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

“I wouldn’t say no,” Oscar said with a serious expression, though there was a hint of hesitation, as if he was wondering, “Is this really alright?”

“Speak up. If it’s something we can settle here, I’ll listen to anything and make sure it’s not forgotten…”

“As you wish.”

Oscar bowed once before speaking.

“Unlike honorary knights, granting a summer villa comes with some damage to the emperor’s dignity.”

“Hmm.”

That was exactly the response I expected.

Oscar holds the concept of the ‘emperor’ in high regard.

It was no surprise that this reason came from him.

“I’ve considered that as well. Of the summer villas Father left behind, the one in the north—the largest one he used until the end, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, when granting the villa, have plans drawn up to build a new one—larger, say about twice the size. That way, we can say we’re replacing the old, cramped one with a new, spacious villa. At least nominally, that should be possible.”

“A new summer villa? If it’s about twice the size, even if we dispose of all the current villas, the net result should be positive…”

Oscar showed some reluctance.

“You’re saying that since we’re granting villas because of financial difficulties, building a new one would halve the benefits, right?”

“Yes, in a way.”

“That's why I said ‘plans.’”

“Huh?”

Oscar blinked in confusion.

He was so surprised he widened his eyes.

“It’ll take 10, 20, well maybe not as long as 30 years. All that time, I just have to keep saying ‘plans.’”

“...Yes!”

Oscar gasped.

“I see! Naturally, a larger scale makes one more cautious.”

“Indeed… I am selfish. I have no intention of compromising with half-baked plans.”

I smiled and said this with a slight teasing tone to try and coax a laugh from Oscar, but instead, he looked at me with even greater respect.

“Amazing, Your Majesty. If that’s the case, after granting all the current summer villas, we can turn them over to the national treasury.”

“How much would that be?”

“If all of them… it would be the equivalent of five years’ worth of the national budget—no!”

Oscar stopped himself mid-sentence and looked at me straight on.

An intense serious face, one I know well.

This was the face he often made when he was about to make a difficult suggestion.

As brothers and later as lord and vassal with decades of acquaintance, I’ve seen that expression many times.

“Respectfully, Your Majesty, would it be possible to use the villas once with Empress before granting them?”

“I see, so using them would add prestige, wouldn’t it?”

I nodded firmly.

“Yes, having been cherished by the late emperor and myself across two generations, that would certainly add value.”

“And I could say that I found the old one cramped, adding a story behind the change.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

“Then there’s no choice.”

When I said that, Oscar’s face brightened.

“In that case, we can secure up to ten years’ worth. I know a few merchants who ‘want to keep up appearances even if their houses are falling apart.’”

“I see.”

I nodded.

“Ten years… that’s just right.”

“Just right? What do you mean?”

Oscar tilted his head.

“You know we’re developing new rice varieties.”

“Yes, regarding the budget for that.”

“If rice production increases, the population will grow. Needless to say, most of the country’s problems can be solved by increasing the number of children born.”

“Exactly.”

Oscar nodded seriously.

The foundation of the nation is agriculture, and the empire is a “country of warriors.”

From every angle, the number of children born—population—is directly connected to national strength.

Though there were exceptions in history, for the empire, nearly all problems can be addressed by increasing the birth rate.

“Develop new rice varieties, increase the number of people the land can support per unit, and to visibly increase births starting from now…”

“About ten years from now…”