I didn’t only teach Merem about art. I didn’t leave him to be solely dedicated to the sword. I brought Merem into the study, nurtured his eyes for reviewing documents, and now he has become quite helpful to me. His ability to quickly grasp the situation was evidence of that.

“Could it be… there’s no comparative data. Haha!”

Pybel forced a bitter laugh with a dying expression. With all the tasks at hand, taking on something this complex, troublesome, and unanswerable was unwelcome.

“As you know, collusion is rampant in the eastern territories. Even if an investigator from the capital went, they wouldn’t be able to properly investigate without sending knights along.”

“Sending precious knights with an investigator… It doesn’t make sense, does it? Sigh.”

Pybel, with a gloomy face, took out a new piece of paper and began writing documents regarding the dispatch of investigators.

Merem, who had been standing behind me, reading documents thoroughly, stooped and gripped the desk. In doing so, he got too close, making me flinch as my fingers trembled.

“Look at this, Leo. In this territory, they received the same budget but haven’t built a single new building in the past five years. However, they did request construction materials.”

“There’s a problem. Pybel, include architects among the investigators. Especially those who were involved in building the Astaloth Knights’ lodgings.”

No matter how good investigators are, sending someone who can’t see construction materials won’t be of any use. Buildings that appear decent could, in fact, be poorly constructed due to stolen materials.

“Merem, recently, the area with the highest demon occurrence rate within Nix is said to be the western region.”

“That’s right. There haven’t been any strange stories from the east.”

“Then, it doesn’t make sense to say that they couldn’t attract tourists because of demons.”

What exactly has Enrique been doing? It seems like we need to check why the budget was approved five years ago.

“If you’re going to handle things like this, you might as well abdicate the emperor’s seat.”

Muttering so, Pybel nodded vigorously, indicating his agreement.

“You should clean up your own mess. Why are you passing it on to us?”

“That’s a valid point.”

“Phew, the answer to this will only come after the investigators return.”

If this result occurred without a valid reason, responsibility must be demanded. Furthermore, if personal use of the budget is discovered, even if it requires confiscation, a fine several times the amount of the budget should be imposed.

Perhaps the imperial court is playing around, and that’s why these results have surfaced.

In other words, that’s the situation.

“The ones who messed up are them, but they want you to take the blame.”

“That’s right, Merem. You’re smart.”

Seeing the checks and balances come into play, it seems the emperor’s subordinates are finally starting to take the empress’s residence seriously.

Pybel, who had completed the urgent order and brought it to me, chuckled.
In Pybel’s gleaming eyes filled with a childish madness, I satisfactorily stamped the seal. Pybel, being of a bad temperament, doesn’t forgive those who pass such matters onto me. For this case, I wished them well in enduring a very long and painful ordeal.

While contemplating, Merem, who seemed lost in thought, opened his mouth.

“Where is the Quad?”

“The Quad?”

The term ‘Quad’ refers to the isolated area where the untouchables, a minority ethnic group, are gathered and prevented from going outside. And the Quad… was in the eastern part of the empire. The Quad itself is also a tourist attraction.

“Oh?”

Pybel, realizing the point Merem was making, sharpened his eyes. He rummaged through a pile of documents and pulled out a piece of paper.

“Look at this, Your Majesty! One of the two territories that successfully attracted tourists is the one with the Quad.”

“Did Helene handle this matter five years ago?”

“It seems highly likely.”

“Good. Frame it as if Helene generously distributed money to this territory, asking her to take good care of the Quad, and publish gossip about it in the newspapers.”

It’s perfect timing for her to be dragged down from her saintly position.

I slammed the table, my eyes flashing.

“If we can completely get rid of Helene, turning the east into an enemy won’t be much of a problem. Keep that in mind.”

“I will handle it that way, Your Majesty.”

Ha! The feeling of relief after ten long years is coming down already.

It doesn’t matter what Helene actually did. What’s important is that, among the lands where tax evasion is evident, the Quad’s existence is crucial.

These are the kinds of facts the common people care about.

“I’m tired. Everyone, take a break.”

“Ah, then I’ll go for a walk.”

As soon as the break was declared, Pybel stood up energetically. Finding his bustling demeanor amusing, I teased Pybel.

“A walk when it’s raining? You could just say you’re going to see Charlotte.”

“What does rain matter to a couple who just started dating? It’s even better if we get wet together.”