"I have no interest in your concerns regarding my marriage."
"But I am curious, does Her Highness the Saintess of the Moon have any intention of marrying into another nation?"
"Your Holiness, please do not joke. I will be waiting here at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Now that the demon race is on the move, I hope Your Holiness can focus on the matter at hand. I will not disturb you further. Until tomorrow."
I gave a look to the mage controlling the magic, and he tactfully cut the connection.
Could that guy actually be interested in me?
There is no reason for it, right?
Is he trying to use the name of a marriage alliance to gain control over the Kingdom of the Moon?
That shouldn't be possible.
Historically, it wasn't unheard of for a Saintess to marry a Pope, but a Saintess of the Moon had never married before.
The Holy Church did not restrict the freedom of marriage between a Saintess and the Pope; it was recorded in the Sacred Canon. In fact, there were not even limits on the number of concubines.
This was likely a consideration for the population of this era.
Due to wars and various other reasons, the mortality rate for men was extremely high.
Women were less likely to participate in war and therefore suffered fewer casualties.
Consequently, the ratio of adult men to women was approximately one to two.
Therefore, the nation did not limit the number of concubines, though there could only be one wife.
This allowed for the legal proliferation of offspring to ensure the continuation of the race.
In this era, being a concubine was not looked down upon. On the contrary, those who were unfaithful were the ones despised.
Furthermore, the Sacred Canon explicitly stipulated that no one could be unfaithful or unchaste during a marriage.
If discovered, the penalty ranged from being cast out with nothing to actual imprisonment.
Even nobles would not dare to take such a risk.
"Your Highness, regarding tomorrow's Eight-Nation Meeting, what do you plan to do?"
As I walked out of the communication room, Lola followed behind me with a grave expression.
Though the Eight-Nation Meeting occurred once a year, in the past, it was merely a routine meeting. This time, however, was different.
"Borrow money."
"???"
Lola froze for a moment, looking at me with utter bewilderment.
"Your Highness... intends to borrow money from the other seven nations?"
"Yes, exactly. Borrowing money."
I looked at Lola with a smile. She didn't understand what national debt was, nor could she know how much this kind of sovereign debt between nations would help the current Kingdom of the Moon.
Brilliant City was trapped by a lack of funds. Whether it was infrastructure or other expenditures, things always felt tight whenever money was allocated.
I would often find myself with less than a few hundred million left.
For a country, that amount of money was not even a drop in the bucket.
It wasn't even enough to fully subsidize the losses outside the city caused by the demon invasion. If not for the money I gained from selling the public security rights, the vast stretches of fertile land outside the city might not have been restored.
"Lola, have the total losses for Brilliant City from this demon invasion been calculated?"
"Yes, Your Highness. This demon invasion caused Brilliant City losses exceeding 530,000 gold coins. This includes pensions for the fallen knights, rewards for those who distinguished themselves, repairs for the damaged walls and gates, compensation for the destroyed houses and deceased citizens, subsidies and restoration for the external farmland, disaster relief, and compensation for the assistance from the Mage Association and Alchemists' Association."
"That is exactly it, Lola. If I hadn't sold the public security rights this time, how much money would I have left?"
"Not a single coin. If not for the 1.2 million gold coins from the public security rights, the Temple would currently be in debt by at least 200,000 gold coins."
"Precisely, Lola. You might not know this yet, but for knights, honor is paramount; for nobles, power is paramount; but for a nation... only military force and money are paramount!"
A great man once said... political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Power is something pushed out with the gun in your hand!
As long as there is military force and money, the predicament the Kingdom of the Moon currently faces will be easily overcome!
In terms of military force, while I cannot completely suppress all the nobles, no single noble can resist me. Even if two major families merged, they still couldn't stand against me.
While such force cannot govern the entire Kingdom of the Moon overnight, it is at least enough to ensure my own safety.
And money... that has now become the most important thing.
With money, roads can be developed.
With money, research and development can begin.
With money, the nation can be peaceful and prosperous.
When the roads I build reach the nearest large city, that city will gradually fall under my control!
"What is the nearest large city to the Kingdom of the Moon?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, it is Mountain City in the west. It falls under the jurisdiction of the York family. It primarily produces fruits and vegetables and serves as a bridge connecting to the western part of the Kingdom of the Moon. Its commerce is very developed."
Lola responded without a moment's hesitation, having clearly memorized the map of the entire Kingdom of the Moon beforehand.
"The York family... they are one of the thirteen great families, aren't they?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Very well. Then the first step is to extend the roads to Mountain City."
"Your Highness, Mountain City is located deep within the mountains. The terrain is exceptionally difficult. Building a road there will likely be very hard."
"Do not worry, there will soon be people available for use. Investigate the history of the York family and have Baker look for any legal violations they may have committed."
"Your Highness... do you intend to move against the York family? I fear this may provoke a backlash from the other nobles."
"It won't. Trust me, by the time I want to act, those nobles won't have the energy to deal with me."
There is no nation more suited for the Decree of Distribution of Grace than the current Kingdom of the Moon.
Once enacted, every cadet branch son of the noble families will revere me as a god!
With this single decree, I can gain control over the majority of the powerless nobles, and these noble sons will surely fight to the death for their own interests!
Through this, I can fracture all the major families from within.
When that time comes, those nobles will only be able to barely manage their internal issues; they won't be able to mount any large-scale resistance.
Everyone thinks the Decree of Distribution of Grace takes several generations to completely eliminate the nobility.
But what I need... is not to eliminate them, but to have the majority of the nobles support me!
"By the way, Nara, go to my room and bring the blueprint I drew last night."
"What does Your Highness intend to do?"
Lola looked at me in confusion, clearly not understanding my intent, but I would make her understand.
Nara soon brought the blueprint.
