[Despair]
Hazen returned to his chamber in the castle, stretched out on the bed, and reopened the book he had put down earlier.
“Y-you’re really relaxed.”
Entering without a knock was Yan, her expression went past shock to resignation.
“What? I thought things ended fairly successfully. Did I do something wrong?”
“To be frank, you did everything wrong.”
“Can you be more specific so I can improve?”
“……”
What’s with this unnecessary and abnormal desire to improve? Yan wondered. Well, everything about him was abnormal, but anyway, one thing that really crossed the line was that remark.
“Again, everything you did was wrong, but what was up with that ‘Then why not eat cake instead?’ …that was uncalled for even by your standards, Master.”
A ruler should never utter such words. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the ‘Number 1 Forbidden Line in History’. Hearing Yan’s explanation, Hazen glanced at her before shaking his head.
“Indeed, that line is infamous as the heartless response of a queen to her starving people’s plea for a tax deduction. However, it conceals a hidden meaning.”
“…Hidden meaning?”
“I see you don’t get it …Those words from the wise queen were meant to convey, ‘Instead of complaining about the unchangeable, shift your perspective’. So, when I said they should just eat cake if they lacked bread, I wanted them to change their mindset and showed me that they could overcome the adversities.”
“……”
“Naturally, those with narrow minds wouldn’t comprehend. Nonetheless… there ought to be some who grasped the true essence.”
“……”
“Overcoming the current plight of the district requires more than just an average individual. It demands talent and courage.”
“Do you really mean that? Please think before you answer.”
“Absolutely.”
“…I see. That’s a regrettable.”
The phrase “tragedy due to misunderstanding” reverberated in Yan’s mind.
“Master, you’re a genius, but sometimes you can be incredibly stupid.”
“Me? Stupid?”
“More like, you expect too much from others… Those who struggle to put food on the table each day hardly have the luxury to contemplate your words deeply.”
Yan wasn’t aware of Hazen’s background. However, she was certain he didn’t come from a farming family. His lack of fear regarding starvation likely stemmed from never experiencing it as a child—so Yan reasoned.
“Well, it’s not as though I hold expectations for all of them, only a select few. Like that girl named Shion. She’s shown the determination to improve this place.”
“……”
“Yan, try to get close to that girl. Keep me informed of her actions.”
“Y-you mean you want to spy on her?”
“Hey, I don’t intend to hinder her. Just like with you, I want to facilitate both her successes and failures.”
“F-failure too?”
“People don’t truly grow without making mistakes. Only through countless failures and setbacks will they realize their full potential.”
“D-devil.” Yan looked at Hazen with jaw agape, then sighed. “But what’s the plan now? Surely you don’t believe you can squeeze out more taxes just by tightening the noose around their necks, right?”
“Indeed. I merely did that to loosen the grip of control held by that Daryl fellow.”
“Daryl? That old man?”
To Yan, he appeared merely as a frail, elderly figure. By denying all his pleas, Hazen had likely neutralized his influence, if not lessen it.
“This is a land that thrives in the absence of a lord. By uniting as one, they’ve kept the former lord from seizing control. Through my investigations, I’ve discovered that the unpaid taxes amount to a significant sum, likely hidden away somewhere.”
“…But that might be their only means of survival.”
“That’s where you’re mistaken. That’s merely resignation. It’s why this land remains desolate. Everyone has relinquished hope for it, hence why it languishes.”
“…”
“Hmm? What?”
“You’re a strange person, Master. Well, your strangeness often goes unnoticed because of your abnormality. Wasn’t it you who made them despair?”
“No. Despair has always been by their side, striking at random. I merely opened their eyes to its presence.”
“…”
“The current state teeters on the brink of demise. The land is barren, the population stagnant, literacy scant. If they were to continue scraping by with tax exemption, they would soon go bankrupt, only a dismal end awaited them.”
“…”
“Thus, the transformation of a select few is crucial. The rest will quietly follow. In the depths of despair, the glimmer of hope shines brightest.” Hazen chuckled, a daring smile gracing his lips.
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