“The quickest way to solve the freight volume problem is to increase the toll fees.”
The meeting room, where the internal affairs meeting was taking place, fell silent in an instant at the unexpected answer from the third prince. A nobleman operating a small merchant guild was the first to come to his senses and asked in a trembling voice.
“Prince Ian, if we raise the toll fees, the number of merchants coming into the imperial capital will decrease!”
“Yes, that’s right. Isn’t that exactly what we need right now?”
At Seong-jin’s relaxed answer, the nobleman who had raised the issue turned pale. Naturally, if the number of merchants entering the capital decreased, the freight volume would also decrease. Some high-ranking nobles looked at the nobleman who raised the issue with contempt.
A white-haired man standing next to the emperor, intrigued by Seong-jin’s response, asked a question.
“If the number of merchants decreases, won’t the total toll revenue decrease, leading to reduced tax income?”
The concern of high-level executives often boils down to “product price increases.” For Seong-jin, who was trained to handle such concerns, the white-haired man’s question was like an open-book test.
“The total toll revenue can be divided into the number of merchants passing through and the toll fee charged per merchant.”
The nobles began to murmur as Seong-jin suddenly explained the total toll revenue by splitting it into two factors. While some might have split a walnut into two halves, why split the total toll revenue?
In contrast, the white-haired man seemed to understand what Seong-jin was getting at and unconsciously smiled.
“Even if we increase the toll fee by 10%, the number of merchants won’t drastically decrease. They already have contracted trading partners. While some merchant guilds unable to bear the toll fees might leave, their number would be minimal.”
“So, we can secure additional tax revenue temporarily?”
“Yes, with the temporarily increased taxes, we can fund the road expansion construction, and naturally, freight will spread to surrounding cities where the toll fees are cheaper.”
“Not only the capital but also the nearby cities guarding the capital will become stronger.”
Looking around, Seong-jin noticed that apart from some lower-ranking nobles, several high-ranking nobles, including the white-haired man, seemed to understand his point.
“Do you think there will be other effects?”
“I believe it will contribute to the gentrification of the capital.”
Some looked at the third prince with tense or curious eyes as he expressed his opinion confidently, unlike in the past. Of course, Adrian, who looked at him in shock, was also there.
“In the end, only high-quality goods that can bear the toll fees will be supplied to the imperial capital, contributing to the city’s gentrification.”
Some nobles were left speechless by Seong-jin’s answer. Above all, it was hard to believe that such logical statements came from the mouth of the third prince, known as the “fool.”
Moreover, the emperor’s response also defied the nobles’ expectations.
“Interesting.”
With just one word from the emperor, no one dared to criticize the third prince’s opinion.
“It seems we can conclude today’s meeting here.”
The emperor’s blood-red eyes scanned the room, lingering longer on the first prince and his uncle, Duke Blake.
As the two who usually expressed their opinions did not present any rebuttal, the chancellor concluded the meeting on behalf of the emperor. After the emperor and the chancellor left, nobles below the rank of viscount began to argue about the toll increase issue, while higher-ranking nobles were busy discussing the suddenly changed demeanor of the third prince.
Kyle, the protagonist of the original novel, showed a faint smile to Seong-jin before leaving the meeting room, while his second brother, Adrian, approached Seong-jin and spoke.
“Are you… alright?”
Though he felt he might have misheard a word, Seong-jin responded kindly, knowing Adrian always looked after the third prince in the original novel.
“Yes, brother, don’t worry.”
“Well, I was surprised to see you today, but if you say so, I suppose it’s fine.”
“Yes.”
“As I mentioned before, seeing you today made me say this again: always be cautious in your actions.”
After adding a word of caution, Adrian left the meeting room.
Finally alone in the internal affairs meeting room, Seong-jin had time to think.
‘Have I really transmigrated…?’
Wondering if it was a dream, he pinched his cheek, but it hurt too much to be a dream. He needed a place to organize his thoughts based on the emperor he saw today, the reactions of the nobles, and the content of the original work.
As he was about to leave the meeting room, thinking someone might be waiting for him outside, he suddenly felt nauseous and dizzy, and he collapsed without realizing it. Earlier, he hadn’t felt it due to the tension of speaking before the emperor.
“Ugh…”
He began to smell alcohol deep in his throat. Despite being accustomed to frequent drinking with other departments and executives, he never drank before an important meeting. He began to understand Kyle’s feelings a bit, the one who cut off Ian’s head.
Feeling too sick to throw up in the meeting room on the first day of his transmigration, Seong-jin used all his strength to find a place that looked like a bush and headed outside the meeting room. Just as he thought he couldn’t hold it any longer, someone handed him a jar. He didn’t know who it was, but if it was his subordinate, he would have given them a bonus for such perfect timing.
