It was a terrifying realization... but my money refused to decrease.
I had intended to spend it wastefully.
"Most of these planets are being developed from scratch, so the funds we seized from the Duke Association will surely run out in no time, right?"
We’d all laughed about it.
Money sitting in one place without moving is no good.
I figured that since it wasn't our money anyway, we should just blow through it quickly, and yet...
The legal team Raymond-san sent handled the planetary development funds using imperial subsidies.
As for the cultural assets in the ducal estate, those were handed over to the Empire.
You shouldn't let people who don't understand art keep such things.
There was a risk that without proper maintenance, they’d be lost forever.
Naturally, I didn't understand them either.
Preservation conditions would undoubtedly be better if they were in the Imperial Museum.
However, when I tried to donate them, I was told it would be better to employ people instead.
Apparently, it was better to build a museum with the Empire's money and charge tourists to see them.
We were supposed to have spent a significant amount of our own capital by now, but thanks to the subsidies, it had actually increased.
I didn't understand it at all.
Furthermore, the planets where development was already complete had needlessly massive spaceports operating at full capacity.
They were in a state where things sold as fast as they were produced.
Originally, the Duke Association’s planets were all high-profit worlds.
They were profitable enough that even someone as super-incompetent as the Sato family could stay in the black.
I was shocked to learn that agricultural products had been overproduced to the point that most were simply thrown away.
Was the Duke Association actually the cancer of the Empire?
We began shipping goods to the Imperial Capital in waves.
When things started going well, we ran into a shortage—not just of civil officials, but of the people who actually run the businesses.
How to describe it... it was as if every day was a school festival.
We had the ingredients, but no one to grill and sell the takoyaki.
Meanwhile, the money in the accounts under the Kamishiro Clan’s name continued to grow at a terrifying rate.
And because the trading company and Claire’s family home were on the verge of collapsing under the workload, Claire had gone to the office.
...I suddenly wanted takoyaki.
I'll make some.
I headed toward the dining hall.
If I were caught, they’d say, "Grand Duke! If you want a snack, we will prepare it for you!!"
No.
I wanted to make it.
It didn't need to be high-grade octopus.
I wanted to make it with everyone, chatting and having fun around the takoyaki maker.
I embarked on a stealth mission.
First, the warehouse.
I succeeded in infiltrating without being spotted by the steward or the maids.
Oh, look, a gas-powered takoyaki maker!
And gas canisters!
These were probably used for the staff's meals in the kitchen.
They were having all the fun!!!
Next, to the food storage.
Flour and frozen octopus—found them!
All right!
Sauce... there it was!
Eggs... eggs... got 'em!
Green onions and red pickled ginger... check!
As for the agedama... heh heh heh... there were some for the staff meals.
They were really living it up, weren't they?
I grabbed oil, paper towels, cooking chopsticks, and skewers... oh, look, bonito flakes.
Milk... people are usually split into "yes" and "no" factions for that. I’d take it just in case. For the record, I’m in the "no" faction.
Plus some Japanese-style dashi and yam powder. Oh, and I almost forgot the green seaweed.
Mayonnaise... you're controversial too, but you’re coming with me.
I loaded it all onto a cart... and headed for the dining hall.
"What are you doing, de-arimasu ka?"
One-oh-one appeared, her chest jiggling as she walked.
I flashed a wicked grin.
"I’m making a snack!!"
"Yay!!"
As we headed for the dining hall, Kevin spotted us.
She approached, her own chest swaying.
"Oh, are we making takoyaki!? Let me help, let me help!"
But the moment I thought we were safely inside, the steward caught me.
Stealth failed.
"Lord... if you had only commanded it, I would have prepared them for you at any time..."
"I-I wanted to make them myself! I just wanted to have a takoyaki party! It’s fine, it’s fine. Here, let's make them together!"
At this point, I shifted to the accomplice strategy.
Kukuku.
Once in the dining hall, Kevin donned an apron.
"I shall go fetch Tatiana, de-arimasu!!"
One-oh-one hurried out of the room.
Then, Wifey arrived, having sensed the commotion.
"Oh, what is all this?"
"A takoyaki party. Let’s eat together!"
"Very well!"
And so, the cooking began.
My assistant was Kevin... or so I thought, but she’d already whipped up the batter.
Kevin was also a member of the "no-milk" faction.
"Tako, tako~ Tako-san♪"
Kevin hummed a mysterious little tune as she greased the iron plate, poured the batter, and added the octopus, red ginger, and agedama.
She put in the octopus and waited... though in the end, Kevin did most of the work.
As expected of the gas-powered model.
The high heat cooked the batter in no time.
Time to flip. I could manage at least that much!!
"Hoh. This is quite fascinating."
"Wait, have you never eaten this before?"
"My world consisted only of the Inner Palace or warships. I had little opportunity to taste such commoner fare."
So that’s why she ate the things we ate without a single complaint.
Come to think of it, she’d looked quite happy eating the street food we’d bought at the theme park, too.
"You should’ve said something!"
"...How should I put it... it was embarrassing. There was so much I didn't know... I didn't want the Lord Groom to find out..."
Wifey’s cheeks turned a soft red.
"Well, you can learn all about it starting now!"
Kevin began serving the finished pieces onto plates.
A dusting of bonito flakes and green seaweed, a drizzle of sauce, and they were ready.
"’Sup."
Tatiana arrived.
"Thanks for the takoyaki!!"
She took a seat next to One-oh-one.
After Kevin served her a portion, she tilted her head curiously.
"Ehehe, tako-tako-takoyaki~♪ I’ve actually never had this before."
A shock ran through the group.
"Wait, what?"
"My home was dirt poor, so we could never afford something like octopus. Honestly, they didn't even sell it in my colony."
"Um, then what did you... usually eat?"
Kevin’s voice, being from a relatively well-off colony, was trembling.
"Relief supplies from the Imperial Food Bank. Sweet buns, snack bags... instant ramen? Even those would get snatched by local thugs. Kids in my neighborhood died all the time. People kept having babies without any kind of plan, you see."
"What did you do when there wasn't enough?"
"Steal, maybe a bit of prostitution? I eventually got a gig helping embezzle military supplies, so I did that instead. That’s how I ended up joining the Lord Army, actually. Well, I guess I’m one of the lucky ones!"
Tatiana gave us a thumbs-up.
None of us could laugh.
For Tatiana, this was likely a joke she was telling with all her heart, but it was anything but funny.
Yet, in moments like this, someone who couldn't read the room was a godsend.
"What happened to Tatiana’s younger siblings, de-arimasu ka?"
"Oh, that—around the time I started working under the Captain, the lord was arrested. Now they’re apparently living in a life support facility with my mom. Hahaha, strange things happen, don't they?"
The corners of Wifey’s mouth turned upward.
It was likely her doing.
"I’ve been sending money back, so I figure they’ll be able to make a proper living soon. The pay in this squad is crazy good, after all."
I didn't tell her the truth—that her previous salary had actually been skimmed by corrupt officials.
They’d already been arrested, anyway.
Besides, since the pay was calculated based on the cost of living in the Imperial Capital, the Imperial Army paid even its new recruits very well.
I ate my takoyaki.
Maybe we didn't even need to defeat the Mother anymore.
Maybe Edge would just grow strong on his own and handle it?
He was the protagonist, after all.
Such were my thoughts during our takoyaki party.
Finally, the steward chimed in.
"Shall we do this again occasionally?"
He’d taken a liking to it!