Chapter 24: The imperial state council

Imperial Palace State Council Chamber.

Even before the lingering sweetness of the breakfast she had shared with Logan in the garden just moments ago had faded.

Anastasia was barely able to suppress the nausea rising from within her.

“I wish to respect His Majesty’s will, but no matter how I look at it, Your Highness still seems premature.”

It was because of the noble who was openly disparaging and sneering at her right before her eyes.

Duke Kardo Lindemarck, the head of the noble faction and once a supporter of the reckless imperial prince who had been her rival.

He, who had not shown up for the congratulatory audience and banquet celebrating the victory, making the absurd excuse of urgent business.

Was now attending the state council meeting and openly picking a fight with her.

‘It must have been because of people like this that His Majesty had no choice but to turn away from me…’

Her father, Valerius, had been forced into a political marriage with a daughter of the Lindemarck family due to the previous emperor, and had to accept her as the current empress.

But the one Valerius truly loved was Anastasia’s mother.

Having given up much to protect her, who was of humble birth, he naturally ended up being swayed by the nobles.

But in the end, he couldn’t protect her, and she, too, would have met a miserable death without Logan’s help.

Therefore, she had no intention of sympathizing with or understanding such an incompetent father.

Because the person who would now rule the empire was herself, not him.

“Duke Lindemarck. It seems His Majesty has been very lenient with you all this time.”

“Pardon? What are you suddenly saying, Your Highness the Crown Princess?”

Despite Anastasia’s cold warning.

Kardo maintained a leisurely and sneering attitude, provoking her.

“Duke! That’s enough! Didn’t His Majesty clearly state it yesterday!? That the Crown Princess’s command is the same as His Majesty’s command! She is the one who even achieved the subjugation of the Demon Lord! What do you mean, premature!?”

Unable to watch Kardo’s arrogant attitude any longer, Prime Minister Esman, the Minister of State Affairs, shouted in fury.

At this, Kardo snickered, inwardly mocking him.

‘Hmph, the old man who couldn’t do anything by the Emperor’s side is now fawning over her, trying to secure a proper position.’

Normally, he couldn’t ignore the words of the Prime Minister, who held much authority and real power.

But he had long since stopped caring about even the Emperor’s opinion, so he didn’t bat an eye and shamelessly continued.

“His Majesty must have said so because his mind and body have weakened due to the long toil of state affairs. And in fact, wasn’t the hero’s party the main contributor to the Demon Lord’s subjugation?”

“This man truly…!”

Just as Esman, enraged by Kardo’s rude remark, was about to jump up from his seat.

“Enough.”

Anastasia raised her hand to stop him.

Then she turned her gaze back to Kardo.

‘What kind of wench’s eyes are those…’

Kardo flinched inwardly because her red eyes were gleaming eerily like those of a beast, but he thought he couldn’t back down here.

The Crown Princess would probably try to strengthen the weakened imperial authority by using the successful subjugation of the Demon Lord as a basis for gaining the support of the imperial citizens.

Therefore, he had to deliberately and forcibly provoke Anastasia further to shake her.

While shaping public opinion that she, still young, was inadequate to lead state affairs.

That way.

‘I can re-nominate my nephew as the Crown Prince.’

His foolish nephew, who, despite having received all kinds of support, had ruined everything himself, been deposed, and was now confined to a detached palace.

Thanks to him, Anastasia had naturally ascended to the position of Crown Princess.

‘I will never give the emperor’s seat to a wench born from a commoner’s womb.’

Having made that vow, Kardo, in order not to be pushed back even a little in the war of nerves with Anastasia.

Pretended to be as composed as possible on the outside, even while feeling intimidated by her gaze.

Anastasia spoke in a firm voice.

“Stop wasting time with your obvious intentions, and tell me clearly why you say it’s premature. This proposal must be passed.”

The reconstruction project to restore the infrastructure of various regions of the empire, devastated by the Demon Lord’s army’s invasion, must proceed.

Only then could the empire prosper and flourish again as it had in the past.

However, Kardo, without even properly stating a clear reason, was opposing it, citing only her youth as a problem.

Therefore, everyone except for the members of the noble faction wore displeased expressions and looked at Kardo with reproachful eyes.

