Chapter 71

We approached the hot spring resort. I could see steam slowly rising into the sky like white smoke.

I stared at it from on horseback.

The procession advanced slowly.

Eventually, a wooden fence and a simple gate came into view. In front of it, several men were lined up.

Standing in the center was an elderly man. His clothes were plain, but well-maintained.

When I approached, he stepped forward one pace and bowed his head deeply.

“We have been waiting for you, Your Highness.”

His voice was calm.

“I am the manager, entrusted with this land by the Royal Family.”

I stopped my horse and gave a light nod.

“Good work.”

I replied shortly. The man raised his face.

“The maintenance of the manor and the upkeep of the bathhouses are proceeding without delay.”

“I will look later.”

When I said only that, the man bowed his head again. From his side, another person stepped forward. It was a man with a sunburnt face.

“I am the head, overseeing the village.”

His voice was a little stiff. He must be nervous.

“I am delighted that you have come to this land. From here on, as Your Highness’s territory, we will serve you with all our strength.”

I looked at the man for a while.

“Do not overdo it.”

I say shortly.

“It is fine to continue as before. …However, I will not forgive disorder.”

The village head bowed his head deeply.

“Certainly.”

The procession entered inside just like that. The hot spring resort already possessed a single shape. But, it was not unified.

There is much to do.

When we entered the royal annex, even more people were lined up. Chamberlains, cooks, cleaners. All of them were uniformly bowing their heads. I stopped my steps.

“Raise your faces.”

I slowly swept my gaze around.

“From today, this land becomes my territory.”

No one uttered a sound. They just listened quietly.

“You may continue your work from before as it is. But, things will change from here on.”

I declare shortly.

“Obey what is commanded. I will pay for the work done. If you slack off, you will be cut.”

Saying only that, I began to walk.

…No excess words are needed.

After that, there was no time to rest. I called the officials and checked the ledgers. Finances are the foundation of a territory.

“…Even if you don’t rush so,”

A reserved voice arose. I raised my gaze.

“There is no reason to push what should be seen today to tomorrow.”

I dropped my eyes to the ledgers. Income, expenditures, the number of bathing guests. The numbers themselves are aligned. However. I turned the pages. Even for records on the same day, the collected amounts differed for each inn. The names of the bathing fees were not unified either.

One inn had “Bathing Fee,” another had “Stay Fee,” and there were even some recorded as “Donation.”

…It’s ambiguous.

I lightly tapped the ledger with my fingertips.

“Where is this ‘donation’ flowing to?”

The official was at a loss for words for an instant.

“…To the nearby church.”

“Then what is this.”

I indicated another line.

“That is… as maintenance fees for the village.”

I turned further.

“Then, who is this.”

“That is… someone from the family that has managed this land since the past…”

I closed the page.

…I see.

I did not say it aloud. But the structure was clear. The hot water is one. But the flow of money is split into three or four. The church. The village. The traditional influential figures. And the Royal Family‘s cut is placed in the gaps between them.

…It’s being skimmed.

I quietly exhaled.

…Did my predecessor not see it? Or did they see it and leave it be? Either is fine. Right now, it is my territory. I raised my face.

“Write everything out.”

I say in a low voice.

“Every last flow of money related to the hot water. The names, the people, and the amounts.”

The officials straightened their postures as if nervous.

I continued.

“It is not about who is taking it. We will look at where it is passing through.”

I looked at the officials.

“The hot water is one. If so, the flow should also be one.”

I closed the ledger.

But, this time a voice arose clearly.

“…Your Highness.”

It was the village head.

“Then, what about the portion we have been paying to the church until now…”

“Stop it.”

I say shortly. The head lost his words for an instant. But he immediately continued.

“However, then our relationship with the church will—”

Another official also interjected.

“There are also maintenance fees for the village. The repair of roads and waterways is done with that money…”

Furthermore, a low voice mixed in.

“…If you change it suddenly, there will be backlash.”

I looked at them in order. No one was saying anything wrong. That is exactly why it is troublesome.

I said slowly.

“I did not say I will eliminate them.”

Everyone raised their faces slightly.

“I am only changing the flow.”

I tap the ledger with my finger.

“Gather it all to the Royal Family once.”

I pause quietly.

“And distribute it from there.”

The air pulled taut.

“…Your Highness, in that case.”

The head started to say. I interrupted him.

“Who needs how much?”

I met his gaze.

“Can you explain it?”

His words stopped.

“If you cannot, it means things have been ambiguous until now.”

Silence. I continued.

“I will pay the church. I will also pay the village. But, I will decide the amounts.”

That was all. A long, heavy silence fell.

Eventually, the village head slowly bowed his head.

“…Understood.”

The others also bowed their heads following him. They were not faces of complete conviction. But they were faces of obedience.

That is fine.

Next, the allocation of residences.

The soldiers to the gates and outer perimeter. The secretaries to a corner of the annex.

The medical officers and medicinal herb staff are prioritized for well-ventilated buildings.

The merchants are temporarily allowed to use parts of the inns. The available buildings are limited. For the shortage, it’s tents.

“Prepare it in three days.”

No one objected. It’s not about whether they can or not. They will do it.

Before I realized it, the sun had tilted. I finally exhaled.

…I’m tired.

I am finishing at regular hours. I shouldn’t be pushing myself too hard. But the fatigue doesn’t leave. My head is heavy.

I looked in the direction of the bathroom.

…Let’s be healed by the hot springs.

Suddenly, I remember. Previously, when I came to this land, there was something I commanded.

—Is it being upheld?

I directed my feet there. I open the door of the bathroom.

White steam flowed out quietly. I entered inside.

The stone pool of hot water.

The hot water filling it had little cloudiness.

From the edge, new hot water was flowing in thinly.

…It’s clean.

I let out a small breath.

“…You kept it up, huh.”

When I muttered softly, the waiting manager stepped forward one pace.

“Yes. Exactly as Your Highness determined previously.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Commands like the one back then often end up being upheld in form only.

But here, it was different. They understood it, upheld it, and continued it.

“…Why.”

I suddenly voiced it aloud. The manager chose his words for just an instant, and eventually answered quietly.

“The hot water changed.”

“Changed?”

“Previously… food would be brought in, and there were times when the hot water became cloudy.”

I listened in silence.

“But, after Your Highness’s commands, that disappeared. The hot water became clear, the smell became lighter…”

He paused slightly.

“It gained a reputation as a calm, clean hot water.”

The manager gave a small laugh.

“We became unable to cut corners on the cleaning, too.”

I gave a small nod.

“…You are doing well.”

The manager bowed his head deeply.

I entered the hot water. The hot water quietly enveloped my body, melting away the heaviness.

…If it’s like this, it’s good. It’s to the point where I wouldn’t mind giving a special reward.

I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.

I had no complaints.