You're making great progress.

　Four months after the war gathered and the building of the city resumed, I came to inspect the city.
　The construction seemed to be going well, perhaps thanks to the 10,000 Gallic slaves I'd brought in.

　'Yes. I believe this will be completed in two years and the city will be able to function as a capital in four years' time.

　Ismea, the Cilician architect, smiled happily.
　Ismea would be happy to see the construction of the capital city finished sooner rather than later.

　'By the way, there is one thing that bothers me.
　Hmm?　What?
　The road building you have soldiers to build the roads, don't you?　Are you sure?
　Yeah it was a distraction.

　Participation in the war and paying taxes is recognized by Adelnians as a national duty.
　And roads are important military installations.

　So building roads is synonymous with participation in the war.
　That's why I conscripted 2,000 people to build roads for me.

　The soldiers looked ... convinced, but somewhat disapproving.
　Well, we'll provide the food, and since we're taking a month's shift, it won't interfere with farming.

　I'm going to have all the people in the shift to build the roads.
　By doing so, we're going to train all the soldiers in civil engineering.

　Civil engineering is an indispensable skill in war.
　Siege sieges and position building are civil engineering.

　You probably spend more time digging holes than you do fighting the enemy.

　"When it comes down to it, we can send our men out with weapons. It won't be a problem. We'll be able to move faster once the roads are built.
　But won't it increase the risk of being attacked by the enemy?
　It's all about pros and cons.

　All I can say is that it can't be helped.
　But attack is the best defense.

　As long as you attack before the enemy attacks you, you'll be fine.

　"Do you need anything?
　'Well I would like to carve some temples and palaces, but would you be so kind as to invite a Cilician engineer to join me?'
　All right. I'll see if I can't make myself useful.

　The sculptor.
　Well, it's necessary...






　There, there, there, there, there.
　

　Anx crying out in my arms.
　Why is that?　Are you hungry?
　Or is it poop?

　Alms give me that.

　Troubled, I handed Anx to Tetra.
　Tetra picks up Anx and soothes her while lightly rocking her.

　''........''

　I stopped crying.
　I wonder, sad.

　"Does he hate me?
　Why don't we spend more time together?

　Well......
　They probably think I'm an adult they don't know.

　Okay, we should spend more time talking to each other.　
　Let's make out with Anks more.

　"I'm sure Anx cries a lot. I think it's good that he's fine. Fiona is a little too quiet, so...

　Julia mutters.
　By the way, Fiona is sleeping soothingly in the other room.

　Well, even though I say she's quiet, she cries a lot when I hold her.
　It's still strange.
　Why?

　'Crying in the night, May...'
　Haha I'm really glad I have a servant. If it wasn't for them, I would have been psychotic.

　Julia and Tetra smiled bitterly.

　Both Julia and Tetra are the queen of the king.
　They also participate in raising their children, but they don't take care of everything.

　They have hired servants to deal with things like crying at night.

　I've heard of families breaking up because of a child's crying at night, which is quite common in Japan as well, so....
　I'm glad to hear it.

　'Your Majesty. Your order is ready.
　Yeah. Come on in.

　I allowed Alice to come and go.
　Alice is now working as a servant in the royal palace.

　I wanted to keep her under my nose because of her ability to clean, wash and cook, and because I wanted to keep her under my nose.
　I didn't order her to assassinate or spy on me.
　If I forced him to do it, he would only end up in the second place of Aldo.

　For now, I'm content to just keep it on hand.

　What Alice brought with her was a brown liquid.
　A fragrant smell wafted through the air.

　''What is this?''　
　Tea?

　Julia and Tetra picked up their glass cups and tilted their heads in wonder.
　Well, look at why.
　I did my best to finish it.

　Hmmm... not bad.
　It's good. What do you say?
　It's barley tea. It's made of barley.

　They both frowned at my words.
　Tetra stopped drinking and Yuria gave me a look that said she drank something unpleasant.

　'You still don't like it?'

　Adelnians do not like barley.
　This is because to the Adelnians barley is a lowly grain that is eaten by poor people, slaves and horses.

　In the army, they change their diet to barley as punishment....
　It's so much better than that.

　Well, if I were to use a Japanese analogy, I would say.....
　Is it a can of cat food?
　Humans can eat it, and it's not bad, but it's somehow disgusting.

　It is such food.

　Why did you make me drink it without telling me?
　Because if I tell you it's made of barley, you won't drink it.

　I manage to quiet Yulia, who seems unhappy.
　I know how you feel.
　I'd feel the same way if someone told me it was sea chicken and made me eat a can of cat food. I'd be annoyed.

