You know those introductory books written for a general audience?
The ones where a distinguished scholar explains a particular field in terms ordinary people can understand.
They're wonderful, aren't they?
They pick out the important pieces from an enormous body of information and connect them into a coherent narrative, allowing even someone completely unfamiliar with the subject to grasp the bigger picture.
The crucial part is deciding what to include and what to leave out. What information is essential, and what can safely be omitted?
The fact that you can trust the author to make those distinctions is what separates these books from the sort of “Everything You Need to Know About X in Ten Minutes” videos made by amateurs.
Anyway, my life these days is rather like reading one of those introductory books every single day.
I'm constantly trying to grasp the broad outlines of all sorts of subjects relating to the Kingdom of Santeneri: politics, military affairs, economics, culture, society, art, and everything else.
Cabinet meetings and question-and-answer sessions with senior officials are essentially my reading time.
Of course, if a professional in a particular field explains the key points to me, I can grasp the general idea to some extent.
That's why I can put on an expression that makes me look as though I know what I'm talking about.
But the truth is, I don't understand anything, and I can't actually do anything.
Let's say I read an introductory book about aircraft construction. By the time I finish it, I've developed a vague understanding of how airplanes work.
Does that mean I can immediately design an airplane?
Of course not.
Even if I can't design the entire aircraft, could I at least offer an opinion on some of its individual components?
For example, should the tail be shaped like design A or design B?
I couldn't do that either.
I might have a vague idea of what designs A and B are intended to accomplish, but I wouldn't have the slightest idea what would happen if I changed one to the other.
If I started making arbitrary changes without understanding the consequences, the airplane would crash, wouldn't it?
That's a terrifying thought.
To give you a more concrete example, I've made several decisions since waking up here in Santeneri.
The first was a gradual reduction in military strength.
The next was a change in our diplomatic stance.
And finally, there was my marriage.
Every one of those decisions involved countless possible choices.
I had the professionals explain the advantages and disadvantages to me, much like the authors of those introductory books. I gained a vague understanding of the situation, had them formulate the best possible proposal, and approved it.
I have no idea whether any of it will work out.
For that matter, what would it even mean for things to work out?
Given my position, defining success is practically impossible to begin with.
Would it count as success if I lived long enough to die of old age in my own bed?
From my personal perspective, certainly.
But I have no idea whether that would be good for the country.
I could live a perfectly happy life while the kingdom fell into complete chaos.
That could very easily happen.
And the reverse is equally possible.
Why am I telling you all this?
Because my retainers seem to have gotten the wrong idea about me.
They think I'm capable of doing something.
Of course, I doubt they expect me to handle the finer details of government administration.
But they do seem to want something from me.
Most likely, they want me to provide a broad sense of direction.
You know how business books are always saying things like, “A leader's role is to articulate a vision”?
A vision.
No, no, no.
That's impossible.
Far too frightening.
You need experience and conviction to develop a worthwhile vision.
After spending years doing the actual work, experiencing firsthand what works and what doesn't, you eventually develop a sense of how things ought to be improved.
Alternatively, you might begin with a powerful conviction about how things should be and believe that reality ought to be reshaped to conform to that conviction.
Capable kings and business executives possess some combination of the two.
In my case, I'm severely lacking in both.
My experience is at the introductory-book level.
Still, there's at least some hope that I can improve on that front. If I keep at it for several years, perhaps I'll eventually become capable of reading proper academic works.
After all, my teachers and retainers are extremely capable.
But when it comes to conviction, my situation is hopeless.
I simply don't have any firm belief about how things ought to be.
For example, could you develop a vision of how a particular African country ought to be governed when you've barely even heard its name?
That's the sort of situation I'm in.
Actually, mine is even worse.
Santeneri isn't even on Earth.
So the best I can offer as a vision is something along the lines of, “Wouldn't it be nice if things turned out like this?”
Ultimately, my ideal image of a nation is constrained by the model of twenty-first-century Japan, where I was born and raised.
A society in which everyone is guaranteed equality and freedom, in principle.
A society in which individual citizens participate in politics through elections.
That's the general direction I have in mind.
But that's merely the kind of society in which I would find it easy to live.
It is by no means the one and only correct answer.
There must be plenty of other paths.
I lived in a world where the Cold War had ended and the dominance of ideology had collapsed, for better or worse.
That makes it impossible for me to establish any firm conviction about how things ought to be.
And yet, despite all that, two enormous problems are sitting right in front of me, both demanding that I articulate a vision.
The first is the preservation of the kingdom's political order.
In other words, my marriage.
Does that sound like I'm dressing up the issue in grandiose language?
Not at all.
My marriage is, quite literally, a matter of preserving the kingdom's political order.
My marriage has already been arranged.
My bride will be a princess from House Estburg.
But here in Santeneri, one wife isn't necessarily the end of it.
