She really knows how to compartmentalize at times like this, I thought.
Mary stepped outside, and the door clicked shut behind her.
Turning back to John, who remained, I spoke to him again.
"Sorry for summoning you so suddenly."
"Not at all! There's no greater honor than being able to serve you, Master. In fact, I've been waiting for this day practically every single day."
"To be frank, I'm short on hands."
I walked slowly halfway around the desk and returned to my seat.
Sitting down, I looked up at John.
"I have mercilessly executed those who needed to be cut down, including the extra ones. Right now, the lower ranks are probably lost in confusion, wondering what the Emperor is really planning."
"Well, you're just that incredible, Master."
John said it plainly, without a hint of hesitation.
It wasn't quite how a man of his years—someone who could rightfully be called a high-ranking official now—ought to speak, but I paid it no mind and let it slide.
John continued.
"It can't be helped that those small fry can't grasp your true intentions."
"Normally that would be fine, but right now I want reconstruction to proceed as quickly as possible. I don't want them wasting time trying to second-guess my motives."
"What would you like me to do?"
Clearly realizing this was the heart of the matter, John asked straight out.
"I hear you've been putting effort into raising your own loyal subordinates."
"Yes. Just as I told you before, Master, I've been following your example."
"Then this will be quick. I need you to work in this land as well, but suppose someone brings a bribe to you. What would you do?"
"I'd smack them with a broom and chase them off."
John's phrasing was comical, but refreshing.
If it had been someone like Cles, he would have used fierce expressions like "outrageous" or "deserving of ten thousand deaths."
Among those who had served me for a long time, only John talked like this. In that sense, he and Mary were two peas in a pod.
Letting out a soft chuckle, I pressed further.
"Do you have anyone among your subordinates who can do the same? Even if it's just for your sake."
"Um... yes. A few of them, probably."
"Probably won't cut it."
I stated it plainly.
This time, my expression hardened slightly.
"The next person who pulls something will have to be cut down without question. That's why I need people who can reliably pull it off."
"In that case, three... no, two people. If even those two end up turning corrupt, you can take my head."
John's face grew serious, and after a brief hesitation, he answered. In other words, there were two people he could place that much trust and responsibility in.
His expression and the seriousness in his gaze were unmistakable.
Though I had vaguely suspected it, it was crystal clear that John's usual demeanor was, to some extent, an act.
Both in front of me and out in his assigned territory.
He was likely playing the part of an unrefined, worldly man in his everyday life.
Since I had a good idea of his reasons, I left the matter untouched.
"Then summon those two. I'll put them in charge of the core of the reconstruction efforts, where the money flows the most."
"Understood. I will summon them right away. However, one of the two doesn't have much of a track record yet, so for such a major role..."
"I'll promote them. As things stand, in the extreme case, even if they're incompetent, it won't matter as long as they're free of greed."
"Incredible, Master, to state it so decisively. Understood, I'll summon the two at once."
"Mm."
I nodded.
John asked further.
"By the way, what should I be doing?"
"I want you to rebuild the waterworks."
"The waterworks? But I'm pretty sure the waterworks didn't suffer that much damage—ah."
Catching himself mid-sentence, John gasped in realization.
I chuckled.
"Right. The waterworks themselves didn't suffer much damage. However, the vested interests surrounding them have become a major issue. I saw plenty of it on my way to Larak traveling incognito."
"I see..."
"So when I say 'rebuild,' I'm talking about the people, not the infrastructure. Swing a heavy axe. As long as you have a plan to replace the personnel, you can cut down as many as you like."
"Understood. Um, it seems a few of the remaining officials are retainers of other imperial princes, though..."
John studied my expression.
Just like John, there were officials throughout the country who had been appointed by other imperial princes from among their retainers.
Here in Enlil Province as well, there were quite a few who hadn't engaged in bribery or embezzlement, and thus hadn't been executed or dismissed.
If John were to swing a heavy axe, he would inevitably have to show some degree of consideration to those individuals.
