She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner! - Chapter 81

※Told from the perspective of Dor François.

“Then, we are all in unanimous consensus regarding proposed Restoration Taxes?”

“No objections.”

When I asked for confirmation, everyone was in approval.

“Then, that is all for today. We will convene once again tomorrow.”

Calling the end of the meeting, the various people who had taken the bait and joined my “Provisional Government”, a government in name alone, took their leave. Without letting any of my emotions show, I simply watched them do so.

“But wow, just as one would expect from Dor-sama.”

“Truly. Restoration is costly. Of course we nobles are prepared to make our own sacrifices, but of course, it only makes sense that we have the commoners share that burden.”

This was all praise I was fed up with and foolishness I could no longer bear to hear, but I forced myself to return a pleased smile. I was accustomed to keeping up appearances.

“Earl Ardouin, Viscount Lelong, thank you. I am truly thankful for your support for our cause.”

I didn’t even feel hesitation uttering this empty thank you.

“Why of course. For a long time now, I had always thought that you, Dor-sama, were the only noble who truly thought of the future of our kingdom.”

“Yes, I absolutely feel the same.”

Though that’s what they said, the earl and viscount were both previously a part of Marquis Achard’s political faction. When the Marquis fell from grace, they ran to me with their tails between their legs and I openly welcomed them. These men had no care for morality or reason, despicable politicians that were only concerned for their own gain. They were exactly the kind of people that should perish alongside me.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll be excusing myself here. Ah, that’s right, I truly appreciate your donations as well. I’ll be sure to use them to further our cause.”

I made sure to thank them on my way out as well. I had called it a donation, but what they had given me was unmistakably a bribe.

“Yes, of course, do with it as you see fit.”

“Until tomorrow, Duke François.”

Leaving behind the two bootlickers, I left the meeting hall. As I did, I felt just a little guilt that I had to use such a hallowed place in this way.

◆◇◆◇◆

When I returned to my room at my own manor, I let myself sink deeply into my chair. I felt my fatigue weighing on me. While I fully intended to sacrifice myself for the sake of purging the masses of corrupt nobles, I didn’t want to put the lives of our kingdom’s people at risk. We needed to focus all of our efforts dealing with the after effects of Mount Sassal’s eruption. Following Rei’s advice, I had made preparations for the eruption, but the damages were much greater than we could have anticipated.

“Restoration taxes? Do they really believe that will provide the people relief, the absolute buffoons!”

If we were to increase taxes, lashback was nigh guaranteed. They all seemed to think that the kingdom’s people were simply slaves that would comply to any command, but they’ll be learning the hard way when the people’s anger finally reaches its boiling point.

“… It is however, difficult that I must see my daughter glare at me with such contempt…”

Before the eruption, my daughter had received orders from His Majesty to investigate corrupt nobility. The look that she gave me at that time is one that I will never be able to forget. A look filled with despair―as though the very ideal she had trusted and believed in had betrayed her. I didn’t give a damn what the other nobles thought of me, but for my daughter, the apple of my own eye, to glare at me that way… Was an agony difficult for me to bear.

“However, just a little longer… It’ll be just a little longer, Milia.”

Turning my gaze to the framed portrait on my shelf, my words were filled with conviction as I called to her.

In truth, I wasn’t always the rolemodel noble that people consider me to be. What changed me was… My meeting with Milia. Milia was a very virtuous woman. While she was born and raised with the lineage of a Marquis, she stood firmly against injustice and evil.

『Duke François, might you spare a little of your time?』

At an evening party, she called out to me without concern for my rank and title as a duke, showing open contempt for the concept of high society. To me, who until then had aimlessly lived up to what society expected of a noble, she was dazzling. After that, each time we met, we continued our debates. At a glance, others would have perhaps considered our conversations to be dull… But I found each and every one to be irresistibly fun and interesting.

This continued for a while, until I proposed to her. This was how she responded.

