Mess 148

148.

‘It makes me itchy for no reason.’

Her relationships with these people felt both unfamiliar and strangely embarrassing.

But right now, even that sort of bashful emotion was a luxury she could hardly afford.

“The Poor Relief Act will endanger the Crown Prince’s position,” Seraphie said, and all attention turned to her.

“The newly reformed temple has severed its ties to the Cartio family.”

The temple was now subordinate to the Imperial House. No longer would it serve as a vehicle for the influence of a single noble house; with Cartio’s power curtailed, the Crown Prince, too, would suffer a significant blow.

So they too would be anxious now.

“They must be uneasy,” Karl agreed.

“For a while, they’ll tread carefully. They’ll move defensively.”

“Quite right.”

Seraphie nodded. In all likelihood, the Cartio house would either lay low for a time or scale back its operations.

And that was exactly the opportunity they needed.

“What should we do?” Orkis asked.

“The fake gold bars and the new explosives—if we’re to prove the Crown Prince’s connection to them, we need to bring down Cartio.”

Yet given the magnitude of the issue, they couldn’t target Cartio on mere suspicion.

Instead, they needed to gradually shut off all possible escape routes, giving them no chance to slip away.

“Your Highness,” Seraphie said to Ex. “Buy gold.”

“Gold?”

Ex’s expression twisted in bewilderment at the abrupt suggestion.

“You know His Majesty is preparing a currency reform, don’t you?”

“Yes. I heard the response strategy was delegated to you.”

“And at the moment, I’m collecting gold.”

“What exactly…”

Ex’s confusion only deepened.

The currency reform wasn’t just about toppling Cartio.

The Empire’s largest gold mine was owned by Cartio, and the fact that it was running dry posed a serious national risk.

The answer was not simply to hoard as much gold as possible.

Even if Cartio’s mine was drying up, there were still several years’ worth of gold to be extracted. No matter how much she amassed, it wouldn’t compare.

However—

“Your Highness,” Seraphie continued, “I have no intention of minting gold coins.”

“Then why are you gathering gold?”

“You’ll understand when the time comes.”

“We’re on the same side, so at least tell me!”

Ex burst out in frustration, but Seraphie only gave him a sly shrug.

“…So all I need to do is buy gold?”

Back in his seat, Ex spoke with relative calm.

He didn’t understand, but he trusted Seraphie, so he decided to wait. Surely, he’d find out soon enough.

“How much do you want?”

“As much as possible.”

And under no circumstances could Cartio be allowed to catch wind of it.

“That will be difficult…”

Ex let out a sigh of resignation. It would be tricky, but not impossible.

After all, if Seraphie had come up with the idea, doubts didn’t matter.

“Fine, then what’s next?”

“Next…”

Seraphie gathered her thoughts.

‘Baglosa, Baglosa…’

Even thinking of that absurd stalker again was ridiculous. He was currently in a kind of exile in Baglosa’s domain.

‘But soon he’ll show himself.’

At the coming spring festival.

‘That place where Penny and Lilia had their final falling-out…’

The climax of the original story was just around the corner. The narrative described all the Crown Prince’s followers being gathered there, so the young master of Baglosa’s family would almost certainly make an appearance.

“……”

While Seraphie organized her plans, the others politely held their silence.

“Lou,” Seraphie said, calling her one and only aide.

“How did that matter turn out?”

The day she realized she still lacked the dignity expected of a noble, she had called for Loony through Marin.

And she’d ordered her then,

‘Look into the finances of the Baglosa family.’

‘Which part? The house? Their merchant guild?’

‘Both.’

If her guess was correct, Baglosa would be in severe financial trouble by now.

Because of his son’s stalking scandal, real estate laws had become toothless, and they’d had to liquidate several properties as compensation. At the same time, the Kia trading company was closing in fast.

If anyone should feel threatened by Validus’s meteoric rise, it was Baglosa. If they slipped up now, they could lose their former monopoly on the tea trade.

Seraphie, naturally, planned to take all that back.

“I did as you asked,” Loony reported without delay.

“And as you thought, Baglosa has issued bonds.”

“What’s a bond?” Pura asked.

“In simple terms, it means they’ve gone into debt and borrowed money,” Seraphie explained.

Pura nodded, impressed. “Ohh.”

“But still, issuing bonds? Wouldn’t a simple IOU suffice…?”

“It’s because tea is Baglosa’s main product,” Karl replied.

“Tea is a luxury item. Trading companies that deal in such goods can’t secure ordinary loans. Financial transactions become far more complicated.”

“Karl is correct. That’s why Baglosa’s current finances are extremely precarious.”

Loony, continuing, handed Seraphie a document—Baglosa’s suspicious financial pattern over the past few years.

“As you know, tea isn’t considered a luxury for nothing.”