At this, Kardo inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘Tsk…’

As she said, the reconstruction project was indeed urgent.

If not restored quickly, the empire’s economy would remain stagnant, regressed by several decades.

However, it wouldn’t affect his luxurious life at the pinnacle of the nobility in any way.

It would only make the commoners suffer more.

What did that matter?

But because of that d*mn noblesse oblige, he couldn’t openly say such thoughts.

Therefore, he naturally thought he had no choice but to concede to Anastasia’s opinion without refuting it…

“As Your Highness said, restoring the areas destroyed by the Demon Lord’s army’s invasion is important. However.”

He had a sure card up his sleeve.

“Does the funding for that reconstruction project just fall from the sky? Isn’t it all the imperial citizens’ hard-earned taxes?”

It was true that securing finances was necessary as a huge budget was required, and the lives of the people had also become impoverished due to the Demon Lord’s army’s invasion.

Therefore, Kardo tried to use that as an excuse to counterattack.

Esman, who was listening to this, was dumbfounded and roared.

“Isn’t the purpose of this meeting to propose that the high-ranking nobles gathered here donate a portion of their wealth to supplement that!”

As he said, funds were needed for reconstruction.

To do that, more taxes would have to be collected from the imperial citizens…

The plan was to raise that percentage as little as possible and secure the necessary resources from the nobles.

“Well now, we nobles are also imperial citizens. Our lives have also become very impoverished due to the Demon Lord’s army’s invasion…”

Because of Kardo’s utterly shameless attitude, Anastasia had to feel an intense anger that couldn’t be calmed even by the sweet memories she had shared with Logan in the garden just before entering the meeting.

“Ha…”

Anastasia couldn’t help but let out a derisive laugh.

Impoverished?

What a joke.

Despite requests for support and cooperation in the Demon Lord subjugation, the members of the noble faction had made all sorts of excuses and focused only on preserving their own wealth.

Therefore, their lives would not have changed at all from before to now.

Because of that, Anastasia decided not to hold back any longer and counterattack.

“I see… so even the Duke has become impoverished…”

“Yes, yes~ That’s right.”

Kardo deliberately made exaggerated groaning sounds to provoke Anastasia further.

“Ah, I really want to practice noblesse oblige myself, but as you can see, my circumstances are difficult…”

At this, Anastasia pointed at his finger with a sneer.

“Pfft, as I can see? Just by disposing of that one ring you’re wearing now, it would be a great help to the project funds, wouldn’t it?”

“Pardon? No, this is…!”

Kardo was flustered by Anastasia’s remark.

He, who always enjoyed extravagance and showing off, made it a daily routine to wear numerous accessories despite being a man.

Therefore.

“Seeing that you’re wearing not just one, but several on all your fingers, it doesn’t seem to be a wedding ring or a memento… Couldn’t you donate one… no, just a few for that noblesse oblige?”

Kardo was at a loss for words under Anastasia’s pressure and could only move his lips.

‘No, I can’t give away even one!!!’

His mansion’s vault was already overflowing with countless such accessories, so a few missing wouldn’t matter.

But to donate for the commoners?

Did that even make sense?

Therefore, Kardo hurriedly looked around, trying to find another pretext to change the subject.

Just then.

‘Oho…!’

His eyes caught sight of Logan standing quietly in a corner.

---

Logan stood in a corner of the meeting hall with Renate to escort Anastasia.

‘Disgusting…’

Even in his previous life, he had no interest in politics or such power struggles.

Logan did not have a good impression of politicians or upper-class people who displayed such ugly behavior.

Because while they pretended to be for the people on the outside, they were all hell-bent on lining their own pockets.

‘But here, they’re openly displaying their greed.’

As Anastasia said, just selling one of the rings dangling from his fingers could feed hundreds of commoners for several months.

‘No, is he some kind of ring fetishist? Why is he wearing so many ostentatiously?’

Just as Logan was thinking that and looking at Kardo, their eyes accidentally met.

At this, Kardo’s expression turned cunning, and Logan realized his mistake.

Because he had unnecessarily made eye contact, that sinister fellow was now plotting something.

“You happen to be here! Sir Logan, who was a member of the hero’s party, but a commoner!”