What about the feelings of the people involved?
Having your husband enter into marriages with other women would be a nightmare for any wife, wouldn't it?
That's easy enough to understand.
But at the same time, it's pretty rough on the man, too.
What am I, a stud horse?
The reason this is a matter of preserving the kingdom's political order is that I'm expected to carry it out while completely disregarding the feelings of everyone involved.
Remember how I told you Lady Braune and Lady Mary were living at Palais Lumiere?
And that they were working as ladies-in-waiting?
Who do you think pays their living expenses?
Perhaps you think it only makes sense that they should receive salaries.
Well, they do.
I imagine they're paid roughly the same amount as the ordinary ladies-in-waiting.
Now, let's take Japan as an example.
Suppose you earned a gross monthly salary of around three hundred thousand yen.
Could you afford to live in a penthouse apartment in a luxury tower in Aoyama?
With four or five personal servants?
Of course not.
For that matter, Palais Lumiere is the Imperial Palace equivalent here.
So where does the difference come from?
The court's operating budget.
In other words, money belonging to the royal household and the kingdom.
Despite our current financial difficulties, considerable sums are being spent on them without anyone raising the slightest objection.
If the two ladies were of lower social standing, things would be completely different.
Because then they'd be mistresses.
My retainers would constantly be making pointed remarks about them.
The other attendants and ladies-in-waiting wouldn't behave so deferentially toward them, either.
They'd probably maintain a polite appearance while treating them in an extremely businesslike manner.
But everyone considers it perfectly natural for these two women to be given enormous suites in Palais Lumiere and to live there surrounded by numerous personal servants.
Everyone, from the Steward at the top all the way down to the lowest male and female servants.
You understand, don't you?
I understand, too.
I understand what I've done.
I'm not going to play dumb and say, “I only wanted someone to help me with my injured hands.”
Saying that would be an extremely malicious political act.
And once the understanding of what this means spreads throughout noble society, the next developments begin.
For example, the daughter of a certain ducal house might decide to remain here in Strois rather than return to her family's territory.
That sort of thing.
◆
“Guardianship? This is rather sudden.”
The Steward had already explained the situation to me, and I'd understood that things would probably have to move in that direction eventually.
Taking Lady Braune into my personal service would be interpreted as a message that I intended to maintain the policies of the current administration.
Taking Lady Mary into my service would be understood as a demonstration that I had no intention of neglecting the Royal Guard, even if it was eventually integrated into the Army of the Kingdom of Santeneri.
My actual feelings were irrelevant.
Naturally, people throughout the kingdom would draw those conclusions, and the foreign embassies were surely sending similar analyses back to their respective governments.
Both developments had already been on the cards.
Only the circumstances and timing had changed, bringing everything forward rather abruptly.
That meant my relationship with Lady Zofi would also be interpreted as a political message, regardless of what either of us personally felt.
Conversely, that made it important to consider exactly what message we wanted to convey.
The general direction had already been decided in this case, too.
It was just that the timing had been brought forward a little.
Actually, quite a lot.
Already?
I'd originally been told that Xavier was coming to pay his respects before returning to his territory.
That was how the visit had been presented, anyway.
Since it was supposed to be an official occasion, arrangements would normally have been made for the audience chamber.
However, at his request, the meeting had been moved to the reception room in my private apartments.
That suited me just fine.
I thought it would make things easier.
If we met in the audience chamber, I'd have to wear the crown.
That thing is ridiculously heavy.
Gold is heavy, you know.
Anyway, when I entered the reception room, Xavier was there, along with someone else.
Well, of course she was.
Lady Zofi.
“My daughter is still only fourteen. The thought of leaving her alone in Strois frightens me. It may be foolish parental concern, but I cannot sleep peacefully when I imagine that someone might seek to harm her.”
Who in the world would dare attack the princess of Gaillure?
I'd genuinely like to know.
Then again, there are people willing to attack a king, so I suppose the probability isn't exactly zero.
“Not physically, of course. Zofi is at a sensitive age. She will undoubtedly be invited to all manner of gatherings hosted by the various noble houses. There is always the possibility that something untoward might happen at one of these events. Some insignificant young upstart might attempt to lead her astray.”
As I listened to Xavier speak with his usual combination of affability and forcefulness, I glanced at Zofi, who was sitting beside him.
The glare she directed at her father said quite a lot.
Something along the lines of, Huh? Could you stop saying things like that? You're making me sound like some kind of slut.
“Surely there is no need to fear such a thing where Lady Zofi is concerned. She is the very model of a lady. I believe your concerns are excessive, Lord Xavier.”
She certainly is the very model of a lady.
Although she does sometimes grab me by the arm and pull me around.
Well, she's a rather energetic young lady, but I'm sure she's a lady nonetheless.
