Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 85

085

“I agree with the Fifth Prince’s opinion! Who knows? There might be a genius in our kingdom who will lead the way in magical superconductivity.”

“Of course. Cutting-edge industries like magical superconductivity are usually led by one genius rather than 1,000 mediocre people.”

“I think Count Royce’s opinion also makes sense. If we have to give full support, it should be to the bio industry.”

“In my opinion…”

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After Evan’s support, the agenda for fostering the magical superconductivity industry gained momentum. As a result, it passed with significant support.

It was a greater success than Miloa had expected.

“Haha, a smooth agreement has been reached. Next is the agenda from the Ministry of Justice. Count Lance, please speak.”

“Recently, violent crimes have been occurring one after another in the kingdom. Therefore, we need to dedicate someone to handle them…”

Miloa looked at the Fifth Prince with uneasy eyes as she listened to Count Lance’s agenda.

‘Why did he help me?’

The development of magical superconductivity, led by the Runtia ducal family, the First Queen’s family, would not benefit the Fifth Prince in any way.

There was no way he wouldn’t know that.

‘Purely for the development of the kingdom?’

Miloa shook her head slightly.

The Fifth Prince had always acted two or three steps ahead.

A prime example was the suppression of pirates in the East.

The creation of the Lionel Guardian, Reina becoming a Six-Star Knight, the sinking of the Joe Bailey pirate crew, the fame spread in the East… How much benefit did he gain?

It was a political move worthy of being recorded in world history.

Surely, in addition to the noble cause of the kingdom’s development, he must be aiming for something else.

One thing was predictable.

‘I helped you once, so you help me once later. Is that also part of it?’

Miloa felt a strange feeling, like borrowing money she didn’t want to borrow.

“I agree with Count Lance’s opinion. Recently, the public order forces have been overburdened. On this occasion, we should separate minor crimes from violent crimes…”

“…Has there been consultation with the public order forces…”

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While she was having random thoughts, the discussion went on for a long time. She decided to focus on the meeting for now.

Count Lance’s agenda, the Minister of Justice, was not for the benefit of either the First Prince or the Fifth Prince, but for the pure public order of the kingdom, so it passed without any problems.

“Hahaha, then, hoping that the violent crimes that have recently made the kingdom’s people uneasy will be eradicated, we will pass Count Lance’s agenda. Next is… the agenda of the Fifth Prince, the Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee.”

At Prime Minister Heo’s last words, Miloa swallowed nervously.

Originally, in the State Council, the prince was in the position of an observer. It had been customary to borrow the mouth of a minister-level figure who was present.

However, the Fifth Prince had created the position of ‘Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee’ using the special situation of the Red Star Fever and had seized that position.

At the time, Miloa had accepted it.

It didn’t make sense for the Fifth Prince, who held the only medicine that worked for the Red Star Fever, to be in the position of an observer in the State Council.

“Everyone was probably guessing that my agenda today would be related to the Ministry of Justice because they saw me sitting next to Count Lance… Yes, that’s right.”

What she regretted was that.

‘I should have attached Red Star Fever to the position of Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee.’

The Ministry of Justice cannot raise an agenda from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is completely unrelated. There were areas that each was in charge of.

But the Fifth Prince could do that.

That was because he was not the ‘Red Star Fever Emergency Response Committee Chairman’ but the ‘Emergency Response Committee Chairman.’

The word ’emergency’ had the magic to make it an earring if you hung it on your ear, and a nose ring if you hung it on your nose [meaning it could be applied to anything].

“A few days ago, I encountered a monster rampaging on the street while I was undercover. As Count Lance said earlier, violent crimes are increasing, and the people of the kingdom are uneasy. I think we need to take immediate action.”

“That’s right. It can be seen as a clear ‘public order emergency’.”

“I heard you had a big experience.”

“Baron Reina took immediate action, right?”

The Fifth Prince smiled in response to the interjections of those who supported him. Miloa, watching the scene, felt like her insides were twisting.

