Published: January 4, 2026
“Do you know Your Majesty the Emperor?”
“It was many decades ago.”
Despite being inside a tavern, the old man’s eyes seemed to look far away, as if reminiscing about something dear.
“I saw him about three or four times.”
“Really!”
I was surprised.
Decades ago meant when I was still a young child.
Hearing that he had seen me three or four times back then made me even more curious about what the old man was saying.
“That was in a tavern—not some vulgar place like this, but one where you could enjoy both song and drink. Well, one of those in a big city.”
“Oh?”
I replied, beginning to grasp the story.
Probably—
“Your Majesty helped the daughter of the singer at that tavern.”
Just as I thought.
I thought it must be about Alice.
“Helping the singer’s daughter means she must have been bothered by thugs or something?”
“Exactly. There are many such stories in the world, but Your Majesty not only helped her but even supported her financially.”
“Such a thing?”
“The daughter was a good girl, of course she wanted to repay the kindness.”
“That’s natural.”
“What do you think Your Majesty said then?”
“Well…”
It was the incident with Alice; of course I remembered, but I pretended not to.
“He said she only needed to keep singing. She was a beautiful girl, and if she had come up to me asking to ‘repay kindness,’ I would have been completely smitten right there.”
The old man said jokingly with a laugh.
“Isn’t that just a charming facade?”
“If that was all, yes. But I told you—I saw him four or five times.”
“That’s right.”
“At those times, not only did Your Majesty refuse repayment, he also continued financial support, even went as far as purchasing the whole tavern so that the girl could sing comfortably. Even after all that, he never sought repayment. Until I left the city, that girl kept singing at that tavern.”
“Such a thing…”
“Incredible.”
The old man was excited, downing his drink in one gulp.
His face reddened further, and his excitement grew.
“I’ve lived a long time, but of all the people with power who didn’t become corrupt, I only know that Emperor. Most would brandish their power at the slightest opportunity, but he never did.”
“Maybe because he was still young?”
“Hahaha, even the son of a town mayor will wield whatever small power he has from a young age.”
“I see, that makes sense.”
“I met Your Majesty six or seven times, and even until the very end, he never flaunted his power.”
“So he is that kind of person.”
I kept nodding in response to the old man’s words.
It was a bit amusing how the number of times he met me seemed to increase in proportion to his drinks.
“What do you think about Your Majesty continuing the war?”
“The previous emperor did the same. For those of us living underground, as long as we can eat and not worry about tomorrow, that’s a wonderful emperor.”
“I see, he is well-loved. Is there anything you wish Your Majesty would do?”
The old man’s drinking made him speak more candidly.
I thought I’d listen to his honest opinion.
“Well, I’d like him to come visit more often.”
“Visit for leisure?”
“The previous emperor often traveled to the provinces—officially.”
“Ah…”
So, not leisure, but official inspection trips.
My father, the previous emperor, did often travel to the provinces for inspections.
And it wasn’t secret visits like I often do, but large-scale official expeditions with big escorts.
“It’s good to wage war, but sometimes I wish he’d come down to our places. When the emperor shows his face, it reassures us. Also, well, it brings in money.”
“That does make sense.”
I laughed.
This was probably the honest opinion of the common folk.
Officially and publicly inspecting the provinces costs a lot.
Taxes collected in the capital end up being distributed back to the provinces this way.
Also, while my father wasn’t so much like this, people generally loosen their purse strings when away from the capital, becoming more relaxed while traveling.