AWDC Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Working Towards Royal Recommendation

Even as the Prime Minister of the provisional government, I didn’t possess the right to decide the King.

My role was merely to listen to the opinions of influential nobles and coordinate them.

Every noble and influential figure was hesitant to decide who should be King.

This was primarily due to concerns about the mental state of Prince Tamil, the sole strong candidate for the throne.

The only ones strongly pushing for him were the late King Michael’s wife, his biological mother, and her family, the Earl of Lamina.

However, the Lamina family had suffered significant losses due to the Bawa Roma teachings/religion’s looting and were unable to influence other houses. None of the houses were actively trying to push Prince Tamil as King.

But now, this was a stroke of unexpected good fortune.

If time passed and the Lamina family regained its power, there was no telling what schemes the Queen and the Earl’s family, blinded by greed and status, might concoct behind the scenes.

Even if they didn’t openly defy Lord Midland or Lord Gregg, people blinded by greed were capable of anything.

Now that the Earl’s family was weak and the chaos in the capital was starting to subside, I judged that it was the right time to decide on the King.

Before the movement to establish Prince Tamil gained momentum, we needed to take action.

I secretly visited Prince Raphael’s residence and held a meeting with him alone. I believed that he held the key to this succession.

“Your Highness, do you not wish to become King?”

“Please, I am not suited to be King.”

“But, among the current royal family, there is no one else more capable of fulfilling the duties of a King than you.”

“Listen, I was ordered by His Majesty the King to live in the south.

And the aim of that was to watch the Robertson family.”

He revealed it so casually. The late King had kept Prince Raphael in the south with that aim in mind. I had suspected the late King’s intentions, but he had indeed feared the Robertson family becoming too powerful.

That’s why he left Prince Raphael in the south as an observer. But he wouldn’t normally say something like that in this situation.

It was typical of his personality, but persuading him was proving difficult.

“I never had any intention of getting involved in national politics. I had no ambition like my brothers or my younger brother, Prince Tzukira.

Perhaps that’s why I was so loved by His Majesty when he was the Crown Prince. Even though the other brothers resented me, I often went to play with the Crown Prince.

Once, when His Majesty asked me what I wanted to do, I replied that I wanted to become a wandering minstrel. His Majesty laughed at me in amazement. That’s why the King trusted me.

I still feel the same way now.”

(So, this Prince has always lived freely. Then, I’ll change my approach.) I changed my method of persuasion.

“But, surely you don’t wish to leave this country in chaos?”

“The country has nothing to do with me. I want to freely sing songs and recite poetry like a bird.”

“Even a bird, when it becomes a parent, carries food and raises its chicks. Until the chicks can catch their own food, the parent bird carries food to them.

Your Highness has young children, doesn’t he?

Are you intending to abandon your children in a chaotic country?”

The Prince was at a loss for words.

“I give up. I don’t think I can win an argument with you. What do you want me to do?”

Finally, I persuaded Prince Raphael.

I immediately called Elliott and Richter to the capital.

“It’s rare for you to call us,” Elliott said, appearing with a cheerful expression.

“The Jewl and the Sword have been found, the capital is settling down, and the palace will soon be restored. There’s no reason to delay the enthronement of the new King any longer.”

“So, you’ve decided who will be King,” Gregg confirmed with me.

“Prince Tamil is the only candidate.”

“Will that bring the country together?” Midland didn’t even try to hide his distrust. They also saw that there was no other bloodline to succeed the throne besides Tamil, but they were wary of his abilities and the mother and family behind him.

“Prince Raphael will become regent.”

“Regent? What’s that?” the two replied in unison.

It was no wonder they were questioning it. There had never been a regent in this country’s history, nor did any of the neighboring countries have one.

A regent is someone who governs in place of the King when the King is old, ill, or too young to handle state affairs. But this country had never established such a system. The history of this country was a repetition of the King being overthrown as soon as his power waned. No one had ever thought of appointing a regent.

“Isn’t that the same as when my grandfather handled domestic affairs when the previous King was a young child?” Indeed, the previous Lord Midland had a history of governing in place of a young King.

“In this country, there have been times when someone governed in place of the King, but the King’s authority remained unchanged. Every minister needed the King’s approval, even if it was just a formality. But a regent has the power of approval. And, since this system is completely new, even a member of the royal family who has retired can become one.”

“Tell me more about this system. Explain how it differs from a King.”

“The regency is for one generation only, and inheritance is not allowed. Also, the regency will be abolished once the King recovers from his illness or the young King comes of age. The regency will continue until a capable King appears. The fact that it cannot be inherited is a measure to prevent the regent’s power from influencing future generations.”

“Are you not concerned that the regent will take over the country?”

“Let’s create a law. The person who becomes regent will swear not to become King.”

I explained the difference between a King and a regent, and their respective roles.

“And Prince Raphael agreed to that?”

“Prince Raphael said that he simply didn’t want to be tied to the country for his whole life, and if there were conditions that allowed him to quit, he would put up with it.”

After that, we had another meeting with the three of us and Prince Raphael to discuss the new system.

“I was forcibly persuaded by Toma to become regent, but I’m going to leave all the work to you.

Work hard,” Prince Raphael said to me as the first thing that came out of his mouth.

He was still dissatisfied with being persuaded by me.

“Your Highness, we’ll be troubled if you’re so indifferent from the start.”

“Is that so? Then, Richter, you become the Minister of Internal Affairs. Elliott, I’ll entrust you with military diplomacy.

And what will Toma do? It’s outrageous if you’re just going to relax and play.”

“I would like to be in charge of agriculture and handle land reform.”

“Well, that’s appropriate.”

The two, who had been dedicated to managing their territories and leaving the Prime Minister’s job to me, couldn’t go against the Prince’s orders. Although they claimed to be unenthusiastic, Prince Raphael’s management was superb.