As he urgently grabbed the jar and threw up, he felt someone patting his back as if they were familiar with such a situation.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
Someone asked about his well-being, but the words didn’t reach Seong-jin, who was too out of it.
After vomiting once, his mind cleared, and Seong-jin felt embarrassed. To experience such a disgraceful incident right after transmigrating, even with his modern training in frequent drinking, was something he had never encountered.
Still, he felt he needed to thank the person who helped him to clear his conscience a little.
“Thank you.”
The person who heard the thank-you didn’t respond. Curious about who it was, Seong-jin looked up and saw a middle-aged man with graying hair and a stern expression.
“Excuse me?”
At Seong-jin’s repeated polite question, the middle-aged man spoke in a trembling voice.
“Y-your Highness?”
At the single word muttered by the middle-aged man, Seong-jin felt as if he had been struck by lightning. The description of Ian in the original novel flashed through his mind.
One of Ian’s notorious habits was ignoring his subordinates. If Ian used polite speech or pretended not to know their names, that person would undoubtedly end up dead and dragged out of the palace.
Seeing the middle-aged man turn pale, Seong-jin calmed him down and was about to return to the palace when he heard someone calling him from the side.
“Prince Ian!”
Seeing someone address him as “Prince,” he replied informally to avoid making another victim like the middle-aged man.
“Who?”
When Ian didn’t recognize his name, the person, whose confident expression faltered, spoke in a trembling voice.
“Y-Your Highness, I-I am Viscount Helington.”
‘Helington?’
Seong-jin’s face twisted in confusion at the unfamiliar name he had never seen in the original work. The viscount, looking like he was about to cry, said.
“Y-Your Highness? Didn’t you drink with me just yesterday?”
A drinking buddy, huh?
Sensing that this person might provide valuable information and unknown stories, Seong-jin decided to start acting, just like he had cultivated relationships in the strategic planning team for smooth data acquisition from other departments.
“Now that you mention it, I think I remember a bit. I drank too much yesterday. My memory is completely blank. Can you tell me if anything happened?”
Relieved that the third prince was acknowledging him, Viscount Helington sighed and spoke.
“It was the same as usual. However…?”
“However?”
“Yesterday, Your Highness told me that you had no intention of speaking at the internal affairs meeting, but suddenly talked about raising the toll fees, which surprised me.”
At the viscount’s answer, a cold sensation swept through Seong-jin’s chest.
This person is not just a drinking buddy. He is certainly someone’s informant.
‘The first prince’s side, perhaps?’
“Oh… I must have spoken impulsively due to the hangover.”
At Seong-jin’s answer, Viscount Helington’s face briefly showed relief. Seong-jin noticed this and began to think about how to use him.
Viscount Helington, thinking that the third prince had no suspicion, patted his chest and said.
“If Your Highness ever needs to discuss any internal affairs matters in the future, please call upon your drinking buddy, Viscount Helington.”
Seong-jin was now certain. This person was openly telling him that he was being watched. Given the amount of suspicion his past self, the foolish Ian, had accumulated, it seemed his burdens were considerable.
With a moderate smile, Seong-jin reassured him.
“Alright, Viscount Helington, let’s have a drink again next time.”
Viscount Helington, smiling broadly at Seong-jin’s clear call of his name and invitation, withdrew.
As the viscount left, Seong-jin noticed the still-pale expression on the middle-aged man’s face.
He had to accept that he was now “the fool” Ian Helios.
“Shall we head back?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The middle-aged man, somewhat relieved by Ian’s informal speech, guided Seong-jin back to the third prince’s palace.
Although he almost needed a jar due to the queasiness, fortunately, no such disaster occurred.
Seeing the grandiose buildings, which he had never seen in modern times, as his palace, Seong-jin began to relax, feeling a bit eased knowing he had transmigrated right after getting promoted.
Ian, feeling drowsy from the alcohol, attempted to take a nap as soon as he arrived at the palace. Hoping that if it were a dream, it would end upon waking, but nothing changed.
Even after closing and opening his eyes again, the view of the French royal palace remained.
As Seong-jin, now accepting the unchanged reality, organized his thoughts and future plans based on the original story, the middle-aged man, Tom, entered.
“Your Highness, would you like some honey water?”
Tom’s thoughtful gesture was a lifesaver. The additional bonus in the next personnel evaluation would be a perfect score.
“Thank you, Tom, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Tom’s face brightened noticeably when Seong-jin called his name. Confirming Tom’s improved mood, Seong-jin asked the most crucial question.
He needed to know how much of his most limited and precious resource, “time,” was left.
Time management and reporting timelines were essential in strategic planning. Especially now, it was a matter directly linked to his “lifespan.”
“What year is it in the imperial calendar today?”
“It’s 577.”
At Tom’s answer, Ian’s face took on a contemplative expression.
Cliche Novel 