“No, why suddenly Sir Logan…!”

Anastasia tried to stop Kardo, feeling a sense of foreboding.

Seeing her anxious appearance, Kardo smiled despicably, thinking he had taken the bait properly.

“As Your Highness said, even if I donate a little of my private property, it’s true that the burden on the imperial citizens will also increase, isn’t it?”

“Ha…! Excuse me, Duke Lindemarck.”

Despite Anastasia’s angry attempt to stop him, Kardo, as if determined not to miss this opportunity, asked Logan with a smug expression.

“What do you think, Sir Logan? Since you are in a humble position, I believe you would know better than anyone. For people like you, even that small tax increase means hard-earned money is being taken away, doesn’t it?”

He did not hesitate to use insulting language, trying to corner Logan.

Kardo was triumphant.

So what if he was praised as a member of the hero’s party?

At the end of the day, wasn’t he just an adventurer?

He wouldn’t dare meddle in the affairs of nobles and speak out of turn.

However, contrary to such a petty expectation, Kardo couldn’t help but be astonished by the answer that came out of his mouth.

---

“Puhahaha!!!”

“Your Highness… I understand very well that you must be in a good mood, but your laughter is too undignified.”

“Ah, I’m sorry, Renate. But it was so refreshing to see that cunning old man speechless and trembling at Logan’s words.”

Anastasia, who had returned to the princess’s palace garden for lunch after the meeting ended.

Wiped the tears that had welled up in her eyes from laughing so much with a handkerchief, looking delighted.

“Logan, you’re truly amazing…”

“You praise me too much, Anya…”

“No, I’m genuinely complimenting you! Puhaha!”

Anastasia burst into laughter once again, recalling the triumphant moment in the meeting hall.

-Yes, I also… wholeheartedly agree with the Duke’s words.

-Ooh, you’re more sensible than I thought!

-Yes, in the sense that the imperial citizens’ taxes are hard-earned money.

-…?

-Therefore, I would like those who don’t even think of shedding such blood… no, any blood at all, to bear a little more of the burden.

-What…?

-I’m talking about nobles like Your Grace, who are not impoverished at all.

-…Are you insulting me right now? Even if you’re a member of the hero’s party, you’re just a mere commoner…

-Insulting you? If what I’m saying is an insult, then can a mere noble like Your Grace utter such nonsense to Her Highness the Crown Princess?

-You b*stard!!!

As Kardo raised his voice and tried to take a threatening stance, Anastasia intended to intervene appropriately.

However, even before that, Logan twisted his lips as if sneering at Kardo and continued.

-It’s truly admirable. Even during the Demon Lord subjugation, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a demon as shameless and greedy as Your Grace. Even the Demon Lord himself would weep. If Your Grace had been the hero, the subjugation might have been easier.

-This b*stard, really!!!

Kardo’s face turned beet red at Logan’s scathing criticism, and he looked ready to rush out and grab his collar at any moment.

However, the other nobles and ministers in the meeting hall were already in an atmosphere of agreement with Logan’s words.

-Pfft.

-Puhup!

Laughter burst out here and there, unable to be contained, and even Anastasia, who had been watching the situation with a calm expression, couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from turning up slightly.

In such an awkward atmosphere, Kardo could only fidget, unable to do anything.

Even the members of the noble faction who followed him had bowed their heads in silence.

As if trying to suppress their laughter.

-Eeeek!! Are you all trying to laugh at me now?

-Ah, no, Your Grace!

Thus, a farcical scene of internal strife unfolded among them, and afterward, the proposal was passed smoothly.

“Logan, thank you so much. I was already very worried that people like the Duke would look down on you and ignore you, but you not only subdued him by yourself but also helped me so much, I’m so happy.”

“Not at all, Anya. I’m truly glad I could be of help to you.”

“Logan…”

“Anya…”

‘Haa…’

Seeing the two of them praising each other again and creating a sweet atmosphere, just like in the morning, Renate couldn’t help but sigh inwardly again.

‘I should just eat.’

She decided to just leave them be and eat.

Although she wasn’t sure if her food would be digested well, as the sight of the two, seemingly dripping with honey, somehow made her feel a pang of jealousy.