Ch.270To the Edge of the Cliff (10)

“Ines, you’re well aware of how Rotaring is functioning these days, right?”

“Um… yes, of course. Isn’t it truly ideal, almost like a painting?”

…As expected, nobody thinks there’s anything wrong with the current situation. The lower classes absolutely obey the upper classes, the monarch firmly grasps powerful authority and is praised by the people for creating a golden age—naturally, no medieval person would consider this situation problematic.

‘Of course, from a medieval perspective, I’m the one who’s wrong, and Ines and other medieval people aren’t strange… but still, it’s quite difficult.’

In modern times, most medieval cultural elements like the divine right of kings, privileges based on social status, absolute monarchy, and authoritarianism have all but disappeared. Why? Because those things are outdated cultures that don’t fit modern society.

In other words, the reason such cultures flourished in the medieval era was because, given the conditions of that time, those systems were the most suitable for maintaining the state.

If people cried out for human rights, the already low productivity of pre-modern agriculture and industries would completely collapse, and if they demanded equality for all, the nation would instantly shatter due to the poor education levels, high illiteracy rates, and social structures of pre-modern times. Just look at pre-modern republics like Rome, Venice, or Greek poleis—they all maintained oligarchies or aristocratic republics, which says it all.

Of course, I have absolutely no intention of introducing modern ideologies to this era I’m living in. If I did such a thing, the country Roter will inherit would be completely torn apart.

However, not introducing something and preventing its natural development are two different matters.

“…Your Majesty, you are not pleased with the current state of Rotaring.”

“That’s right. There are so many things I’m displeased with that I couldn’t possibly explain them all.”

Why was human history able to move from the medieval period to the modern era?

I can definitively say it was thanks to the rise of people’s awareness of sovereignty and the separation of politics and church.

If people are forever bound by the shackles of social status, living poorly and inferiorly no matter what they do, no one will be motivated to work hard or study. And if church and politics become one, we can clearly see the outcome through many underdeveloped countries today.

In other words, if these problems are left unchecked, Rotaring will struggle in the swamp of medievalism forever, and will likely suffer terribly at the hands of other nations that have escaped the medieval era.

Of course, a normal country would gradually eliminate such problems through the flow of time… but as you know, Rotaring has become too strongly characterized by hierarchical social order, totalitarian tendencies, and the unification of politics and religion.

Even in my era of great achievements, there’s a high probability that self-correction won’t properly occur, and if this is neglected, the future Rotaring will truly end up like the Qing Dynasty, Tsarist Russia, or the Ottoman Empire of the 20th century.

I don’t want such a future.

“Ines, you’ve been working behind the scenes to cultivate such customs in Rotaring, haven’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“From now on, please stop doing that. And if possible, try to remedy what’s been done.”

All this time, Ines has been using her power as empress to pressure the lords and encourage a culture of praising me among the people. Such actions inevitably left significant traces, so when I ordered an investigation, I was able to discover it rather quickly.

…Of course, it’s good if a culture of praising me, the monarch, spreads among the people. It provides political stability, making governance easier, and this would continue to Roter and future monarchs.

But… how should I put it, the praise has gone a bit too far? They’re not just praising me as a human being, but actually worshipping me as a saint or demigod.

Unconditional praise for a monarch renders political self-correction useless and corrupts the country, so such a culture must be stopped.

It’s enough for people to properly respect and serve me and my future emperors as monarchs. There’s a saying that absolute power corrupts absolutely, isn’t there?

“Your Majesty.”

“I’m sorry, Ines.”

As expected, Ines seems displeased with my words. She’s making an expression I’ve never seen in all our time together.

…Well, that’s natural. From Ines’s perspective, it sounds like I’m telling her not to have the people praise their monarch, which can’t be properly explained from a medieval viewpoint no matter what.

And though it’s a bit embarrassing to admit, since Ines loves me, she can’t stand to see my dignity and honor diminished. Above all, since the next emperor will be Roter, she naturally wants to establish the emperor as the people’s eternal parent and living god for her son’s sake.