“At the time, there were several people who appeared to be magic awakeners in addition to me. They were all bystanders. It suddenly occurred to me. If I hadn’t been there, someone would have been seriously injured. Why did that situation happen?”

The Fifth Prince looked at Count Lance, the Minister of Justice. Count Lance looked around, scratched his greasy hair, and carefully opened his mouth.

“I don’t know the exact identity of the guy who was rampaging, but…”

The Fifth Prince nodded.

“Well, that’s probably it. If the human who was rampaging was royalty, if they were to injure him in the process of suppressing him, wouldn’t they be the ones who would be severely punished for doing good?”

Miloa’s eyes narrowed as she listened to him. She thought that the Fifth Prince was making a slightly dangerous statement.

“Let’s change the situation a little. Suppose you are running away from royalty who are chasing you with a knife and you reach a dead end. Would you give up your life without any resistance?”

– Hmm…

The sound of swallowing filled the conference room.

Miloa quickly looked at the Fifth Prince’s camp. They also had uncomfortable expressions. It was that sensitive of an issue.

She raised her hand.

“So, what is it that the Fifth Prince wants to say? You’re not arguing that we should establish a republic like Aden, are you?”

If so, that was suicide, nothing more or less. Miloa watched the Fifth Prince’s mouth to see what he would answer.

***

“The Fifth Prince of the kingdom advocating for a republic? Count Miloa is saying scary things. I hope others don’t misunderstand.”

I quickly denied Miloa’s words and shook my head.

“What I want to say is different. Count Lance. Sorry to keep bothering you, but in the nearly 500-year history of the kingdom, there have been quite a few cases where nobles who felt threatened harmed royalty, right?”

If you collect examples of drunken, rampaging royalty at banquets who harassed noble young ladies and were harmed in return, you could fill a train car.

“…That’s right. If you collect only precedents, you can fill a bookshelf.”

“Among them, there are quite a few who have been acquitted because it was recognized that the royalty was clearly at fault.”

“That’s right, but…”

“Thank you.”

I cut off Count Lance’s words and looked at Count Miloa.

“Count Miloa, as Count Lance just said, there are quite a few people who have been acquitted even if they have harmed royalty. But why didn’t anyone answer that they would fight back when I asked what would happen if there was royalty chasing them with a knife?”

“…Because there might be bigger problems if they fought back.”

“That’s exactly it.”

“Yes?”

“Not being able to easily subdue a monster rampaging, not being able to easily fight back against royalty chasing you with a knife, all of them don’t know what will happen to them afterward. Only one person knows. The judge. It’s only up to his discretion.”

I looked around the room.

“Therefore, I think the laws related to criminal cases should be clarified. For example… A person who fights back against a monster that threatens their life is recognized as self-defense regardless of the monster’s identity! Like that.”

Statute law [a codified system of laws].

The strange, arbitrary trials that were like precedent law but not, where judges handed down punishments at their discretion, had to be abolished.

If the statute law system, which imposes crimes and punishments according to what is written in the legal code, works ‘properly’… it will be easier to deal with royalty who are not like royalty and nobles who are not like nobles.

More than anything.

It can provide an opportunity to shake up the South, which is the First Prince’s support base.

But, the problem is…

‘It won’t be accepted right away.’

Even the nobles in the West, North, and East who support me would not readily agree.

It’s a minimum of 2 years.

Today, the opinion to introduce statute law came out of my mouth.

That alone was enough.

***

– Are you suggesting that we introduce the legal system adopted by most countries in the Brissen Alliance…

– I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what the Fifth Prince is saying. Can you explain it a little?

– Hmph… Listen carefully…

– Ah! So, you’re saying that we should assume all criminal situations and predetermine the punishment for them.

– Well, something like that.

The conference room was buzzing.

Miloa crossed her arms and thought about Evan’s agenda.

‘The kingdom’s judicial system is definitely a mess.’

First of all, the judge’s authority is too strong, and the scope of punishment is erratic.

At least the royal capital, Barona, is better. This is because officials under the Ministry of Justice try to apply precedents to most trials.

But if you go down to the provinces, there is no answer.

