For a single moment, Mother's eyes widened.
I could tell just how deeply shocked she was by my words.
It was only natural. That "villa" was one the late Emperor, my father, had frequently used in his later years, and Mother had been the consort he favored most during that time.
Having accompanied Father there to escape the summer heat countless times, it was a place filled with deep sentimental value.
Now that I had brought up wanting to "sell" it, her surprise was entirely understandable.
No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say she had every right to be shocked.
After that fleeting yet natural moment of surprise, Mother regained her composure and gazed steadily at me with calm eyes.
I quietly met her gaze in return.
I felt no agitation.
I felt apologetic, but I deliberately kept it from showing on my face.
It was indeed a serious matter.
Disposing of the late Emperor's villa—a property on the scale of an entire town—was no small affair.
However, I had nothing to feel guilty about.
Rather, I believed it to be a rational decision.
That was why, without shrinking back or looking away, I held Mother's gaze firmly.
We locked eyes amidst the anxious atmosphere of the surrounding court ladies.
Naturally, the court ladies understood the significance of that villa as well.
Beside Mother, who was now the Empress Dowager, stood middle-aged court ladies who had served her for many years.
They surely grasped the weight of this conversation just as well as Mother did.
That was why they seemed so on edge regarding how this exchange would unfold.
Bearing the full brunt of their gazes, I continued to look into Mother's eyes.
After a brief pause, Mother spoke softly.
"Though you are my own child, you never cease to amaze me."
"I apologize."
I bowed my head.
"Gossipers often say this," she continued.
Why bring this up all of a sudden? I wondered as I raised my head, tilting it slightly in confusion.
Mother went on.
"They say, 'The Thirteenth Imperial Prince is overly devoted to the law and lacks human warmth.'"
"I believe I have acted in ways that warrant such remarks."
I genuinely meant that.
In fact, I felt that my life had been evaluated quite accurately—so much so that a faint smile formed on my lips.
The reason I had distinguished myself as the Thirteenth Imperial Prince and earned the late Emperor's recognition was precisely due to that strict adherence to the law.
I was uncompromising with the law, even when dealing with my own brothers.
Moreover, even when facing the late Emperor—who at the time held the most exalted position as the reigning Emperor—I did not hesitate to remonstrate against him if an action breached the law, telling him it must not be done.
If the assessment of such a person was that I was "overly devoted to the law and lacking human warmth," then I actually considered it a compliment.
"Yet, I believe otherwise."
"Mother?"
"Regarding the matter with Gilbert, the late Emperor always praised you to me. Time and time again, he spoke highly of what happened then. And..."
Mother looked directly at me.
"...he was truly grateful."
Unconsciously, I straightened my posture.
To hear the words of the former Emperor from the mouth of the Empress Dowager.
At this point, no words could carry more weight or authenticity.
As if receiving those words directly from the late Emperor himself, my back naturally straightened with perfect posture.
The Gilbert incident—a major affair from back when I was still just a child.
Memories from decades ago vividly resurfaced in my mind.
Mother continued speaking.
"At that time, Prince Gilbert attempted to commit regicide against His Majesty. A certain food and a certain wine. Consumed separately, neither posed any harm, but taken together, they instantly became a lethal poison. Gilbert presented them at different times, plotting to assassinate the late Emperor with that combination."
"The late Emperor saw through it beforehand."
"Yes, but he did not bring it to light. Because Gilbert was his own flesh and blood. Even if his child had tried to kill him, he could not bear to take his life."
"..."
A parent's feelings... Mother's expression turned somber as she spoke on his behalf.
After a pause lasting a few breaths, Mother continued.
"That was when you offered your counsel. You said that because both components had already been presented, the act was deemed committed, and the death penalty was unavoidable; however, as an act of utmost leniency, a stay of execution could be granted."
"...Yes. That was high treason. While a stay of execution would never erase the crime for all eternity, the Emperor could order the execution whenever he wished. He could command it in a moment of foul temper out of spite—or never order it for the rest of his life."
"In other words, you said it could serve as a de facto life sentence."
Mother paused for a moment, her expression turning slightly indignant—a rare sight for her.
