Jedrier, unaware of what was happening outside, let out a sigh. Would he be able to receive his allowance for maintaining appearances? It would be nice if he could get both money and food supplies. But when the man who had said he would return soon still had not come back even after some time had passed, Jedrier’s anxiety reached its peak.
Did he seriously leave me here and walk away?
As soon as that thought occurred to him, he had no choice but to spring to his feet. Just as Jedrier reached for the doorknob, the door opened as if on cue.
“O-oh, have you been waiting long?”
The man who bustled in had a face drenched in sweat. Why was he sweating that much in winter, when the cold wind was blowing so hard? Like someone who had done something wrong?
Without realizing it, Jedrier narrowed his eyes sharply at the man. Something felt ominous.
“There was an omission in the paperwork….”
There was no way he had failed to notice Jedrier’s gaze, yet the man pretended not to see it and hurriedly began rifling through the documents in his hands. After fussing around for a moment, he seemed to find what he wanted and pulled out one sheet, handing it to Jedrier.
‘What does this even say?’
It had been scribbled so carelessly that there was nothing he could make out. When Jedrier raised his head, the man quickly opened his mouth as if making excuses. Cold sweat had gathered in beads across his forehead, and his hands were trembling intermittently.
“It seems your allowance for maintaining appearances was not issued.”
“Ah….”
So that was it.
It was hard to believe that it had simply been omitted, but Jedrier nodded anyway. Since the man had admitted there had been a mistake, naturally they would compensate him, right? If he said they were not going to give it to him, Jedrier would never forgive him.
“However, all the paperwork has already been passed on and the budget has been finalized, so… ha ha ha.”
Wait.
That sounded like he was saying they were not going to give it to him.
Before Jedrier could even open his mouth to object, the man beat him to it.
“We will issue it to you next month.”
What kind of bullshit is that?
So he and Henry were supposed to starve until then? Without being able to do anything?
Perhaps realizing that Jedrier was on the verge of exploding, the man raised both hands and began waving them.
“I am sorry, truly. Please forgive us just this once.”
Jedrier had wanted to grab the man by the collar and shake him for a while now, considering how he kept spouting things that should have been obvious.
Forget forgiveness, hand over the money!
Anger began seeping into Jedrier’s eyes.
Was that it? Was saying there was nothing they could do and asking him to endure supposed to solve everything? Huh? Was that it? Say it. Look me in the eyes and say it again!
“Next month, we will add the allowance we failed to provide this month.”
Isn’t that obvious too?
Give me a solution I can actually accept!
Fire surged inside him.
Why did this man keep saying nothing but obvious things? Did he look like a pushover? Huh? Even if he looked easy to push around, he was absolutely not one on the inside!
“Then at least give us food supplies.”
However, this was not the time to show how terrifying a pushover could be.
This was the time to rely on how pitiful a pushover could look.
“The budget allocations have already been finalized, so that would be difficult as well. Then, I’ll be going!”
The utterly heartless man shot to his feet, opened the door, and gestured as if telling Jedrier to leave.
Jedrier wanted to snap at him a little more, but when he saw Henry beyond the doorway, looking tense as he waited, he had no choice but to move.
He trudged out weakly, and the door slammed shut behind him with a bang.
“Henry….”
Seeing Henry waiting for him without knowing the atrocious injustice that had taken place inside made a wave of misery wash over him.
He had to tell Henry the terrible news….
Even if he had a hundred mouths, he would have nothing to say.
He was supposed to be the one in charge….
And yet he could not even overcome one obstacle like this.
“Did it not go well?”
“Mm…. They said they’ll give it to me next month. They said they can’t give it to me this month.”
It was miserable.
“They said there aren’t any food supplies either. They can’t give us any. I argued with them a lot, but they said absolutely not.”
“…Jeri. I still have some money left.”
Even though the situation had taken a turn for the worst, Henry did not lose his composure.
Instead, he comforted Jedrier.
He told him not to worry, rubbed his back, and held his hand.
“So please do not worry.”
Jedrier felt ashamed.
If someone held a contest to choose the worst master, wouldn’t he unquestionably come in first?
“I’m sorry….”
“What have you done wrong, Jeri?”
“Just… everything….”
Right.
This was no time to sit here feeling defeated.
Look at Henry.
