Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed, So I'll Obtain Ultimate Power

“Just the two of us, no need for extra formalities.”

“Yes.”

Oscar stood up.

His eyes were slightly different from before. Since I could see his status, I understood that the change in eye color was due to a difference in loyalty.

Knowing this, I continued speaking without reservation.

“For the time being, I will treat you specially, just as before, handling you delicately like a fragile object.”

“Of course. Then I will continue as before—”

“No, Oscar, you need to change a little.”

I interrupted Oscar’s words; he looked a bit puzzled.

“What do you mean by change?”

“Be even more courteous than before.”

“...I see.”

Oscar thought for a moment and then nodded.

“You want to put effort into ‘masking your scent’ because you want to provoke some kind of reaction from Your Majesty.”

“Exactly. Their dissatisfaction with me is gradually increasing, but they desperately hide it. That’s when they’ll bite.”

“Impressive, Your Majesty. But as far as the current circle goes, I don’t think there’s anyone or anything worth that much trouble.”

“I just want to be thorough. This kind of tacit understanding can only be done once.”

“That makes sense.”

“That’s the general policy. I leave everything else up to you.”

“Yes, understood.”

“It’s a blank mandate, do as you please.”

“Is that alright? Wouldn’t it be better for Your Majesty to give directions?”

“You have several places where you outperform me in practical matters.”

“...”

Oscar’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Since it’s you, it’s better to leave the main line to you and improvise the rest.”

“...Amazing, Your Majesty. Now I truly understand why the late emperor entrusted the imperial throne to you instead of me. I want to meddle in everything.”

“I’m the same. I can’t help but poke my nose in.”

“In Your Majesty’s case, after setting the guidelines, the paving is entrusted. With me, I can’t be satisfied without micromanaging everything.”

“That’s the downside of competence. Fundamentally, don’t you trust your subordinates?”

“Maybe so. Managing a single province is fine, but for one person to control an entire country—”

Oscar laughed self-deprecatingly.

I thought that this self-mocking smile probably meant there was no longer any antagonism.

“In any case, I leave everything to you.”

“Yes.”

☆

After parting with Oscar and leaving the mansion, I returned to the detached palace—Former Prince Thirteen's Residence.

Under the dusk, I casually avoided the gatekeeper’s gaze and entered.

Back home, I didn’t go to my room.

Instead, I headed for the library.

Inside the library, I lit a lantern placed near the entrance and used it to look around.

I searched for a book.

Recalling my conversation with Father, I wandered through the library looking.

I had discussed resources with Father.

The conversations with Father and Oscar were about extracting shares from vested interests among the current resources.

On the other hand, Father had taken an approach to increase resources from the start.

Neither method was absolutely right, nor was there a rule that only one should be done.

As long as they didn’t conflict, both could and should be done, I believed.

With that in mind, I recalled a history book I had recently read about an emperor who specialized in “increasing” resources.

I returned here to study it more deeply for reference.

“Hmm…”

I pulled out several promising books from the shelves, opened them, and skimmed through.

But none were correct.

Recently, with so many books to read, I couldn’t find which one I was looking for.

What to do next—just then,

“W-who’s there!?”

“Hmm? …Oh, it’s Jiji.”

I heard a voice from the entrance, so I raised the lantern and looked toward the speaker.

It was Jiji, the maid.

When I first came to the mansion, she was a young girl, but now she had grown into a mature woman.

“It’s me.”

That was all I said.

“Master—no, Your Majesty!?”

“You’ve come back?”

“Yes. It’s secret, so keep it confidential.”