Episode 178: The Finance Minister

While handling daily governmental affairs, Siegfried had been meeting with various visitors—nobles, merchants, representatives from craftsmen guilds, and others.

That afternoon, the one who entered his office was a middle-aged man with a mustache—Marquis Marklein von Zarvisch. The supreme authority of the kingdom’s financial department, in other words, the Finance Minister.

Beside him stood a rather thin man—Count Romelkus von Travissa, the department’s second-in-command and Chief Auditor.

“Well, well, Siegfried-sama. How delightful to see you.”

With a greasy smile plastered across his face, Marklein approached Siegfried.

“Your defeat of that ‘Foolish King’ Luverios and the peace you’ve brought to this Kircherion… once again, I offer my words of gratitude. Oh my, I’ve always thought this—that foolish king was an outrageous man who took the throne despite lacking any talent whatsoever—”

“I have no intention of entertaining idle chatter.”

Siegfried cast a cold glare.

“Get to the point quickly.”

“…My apologies.”

Marklein slightly twitched his face while suppressing his agitation.

“That… Siegfried-sama, I’ve heard that you’re considering a complete overhaul of Kirchhen’s personnel. Is this true…?”

Even under King Siegfried’s rule, most of those who comprised the kingdom’s central leadership—ministers and high-ranking bureaucrats—were still holdovers from the Luverios administration.

However—Siegfried advocates meritocracy. At present, he’s merely observing their performance, but it’s clear that eventually heads will roll. For this reason, rumors had spread that a large-scale personnel reshuffle would occur soon.

“It’s true. There’s no benefit in letting incompetents occupy high positions.”

“Y-yes, absolutely. You’re completely right.”

Marklein hastily expressed his agreement.

“By the way, regarding my duties as Finance Minister… what are your thoughts?”

“That depends on your performance. Show results and I’ll let you keep your current position. Depending on circumstances, I might even promote you to Prime Minister.”

The kingdom has seven high offices called ministerial rank.

The Interior Minister, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Chief Justice, Grand Master of the Knight Order, Grand Caster of the Court Mages, and the Prime Minister.

Of these, only the Grand Master and Grand Caster are chosen purely on merit, while the others are heavily influenced by factional power.

The positions of Interior Minister, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, and Chief Justice are filled by those belonging to one of the ‘Five Great Noble’ factions. However, it wasn’t uncommon for them to be dragged down at the whim of a ‘Five Great Noble’ head. While they appeared to be the kingdom’s leading figures on the surface, it was the ‘Five Great Nobles’ pulling the strings behind the scenes—that was the kingdom’s reality in the past.

But the position of Prime Minister is special. It truly holds the position second only to the king in both name and reality.

Marklein gulped audibly.

“I see, so if I show results… there’s a possibility I could rise to Prime Minister. Siegfried-sama is truly a wise ruler…”

While saying this, Marklein glanced at Chief Auditor Romelkus standing beside him.

Romelkus took out a small box that fit in his palm and handed it to Marklein.

Taking it, Marklein presented it to Siegfried and opened the lid before his eyes.

What appeared from within was a brilliantly glittering necklace.

“This necklace is made using rare magical ore that can only be found in very small quantities in northern countries. Most likely, not only in Kirchhen but in all the eastern nations combined, this is the only necklace that uses this ore so abundantly.”

“And?”

“Though it may seem presumptuous, I’ve brought this as a gift to celebrate your ascension as the new king. If Siegfried-sama were to present this to Princess Sylphirosé, I’m sure she would be delighted.”

“Princess Sylphirosé would be delighted, hmm—”

A cold smile crossed Siegfried’s lips.

He knows—that princess shows not the slightest interest in such luxurious ornaments.

But without voicing this, he chose different words.

“I see, so this is a bribe from you to me.”

“Haha… no, certainly not with such intentions. This is merely my personal proof of loyalty.”

“Loyalty, is it. —You used the same word regarding Luverios, didn’t you?”

“Th-that was… merely a matter of formality…”

“Then your loyalty to me is also formal.”

Siegfried smiled thinly.

“This necklace… if what you say is true, it should trade for quite a high price. Even with your marquis rank, it’s not something you could easily afford. That money—how did you prepare it?”

“H-how did I prepare it… you ask… th-that was through revenue from my territory…”

“Your territory has suffered poor harvests for several years running. Moreover, even looking at decades past, it’s never been blessed with good crops. In such a state, how could you have built up savings?”

“Ugh…”

Marklein involuntarily found himself at a loss for words. He never dreamed that such things had been investigated so thoroughly. Without missing a beat, Siegfried coldly delivered his verdict.

“Embezzlement, isn’t it? You used your position as Finance Minister to skim money from the national treasury and line your own pockets… that’s what happened.”

“N-no, that’s not…!”

“If you’ve been feeding off the national treasury, that’s a serious crime. You would be—executed.”

“P-please wait! Siegfried-sama!”

Breaking out in cold sweat, Marklein desperately protested.

“Wh-why does the conversation suddenly leap to such extremes—I-I cannot understand! This is a complete false accusation! There’s no… no evidence!”

Siegfried’s accusation was fact.

However—there was no concrete evidence showing that Marklein had committed embezzlement. This was only natural. Having abused his position as Finance Minister, he had skillfully rewritten all financial records, so there was no way traces could remain.

“Without evidence, based on mere speculation alone, you intend to punish me? That would leave many unsatisfied and invite rebellion!”