Even in a situation like this, he had not lost his smile.
So Jedrier also had to pull himself together and find a way out.
If he could not receive any money until next month, then couldn’t he just earn some?
Why hadn’t he thought of that earlier?!
“I’ll go out and find work.”
“…Pardon?”
“Don’t you think I should be able to find something? Last time, I saw a lot of shops looking for people.”
The memory had suddenly come back to him.
It had not been a general goods shop, but places that sold ingredients and bakeries were always looking for workers.
As for his status….
Who would even ask about something like that?
Maybe it was careless of him, but it seemed like the best solution.
“I’ll earn money, Henry!”
“…….”
“Don’t worry!”
Jedrier declared it boldly and headed outside with Henry, who was looking at him with concern.
He was not as nervous as before.
He already knew that leaving the palace was easy.
But….
“Hm?”
Unfortunately, his bad luck was not over yet.
No.
It seemed as though it had not even truly begun.
Jedrier stood frozen in place, his mouth falling open at the unbelievable reality before him.
No way….
“I can’t leave?”
No, last time they had let him out without even properly checking his identification plaque!
They had not asked why he was leaving, either.
They had just waved him through as if they could not be bothered!
So why was it not allowed now?
He could not believe it.
If only this were a dream.
He wished he could close his eyes now and open them again to find himself back in bed.
“Why…?”
The knight guarding the gate lowered his gaze as if conscious of someone watching him. Then, in a voice so quiet it was almost swallowed up, he whispered,
“His Majesty issued a strict order. Starting today, no one may enter or leave the palace without His Majesty’s permission.”
“…His Majesty ordered that?”
“Yes.”
What had gotten into the Emperor all of a sudden for him to lock the gates?
Why?
For what reason?
Jedrier felt like screaming and begging someone to at least tell him why.
‘Seriously, he’s useless from head to toe….’
Jedrier forcefully swallowed down his anger toward the Emperor.
Honestly, the man changed his mind as often as boiling porridge bubbled over.
Was it really acceptable for the Emperor of an empire to behave like that?
Well, of course it probably was.
But that did not make it any less irritating.
Jedrier sighed.
‘Can a person really be this unlucky?’
It felt as though every misfortune in the entire world had come crashing down on him at once.
Otherwise, there was no way he would have been able to leave freely only a few days ago, only for it to suddenly become forbidden starting today.
It was like a cruel joke played by fate.
“Jeri, nothing will change even if we continue standing here, so I think it would be better to move somewhere else.”
“Mmm.”
Jedrier weakly trudged along wherever Henry led him.
He simply could not find the strength to keep going.
There was no hope that things would get better from here.
He could not see any solution, either.
It felt as though he were walking through pitch-black darkness without a single point of light.
“What do we do now…?”
“How about going to see His Majesty?”
The Emperor was a man terrifying enough that merely thinking about him was frightening.
How could Jedrier not fear the person who would one day butcher him for no reason at all?
Jedrier pressed his lips tightly together.
At that, Henry stroked his back and spoke in a soothing tone.
“Perhaps His Majesty may unexpectedly be a merciful man.”
“No way.”
Even though he had not been awake in this world for very long and knew little about how things worked here, even Jedrier knew that the Emperor was not merciful.
How can Henry not know something even I know?
Jedrier let out a small sigh.
“Henry, not everyone in the world is as kind, gentle, and considerate as you.”
“…Is that how you think of me?”
“Mm.”
Jedrier nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
“I’ve never seen anyone as kind as you.”
“Is that so?”
“Mmm. So, Henry.”
He decided to work up his courage.
Tomorrow, he would go back there and maybe even grab that official by the collar and shake him.
Should he yell that the paperwork already being passed on was their problem, not his?
If they could not give him money, then maybe he should threaten them into handing over food instead.
He would have to throw himself onto the floor and refuse to move, saying he would not let this go.
Embarrassment only lasted for a moment, but the guilt of letting Henry starve would last a lifetime.
“I won’t let you starve.”
I waste money, I’m weak, I have no power, and I can’t even give you food, so I’m a pathetic master…!
But I’ll still work hard!
Jedrier swallowed the feelings he could not bring himself to say aloud to Henry.
“Yes. I believe you.”
The moment he saw Henry smiling with bruises still visible on his face, Jedrier’s eyes reddened once again.