　"And there's no such thing as a picky eater. Look at the tetras!　I'm drinking!

　He was told that Tetra was made from barley, and once he took his mouth off, he started drinking again.
　Julia looks a little surprised.

　'Well, we used to eat barley bread, too.　
　'Yes. We used to eat a lot when we were in the Romarian Forest!

　We didn't have enough food to complain about wheat or barley at that time.
　Everyone ate without complaining, just as long as they could eat.

　'And Julia, you know what I mean when you drink it, don't you?　I'm fine.
　Well, it's delicious, but you know...

　Julia looks unconvinced.
　If not, I guess I have no choice.

　'I want to spread the word, what do you think?'
　That's impossible.

　Right?
　Adelnians know how to make beer, but they don't drink beer.
　That's because beer is a lowly liquor made from barley.

　I thought if it worked, it would be a new industry...

　We need another industry besides drugs that has potential.


　So what about perfume?
　Perfume?
　I specialize in medicinal herbs but because of that I know a lot about the smell of flowers. I can tell you what to combine with what to create what smells like.

　Julia told him to wait a bit and left the room.
　After a while, she brought out a bundle of parchment, papyrus and paper.

　'Here's the results of your research. And you'll know how to raise them.'
　Wow, that's great. .... well, why don't you try making it on my private property?　Depending on how well it's received, I'd like to market it in a big way.
　Good. If it helps Almus.

　Julia hugged her research materials to her chest and smiled.







　'Master Gryphon, can you give me the Romarian Forest?'

　I visited Master Gryphon to get permission to cultivate the Romarian Forest.
　I explained the merits of bringing the Romarian Forest under my control.

　Master Gryphon was reluctant to come to me.

　He said, "Even if they won't come into my domain, the chances of them coming into my domain will increase. I'm not happy about them coming in.
　We're going to take action on that.

　The Romarian Forest is about forty kilometers in radius.
　And Master Gryphon's territory is within a fifteen-kilometer radius.

　So I will forbid anyone to enter within a twenty kilometer radius.
　He intends to erect a sign that prohibits entry at a rate of ten meters.

　Actually, I'd like to put a wooden fence around it, but.....
　I won't do it because it might affect the forest ecosystem.

　'What do you think?　On top of that, I'm going to have Yulia put the wards of the exorcism on her. I'll tell the pioneers and let them hear it.
　Mmm, but I'll tell you what...
　I will donate a portion of my wealth to the Gryphon for successful settlement. Like alcohol!　Fat sheep and pigs and all that!

　I manage to catch it with a bite.
　Master Griffon looks difficult and thoughtful.

　'Well, all right.'
　Thank you!

　It's the Gryphon.
　A generous man.

　"But I will not condone those who enter my lands. They will kill you without mercy and you will have to pay them more tribute than they receive. Is that clear?
　I know, sir.

　As for the tribute, it's not much of a pain.
　Anyone who entered the territory without listening to the stillness would be dead.

　There was no problem at all.


　'Well, I'll be off then.
　Yeah. Good luck.

　I thanked Gryphon-sama again and then left.




　''It's so peaceful...''

　I drink my barley tea and look at the garden.
　Due to my complaints, 70% of the plants in the garden have been replaced by ornamental plants.

　The remaining 30 percent are drugs and medicinal plants, but it's my wife's hobby, so I have no choice.

　Still, it's peaceful.

　The financial reform is going well, and the centralization of power is steadily progressing.
　Just a month ago, all of the Lossies clan's land was returned to them.

　Now that the Lossies clan has gathered from the countryside to the center, the power of the center has naturally gathered.
　It's not necessary for me to gather power.
　Power should be concentrated in the center.

　It's enough if power is concentrated in the center. The order from the center reaches the regions and an army can be formed on the spot.
　That would be the ideal.

　And we are achieving that ideal.

　Bartolo's reform of the military system also seems to be making steady progress, and he wants to try it out by throwing it into actual combat as soon as possible.

　But there is no war.
　There is peace.

　At least we're not going to be at war for a year, and we won't be blowing war on them for a year.

　In a few weeks we'll receive reparations from the Kingdom of Roselle.　
　I'm going to put the bulk of the reparations money into rewards for the soldiers and great families who worked hard in the war.

　The money will come back in taxes, which is much better than paying for it in land.

　Ah, peace.
　And so the year goes smoothly....

　'Your Majesty!　Oh my God!　It seems that a commoner's rebellion has broken out in the territory of a great clan of the Ath Clan lineage!


　Apparently the year will not pass smoothly.