Regressor of the Fallen Family (Novel) Chapter 254

Chapter 254

"The monarch led the charge in combatting the epidemic. Whispers are swirling among the populace as well……."

Jacques Juan's face turned serious upon hearing Mike Teroa's voice, which clearly displayed his unease.

Moreover, Ivan Claude made a somber prediction.

"Our stance, which alleged the slaughter at the Raftan domain, has become problematic. Should this information leak out……."

Jacques openly expressed his emotions for the first time in a while.

"What if it does leak out? What are you implying? Are you insinuating that these commoners will revolt against the aristocracy?"

Peasants could easily be decimated by a few hundred knights, even by the hundreds.

Although these were merely spoken thoughts, Mike and Ivan did not conceal their discontent at Jacques' escalating tone.

"Count Jacques! We were discussing your strategy to influence the king through public opinion! And what is this sudden change in attitude? Do you see us as mere subordinates or something?"

Reprimanded sharply by Mike Teroa, Jacques finally regained control of his demeanor.

"Apologies. I let my emotions get the best of me due to an unexpected turn of events. I apologize once more."

Despite his words, Mike and Ivan's expressions remained wary.

'What a blunder…….'

Blaming himself for his lack of emotional control, Jacques took a deep breath once more.

Then, he smiled broadly and spoke up once again.

"Ah, yes. As I was saying, even if the king manages to sway public opinion, what truly matters is the unity among us nobles."

Their expressions stayed unchanged.

However, Jacques had a plan that could easily mend this minor discord.

"And I have a proposal to significantly bolster our influence. This will necessitate the collaboration of you two gentlemen and several other nobles."

Only then did their expressions shift.

"…What proposal?"

"Don't beat around the bush, just tell us, Count."

"It's quite simple. Both of you are aware that it's nearing the time when the peasants will face starvation."

"Mm. And what of it?"

"These starving peasants are nothing new. But what significance does it hold for us?"

Jacques smirked at the two men who seemed unfazed by the prospect of peasants starving.

"Last year, due to the king's coercion, the nobles collected a much larger amount of taxes than usual 'out of necessity'. This year, the peasants won't just be hungry."

As he poured himself a glass of wine worth over 1,000 gold pieces per bottle, he sighed lightly. Naturally, he never considered that a single bottle could sustain a peasant family for a year.

After all, such luxuries were reserved for the nobility.

But now.

"When it comes time for planting, some may perish from hunger. If the labor force required for farming perishes, our income will dwindle, so we must take certain measures, correct? Such as providing food."

Mike and Ivan reacted with surprise, unexpected thoughts creeping into their minds.

"Why would distributing food strengthen our power?"

Not having considered this, Mike Teroa responded with a grunt.

Nonetheless, Jacques maintained his smile outwardly, raised his glass gracefully, and locked eyes with these two naive nobles.

"We distribute food to the peasants and then charge interest during the harvest season. Perhaps half would be appropriate."

"Ah…!"

Realizing that this scheme would further stock their warehouses, the two nobles admired the idea.

However.

Ivan, who was not entirely naive, raised a concern.

"Couldn't we achieve the same by simply increasing taxes? Why bother with charging interest?"

Of course, Ivan Claud did not express this out of concern for the peasants.

His intentions were clear.

Why take an additional step when the same could be accomplished directly?

Prepared with a response, Jacques initiated the real discussion.

"It's not just our territories, but also the royal demesne, Esperanza, and the Maclaine domain whose inhabitants could benefit from our food distribution. We will charge them interest. Particularly the royal demesne, isn't it in close proximity to our three territories?"

Upon hearing this, the nobles gasped.

"If we provide a 'legitimate' reason to absorb the people and lands of other domains, even the king won't be able to thwart us."

"Ooh…!"

"Indeed…."

Amid the exclamations of approval from the two simpletons, Jacques felt his prior discomfort transform into confidence.

