Within My Authority

Handling complaints was part of the job as the person in charge.

A peaceful resolution would be ideal, but I'd expected something like this to happen.

We followed behind the official leading the way, with Alexia at my side.

Princess Yupe tagged along too, saying it looked interesting.

This wasn't a spectacle, but… well, it was a good chance for a royal to see the capital's current state firsthand.

Whether she was thinking that deeply about it, I couldn't say.

"Over there, sir. They're blocking the road with their demonstration, and we've had our hands full."

"I see. That is quite a crowd. Could you pull the soldiers back, please? I'd rather not provoke them."

"Understood. However, if it escalates to a riot, we will have to suppress it, so please keep that in mind."

Next to the line of citizens waiting to pay their taxes, a group of people were holding up signs with writing on them, shouting.

The citizens trying to pay their taxes eyed the demonstrators with obvious irritation, and the demonstrators seemed to be treating them with equal hostility.

The whole scene looked like the people of the capital being torn in two, and that wasn't good.

Normally, they would coexist without giving it a second thought.

A tax collection that had stretched through the day and night.

This situation was laying bare a divide between citizens and non-citizens that usually went unnoticed.

From what I could see, the demonstrators were people who'd come to the capital for work or who lived here but hadn't been paying the citizen tax.

They had no voting rights for the Citizen Assembly, had to pay to use the library, and couldn't participate in municipal governance.

So they'd decided to make their voices heard directly.

"We live in this capital too. We seek the protection of Queen Tianis!"

"Lower business taxes so we can survive!"

"Down with citizen favoritism!"

They were shouting at the top of their lungs.

From what I could see, none of my acquaintances were among them.

That would have been awkward…

It'd be trouble if they tried to rely on me.

I needed to handle this fairly and peacefully.

"You don't need to overthink it, do you? They just want to assert their rights."

"True, but when people gather in crowds, they can lose their reason and get swept up in the fervor."

I explained to Princess Yupe while recalling something from the past.

It was right after I'd bought Alexia from the slave trader.

Just like those demonstrators, I'd once protested for residents' rights and been thrown in jail for it.

Back then, the taxes had been so crushingly heavy that we could barely survive. I'd let anger cloud my judgment and acted without thinking.

My opponent had been a lord's son who had no intention of listening. He'd made an example of me just for daring to speak up.

It was thanks to Azu, Elza, and especially Alexia that I'd been released. A wrong move and I could have been killed right there.

That experience taught me to be careful in my dealings with nobles.

Standing on the opposite side of that equation now was a strange feeling.

Of course, I wasn't about to throw any of them in jail.

Doing that would guarantee a riot.

And that wasn't what Her Majesty would want either.

"Please keep it down, everyone. Some people are still sleeping at this hour."

I moved in front of the crowd with Alexia and Princess Yupe.

(I'd tried to leave Princess Yupe behind for safety, but she wouldn't hear of it.)

"Who are you?"

"I'm the person in charge here. I'll hear what you have to say, so please stop gathering and disperse."

"Even if you say that, if we leave now, when would we ever get someone to listen…"

"As stated on the notice, matters regarding taxes other than the citizen tax will be addressed at the Bureau of Internal Affairs."

"Like we'd trust government officials! The moment you can't pay your taxes, they throw you right out of the capital!"

I could feel the officials behind me bristling.

I raised my right hand to hold them back.

In situations like this, staying calm was paramount.

You couldn't let emotions take over.

"And anyway, coming here with women in tow, who's going to take you seriou… W-Wait, is that Princess Yupe?"

"It is. That's the same face from the concert."

"That's the most beautiful woman in the kingdom!"

The crowd began buzzing for an entirely different reason once they noticed Princess Yupe.

The woman in question simply waved at them.

"Hiii, everyone."

That alone was enough to leave the men utterly spellbound.

So this was the power of a femme fatale…!

However, there were women in the crowd too, so that alone wouldn't resolve things.

A large woman pushed past the men who'd gone weak-kneed over Princess Yupe and stepped forward.

She had an imposing presence.

"Even if a royal is here, we can't just back down, or we won't be able to make a living. Some of us lost all our tools in that incident, and some are injured and can't work. Sure, we can't afford the citizen tax. But we still work in this capital. We do honest work."

Her argument was perfectly valid.

Citizens alone couldn't keep the capital running.

These people were indispensable too.

"I understand. That's why Queen Tianis and the assembly have implemented various measures and provided substantial relief for people in your situation. We're also aware that there are still those who are struggling."

"Then!"

"Demonstrating here won't solve the problem. Not everything can be fixed at once. We'll work through it in order, but we will address it. This is Her Majesty's will as well."

This was the truth.

The discovery of the census falsification had been such a critical issue that it had taken priority, but plans were already in place to continue the capital's economic stimulus programs and support for those in need. The budget had been allocated.

This round of tax collection would likely secure additional funding on top of that.

The mention of Queen Tianis's name seemed to make them more willing to listen.

"… What's your name?"

"Yohane. I serve Queen Tianis as her Royal Advisor. I'm not a noble, by the way. I make my living through trade, same as all of you. So I understand what you're struggling with."

"I'll remember that name. Then at least increase the rations for us. There are still kids going hungry. If they can just fill their bellies, they'll be able to work at least a little."

"If that will get everyone to disperse, you have my word. We'll increase rations starting tomorrow for a while. Princess Yupe here is my witness."

"Huh, me? Well, fine."

The woman turned out to be one of the leaders of the demonstration, and on that condition, she got everyone to disperse.

"I can trust you'll hear us out after this, right?"

"I will."

After making sure of that, the woman withdrew as well.

It seemed this was settled, for now.

"Sorry for the fuss, everyone."

When Princess Yupe addressed the surrounding crowd, the atmosphere softened considerably.

I was glad it hadn't come to Alexia needing to draw her weapon.

Violence would have made things catastrophic. We'd avoided the worst-case scenario.

"But was it okay to make that promise on your own? Without asking that girl?"

"This much is well within my authority. A subordinate who runs to check on every little thing is as good as useless. Besides, if I'd gone back and forth for approval, it would have taken time. And that could have made them even more frustrated."

"Ooh. Look at you."

I could have passed the buck to Her Majesty and let her take the responsibility, but dumping that on a girl, queen or not, was too pathetic for an adult.

And though she didn't seem to realize it, I'd made Princess Yupe my accomplice.

If I got scolded, she'd be right there with me.

I called over someone from the Bureau of Internal Affairs and got them started on arranging the rations.

The reserve fund should cover it.

People coming together to live really was tough.

Alexia patted me on the shoulder.

"That was kind of cool, you know."

"Don't tease me."

Compliments did feel pretty good, though.