"Though that was thwarted by Albert's interference, the late Emperor was immensely grateful. He said that at a time when he was forced into the position of having to kill his own child, he found one gentle son who was considerate of a parent's heart."
"That was..."
"To an Emperor, an existence so high above all others, having someone who stays close to his heart is a blessing beyond measure—something I hardly need to explain to Your Majesty now."
"..."
"It is a remarkable thing. You are a remarkable person, Your Majesty."
So Mother said.
Her shoulder shifted slightly, and her hand seemed about to reach out.
In an ordinary household, between an ordinary mother and child, a mother would have reached out here to stroke her child's head or touch his cheek.
However.
Mother was the Empress Dowager, and I was the Emperor.
We were not permitted such domestic displays of intimacy.
Her shoulder merely twitched, and her arm never rose.
Instead—she wore an expression and a gaze gentler than any she had shown in perhaps the last ten years.
"And even now, you came here to ask, giving due consideration to my feelings and my heart."
Mother offered a gentle smile before tightening the corners of her mouth, assuming the dignified visage of the Empress Dowager.
"This is an affair of state. The inner palace has no objection."
"Thank you very much."
I bowed deeply to Mother.
From above, I could feel her gaze full of praise resting upon me.
☆
Taking my leave from Mother, I exited the inner palace.
Without returning to my post, I first headed toward the Ministry of Finance, located in the same imperial capital.
Situated near the palace, I arrived at a formal, stately building whose outward luxury was noticeably more restrained than that of the imperial palace.
"Halt! Who goes there!"
Perhaps due to thorough discipline, the gatekeeper stood rigid as a board.
He briefly challenged my identity, but immediately upon seeing my face, he gasped—
"—Wh-Your Majesty?! Forgive me!!"
—and turned pale.
The gatekeeper threw down his weapon on the spot and prostrated himself before me.
"No need for such formality. Is Oscar in?"
"Y-yes! He has been here since morning!"
"I see. I will go in myself. Your response was flawless."
Saying that, I tossed about ten Rien in gold to the gatekeeper.
As a gatekeeper for the Ministry of Finance, he had properly challenged an unannounced visitor, and had subsequently recognized my face as the Emperor.
As a gatekeeper, he had performed his duty admirably.
On the other hand, from his perspective, he might fret over having committed an act of disrespect toward His Majesty.
Fretting alone was one thing, but it would be a shame if someone who performed his duties so well became unable to do so in the future.
Thinking that, I granted him a modest reward of coin so he wouldn't dwell on it.
After that, I stepped inside the Ministry of Finance.
The official I ran into immediately upon entering naturally recognized me as well; stopping him from kneeling, I instructed him to guide me to Oscar.
The official grabbed a nearby youth to run ahead and deliver word, while he personally guided me at a measured pace.
Before long, we reached the minister's office, and I stepped inside.
Inside, Oscar came to receive me, smoothly dropping to his knees and bowing his head.
"I was unaware Your Majesty had returned, and I apologize for failing to greet you."
"It was on my own initiative. If my movements were tracked because of this, that would be a greater problem."
"I see."
"We need to talk. Do you have time?"
"Right this way."
"Of course I do"—such words were so obvious that Oscar did not even bother saying them.
In this country's common sense and etiquette, there was no such thing as telling an Emperor who came to visit that one "did not have time."
Naturally, this applied to Oscar, the Royal Minister of Finance, as well; he led me directly to the sofa in the corner of the room.
We sat facing each other on the sofa, and after Oscar ordered his subordinate to serve tea, I broached the reason for my visit.
"I just came from visiting Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Is that so...?"
Oscar nodded along, though his face clearly asked, Why?
"There are still several villas the late Emperor used. I went to receive permission to sell them off to the private sector."
"............"
Oscar froze.
It was the kind of reaction where someone completely locks up after being told something utterly beyond their expectations.
After a while, Oscar finally returned to his senses and spoke hesitantly.
"Sell them off, you say...?"
"I am still young. I will have no use for that sort of thing for some time."
"That may be, but..."
"In that case, leaving them idle would be a waste."
I turned my head aside.
There was a window there, and I looked out at the view beyond it.
"You understand the reality of the situation far better than I do—just how dire the national treasury is."
