Nighttime, inside the inn.
As I was lost in thought in the room, Cindy came in carrying a water jug.
"Pardon the wait, Master. I will prepare your drink right away."
Upon stepping into the room, Cindy addressed me as "Master."
This was our first time traveling just the two of us while I kept my identity hidden, and it seemed Cindy had been agonizing all along over how she ought to treat me.
Apparently, she had settled on "Master" as a safe middle ground that felt natural and wouldn't give anything away.
"What is that?"
"It is water fit for drinking. I had the innkeeper prepare it."
"And how much did that cost?"
"Eh?"
Cindy gave a slight start, her eyes darting around.
Was it really that difficult to say?
"Do not worry, I have no intention of rebuking you. In a city like this, there is naturally water sold to the wealthy, and it is only natural that you would procure it."
"Y-Yes. I am terribly—"
"I told you, I do not intend to rebuke you. I came here under disguise precisely because I want to know the true state of affairs."
"—! M-My apologies! I was making assumptions and reading into things unnecessarily."
Cindy placed the water jug on a nearby table and hurriedly bowed her head.
"It is fine. So, how much?"
"Yes! It was two Rien!"
"I see."
I gave a small nod.
When I was a child, an adult's monthly earnings in the imperial capital were around ten Rien.
Father's reign had lasted a long time after that, bringing greater prosperity to the point where monthly earnings were approaching twenty Rien.
Out of that, two Rien.
Roughly one-tenth of a commoner's monthly earnings, then.
Given that the aqueduct was ruined and this was a business catering to the wealthy, it was a plausible price.
"Um..."
"What is it?"
"It seems to me that you are troubled, Master."
"Yeah."
"Why are you troubled? The corruption is undeniable—no, going by the state of the aqueduct alone, wouldn't it be possible to sentence the local magistrate to death under a strict application of Imperial Law?"
"Yeah. The maximum penalty would be death by hanging."
"Then... why?"
"...Because I've gotten older."
"Eh?"
"Just a joke. Half of it, anyway."
I let out a faint laugh and continued.
"It is only circumstantial evidence, but ninety-nine percent of it is undoubtedly the result of officials lining their own pockets. There is almost certainly no mistake about that."
"Yes."
"The problem is that it is not just here—most of Enlil Province is in the exact same state."
After that, Cindy and I had gone around questioning various people.
I had learned that it wasn't just the two cities we visited today; most of Enlil Province was in a similar state, to varying degrees.
"In other words, the entire environment has become corrupt....Now then."
"Y-Yes."
Meeting my gaze once more and realizing we had reached the core of the issue, Cindy stiffened slightly.
"Phrases become idioms over long periods of time for a reason. Right now, there are people lining their pockets. If we execute them and introduce new, hungry officials into that unchanged environment, what do you think will happen?"
"............!!"
After looking pensive for a couple of breaths, Cindy's eyes went wide with realization.
"They will start... devouring everything from scratch...?"
I nodded.
"Naturally, the officials who lined their pockets and ruined the aqueduct will eventually submit to the law. But not right now. Exterminating them without changing the environment might only result in tormenting the people even further."
"To have thought that far ahead... You are amazing, Your Majesty!"
"Your way of addressing me slipped back, you know."
"Ah! M-My apologies."
"Heh, it's fine. I will take it as proof that my words struck a chord."
I gave a wry smile.
"There is a way to change the environment, but..."
"Is there a concern?"
"To do that, a trustworthy individual must take direct command on the front lines. Someone of governor-general caliber."
"A governor-general..."
"Since we must absolutely avoid tormenting the people a second time, it has to be someone I can be entirely certain will not do so."
"Someone you can be certain will not torment the people... That would mean someone capable who has sworn absolute loyalty to you, Master."
"Heh, that's right. As long as they are loyal to me, they wouldn't do such a thing."
"Would it be... Lady Evelyn?"
"It would have to be someone like that."
I nodded.
Just as Cindy said, in this case, someone like Evelyn would be suitable.
Then I considered whether someone like Zoe or Leon would work.
"Ah, but... Lady Evelyn is the Fourth Prime Minister. Becoming a governor-general would be a demotion for her."
"Eh?"
"Eh? Is something the matter, Master?"
"What did you just say?"
"Eh? Just now...? Lady Evelyn? The Fourth Prime Minister...? A demotion if she becomes a governor-general...?"
"That's it!"
Cindy had repeated her words from the beginning, pausing between phrases.
At the word "demotion," I pointed straight at her with a snap.
"Eh? You are going to demote Lady Evelyn and dispatch her as a governor-general?...I see, it may nominally be a demotion, but it is rather proof of your trust in her, Master! If it were me, I would gladly accept the post. You are amazing, Master! To think of such a thing."
"..."
I thought for a moment.
I organized the wording in my head.
"I am issuing an order. Take dictation."
"Yes!"
Cindy joyfully prepared pen and paper.
Placing them on the table, spurred by the need to write the dictation, she excused herself to me before taking a seat.
"Regarding the matter of the water supply in Enlil Province, it is deemed appropriate that the person responsible for the lack of oversight bear full accountability."
"Yes."
"Therefore, they are demoted from Emperor and appointed as the Governor-General of Enlil Province. As governor-general, they shall strive to resolve the situation and make amends."
"Yes—eh?"
Cindy's hand, which had been gliding smoothly across the paper until just a moment ago, froze.
Her hand stopped completely, and as if the freeze had spread to her neck, she turned her head toward me with an awkward, creaking motion like a rusty door.
"M-Master... What on earth is this?"
"It is a matter of the person responsible taking responsibility."
"The person responsible... You mean... Your Majesty...?"
"That's right."
"Eeeeeeek?!"
Cindy let out a cry that sounded like a shriek—or rather, could only be described as a scream.
"W-W-What do you mean by that?!"
"You gave me a good idea. If someone is going to be demoted anyway, it might as well be me, the Emperor."
"T-That is completely unprecedented!"
"The Imperial Law does not forbid the demotion of the Emperor."
"Of course it doesn't!"
Cindy shouted with enough force to say, Naturally it wouldn't!
Well, of course it wouldn't.
Demoting the Emperor was such utter nonsense that anyone would normally dismiss it as gibberish.
However.
"It is not a trick that can be used often. Well, I will use it as many times as necessary, though."
"W-What do you mean?"
"Precisely because I am normally strict with the law, an absurd argument like 'it is not forbidden by law' can pass."
"...You are amazing. To think that far ahead is truly amazing!"
Cindy's eyes began to sparkle with admiration.
"The rest of it."
"Yes!"
"During the demotion, domestic affairs authority shall be transferred to Oscar, and military affairs authority to Henry. Furthermore, First Imperial Prince Shem shall be appointed as Lord Chancellor to oversee overall administration."
"Yes—um, does the chancellor not have to be Lord Henry or Lord Oscar?"
"Shem is fine—it is a countermeasure for Oscar."
"....................................You are amazing, Master!"
It took her some time to understand because she was not a member of the imperial family, and she had only heard about the situation with Oscar after the fact.
Oscar placed great importance on the authority of the Emperor.
The Emperor, along with most forms of authority, was built upon "systems."
The transition of power from the Emperor to the First Prince was an entirely normal procedure within the "system," and this was to prevent Oscar from feeling even the slightest dissatisfaction.
"Did you get all that down?"
"Yes!"
"Send that to Oscar by courier horse. The act itself will serve as a message."
"Yes!"
Watching Cindy carry out my orders, I turned my thoughts to what I would do next as the governor-general.