John was asking how he should handle that.
"You've done your homework—cut them down."
I gave John a faint smile, stating my policy unequivocally.
"That's precisely why I, the Emperor demoted to governor-general, am sitting right here. I can use Imperial Law, internal house law, or anything else."
"Ah! So that's how it is. You're amazing, Master."
John looked deeply impressed.
"Then go do it. Your appointment takes effect orally right now."
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
Full of motivation, John promptly bowed his head.
☆
The following afternoon, on the outskirts of Larak.
Having arrived alone, I met up with a carriage.
It was a luxurious carriage drawn by four horses, guarded by about a hundred soldiers.
Given that it was a long-distance carriage with minimal ornamentation, yet protected by a force of a hundred soldiers...
Anyone in the know would realize at a single glance: someone of truly exalted status was riding inside.
As the carriage drew near, the guarding soldiers knelt all at once, and the carriage came to a halt.
While nearly everyone remained on their knees, a single servant sprang into action.
They opened the door and set down a footstool.
From inside, a noble lady stepped down with graceful poise.
Audrey.
My legal wife, the woman who held the status of Empress—a position envied by every woman in the world.
Seeing me, she smiled pleasantly.
She moved to lift the hem of her dress to curtsy, but I raised a hand to stop her.
"We're out in the countryside. There's no need for formalities."
"Thank you very much."
Audrey spoke in a gentle, pleasant voice.
Listening to her, I gave a signal to let the soldiers stand.
The soldiers rose to their feet and began keeping watch over the surroundings, centering their guard around Audrey and me.
The Emperor and Empress—it was an ultra-strict security detail, ensuring that not even a one-in-a-million incident could occur.
Under their watchful protection, I smiled and asked Audrey,
"I was surprised to hear you were coming."
"My apologies. There were two matters I felt I had to attend to."
"Oh?"
"I heard that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will be embarking on an imperial tour eventually."
"Ah."
"I thought it necessary to clear the path for her. There are certain things that only I, as a fellow woman, can do."
"...Hmph."
I nodded, but I wasn't entirely convinced.
Audrey was a clever woman.
An imperial tour by the Empress Dowager was certainly a major affair, and preliminary preparations and scouting were indeed important.
However, that was not something the Empress should be doing in person.
Of course, a justification could be fabricated.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress were, so to speak, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
If framed as a daughter-in-law doing something for the sake of her mother-in-law, there was nothing particularly strange about it. In fact, if one wished, it could even be spun into a heartwarming tale.
Even so, the point remained.
It was still not something the Empress should be doing herself.
Audrey was a clever woman who knew her place.
For her to come all the way out here under the guise of "clearing the path for the Empress Dowager's imperial tour" felt unnatural to me.
"Shall we continue this inside the carriage?"
"Yes."
Audrey smiled gently and boarded the carriage after me.
Once both of us were inside, the door closed.
With a horse's whinny, the carriage began to move.
The clatter of hooves, the metallic clanking footsteps of soldiers, the rumble of the wheels.
Shrouded by the cacophony, Audrey smiled and opened her mouth to speak.
"You truly are remarkable, Your Majesty."
"So the second matter is the real reason after all."
"Yes."
Audrey smiled gracefully.
"I have caught wind of something that could potentially become... a shame to the imperial family. Furthermore, I believe I am probably the only one who knows of it."
"A shame?"
"Yes. I could not make a judgment on my own, yet I felt somewhat uneasy sending a messenger."
"Mm."
Audrey was smiling, but considering that she, the Empress, had come all the way out here in person, it had to be quite a serious matter.
Bracing myself, I prompted Audrey with my eyes to continue.
"There is someone connected to the imperial family in this land."
"Someone I am not aware of?"
"Lord Albert's daughter."
"...What?"
I jolted, sending a loud clatter through the carriage.
I was shaken to a degree that even I could tell was probably the most rattled I had been in years.