'By now, the taxes I've collected have been depleted. The royal family is stretched thin. Even if the sentiment shifts slightly due to the epidemic, destiny remains unchanged. Soon this kingdom will bow to my will…….'

Count Jacques Juan's hopes soared once more.

* * *

"Geron, I apologize terribly… If you have any leftover provisions at home, could you kindly spare some for us? I will definitely, definitely repay you!"

Farmer Geron had reluctantly approached his neighbor Lethe after much contemplation. However, his dear friend and neighbor did not greet him warmly.

"Ah! Man! Do you think I have any excess?"

"Yet your household has fewer mouths to feed than mine! As for my household, we do not even have sustenance for the next day!"

"We can barely sustain ourselves for a few more weeks, let alone until the harvest season… I'm sorry!"

With a resigned expression mirroring Geron's, Lethe shut the door firmly.

Left with no alternative, Geron sank to the ground where he stood.

The assertion that they lacked food for the following day was not an exaggeration.

Having stretched their meals to one bowl of porridge a day over the past few weeks, hunger blurred their vision.

'Must I truly resort to seeking help from our lord?'

The recent decree mentioned something about borrowing food.

Initially, some residents rejoiced thoughtlessly, but they soon grasped the weight of the five-tenths interest. It meant exchanging their current hunger for a guaranteed hardship in the future.

Yet.

'If not, my family will starve.'

Rise. Approach our lord.

Even if it entails enduring momentarily.

However, aware that such a decision would plunge him deeper into despair, his legs refused to budge.

That was when.

"G-Geron!! Have you heard the news!?"

From a distance, another neighbor, Soren, sprinted over, exclaiming.

Knowing that he had been hungry since the previous day, Geron was taken aback by his neighbor's sudden burst of energy.

'Where did he find that vigor?'

Inevitably, questions arose.

"The royal officials are distributing food!! They are lending it without any charge, only expecting the same amount in return after the harvest!!"

"What!?"

Geron was momentarily so stunned that he seemed dazed.

Bang!

The door that had been firmly shut earlier swung open, and Lethe dashed out.

"Hey, man. What are you saying!? Is it true that they are lending food at no cost!?"

Finally comprehending, Geron was jolted awake and leaped to his feet.

"Where, where can I find the royal official!?"

"What?"

"I mean, where is the royal emissary!!"

"He's in the city…."

Before Soren could finish his sentence, Geron, as if he had never wavered, dashed towards the castle like a whirlwind.

– The royal family offers food free of charge. No strings attached, just return the same amount at the harvest time.

The royal proclamation, issued as soon as the planting season began, spread throughout the kingdom overnight. Despite the crop outcomes, numerous peasants, troubled by their immediate food shortages, rejoiced across the realm.

"We're saved! We're saved!"

"Long live King His Majesty!"

"Thank you so much. Thank you!"

Not everyone was pleased.

"Why did they raise taxes initially if they intended to do this?"

"That was the nobles, not the royal family."

"What are you talking about? It's because the royal family raised taxes that the nobles followed suit."

"Well, they're essentially the same, aren't they? Nonetheless, there is a distinction between those offering free food and those demanding half of it in interest."

"…True. At least the royal family is preferable to the nobles."

While criticisms were voiced, the sentiment towards the king and the royal family notably improved compared to before, evident to all.

Sensing this shift in public opinion, the nobles convened once more.

Bang!

"The royal family has run out of resources? Wasn't it Count Jacques who claimed the opposite!"

Mike Teroa, who had supported Jacques' plan when it was advantageous, now shouted vehemently, further straining Jacques' expression.

Adding to the tension,

"The royal family's strength is far different than anticipated!"

"Then what about the military!? Is it turning against us?"

"Ah, come on. Have we provoked His Majesty in any way? If so, why would they need to…"

All the assembled nobles regarded him with skeptical eyes.

'Foolish fools to realize this now….'

Despite biting his lip, Jacques struggled to formulate a response.

The situation was deeply unsettling for him as well. How did the royal family acquire such resources?

And if they did, what drove them to such extremes?