“Nobody knows that better than I do.”

Kia, who had left the business years ago, was still astonishingly wealthy.

Just last summer, she’d broken auction records to buy one of Via’s paintings.

Yet now Baglosa, who’d long monopolized the tea trade, was in a financial crisis.

‘Why on earth?’

Even with last year’s property forfeitures and the Kia guild rising, it seemed inconceivable for Baglosa to be this unsteady.

“……”

As she scanned the documents, Seraphie’s eyes narrowed.

“These rotten…”

A thin, unpleasant smile formed.

“They’ve been siphoning off money.”

The reported assets were far too small compared to Baglosa’s actual earnings. What’s more, one detail jumped out.

Baglosa had made enormous donations to the temple, consistently and often.

‘Donations to the temple,’ she thought in disdain.

Claiming losses from a natural disaster would have been more credible.

‘…And yet.’

Her crooked smile slowly curled up.

‘And to think I just demolished the temple.’

The temple was now nothing more than the lowest house in the service of the gods.

So where, now, would all of Baglosa’s donations end up?

“This could be…”

Seraphie beamed.

“…over much sooner than I expected.”

Baglosa was already waiting, neck clean and ready for the blade.

---

The Poor Relief Act was now in force.

The Imperial House divided the capital into sectors, assigning officials to each district to record the personal details of all the poor. In this process, they arrested two fugitives—wanted on fraud and assault charges.

The poor were classified according to strict criteria.

Able-bodied adults were put to forced labor—at wages well below the minimum, and half of those wages paid in kind.

Children were sent to school or given vocational training, while the elderly or infirm were cared for directly by the state.

“…Still an imperfect law,” Seraphie muttered, passing through the outskirts of the capital in a carriage as she reviewed the implementation report Ex handed her.

“As it’s compulsory rather than voluntary welfare, it’s bound to face heavy criticism.”

“For all that,” Ex said, grinning as he pointed to one section of the report, “the reviews are quite positive.”

“It’s the re-education initiative—the same project you proposed, Count.”

“Teaching bread making, then.”

“Yes. It’s only been a few days, but the reaction has been incredible.”

At one pilot correctional facility, prisoners were taught to bake bread. Some ate the bread they made; others sold it for a small profit outside.

And the results were good.

In particular, inmate satisfaction was high, and even the mood within the prison was said to have lightened noticeably.

“What did His Majesty say?”

“My mother—if she meets you, Count, she’ll be so delighted she’ll plant a kiss on both your cheeks.”

That sounded like approval to Seraphie.

“The Poor Relief Act is truly remarkable.”

Ex’s praise was effusive. Embarrassed by his relentless compliments, Seraphie insisted once more:

“Your Highness, as I said before, the act still falls short…”

“It’s imperfect,” Ex cut in, lips twisting into a mischievous grin.

“But for the Imperial House, it’s the greatest blessing imaginable.”

“……”

“Count, you’re quite the cunning one.”

Seraphie said nothing in reply, though inwardly she was startled.

‘He’s caught on.’

The main purpose of the Act was to aid the poor, to carry out a range of social welfare experiments, and thereby set up a more robust system. Crime prevention and reducing repeat offenses were other goals.

But there was an ulterior motive lurking beneath.

For all these things to be led by the Imperial House—by the state itself—meant:

‘…the reins of power have only tightened further.’

It was precisely for this reason that the Emperor had supported the law so fervently.

For the state to care for the poor directly was to expand imperial power and identify new sources of tax-paying labor.

At the same time, though, the law was a double-edged sword.

Its effectiveness was not yet truly proven. It needed constant revision and careful monitoring.

‘And…’

Seraphie glanced at Ex.

‘No matter how much we strengthen the throne now, if the next heir is the Crown Prince, all this is meaningless.’

It would be giving even more power to a murderous madman. All the more reason why Ex’s success was vital.

“I’ll have to do my part as well.”

Fortunately, Ex was well aware of the problem himself. Seraphie found relief in that alone.

“Sera. Or rather, Mistress.”

When the carriage stopped, Pura opened the door and called for her.

“Ride with us.”

Seraphie took Pura’s offered hand and stepped down. Pura grinned, satisfied, her lilac hair shining in the sun.

“We should’ve all ridden together. Would’ve been fun.”

Ex, descending after, looked a bit disappointed.

“Pura, right? I hope we get along.”

“Why would I want to get along with a prince…”

“Pura.”

“…Must I?”

She had started to answer as usual but caught herself, switching to a formal tone. Ex found her stubbornness entertaining and chuckled quietly.

“Your Highness, please do not harass my escort.”

“Honestly. People will think I actually am.”

“She probably has a crush on me…”

Pura shook her head in mock exasperation.

“What an ordeal, this popularity.”

Seraphie chose to ignore the ridiculous self-praise.