“Can you… can you explain the reason?”

“The reason? There are so many that it’s difficult to explain them all, but to compress everything… it’s so that my descendants can reign as emperors forever.”

“Forever…?”

In the past, there were many countries that served monarchs. No, not just many—almost all countries, except for maybe 1%, have served monarchs at some point in their history.

But in modern times, it’s extremely difficult to find countries that serve monarchs, isn’t it?

As I mentioned earlier, the reason is that as time passes and society and civilization develop, monarchy becomes an unnecessary political system for the state. If a tyrant emerges, the people—or rather, citizens—who have been waiting for an opportunity will overthrow the monarchy through revolution and establish a republic.

Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Russia, China—there are too many countries that have gone through this process to count.

But… what if the state continues to function properly even when a tyrant emerges? What if the citizens don’t feel the need to abandon monarchy even when a tyrant appears?

That’s England.

“Ines, what do you think about the church schools teaching rural residents and Dijon University teaching specialized knowledge?”

“Hmm… wouldn’t it produce many useful talents, making it easier for Your Majesty and Roter to govern the country?”

“What would you simply call these useful talents?”

“Loyal subjects—no, that’s not it… Well, I suppose they would be intelligent people—wait?!”

Ines’s eyes suddenly widen. They open so wide that the whites below her irises are visible.

To realize what will happen in the future just by connecting the words “reign forever” with the increase of intelligent people… I’m reminded again that Ines is truly a genius.

“W-we must stop this. Quickly… we need to intensify the worship efforts… No, that’s not it… Yes, we should eliminate the schools—”

“Ines.”

“Ah…”

I tightly embrace Ines, who had been trembling and behaving strangely.

…Come to think of it, it’s been a very long time since we’ve done this outside of bed. It’s quite embarrassing with the attendants watching.

“Have you calmed down?”

“…No.”

After Ines, who had been struggling in my arms, became docile, I pulled back slightly to look her in the eyes, but she responds with a pouty face.

…Huh?

“Why, why did you do such a thing? If you already knew everything, then why…!”

“Well… an efficient supply of talent is essential for operating the state more effectively.”

“We’ve had no problems governing the country until now without doing such things!”

“There will be problems in the future as society and technology develop. Would today’s prosperity in Rotaring have been possible without nurturing outstanding talents?”

Beyond the palace window frame, various noises from the prosperous Dijon can be heard, but in contrast, no words come from Ines’s open mouth. She seems to be desperately searching for some rebuttal.

“Ines, think again about what I said earlier.”

“Yes…?”

“I told you that the reason I asked you to stop the worship efforts was to allow my descendants to reign as emperors forever, didn’t I? I’m going to prevent that future.”

“…Your Majesty would naturally do so, but does that reign include governance?”

“…”

As expected, she’s quick-witted, hitting right at the core.

To reign but not to govern.

That’s the famous saying about the United Kingdom, the representative constitutional monarchy.

The reason why the state functions without any issues even when a tyrant emerges? The reason why citizens don’t clamor for the abolition of monarchy even when a tyrant appears? Isn’t it because the monarch doesn’t govern, so it doesn’t matter whether they’re a tyrant or not?

In modern times—no, in the distant future—monarchs will simply be used as living totems for national unity. And that will be the only way to maintain the monarchy.

Of course, there are countries that maintain absolute monarchy or similar hereditary systems even in the distant future, but well… those aren’t proper, normal countries, so let’s skip over them.

“Of course, I’ll delay it as much as possible, but that will… well, roughly take at least 500 years? That’s almost as long as the history of House Lorel, isn’t it?”

“Is there truly no way to prevent it?”

“Think of it as an inevitable flow of history. To prevent a future where our descendants lose their status and become commoners, and to prevent Rotaring’s downfall, this is the only way I can think of. I can only ask you to trust me… will you?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ines’s lips part heavily. Her face looks tearful, and her breathing is rough.

…Tonight is going to be very difficult.