“Marklein—you’re an incompetent Finance Minister, but you do possess one outstanding talent. In that single point of forging records and altering them to your convenience, you truly display magnificent villainy.”

Siegfried wore a gentle smile. It was sincere praise.

“So I decided to follow your example. …I forged evidence that you were embezzling.”

Saying this, Siegfried held up a ledger that had been placed on his desk.

“This is—a secret ledger showing that you were conducting embezzlement. With this alone, I can charge you with crimes. …Though it is forged, of course.”

“What…!”

Marklein’s expression froze.

“F-forging evidence!? That’s absurd…! Without knowing the treasury’s full scope, the forgery would be immediately exposed!—Hey, you!”

Marklein turned his gaze to Chief Auditor Romelkus standing beside him.

“You say something too! As Chief Auditor, you should be able to prove that forging evidence would be impossible even for His Majesty the King!”

Marklein and Romelkus had long worked together in embezzling money from the national treasury. Without the cooperation of the Chief Auditor who oversees the audit department, such corruption couldn’t succeed.

—But at that moment, Marklein noticed something strange. Romelkus’s complexion had turned deathly pale. As if he were harboring some grave secret.

And Siegfried voiced that secret.

“—The one who forged this secret ledger was Chief Auditor Romelkus there. I gave him this order: ‘I know you’ve been conspiring with Marklein in embezzlement. In exchange for not pursuing that crime, forge the evidence.’ And as Chief Auditor, Romelkus knows the treasury’s full scope. He could create perfect forged evidence.”

“What…! Y-you bastard…!”

Marklein grabbed Romelkus by the collar.

“What have you done! If my embezzlement comes to light, you should also be held responsible for failing to audit—!”

“On that point, don’t worry… Finance Minister.”

Romelkus, still pale, slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“I’ve made clever arrangements so that all responsibility can be pushed onto you alone. In other words… I’ve been pursuing your misconduct for some time. And I finally exposed the full extent—that’s the story I’ve prepared.”

“You bastard!”

The two were about to start throwing punches, but a quiet—yet ice-cold voice cut between them.

“—Be quiet.”

With the pressure contained in Siegfried’s single phrase, both men involuntarily shuddered and stopped moving.

“Marklein… I’ll give you one opportunity.”

Siegfried spoke quietly and matter-of-factly.

“Reveal to me the full extent of the embezzlement you’ve conducted, hiding nothing. If you do so, I will not pursue your crimes any further.”

“I-is that true…!?”

Marklein leaned forward, staring at Siegfried.

“Yes, it’s no lie. I promise. What I want to know is the full scope of the corruption. Record everything—the misconduct you’ve committed, the involved parties, all of it—and submit it to me. …If there are any falsehoods in that content, I will execute you with my own hands.”

“Ugh…”

After a brief silence, Marklein nodded.

“I-I understand.”

Thus, spending several days, Marklein compiled the full scope of his corruption into documents and submitted them to Siegfried.

 

◇

 

Ten days after those documents were submitted—

“Why! Why is this happening?!”

On the execution platform set up in the inner section of the royal capital, the one bound and screaming was Marklein. Beside him were Chief Auditor Romelkus and others deeply involved in the embezzlement.

A silver-haired young man—Siegfried—approached. Upon recognizing him, Marklein raised his voice in fury.

“Y-Your Majesty… no! Siegfried! How dare you deceive me!”

“Deceive? I have no idea what you’re talking about. What do you mean?”

Siegfried tilted his head.

“Don’t play dumb! You… you said you wouldn’t pursue my crimes! So why am I on the execution platform…!”

“It seems you’ve misunderstood my words. I never said I wouldn’t pursue your crimes. I only said I wouldn’t ‘investigate’ them.”

“Wh-what!? What meaning could such wordplay possibly have…!”

“The corruption records you compiled—I copied them and distributed them to key locations. On the desks of the Interior Minister and Chief Justice. After that, they took action and captured you under their authority. And in accordance with kingdom law, your execution will be carried out… that’s all.”

Siegfried smiled.

“Normally, this type of case would require years of investigation… but your documents were truly perfect. Thanks to that, verification was completed immediately, and to demonstrate the new regime’s stability and moral discipline, an early execution was decided. —How wonderful that things proceeded so swiftly.”

While Siegfried spoke as if it were someone else’s affair, it was he himself who had set the stage for this outcome.

The Interior Minister and Chief Justice who took action were also in positions where they could have their heads taken by Siegfried at any time—so to avoid displeasing him and to ensure they weren’t thought to be protecting Marklein, they hastily arranged the execution.

Of course, Siegfried hadn’t given direct orders. He had simply woven the framework to make it happen.

“Above all… a man skilled in document forgery meeting his death through documents he created himself—it’s truly beautiful karmic justice.”

Siegfried lightly placed his hand on the bound Marklein’s shoulder and then descended from the execution platform.

As if receiving a signal, the executioners began to move.

“Stop! Please stop!”

Marklein’s screams echoed. Chief Auditor Romelkus followed with his own raised voice.

“Your Majesty! Please wait! Wasn’t I supposed to be pardoned!?”

“Ah, I did pardon you. But—kingdom law didn’t pardon you, it seems. Too bad, Romelkus.”

With the execution platform at his back, Siegfried walked away.

The screams of those involved in the corruption overlapped.

But—along with the blade brought down by the executioners, those voices fell silent.