Chapter 3

As a former corporate wage slave, I finished my minimum required work by noon again today. Do not overexert yourself. That is my creed. I arranged the documents and reached for my drink. At that moment, with a modest knock, the civil official Marc entered. “Your Highness, a report—cough, cough…” It was a nasty cough. I immediately set down my drink. “Watch your health. If it’s painful, go home right now.” Even putting work efficiency aside, there is no meaning in making a sick person work. But Marc shook his head. “I am fine, it is just this much. More importantly, what is worrying is the Castle Town. A lingering cough disease is spreading, and there have already been deaths.” I furrowed my brows and turned my gaze outside the office. Civil officials, Royal Guards, and maids coming and going in the hallway. If I looked closely—there were indeed many who were coughing. (…Something is strange.) “Which department is responsible?” “The Sanitation Management Bureau. However—” “However?” “They judged it to be a simple cold and seem to be monitoring the situation…” I let out a deep sigh. (People die while ‘monitoring the situation.’ It is a scene I have seen in my previous life.) “Understood. I will take action.”

Minimum instructions for maximum effect. The instructions I issued were few. First. All personnel with coughing symptoms are to stay home immediately. Second. Notify the clinics and apothecaries in the Castle Town to report the number of patients with identical symptoms and their progress by the end of the day. Third. Order the Sanitation Management Bureau to thoroughly enforce ventilation in facilities where people gather, disinfection of bedding, and the suspension of shared tableware use. And I added the most important line. “The managers will take responsibility for making sick people work.” With just that, the workplace moved.

The reports were assembled in half a day. The true nature of the disease was an infectious cough that lingers easily in the air. If one rests before it becomes severe, they recover, but if they push themselves, it worsens rapidly. In other words—keeping them working was fatal. The Sanitation Management Bureau had neglected mild cases, and as a result, they were spreading the infection throughout the castle and the Castle Town. I made an immediate judgment. “Return to work is prohibited until fully cured. Departments that violate this will have their evaluations lowered.” I did not give any further punishment. Because it is a waste.

A few days later. The number of people coughing in the Castle Town decreased visibly, and by the time two weeks had passed, reports of new patients had ceased. In the castle as well, the disease came to a rapid end. Marc, who had returned to the office, spoke with a voice that was still slightly raspy. “Your Highness, thank you very much. The damage was kept to a minimum.” I stared at him fixedly. “…You.” “Y-Yes.” “It is no good for sick people to work.” Marc froze. “If you collapse, who will take over that work? It constitutes neither a moving tale nor an act of loyalty.” “…I am terribly sorry.” “If you do the same thing next time, I will force you to take leave.” That was my version of a lecture.

I stood up from my seat on time and threw on my cloak. (I won’t overexert myself. But I won’t neglect things.) As a former corporate wage slave, that was the one thing I couldn’t compromise on.

At a later date. In the Castle Town, doctors and apothecaries were speaking in hushed tones. “Many patients were saved by His Highness’s judgment.” “Making the sick rest. He is the first royal to push that through.” They had no intention of forming a faction. They simply decided that if that person was ever in trouble, they would help him.

Today, I ask Marc again. “Any problems?” “None.” “Then good.” That was all. On time again today. If it was peaceful for me, that was enough.