'In a few years, they could have gradually expanded their army. There was no need for such a drastic measure.'

It was a reasonable deduction for those unaware of Logan and his advisors' fears of the empire's invasion.

Ultimately, within the confines of his comprehension, Jacques arrived at his own conclusion.

"They amassed such funds suddenly? From where? Surely it's not through legitimate means?"

Having tasked various intelligence guilds with investigating, no clear solutions came to mind as he muttered to himself for weeks.

Then, as if his whispers were heard, one of his subordinates burst in with urgency.

"C-Count! We've received the findings of our inquiry!"

The document contained promising information that brought a smile back to Jacques' face.

The three most renowned intelligence guilds in the kingdom provided identical findings.

Why would the empire aid our kingdom out of the blue?

Upon delving deeper, it appeared absurd, but individuals tend to perceive only what they desire, even in identical circumstances.

'Right. The star of Grandia. The emperor's high praise for King Logan is well-known.'

With that notion, Jacques stood up abruptly, raising his arms.

"Everyone, do not fret. Listen to me. It's evident that the royal family is drained. They exhausted all their resources and resorted to a ploy. When the harvest season arrives, the royal family will pay a hefty price for this recklessness in distributing food."

With a confident smile as he spoke, Jacques was genuinely persuaded.

If they had borrowed food from the empire, the turmoil in the royal court would not conclude there. Maclaine and Esperanza's territories could collapse—no, they would inevitably crumble into chaos.

'Thank you, foolish King.'

He couldn't help but smile genuinely.

'Everything will be decided come this harvest season.'

His mind vividly envisioned himself as the true authority of the kingdom.

* * *

"That comrade, Demian, is finally acting appropriately. Well, the Imperial backing is real, albeit in the opposite direction they intended. Puhaha."

A faint grin.

"Yes. Impressive, Philip."

Logan once again felt grateful for being the first to recruit Philip.

Philip not only tackled the issue of food procurement this time but also exhibited a robust presence in the policy of distributing it to the populace.

Not a gratuitous distribution, but a free loan.

Philip argued that unilateral support would prompt even those who did not require it to collect their share, resulting in several times the necessary expense, which was proven accurate by the more efficient food allocation, significantly altering public opinion more favorably than anticipated.

However, after chuckling, Philip swiftly turned serious.

"This incident elucidates the imminent threat of an imperial invasion, Your Majesty."

Observing his vassal's somber gray eyes, filled with gravity, Logan also nodded with a serious countenance.

"…That's why your role remains crucial, Philip. But won't this action hinder the empire's operations?"

"The plots they have devised would have unfolded eventually. For now, they show no signs of active interference, opting to continue business as if ignorant. The food was dispatched under various other designations."

"Excellent work."

"And why go to such lengths? After all, these are your nobles that need managing."

"It's imperative. I intend to revolutionize the very fabric of the nation."

To Logan's resolute response, Philip simply nodded.

All close to him recognized the necessity of preparing for an imperial invasion, yet they were still progressing towards that objective. Especially concerning the handling of the nobles, Logan kept his plans exclusive to himself.

His confidants may have presumed that Logan intended to make an example of a few defiant nobles.

In reality, Logan's intentions were somewhat different.

'This isn't about penalizing a couple of individuals to alter the status quo.'

He acknowledged that he was not particularly astute, but the endeavor ahead had successfully transformed a neighboring country centuries ago.

Hence, he proceeded without consultation. Moreover, in the event of a leak, he could face a rebellion from his 'noble' confidants.

Therefore.

"I will resolve all matters within the kingdom by year's end."

[I anticipate it eagerly.]

As various musings and expectations diverged,

Autumn approached swiftly.

The confirmation of a substantial food supply under various guises from the empire. The emperor's warm regard for King Logan. This Imperial assistance from the Royal House is slated to last until just before the harvest season, with the Royal House reimbursing the interest afterward. The royal coffers are presumed to be depleted. Rationing of food for the training army is being curtailed.

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