In some places, if you get caught pickpocketing, they cut off your wrist, in others, they whip you a few times, and in others, they settle by paying appropriate compensation.

It is certainly necessary to systematize it.

‘But why now? He knows it’s not easy.’

Reforming the law was usually one of the things that a new king who inherited the throne did in the early days when his power was soaring.

Miloa looked around.

As she expected, everyone had an unpleasant expression. Taking away the judicial power that was the discretion of the lord. No one would welcome being asked to give up what they had.

Miloa looked at the Fifth Prince’s face again.

She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

“The Red Star Fever is still…”

“There must be talks with the Royal Committee and the Council of Nobles…”

Those gathered at the State Council opened their mouths one by one.

The First Prince’s camp actively opposed it. If things proceeded as the Fifth Prince said, the impact he would have would be enormous. It was obvious that a law would be created that would tighten their necks.

“The Fifth Prince’s opinion makes sense, but…”

“…The backlash from the local lords…”

“In setting that standard…”

Those who supported the Fifth Prince also cautiously expressed their opposition.

“I agree with the Fifth Prince’s opinion that the kingdom’s judicial system must be established. However, I think that sudden changes may increase confusion.”

Count Lance Chambers, the Minister of Justice, who was a neutral party, also expressed the opinion that it was still too early.

The Fifth Prince listened to the opinions without any particular rebuttal.

After confirming that no one else was expressing their opinion, he slowly opened his mouth.

“I have listened carefully to everyone’s opinions. I think I was a little hasty after experiencing a shocking situation in the market of the royal capital a while ago. I will refine it well and bring it as an agenda that you can all accept.”

Miloa bit her lip.

‘He knew it wouldn’t be accepted!’

That was the Fifth Prince’s retreat, which could only be thought of that way.

“Hahaha, then, I look forward to the Fifth Prince’s agenda that will be raised later and move on. The next agenda is from Minister Bert, the Minister of National Defense…”

“…The commander of the 2nd Knight Division is also an empty stone box [useless]…”

“I agree. There is no need for three Royal Guard Knight Divisions…”

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Miloa couldn’t concentrate on the meeting at all.

What was the Fifth Prince thinking when he tried to touch the judicial system? Her head was filled with worries about it.

In the end, she felt a deep sense of defeat because she couldn’t figure out his intentions at all.

“Haha, we will end today’s State Council here.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In the meantime, the meeting was over.

Miloa wanted to run to Evan right away and ask him why he helped her today and about his agenda that he raised at the State Council.

However, it was not easy to approach him because of the Fifth Prince’s faction ministers surrounding him.

“It’s a pity that the Fifth Prince’s agenda was not passed. It would have been better if you had consulted with me in advance.”

“It’s okay. Minister Bert, weren’t you struggling with the reorganization of the Knights? I’m glad it passed safely.”

“Fifth Prince, the reason I expressed my opposition earlier was…”

“Count Royce, did you also? I also…”

“Haha, it’s okay. It’s also my fault that I didn’t consult with you in advance…”

Then, Cliang, who was walking alone, caught Miloa’s eye. He seemed to be subtly ostracized because of his record of betraying the Second Prince.

To comfort him and get information, she approached Cliang.

“Count Cliang, you look lonely.”

“Miloa? What’s going on?”

“I’m hungry, but I don’t want to eat alone, so how about lunch together?”

“Now? It’s 10 o’clock…”

“I skipped breakfast.”

“…I happen to be hungry because I skipped breakfast too.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

“…Is it Golden Creamy again by any chance?”

“Of course. Why? Do you hate it? You said you like food stalls.”

“No. Let’s go.”

***

Back at Emerald Palace, I told Alfonso about what happened at the State Council.

“Hmm… You said something difficult. But why are you telling me this? Ah! Are you telling me to leak it to the press?”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

“Don’t you ask why?”

“Will you tell me if I ask?”

“No.”

“I have that much sense now. Whether you will tell me or not. Hehe.”

Alfonso’s slit eyes, drawing a curve as if he had finished grasping me, made me feel strangely bad.