If You Devour Poison / Doku wo Kurawaba Sara Made

Chapter 26: Triumphant Malice

“With the exemption of the tariffs on wheat brought about by its excessive demand, we have raised the tariffs on cotton products. The frequent adjustment of government fund acquisitions during the period of this special event is generally understood by the counties affected.”
“Cotton is predominantly grown in Count Hanning’s territory. I heard that this year’s harvest was particularly abundant… he has gained our favour quite well.”
“You’re right. After that, I received an offer from Count Hanning, and he said he would love to cooperate to make His Highness’s accession ceremony a success.”
“Hah... he’s already made his plans to earn a connection. Not bad.”
“Thank you.”

A stark contrast to Morino, who happily bowed his head, Anderheim simply took off his thin silver-rimmed glasses and threw the documents he was going through on the table before giving out a long sigh.

“And for how long do you intend to keep coming here?”

He glanced at Jolga and Morino as he asked, only to see them tilt their heads in confusion. Seeing them acting as such, the former Prime Minister Anderheim massaged his temples and gave another long sigh.
It had been a month since the former Prime Minister Anderheim and his daughter, Julieta, had moved from the Asbal family mansion, that had been called the Prime Minister’s residence for generations, to a small mansion built on a hill to the west of the capital. The old butler Thomas, the cook, and a few maids accompanied him to the new mansion, saying that they would follow him no matter what. Taking Julieta’s hand, Sigurd guided her along the beautiful verdant gardens. Learning the art of gardening from the gardener who frequented the place, he built an elegant garden that seemed to melt into the forest. Seeing the finished product, even Anderheim felt a little admiration for him.
From the day Sigurd came to know of the truth of his birth, he began opening up his heart to Anderheim little by little. He also began doting on Julieta in the literal sense.
Perhaps Anderheim’s abuses at Morino’s lack of preparedness were quite effective, for once he had put in place an effective management system for all the gold hidden underneath the Asbal Mansion that he had been handed, he groped for answers for a way to tip the scales that made the nation move and put them into practice. Then he came to Anderheim to chronicle his successes in detail.
Lutora was sleeping over at the Shrine as usual, but the twins, Cain and Abel, were called by Anderheim. They were to study the management of the territory along with Sigurd. The twins’ intelligence had caught Anderheim’s eye from the very beginning, and he had often expressed his wish of making them his ‘successor’s’ aides to Malacia.

“No matter how soon Julieta would have been blessed with His Highness’s child, I would still not live to see them reach adulthood. I thus needed to groom an outstanding aide beforehand.”
“Lord Anderheim...”
“But it’s a different story if Sigurd temporarily succeeds the title. While they are a bit young, as they gain experience together, making them the aides to the one who succeeds the territory ‘after’ you would maintain stability. It would also reduce confusion amongst the citizens of the fief.”
“Father...”

Morino was in admiration of Anderheim’s far thought out education, while Sigurd, deeply impressed by his father’s well-thought plans, further resolved himself to put his heart into studying the management of the territory to splendidly protect its denizens, albeit temporarily.
Somehow, even Jolga seemed to find time to frequently visit the mansion on the hill, just to deliver Julieta a book with a knight motif and jacket, a book rare to find outside the knight’s personal salons, even within the royal capital. He narrowed his eyes upon receiving his reward— a smile.

“...Well, it’s fine. I’ll be going now.”

Tempted by Anderheim who got up as he combed up his hair, Jolga too got up from the sofa facing Anderheim.