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Chapter 42
The next document I picked up was titled the Tax Reform Bill.
Just the name was enough to give me a headache, but it was still of great importance.
The contents of the reform boiled down to tax cuts for the wealthy and the nobility.
It proposed lowering property and inheritance taxes while raising or newly imposing smaller taxes on essentials such as distribution, tolls, and purchases.
Naturally, this would raise the cost of living and make the already struggling common people even poorer.
For nobles with wealth and estates, it was almost impossible not to agree.
Of course, being pro-Emperor did not mean they were poor or without assets.
If the bill passed, they too would benefit.
But their stance was that the state could only endure if it bled the people just enough.
Call them moderates, if you will.
Above all, aside from the Emperor himself, the leader of the Imperial faction was the Crown Prince.
As the future Emperor, he made his position clear—he opposed the tax reform proposed by Duke Wentworth.
Because of that, nobles within the Imperial faction, many of whom were tied to the Imperial family in one way or another, could not help but watch Vincent’s reactions carefully.
At any rate, both Duke Wentworth and the Crown Prince were currently working behind the scenes, gathering the votes of those eligible in the noble assembly to either pass or block the reform.
Those firmly in the Imperial or Noble factions were already locked in votes and thus excluded from persuasion efforts.
The target was the neutral nobles.
Hmm, this doesn’t look easy.
That very morning, I had received another letter from Duke Wentworth.
It was much shorter than his first, but it carried the same demand.
Persuade the Crown Prince to agree to the tax reform.
In the original story, Vincent was supposed to reassure Duke Wentworth through me, slowing his movements by a step.
But since I stayed still, both sides had no choice but to throw themselves wholeheartedly into winning over the neutral votes.
Let’s see… so how many votes does the Crown Prince’s side have? Three, five, seven… I don’t know the exact number.
Even without knowing for certain, the fact that more than 150 votes were needed out of 300 meant they were still short.
“Hm.”
And just as I thought, that person had not yet been considered.
Even after regression, things were razor-thin because of him. Duke Wentworth got careless, and we only managed to win by a handful of votes.
But if they ignored him again this time, the chances of losing were high.
And if Duke Wentworth won, what would happen?
Then the same events before regression would unfold again.
The Imperial faction’s influence would collapse, and Duke Wentworth would tighten his hold over the Crown Prince.
And if that happens, the Crown Prince—haunted by the same dread he felt before regression—will obsessively wring me dry, desperate for answers.
The memory of Amelia drowning came to mind, and a shiver ran down my spine.
How am I supposed to tell him this? And besides, even the Molton family incident needs some revision.
Still holding the document, I sank into thought.
In Amelia’s current position, I could not freely speak of such things.
If Vincent regarded me as a partner in counsel, maybe.
But I was hardly that.
As the daughter of Duke Wentworth, he would hide things from me, deceive me if needed.
That thought left me both frustrated and despondent.
Just then, a sharp, wary voice came from behind me.
“What are you doing here?”
Startled, I spun around to see Oscar Cobran glaring at me with a face full of fury.
When had he entered?
I had been so lost in thought that I hadn’t noticed the door.
“…”
Before I could come up with an excuse, Oscar strode forward and snatched the papers from my hand.
“I knew you lacked propriety, but this exceeds even my expectations, Lady Wentworth. What are you doing here?”
“Haa, yes, it was wrong to look without permission. But His Highness the Crown Prince summoned me.”
“Just as before, you lie and dismiss your escorts. Do you think such excuses will work on me?”
Being accused so unilaterally started to grate on my nerves.
I knew perfectly well why Oscar Cobran treated me this way.
It wasn’t just that he disliked Amelia to begin with.
It was because I was the daughter of Duke Wentworth.
Everything being done now opposed the Duke’s moves.
If his daughter witnessed it and carried word back?
All their efforts could be undone.
“For the record, His Highness really did summon me.
He should be arriving soon, so you can confirm for yourself.”
“His Highness always spends this hour in personal sword training.
He has never once skipped training without good reason.
Afterwards, he is scheduled to inspect the Capital Guard.
In other words, he has no reason to be here.”
“What?”
Did that mean Charles had lied?
Impossible.
Catching my dismay, Oscar pressed even harder.
“Do you understand now?
Petty lies will never fool me.
Especially not lies about His Highness, when I know his every movement.”
His expression radiated smug superiority at his knowledge of the Crown Prince’s daily life.
Not that I envied it.
“Haa, fine. But I truly came here because Charles, the attendant, told me to. There must be some mistake. I’ll just leave.”
“Wait.”
As I turned to go, Oscar raised the hand holding the papers to block my path.
Fixing me with a grave look, he asked,
“How much did you see?
No, how much do you intend to report to Duke Wentworth?”
His worry was understandable, but the question itself was both rude and pointless.
“If I told you how much, would you believe me?”
“…”
“Today again, my father, the Duke, sent a letter demanding the Crown Prince’s agreement to the tax reform.
That’s what this is about.”
“This reform must not pass.
From a ruler’s perspective, if it does, the people’s lives will grow unbearably hard.
Perhaps you do not care, but His Highness—”
“But as things stand, isn’t His Highness still short on votes?”
Oscar Cobran’s face stiffened at my words, as if caught off guard.
He had not expected me to be aware of such details.
“We are working on it.
A few more nobles, and the count will be close enough to block it.
Three more, and the bill will certainly be defeated.”
“Are you sure?
That three more would guarantee defeat?”
At my question, Oscar glared at me with a face tightened by pride.
“To you, Lady Wentworth, all our efforts must look ridiculous.
But do you realise this?
So long as your father is Duke Wentworth, His Highness will never accept you.
Not truly.”
That seemed to be his best attempt at wounding me.
But did it land?
Hardly.
What harm was there in hearing what I already knew?
“Viscount Cobran, you are a most capable man. Truly fitting as His Highness’s aide.”
Instead of reacting, I praised him.
He blinked, visibly thrown off.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I believe you’ve overlooked a certain vote.
And some votes you think secure… You may want to check them again.”
Speaking calmly, I watched as his indignation cooled and thoughtfulness replaced it.
“The noble assembly may seem equal at first glance, since all have a vote. But in truth, it is nothing of the sort.”
This was a society of strict hierarchy.
Not every man held just one vote.
Depending on title and contribution, some held multiple.
There were even those who wielded as many as ten.
Did he understand me?
Did he grasp who I meant?
From the look in his eyes, Oscar had realised something.
He clearly wanted to ask.
But to lower himself to question the Amelia he so disdained—that wounded his pride.
And I had no desire to kindly enlighten a man who disrespected me.
Even if I understood his reasons, I still had feelings of my own.
“At any rate, since His Highness is not coming, I should take my leave.”
But really, I had been summoned here.
Was I simply stood up?