『Will you share with me in my ideals?』

To her, the simple word, “ideals”, was one that carried an immense weight. Sharing in her ideals meant one thing―fighting against corrupt nobility and this world that they ruled over. She was asking me whether or not I had the resolve to do so. I was young. Before giving sufficient thought to the true implications, I had already said yes.

Life after our marriage was smooth sailing. I took my place in politics, and Milia took hers in high society. In each of our spheres, we fought to realize our ideals. Within that, we had also been blessed with a child. Our precious baby, who closely took after Milia, I chose to name Claire.

Claire really did take after Milia. It was only natural that she’d inherit physical features, but she had inherited Milia’s heart as well. Because I couldn’t resist spoiling her, she would say some rather selfish things, but at their core the two were one and the same. My daughter, more than anyone else, firmly understood that she was a noble, and held herself to unrelentingly strict standards.

Milia too, like Claire, held herself to strict standards. In a world where nobles were gluttonous monsters that let their greed run unchecked, maximizing only their profits, she kept her hands clean. Of course, as a direct result of all this, Milia very openly opposed Marquis Achard. Even back then, there were already unfavorable rumors circulating regarding the Marquis, but due to the name’s legacy and their influence, no one dared to openly oppose them. Milia however, was different. Even when it came to House Achard’s darker secrets, she remained just and impartial.

And then, the accident happened.

It was officially processed as a carriage accident, but I knew the truth. It had been a premeditated murder, staged by House Achard. Strangely enough, my memories directly regarding the accident were foggy, but after the fact, when I had returned to work, the Marquis said something to me that I would never forget.

『So you lived. How unfortunate.』

The fact that I had not killed that man then and there, was my life’s greatest regret, most difficult decision, but also my best one. I could have used my authority and influence to stage his murder as well, but I didn’t do that either.

Why?

Because I no longer felt that I could allow myself to lash out as an arrogant noble like I did in the past. If I were to revert to my old ways now, then everything would have been meaningless.

That’s right, even Milia’s death.

I couldn’t even allow myself to give into my anger to take revenge. When I realized that, for the first time, I truly understood how frightening and unforgiving Milia’s ideals were.

That was when I began my plan to exact a different sort of revenge. House Achard, and by extension, this rotten aristocracy. I would purge it all―that was the sole thing that I would live for.

Since then, I’ve done numerous things that would result in unfavorable criticism. Reflecting on it, I realized that my crimes likely made me a great villain comparable to Marquis Achard himself. Even as I commit such evil, I would not allow myself to be tainted by it―the difficulty of that had caused me much anguish over the years.

Even so, I had made it all the way here. Just one step… I was just one step away.

“I’ve finally made it here. I’m sure it won’t be too long now before I can see you again.”

I immediately realized what I had said, and corrected myself internally. There was no way that I, marred by so much sin, would end up where someone virtuous as Milia did. When I died, I was sure my destination would be hell.

“Right… I suppose I’ll never be able to see you again, Milia.”

That made me a little… No, it made me very sad.

But I couldn’t back down now. Now that I had made it this far, I had to see it through to the end.

“To the very least… To the very least, I want Claire to live…”

I’ve entrusted my daughter to Rei. Rei readily accepted, telling me that it would be alright, but my worries remained. Claire had taken after Milia. Too much so. Would she, would someone like her, really allow themselves to live even after being disgraced?

“All I can do is bet on her.”

Rei Taylor. She truly was a mysterious girl. She told me she had come from another world. At first, it all sounded absolutely absurd, but her accomplishments since spoke for her.

There was no doubt that my daughter had changed as well. Rei was on the verge of becoming an invaluable, unexchangeable existence to my daughter. Perhaps if it was Rei, perhaps she could truly change my daughter’s way of life.

“No… These are just my own personal wishes.”

Rather than realizing my ideals, I wanted my daughter to live on―that was how I truly felt. I didn’t want to see someone precious sacrificed for the sake of their ideals, never again.

“Milia… Please, protect Claire.”

From the portrait before me, Milia smiled. It was obvious that she couldn’t give me a yes or a no.

It only made sense, and yet, to me, it felt like my punishment for all of the sins I bore.