Published: January 4, 2026
The next day, Governor's Official Residence Conference Room.
On this day as well, an official of instantaneous communication was waiting by a huge board, with Zoe and me present.
What was different from yesterday was that the huge board was painted black.
"Try it."
"Yes."
One of the officials I ordered took a white stick about the length and thickness of a finger and wrote characters on the black board.
After writing some random characters, another official wiped them off with a cloth.
"They disappeared!"
Zoe was surprised and looked at me.
"What is that...?"
"That's a local specialty called white chalk. It originally came from children’s play where they used stones to draw on other stones. They gathered the white substance, solidified it, and that’s how it started."
While I was explaining, the officials continued writing and erasing characters.
When I said, "Enough," they stopped.
"Instantaneous communication can involve long exchanges. If used continuously, it's better if what’s written can be easily erased."
"Indeed! Amazing, master!"
Zoe was impressed.
"Prince Regent Your Highness has arrived."
One of the officials reported to me.
I nodded and said, "Begin."
Communication began, and white characters made of white chalk were written on the black board.
"I apologize for troubling you during your busy schedule."
"Not at all."
When I spoke, my words were written on the blackboard and sent by communication to the Prince Regent—Oscar.
Thus, our "conversation" began between Enlil and the Imperial Capital, two places far apart.
"To be frank, it’s about the budget."
"I thought so. It’s still insufficient."
"Yes, the national treasury is already at its limit. At this rate, this fiscal year will face a huge shortage."
"What about the internal treasury?"
"That is also at a critical level. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager says so, but we can’t force her to endure extreme conditions."
"That makes sense. It’s difficult. I now understand the hardships of the late emperor."
"Is this about the fines?"
"Yes."
Old memories flooded my mind.
Back when I was the minister of legal affairs, Father once asked for my opinion.
A member of the royal family offered to pay fines themselves because their son committed a crime, accepting responsibility for inadequate supervision.
That in itself was like saying, "Please forgive us because we apologize first," so it wasn’t a big issue.
The problem was that Father was deeply moved by it and asked me, as the minister of legal affairs, whether this should be accepted since it was related to a crime.
At that time, I firmly rejected it.
As the minister of legal affairs, I said there was no crime of inadequate parental supervision under imperial law.
Therefore, there was no basis to punish.
Instead, I proposed the idea of selling honor as honorary knights.
At that time, I didn’t think deeply about it.
No, I simply didn’t understand.
But now, holding the same position of emperor as Father once did, I fully understand.
There are situations where you must find money by any means, even from the smallest things.
"Thanks to Your Majesty’s good governance, money flows abundantly among the people. This is an emergency—how about a slight tax increase?"
"If only for emergencies, as a last resort, it’s not out of the question."
"And then?"
Oscar asked back.
Because my answer was a roundabout rejection, he was asking, "Then what shall we do?"
What to do.
"Sell honor..."
I murmured unconsciously.
The official in charge of communication reacted and I told them not to convey those words.
"Give me a day. That's all for today."
I said, and my words were sent through communication as I stood.
"Zoe, I leave everything to you for half a day."
"Where to?"
Zoe asked.
There was no objection to my being assigned as de facto deputy governor, but she wanted to know where I was headed.
"I’m going to meet Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Huh?"
☆
Evening, Imperial Capital Palace.
I flew straight from Enlil Province to the Imperial Capital on Jiz’s wings and, catching a stunned eunuch, told him I wished to meet Her Majesty the Empress Dowager—Mother—and sent him to notify her.