"Yes... but even so..."
"What do you think?"
"..."
Turning my gaze from the window back to Oscar, I asked with a serious expression.
Oscar swallowed hard.
He pondered for a moment—and then promptly returned to his usual composed expression.
And then, he uttered a single phrase.
"...Honorary knights."
"Hm?"
What does he mean by that? I tilted my head slightly.
Oscar continued.
"The honorary knight system Your Majesty proposed to the late Emperor back when you were an imperial prince. I believe this is fundamentally the same."
"Ah, now that you mention it, you're right."
I nodded clearly.
I hadn't thought about it in those terms until now, but hearing him say it made me realize the parallel.
Was that when I was around twelve years old?
At the time, Father was fretting over the Empire's chronic financial difficulties.
He kept searching for funds wherever he could find them, even considering raising the threshold for serving prison time for crimes to rely more heavily on monetary fines instead.
Father asked for my thoughts on the matter, as I had already been appointed Royal Minister of Justice at the time.
I opposed it.
I believed that if monetary fines were applied too broadly, their deterrence as criminal punishments would diminish.
In particular, Father wasn't looking for pocket change; he wanted substantial sums to fill the national treasury.
Thus, he attempted to narrow the targets down to nobles and wealthy merchants.
However, to such people, being able to "buy immunity with money" was a massive loophole.
If mishandled, the deterrence against crime would be thoroughly undermined, potentially rendering it almost nonexistent—which was why I opposed it.
Father accepted my reasoning. The idea of expanding fines was dropped.
Even so, that did nothing to alleviate the strain on the national treasury.
That was when I brought up the concept of honorary knights.
I proposed the idea of allowing people to "buy" the title of honorary knight by paying money.
Unlike knights selected through normal means, no real authority or practical benefits would be granted whatsoever, but the Emperor would personally bestow an award upon those who paid for the title.
We would grant them honor, and honor alone.
Of course, there might be those who would abuse that honor—the fact that they had been personally recognized by the Emperor.
In fact, such things did happen afterward.
However, that could happen with anything.
For example, if the Emperor were on an inspection tour and stopped by a random teahouse along the way because he was thirsty.
That, too, was an honor for the establishment, and that, too, could be exploited.
Worrying about every possible scenario like that would be an endless endeavor.
Grant honor, but offer absolutely no authority or material benefits from the Empire's side in return.
By presenting such a compromise, I managed to slightly ease the burden on the national treasury.
Oscar was pointing out that this was similar.
I hadn't been conscious of it at all and hadn't connected the two until he mentioned it, but realizing the ideas shared the same essence because they both originated from my own head amused me slightly.
I let out a faint chuckle and spoke to Oscar.
"Indeed. Having the private sector put up funds to purchase the honor of a knight—or the honor of a villa once used by the Emperor. The essence is the same."
"Yes, Sire."
"These are villas the late Emperor used for summer retreats. To begin with, they are on a scale comparable to an entire town."
An Emperor's summer retreat, and the villa within it.
Though referred to as a villa, it accommodated the Emperor and the consorts accompanying him.
The attendants serving them, the guards protecting them.
And various others handling all manner of daily necessities.
Under normal circumstances, it would easily encompass a scale of a thousand people, and those thousand people had their daily lives and livelihoods outside their duties.
When that happened, it effectively became a small town under the name of a villa.
"By my estimate, wealthy merchants will leap at the chance, as it not only serves as a villa once used by the Emperor, but also allows them to flaunt the financial might to purchase an entire town outright."
"Indeed."
"The items themselves are limited in number, and each is one of a kind. We can sell them at whatever price we name."
"Just as you say."
"That is the idea, but how about it? What is your opinion?"
Since I had not yet heard Oscar's view, I prompted him.
Without a moment's hesitation, Oscar answered with an admiring look in his eyes.
"Truly remarkable, Your Majesty. I never would have imagined such a gold mine existed there."
"Rather than a gold mine, it is purely an inheritance—from the late Emperor."
When I said that, Oscar smiled.
"Indeed. A son putting his father's inheritance to use is only natural."
"Any objections?"
When I asked once more, Oscar's expression turned serious.
"I cannot say there are none at all."