AWDC Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Power Dynamics Within the Royal Palace

As King Charles neglected his duties, the royal palace became a hotbed of intrigue.

The King still doted on Princess Riyuki and Prince Sandra. This validated the machinations of Riyuki’s father, Zorji.

Zorji monopolized the supply of goods to the royal palace, especially the inner palace, and the treasury officials had no choice but to accept his prices.

“I heard the official who inspected the goods Zorji delivered was dismissed.”

“He was too earnest. Continuing as an official here means accepting Lord Zorji’s goods without question.”

Three years after Riyuki gained the King’s favor, Zorji established himself as a political merchant.

There were dissenting voices. One movement aimed to enthrone the Crown Prince quickly. Nobles with territories in the eastern region desired to change the stagnant situation by making the Crown Prince the King. The east suffered from poor harvests and severe food shortages, while corruption and misconduct ran rampant in the royal palace. It was natural for them to be dissatisfied with the King, who took no measures to address this. They hoped that a new King and a revamped government would eliminate corruption and change taxation and agricultural policies. However, the Crown Prince himself was completely unresponsive.

“Destabilizing the country now would not benefit the people. Confronting His Majesty the King would yield no benefit.”

The Crown Prince believed that acting at this point would only deepen the conflict with the King. Although the King was neglecting his duties, he still held power, and the Crown Prince felt he couldn’t act rashly. This view was supported by the Midland and Gregg Dukes. A major reason was that both families had new lords who were focusing on managing their territories rather than national affairs.

“The time when His Majesty the King neglects his duties is precisely the time to win the trust of the officials under you. Rash actions will damage the trust of your retainers.”

They recommended gaining practical power rather than making political statements.

Meanwhile, Prince Charles and Prince Rirudo were vying for the position of Crown Prince. The anti-Crown Prince faction was a coalition of the second son, Prince Charles, and the third son, Prince Rirudo. They were united in their goal of ousting the Crown Prince, but each aimed for the throne afterward. This was a relationship of shared bed, different dreams.

When they were children, the eldest son Michael, the second son Charles, and the third son Rirudo were at odds with each other due to their similar ages. However, when the eldest son Michael, now 30, became the Crown Prince, the remaining two chose to join forces.

They spread all sorts of rumors about the Crown Prince, aiming to corner him and force him to step down. Within the court, repeated rumors carried more weight than the truth. Both princes spread scandalous rumors about the Crown Prince to mentally corner him.

The main nobles in this coalition were Marquis Miranda, Earl Samore, and Earl Milona. They had long resented the Midland and Gregg families holding political power.

The fact that the heads of these two great ducal families had both been replaced by younger men with little political experience was a perfect opportunity. In fact, both families had distanced themselves from the court in recent years, and their heads had not entered the center of power.

Also, Marquis Miranda and Earl Milona were related to Prince Charles’s birth mother, and Earl Samore had sent the current King’s legal wife, who gave birth to Prince Rirudo. For these nobles, supporting the younger princes was a matter of their future.

Charles and Rirudo often discussed things.

“Five years ago, after the Crown Prince spoke directly to His Majesty, His Majesty was angered. Since then, the Crown Prince has become much quieter, hasn’t he?”

“Indeed. Perhaps he learned his lesson. It seems he only greets His Majesty now.”

“Spoke directly to His Majesty” refers to the Crown Prince telling the King not to neglect his duties. It is said that the Crown Prince incurred the King’s displeasure at that time and was reprimanded.

Since then, the Crown Prince had stopped interfering in the affairs of the royal palace. That was the general perception.

The actions of the eighth son, Prince Tzukira, were also causing a stir.

He tasted the sweetness of money after gaining control of official personnel appointments. His wife, Salié, joined him, and their obsession with money grew stronger, and their methods became more forceful.

“I tried to send someone to fill the position of commander of the defense force in the northern region, but it didn’t work out,” Prince Tzukira lamented.

“Perhaps the Gregg family’s influence is too strong?”

“That’s part of it, but it seems the Crown Prince also had a say this time.”

Unlike Prince Tzukira, the Crown Prince did not move personnel based on money. He made decisions based on the officials’ work experience, and military personnel appointments were particularly untouchable.

“Since I received the money, it’s difficult to change the story about the position,” Salié said, as she was still handling the money reception.

“We’ll have to prepare the position of assistant inspector in Ryadra.”

“I think that person would be overwhelmed.”

“The northern defense force receives a large amount of protection money from merchants. The only remaining position that can match that is assistant inspector. We have to push him in, even if he’s not capable.”

Prince Tzukira’s involvement in military officer positions complicated matters. This incident made him feel that the Crown Prince was a nuisance.

That led him to approach the second and third sons’ coalition.

The second and third sons’ coalition continued their discussion.

“After that, the Crown Prince made a blunder at the garden party, didn’t he?”

“It would be nice if he did that again, but he seems to have become too quiet.”

“That’s why I wanted to talk to both of you,” said one of their close aides.

“What’s your idea?”

“Prince Sandra, born between His Majesty and Princess Riyuki, is five years old. His Majesty seems very pleased with Prince Sandra’s growth.”

“So what?”

“I surmise that His Majesty has in his heart to appoint Prince Sandra as the Crown Prince.

If that rumor spreads, I think the Crown Prince would be very flustered.”

The two princes nodded at the suggestion.

It was some time later that a rumor spread that the King would depose the Crown Prince and appoint Prince Sandra to that position.

“Don’t be swayed by such rumors. I will not take action because of such things.”

He didn’t know what purpose this rumor was spread for. Also, he didn’t know if the King really intended to depose the Crown Prince and make Prince Sandra his successor.

(His Majesty the King is old. Even if Sandra becomes King, I can overturn it at any time.)

The Crown Prince had fully calculated the age difference between himself and the King.

(What I can’t calculate is when His Majesty will pass away. I just need to continue accumulating my strength as I am.)

The Crown Prince’s thinking was consistent.

The younger princes, who had hoped that the Crown Prince would once again speak directly to the King and incur his wrath, were disappointed.

However, about three months later, a new story surfaced. The King announced a plan to build a detached palace for Prince Sandra and Princess Riyuki.

“That’s foolish! The construction costs alone will exceed the nation’s finances.

Last year and the year before, the crops were somehow okay, but even so, there were starvation deaths in some regions. This year’s harvest is going to be very bad.

If there’s a famine and the national treasury is depleted to import food, we won’t be able to do anything!” The Crown Prince looked alarmed.

Reports had already come from the Midland family that the rye and potato crops in the central and eastern parts of the country were poor.

Reports from close officials also conveyed that the national treasury was about to be depleted.

“This is bad. If His Majesty the King pours a huge amount of money into the construction of the detached palace, there will be no money left in the treasury.”

The Crown Prince hoped this was a rumor.

(I hope it’s a strategy to ensnare me.)

If it was a strategy, he could take countermeasures. It would be possible to knock down those who spread the rumor.

However, the results of investigating by mobilizing officials were factual.

The King himself had decided on the land for the detached palace and was even instructing on the size of the detached palace.

The Crown Prince was astonished when he saw the plan.

“What is this? This will wipe out one year’s worth of the nation’s income!”

The Crown Prince could no longer afford to wait for the King’s death.

(If the King remains on the throne for another five years, the Flanders country will be full of starvation deaths.)