Claude had been fully absorbed in the kingdom's financial situation.
Now, at last, he could concentrate better since Layla and Lilac had finally learned to leave him alone—even if Morion still insisted on staying by his side.
He couldn't refuse her. Instead, he let her sit across from him, quietly sketching on a piece of paper while he pored over reports, his brows furrowed in frustration.
The financial records spread before him painted an infuriating picture. The numbers didn't lie—money was vanishing into thin air.
'Where the hell is all this gold going?'
His fingers tapped against the desk as he skimmed through the bookkeeping. The usual corruption was one thing, but this? This was something else entirely.
The palace alone swallowed a ridiculous amount of funds. Antique maintenance, historical preservation, an overstuffed war chest, and a bloated government payroll.
And that wasn't even the worst of it.
'The military budget is bloated. There's too much money wasted on extravagant balls and banquets. And why the hell are we paying for jesters?'
With a sigh, he picked up his quill and began scribbling notes, each stroke harsher than the last.
'I'll need to cut a massive number of staff…' His eyes narrowed at the names. 'Most of them are from the main and branch families of the Honorable Houses. Nepotism at its finest.'
He clicked his tongue—almost amused at his own hypocrisy. 'As if I'm not a nepo baby myself.'
Then there were the absurd expenses—magic candles, excessive luxuries, and pointless trinkets, all draining the treasury.
Meanwhile, the tax system was a disaster: heavy burdens on commoners while the nobility enjoyed generous deductions.
'Ah, yes. Corruption neatly justified by law, classic.'
He leaned back in his chair, eyes dark with determination.
'I'm going to wreck this system and tax the nobles properly.'
But first, he needed to meet with the Finance Minister. William had briefed him earlier—the man's name was Damien Julven.
A quiet man, rarely speaking, but supposedly competent at his job. Claude wasn't convinced. Not with how messy the kingdom's finances were.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. William stepped in, followed by a young man with royal navy hair and striking golden eyes.
His posture was impeccable, his movements fluid and precise.
Claude had expected an old, stressed-out bureaucrat. Instead, Damien looked composed, almost amused as he offered a slight bow.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Damien Julven."
Claude wasted no time, sliding a stack of documents across the desk.
"Review these and give me your thoughts."
Damien took the papers, flipping through them at an impressive speed. His gaze remained calm, but Claude caught the subtle twitch of his brow.
After a moment, Damien closed the folder and met Claude's eyes. "This is a solid policy for the common folk."
He paused. "And it will inevitably lead to rebellion."
William stiffened. "Damien! Watch your words in front of His Majesty!"
Claude, however, only smirked. "I'm well aware. And I don't care."
Damien's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of interest in his gaze.
Claude leaned forward, resting his chin on his intertwined fingers. "What I do care about is the real impact of these reforms. Don't waste my time with vague warnings—give me details."
Damien studied him for a moment before speaking. "Very well."
He placed the papers down, his tone measured. "By slashing the nobles' privileges and increasing their taxes, you'll turn the Honorable Houses against you."
"Many depend on those funds to sustain their status, and stripping that away will feel like an attack."
He continued, "The military budget cuts will unsettle the generals. Even if the war chest is excessive, reducing it will be seen as weakening the kingdom's defense and the preparation of war."
"You'll gain favor with the commoners, but at the cost of enraging the elite and the military."
Claude listened in silence, absorbing every word.
Damien's golden eyes gleamed. "Are you truly prepared to dismantle the legacy Lord Donovan left you?"
William visibly flinched. "Damien—"
Claude didn't react immediately. Then, he let out a low chuckle.
"What legacy?" His voice was calm, but there was a sharpness beneath it.
"The only thing Donovan ever told me was to take care of this kingdom and its people, also to conquer this world."
His fingers tapped against the desk. "The so-called 'legacy' you nobles cling to is nothing but an illusion—an excuse to pretend the Honorable Houses still hold power."
His gaze darkened. "They've already fallen. The only fools who don't realize it are the ones still playing by their old rules."
A beat of silence passed. Then, Claude pushed another set of documents toward Damien.
"So," he said coolly. "What do you think now?"
Damien was quiet for a moment before a slow smile curved his lips.
"Then, Your Majesty," he said smoothly, "I will tell you exactly what will happen."
The discussion that followed was long and thorough. By the end, Claude had refined several policies, ensuring they would benefit the common folk. As for the nobles? That was a problem for another day.
Now, there was one more issue at hand.
"The Welfare Ministry," Claude muttered, tapping his quill against the desk. "Who's going to take that role?"
Both Damien and William fell silent, deep in thought.
Though Claude would oversee the ministry himself, he still needed someone capable—someone who truly understood the struggles of the common folk, someone who could craft policies that served them rather than the elite.
"You could appoint someone from the Varnaz or Julven families for now," William suggested.
Claude sighed. "Right… The Xalvach family still hasn't taken a side, huh?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Layla and Lilac were his, but the real power lay with Llyold, the Xalvach head. And that old man? He was still watching from the sidelines.
"He's a careful man," Damien noted. "He'll align with whoever benefits his house the most."
Claude scoffed. "Typical."
"But," Damien continued, "I do have someone in mind."
Claude's gaze snapped to him. "Tell me."
Damien leaned back slightly. "The Honorable Houses originally numbered seven. But two have already fallen."
His golden eyes glinted. "The man I propose cared for the people so much that his house was destroyed because of it."
William stiffened. He turned to Damien, eyes wide. "He's still alive?"
Damien nodded. "Yes. And not only that—he's still active in charity. He even turned his mansion into an orphanage."