing that scene—a veritable symbol of the Wise Imperial Prince's status—I boarded a carriage and headed toward my destination.
The Ministry of Military Affairs, located on the eastern side of the imperial capital, was my current workplace.
Entering the ministry grounds, I stepped down from the carriage and entered the building.
"Where is Brother?"
I asked the middle-aged official who came out to greet me.
"In the minister's office. He is currently speaking with a knight. I was instructed to ask you to come immediately upon Your Highness's arrival."
"Understood."
Walking at a brisk pace, I made a beeline for the minister's office.
Standing before the most formal door in the building, I knocked.
"It's Noah."
"Mm, enter."
I waited for the guards on either side to open the double doors before stepping inside.
Inside the room, which was just as imposing as the doors, were two men.
One was the master of the room—no, of this entire Ministry of Military Affairs.
Henry Ararat, Imperial Prince Minister of Military Affairs.
It was Brother Henry, whom His Majesty had entrusted with the Ministry of Military Affairs following the incident in Almeria.
The other was also a familiar face.
With the rugged, unmistakable countenance of a career soldier, it was Brother's knight, Rice Cake.
"You're late, Noah."
"My apologies, Brother."
"Good morning, Your Highness, Wise Imperial Prince."
"Morning."
Giving Rice only a nod, I stepped forward and addressed Brother.
"You said you wanted me right away. Do you have business with me, Brother?"
"I wanted to hear your opinion. An imperial decree was handed down from His Majesty yesterday. Rice is ordered to lead the Second Army to suppress a rebellion on the southern frontier."
"I see."
I looked at Rice.
He was a knight Brother had chosen in the Knight Selection about ten years ago—essentially Brother's direct subordinate.
In my terms, someone like Shirley.
Not only was he formidable in personal combat, but he also possessed great talent for commanding troops, making him the standout rising star among the knights serving Brother.
He had risen so far as to be entrusted with the Second Army, one of the regular standing armies of the Empire.
"So, Brother, is the deployment of the Second Army already set in stone?"
"Yes, it is His Majesty's imperial decree. The southern barbarians grow arrogant if shown a gentle face; the order is to dispatch the regular Second Army and show them the disparity in power."
"I see."
I pondered the situation.
Both Brother and Rice fixed their eyes on me.
I was currently stationed at the Ministry of Military Affairs alongside Brother.
Brother's appointment was due to his achievements in suppressing Almeria, while mine was in recognition of having fully subdued the magic sword Leviathan.
Though I was still just a twelve-year-old boy, because the appointment came directly from His Majesty, Brother frequently consulted me for my insight.
After thinking for a moment, I asked Rice, "Tell me one thing. What is the actual strength of the Second Army?"
"Eh...?"
"What do you mean, Noah, by 'actual strength'? And Rice, what are you hiding?"
Brother knitted his brows and leveled a sharp glare at Rice.
Rice dropped immediately into a full prostration, causing Brother's expression to grow even sterner.
"Wait, Brother, it's not a big deal. The Empire's regular armies are allocated budgets and supplies by the Ministry of Finance based on the number of registered soldiers."
"Yes."
"So, it's quite common to register non-combat laborers doing chores, or merchants and collaborators from nearby garrisoned villages, and pocket the excess budget allocated for them."
"What did you say?"
"I am terribly sorry!"
Rice pressed his forehead flat against the floor.
I had no tangible proof, but precisely because I was the one calling him out, and because he was in front of his master, Rice had effectively confessed.
"You..."
"Wait, Brother. Rice, don't look so frightened either. Counting laborers in the overall head count falls within a general's discretion. I have no intention of faulting you for that."
"Y-Yes..."
Still prostrated, Rice raised his head.
He wore an expression that practically screamed, Then why bring it up?
"Normally, that would be fine. Nominal numbers serve as a deterrent on paper."
"...Hm, that is true. For instance, even if the actual count isn't that high, there are times when it's better to declare an army of a hundred thousand."
"Precisely, Brother."
"You understand these things well; as expected of you, Noah."
I offered a faint smile and turned back to Rice.
"However, that won't do this time. His Majesty's decree essentially demands an overwhelming victory. We cannot send out an army with inflated numbers. That's why I need to know how much padding there is. Answer honestly."
"Y-Yes, sir. Approximately... two thousand men."
"Right. Make sure you replenish that shortfall properly."
"Understood! I will see to it immediately!"
"Good. Brother, may I borrow a pen and paper?"
"Of course."
Nodding, Brother handed over the paper and pen sitting on his desk.
Taking them, I dashed off a quick note and handed the slip to Rice.
"Th-This is...?"
"Go to the Ministry of Finance. Have them disburse funds for an additional two thousand men under miscellaneous expenses. That money is yours."
"Th-That's far too much!"
"Take it. In exchange..."
Cutting my words short, I fixed Rice with a dead-serious glare for the first time since entering the room.
"Make sure the ranks are completely filled. And I will not tolerate defeat. Understood?"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Taking my note, Rice gave Brother a final bow and hurried out of the office.
Only Brother and I remained in the room.
"Incredible, Noah. Your use of the carrot and the stick is exquisite."
Brother gazed at me, his face filled with genuine admiration.