“You honor my daughter with your generous words. Nevertheless, Zofi is still very young. There will surely be those who seek to take advantage of her youth to approach her. However, if it were to become widely known that she was under Your Majesty's protection, I have no doubt that such scoundrels would be too frightened by your authority to come anywhere near her.”
I understood what he wanted.
He wanted the fact that I would be acting as Zofi's guardian to be made known throughout noble society.
This was an entirely political matter.
“I understand your concerns, Lord Xavier. But what does the young lady herself think? If I become your guardian, Lady Zofi, you may find your life somewhat restrictive.”
I decided to direct the question to Zofi.
Not that there was any particular point.
House Gaillure had obviously reached a consensus before coming to this meeting, and no matter how strongly she might wish to protest, “No! I want to live my life freely!” that wish would never be granted.
I gazed at the fourteen-year-old girl whose future had already been decided for her.
I suspect Zofi likes blue.
She'd been wearing a blue dress at the evening party in Gaillure a little while ago, and she was dressed in blue again today.
I can barely distinguish one woman's dress from another, so the color is about all I can recognize.
Today's outfit was a more vivid shade.
It certainly suited her.
Royal blue and deep brown hair make an excellent combination.
They convey dignity and composure.
Even if the girl wearing them is bursting with energy.
And hanging against her chest was the necklace she'd chosen for herself.
The one with that little bird.
The girl who had wanted something that belonged to her alone was losing her freedom at fourteen.
I couldn't deny feeling a certain amount of pity.
“I wouldn't find it restrictive at all! I've always dreamed of living in Strois. In fact, I was the one who asked Father to arrange this!”
The girl leaned forward, her fists clenched on her lap, as she answered.
“I see. Then I am glad to hear it. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to go out whenever I please. I look forward to hearing about all the things you see and experience.”
“Yes! I'll visit all sorts of places and report everything to Your Majesty. I'll make sure to carry out my duties properly!”
I stopped thinking too deeply about it.
Seeing Zofi nod so enthusiastically, her face lit up with a radiant smile, made me feel a little sad.
She had probably been guided toward this decision to some extent, but it was also true that she genuinely wanted this for herself.
That was the kind of world Santeneri was.
Neither she nor I could escape the framework that governed our lives.
“Duke of Gaillure, I shall take responsibility for protecting Lady Zofi, the greatest jewel in your possession and the pride of Gaillure. I hereby accept guardianship of your daughter during her residence in the territory of House Leroy.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I humbly ask that you continue to favor my daughter.”
The Duke inclined his head slightly.
In contrast to my grandiose declaration, his expression of gratitude was remarkably straightforward.
Today's discussion was a private family matter.
Essentially, a preliminary agreement.
The formal presentation would take place several years from now.
However, the fact that I was acting as her guardian would be made public.
And in return, they would have to give us what we wanted.
After all, this was a political matter.
Now came the real business.
“Ah, Lady Zofi, I have a little business to discuss with your father. Once we're finished, perhaps we could enjoy some tea together. It's been a while. Would you mind waiting in the next room?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I shall await you there.”
Zofi rose and headed toward the familiar sitting room.
Before leaving, however, she made sure to give her father a warning.
“Father, please don't keep His Majesty too long. He's a very busy man, you know.”
◆
“If we take too long, Lady Zofi will scold us. Let us get straight to the point. I wish to discuss taxation.”
As soon as the girl had left, I opened the discussion.
The Duke of Gaillure had apparently anticipated this. The gentle expression he'd worn in front of his daughter gave way to a somewhat sharper, more commanding look.
Yes.
Taxation.
The other enormous problem, alongside the preservation of the kingdom's political order.
Military reductions were a means of cutting expenditure.
By eliminating waste—and sometimes cutting things that weren't wasteful at all, simply because we had to—we hoped to put the kingdom's finances on a sounder footing.
But that alone wouldn't be enough.
At the same time, we needed to find ways to increase revenue.
Until we accomplished that, we might be able to maintain what we already had, but further development would be impossible.
The gradual reduction and dismantling of the Royal Guard, the reduction of the navy, and the reduction of the Army of the Kingdom of Santeneri were all extremely risky policies.
But compared with interfering with the tax system, they were still the lesser danger.
Changing the tax system essentially meant reaching into everyone else's pockets.
If we went about it the wrong way, people would genuinely start killing one another.
But it had to be done.
Originally, we were supposed to spend a little more time working out the details.
However, now that my own lack of foresight had set events in motion, we had no choice but to proceed, even if it was premature.
Establishing a unified national tax system.
Reforming the system of tax farming.
We had to take the first step toward both.
By the time reforms like these finally took shape, I'd probably be an old man.
An elderly king sitting on his throne, with his grown son serving as regent and running the government.
My only remaining pleasure would be watching my grandchildren grow up.
Or perhaps, by then, the country might even have changed its name.
To the Republic of Santeneri.