[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 124

    Leoric''s words were reasonable.

    To continue the royal lineage, an heir was necessary.

    And to have an heir, the king needed a suitable partner.

    Considering Leoric’s rigid personality, it was a wonder how he had managed to hold his tongue for an entire month.

    However, Kaylen had no intention of marrying.

    "Now is not the time for that. Wouldn''t it be better to proceed after the kingdom has stabilized?"

    "Your Majesty, the Meier Kingdom is already stable thanks to your outstanding governance. The number of dungeon portals has significantly decreased compared to the reign of the previous King of Kaitan, and public order has improved. The people gather in small groups to praise Your Majesty."

    Leoric spoke passionately, but Kaylen could not agree with him at all.

    ‘How is this a good place to live?’

    Compared to life in the Empire, the current conditions for the kingdom''s citizens were wretched.

    Except for a few wealthy districts like South River, most people were living day to day, struggling to earn enough just to eat.

    Moreover, the outer regions were frequently attacked by monsters emerging from dungeon portals.

    Even in areas without monster hordes, bandits—displaced people who had lost their homes—roamed near the capital.

    Of course, such issues...

    "For nearly a month, all dungeon portals near the capital, Alzass, have been completely eradicated, and the bandits who were preying on the people in the treacherous mountain ranges have disappeared. Is this not all thanks to Your Majesty’s nightly excursions?"

    Kaylen had taken care of them all while riding his drake.

    "If there''s trash in my house, it’s only natural to clean it up immediately."

    "There have been countless kings who failed to do even that."

    "Haha, Count, you''re quite good at flattery."

    "I am deeply wronged! I, Leoric, in my seventy years of life, have never once resorted to flattery. It is the truth! The citizens of the capital are living better than ever and pray for the Meier royal family’s eternal prosperity."

    A king who was practically a transcendent being—Kaylen.

    As he dedicated himself tirelessly to state affairs day and night, the capital had stabilized in just a month.

    When he had first entered the palace, Count Leoric had been determined to risk his life in counsel, believing it was his duty to preserve the kingdom’s peace.

    But now, after a month had passed, he had become a devoted follower of the king.

    Meanwhile, Kaylen knew that Leoric’s words came from genuine concern, so he did not take them lightly.

    ‘It’s still too soon.’

    The land was still a colony of the Demon Realm.

    It was not the time to start a family.

    And more fundamentally—

    ‘A wife? Children? I don’t want them yet. It’s exhausting.’

    He recalled his past life.

    He had had countless wives and concubines, many children.

    Though there had been happy moments, what lingered in his mind were only the memories of constant suffering.

    ‘And after I disappeared, my children fought to the death.’

    The beautiful children he had personally named ended up shedding each other’s blood.

    Because they were of the imperial family, he had trained them harshly in the way of the sword—only for them to stab each other to death.

    He had thought they got along well, but they poisoned each other’s meals.

    After witnessing such bloodshed even through history, the desire to build a family had completely vanished from his heart.

    "In any case, I will not consider marriage until the kingdom is truly stable."

    "...In that case, I understand. Then, Your Majesty, please tell this old servant your standard for stability. I, too, shall dedicate myself to achieving Your Majesty’s vision."

    "Eliminating all dungeon portals within the kingdom’s territory. Restoring the roads connecting every city in the kingdom. Ensuring that no citizen collapses from starvation on the streets. That is what I consider a stable nation."

    "Is... such a thing possible?"

    "It is possible. Didn’t even the capital stabilize within a month? Food and security—at the very least, the nation must guarantee these."

    It was difficult to compare the capital region with the entire kingdom.

    If even a single dungeon portal emerged, one could simply claim that stability had not yet been achieved.

    While Kaylen thought this to himself, outwardly, he spoke with confidence.

    However, upon hearing his words, Leoric looked as if he had been struck on the head with a hammer.

    ‘Ensuring the safety of the entire kingdom and making sure no one starves...

    Even in times without dungeon portals, such a feat would have been difficult.

    Yet, in the current situation, he speaks of these conditions with such certainty...

    Is this the measure of our new king?’

    Seeing the capital’s stability, Leoric had been proud to declare that the kingdom was at peace.

    The House of Duke Oblaine.

    In the past, Violet had harbored extreme hatred toward that family.

    However, that hatred had been nothing more than an illusion, a result of Cesar’s memory manipulation.

    In truth, Duke Oblaine had no connection to her mother’s death.

    Because of that, Violet felt a lingering sense of guilt toward them.

    But that was an entirely separate issue.

    "House Oblaine wields significant influence. If she were to become queen, wouldn’t that shift the balance of power too much in one direction?"

    "That’s true. Then what about Lady Irene, the younger sister of Sir Eldir?"

    Eldir, who had returned to his original identity from being the Swordmaster Stein.

    Thanks to his transformation from a drunkard at the Tower of the Fey to an exceptional Swordmaster,

    his sister, Irene, who had once been one of the Seven Masters of the Tower, had also gained prominence.

    "Professor Irene is certainly beautiful... but isn’t the age gap too large? Besides, she’s an elf."

    "Then what about Lady Florence from the Count of Florence’s family—"

    "Not her. She has a bad reputation."

    "...Hmm. Hmm. I feel like I’m opposing every suggestion, but I do have my reasons. If you find someone who truly suits His Majesty, I won’t object."

    Leoric smiled as he watched Violet turn her head, seemingly embarrassed by her own responses.

    "Understood."

    "But if you ask this old man, the sight of Princess Violet standing beside His Majesty was always the most fitting."

    "...I told you, I’m not a princess anymore."

    "I just wanted to say that. And once again, I apologize for my earlier rudeness."

    With that, Leoric left the room.

    Violet watched him go, then glanced at the mirror inside the room.

    "...What a sight."

    Dark circles under her eyes, rough skin, and disheveled hair.

    She used to have maids to take care of such things,

    but with the fall of the royal family, there were no more maids to assist her.

    Most of the Bormian royal family''s assets had been confiscated, with only a few remaining.

    However, Violet had refused all inheritances connected to the royal family,

    so what remained had been distributed among other members of the former royalty.

    ‘I miss Jane.’

    Violet chuckled softly as she sat down in front of the vanity.

    At this rate, it was too much. She had to try managing on her own for once.

    ‘Yeah. This is just because I don’t like how I look.’

    With that thought, Violet began her journey of self-reliance.

    "Violet. Your complexion looks good. You must have gotten some proper rest last night."

    "Yes, Your Majesty."

    "I was considering giving you some time off since you’ve seemed exhausted lately... but it looks like you can handle more work."

    "...Yes, Your Majesty."

    Maybe she shouldn’t have bothered.

    Violet let out a bitter smile.

    Kaylen, oblivious to her reaction, continued with his question.

    "There’s something I’m curious about. Food supplies—specifically, wheat."

    "Wheat?"

    "Yes. It doesn’t seem as scarce as I expected."

    Even though there was a vast grain-producing region near the capital, Alzass, the frequent dungeon portals should have been wreaking havoc on farming.

    ‘At this rate, even the middle class should be struggling with food shortages.’

    While there was indeed a food crisis, it wasn’t as severe as Kaylen had anticipated.

    "Ah, that’s because of the improved wheat developed by the ‘Nameless Archmage.’"

    "The Nameless Archmage... You mean the one who developed mana suits?"

    "Yes. Thanks to him, people aren’t starving as much as they could be."

    The Nameless Archmage.

    At the mention of that name, Kaylen’s expression hardened.

    ‘Suspicious.’

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]