When Lola took the drawing, she froze on the spot.
"Your Highness... this is?"
"This is a transport vehicle that can run without any horses. How about it? Is it interesting?"
In this era, the magic stones of mages can completely replace fuel. Once the steam engine is invented, miniaturized steam engines become possible.
"Interesting... it is very interesting. But Your Highness, where did you obtain this blueprint?"
Lola looked at me, her gaze even carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Ugh... I hadn't actually thought about that question. But well, I have the ultimate scapegoat.
I raised my hand and pointed at the statue behind me.
"God told me!"
Lola looked up at the expressionless statue standing in the hall, lost in thought, unsure of what she was thinking.
I suspect... if God truly existed, He would say, 'I didn't, it wasn't me, don't talk nonsense.'
"And this blueprint."
I handed the airplane blueprint to Lola. By this point, Lola's gaze had become somewhat dazed and lost.
Faced with such era-defining tools, she had no idea how to react.
"As long as the steam engine is invented, it can completely replace the magic airship. I can even create a flying tool far larger than any magic airship."
Actually, the foundations of this era are very complete.
You can tell just from the hardness of the knights' armor. Simply mixing in a bit of sacred mithril makes it so hard that even an average cannonball couldn't break it.
Take Hilda, for example; the total weight of her armor exceeds three hundred pounds.
Yet the thickness of that armor is only about two millimeters.
I have looked into various industrial foundations like metallurgy and forging, and I've discovered that the potential of a magic world is truly limitless.
If the alchemists, blacksmiths, and mages were to unite, I wouldn't be too surprised if they could even develop a computer.
But it is too early to talk about that now.
The main thing is the steam engine. Once that is developed, we can start developing machine tools.
"Your Highness, if such things truly exist... I fear the world as ordinary people know it will be overturned."
Lola was indeed an exceptionally intelligent person; she understood the effects these two things would bring in an instant.
"So, what are you afraid of now? With the steam engine, we can develop these magic cars. By then, selling the cars alone will be enough to make us a fortune, won't it?"
"Indeed..."
Lola nodded slightly, looking at the blueprints in her hand as she did some mental calculations.
"If these cars require magic stones, and magic stones require mages to replenish mana, then the status of mages will rise infinitely. Your Highness, this might cause damage to the authority of the Temple."
"Rest assured, it won't."
When a nation's military power reaches a certain level, even oil tycoons cannot erode the authority of the Temple.
And... I have already prepared to take this group of mages into my own hands.
"Lola, draft a contract document for Temple mages for me to see."
"..."
Lola opened her small mouth, staring at me in shock, as if completely stunned by this sudden move.
"Temple... Mages? Does Your Highness intend to grant these mages the title of Temple mages?"
"Yes. Not only that, but I want them to become my subordinates."
The Mage Association, a military force that exists completely outside of political power, cannot be allowed to remain as it is.
Including the alchemists, I will slowly erode and absorb them all!
No one will be able to block my path forward.
"From low-rank to high-rank, their treatment will be equal to that of the knights. Applicants must have sufficient loyalty to the Temple. We will establish a Temple mage department, directly under the jurisdiction of the Saintess."
Victor, I wonder what kind of reaction you will have to such a law?
Will you prepare to leave your home, flee the Kingdom of the Moon, and join another side?
Or rather... will you become my first Temple mage?
I truly look forward to seeing that proud heart of yours kneeling at my feet.
What kind of expression will you have then~
A smug smile unconsciously played across my lips.
"Your Highness, this matter... involves too much. I fear the Mage Association will not agree, and the Pope might not agree either."
"I will find a way with the Pope. You just draft the contract document for me first."
Lola remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Oh, and prepare a similar contract document for the alchemists as well. Categorize them into ranks, with extra rewards for significant contributions, including for the blacksmiths."
I will take all these people under my banner!
Currently, the Temple only has knights as a military branch; it is far too singular.
I must find a way to expand. Aren't mages one of the best military branches available?
Not only that, but mages also play an indispensable role in construction!
As for the Holy See... regardless of whether the Pope is willing or not, I will carry this through.
"Your Highness... preparing so many things at once, might it be a bit rushed?"
Lola's position forced her to consider these things.
I understood.
"It doesn't matter. The Kingdom of the Moon is already messy enough; a little more won't hurt."
Titles are the most difficult things to obtain in this world. How could those mages not be tempted by a title like Temple mage?
I turned back to look at the towering and solemn statue. I didn't know if doing this would cause God's displeasure, but for the sake of the Kingdom of the Moon, I had to proceed.
"If You are truly a god and truly possess that divine power, then please, let me try."
Lola moved quickly. In less than fifteen minutes, she had drafted a suitable contract document and placed it before me.
The reason I had her draft it wasn't because I wanted to see the details of the contract.
It was because... to grant the mages a title, it was necessary to have God acknowledge it and grant a blessing.
In this era, the reason titles were so precious was that they were bestowed entities; they could not be obtained through one's own power.
I held the contract document, turned toward the statue, and knelt on the ground. In a posture of purity, I softly chanted:
"Pure and holy Sariel, guardian deity of the Moon, if You truly pity the people of this world, please send down Your miracle and guide the lost."
I looked down at the contract document in my hand, took out a needle made of mithril, pricked my index finger, and pressed it onto the document.
"In my name as the Saintess, I endow this contract with holy power."
Drip.
A bright red drop of blood fell onto the contract document.
The blood gradually spread, but there was no reaction at all.
Did it fail?
Does the Temple truly not allow the existence of mages?
Or is it that God... is unwilling to accept those mages?
Just as I was lost in thought, Nara's surprised cry suddenly rang in my ears.
"Your Highness! The contract, the contract document is glowing!"
The Holy Contract... it succeeded!?
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