[Luke POV]

More lords entered and got seated on the empty chairs. A room full of the most powerful people in the Kingdom and a child. I’ll look cute and do nothing.

Factions have begun talking with one another, some are laughing while some are having serious conversations. The Queen and my brothers remained seated as they read the reports presented to them. It seems the aides did not bother giving me a copy though.

The Prime Minister called a guard inside and ordered that the doors be closed, signalling the beginning of the court.

As the doors closed, the noise began dialling down as people returned to their seats.

Greetings went on and the Prime Minister presented the first topic on the agenda, it dove into budget deficits, military reports, possible threats, and the new Duke of Kaisel.

In the game, he looked older.

“Now for our final agenda, Marquis Romwell, about the claim you submitted to the council 4 months ago—“

“We would like to rescind that claim.”

Noble's eyes widened with the sudden announcement of the Marquis. My brothers and the Queen Regent were in shock.

“May we know the reason why?”

“House Romwell has recognized the authority of the Prince to the northwest frontier. We have also transferred the rights to one of our towns and villages around that town to the Prince. This ensures proper governance of the territory. Baron Roella has agreed to this proposition.”

“Have you gone insane, recognition?! I know you sent an army to that city!”

I raised my hand to speak. Prompting everyone to turn to me.

“I requested aid from the Marquis when a stampede occurred between Neverwinter and Roella. It was at the time when most of our guards were sent into the demonic forest to scout for possible threats.”

“Lies! Some merchants stated that Romwells have prevented villagers and slaves from entering the city!”

Who the hell is this bozo.

“The Marquis prevented villagers from entering Neverwinter due to the threat of the stampede; in the past few months, the situation got better. Now the west is connected by a road system, even the Kaisels have agreed with the highway system.”

“Then may I assume that the Marquis has switched their allegiance to the 6th prince? It seems the 3rd Prince just lost a chess piece.” A noble belonging to the 4th prince faction asked the Marquis.

My brother immediately showed a troubled expression and turned towards me.

I could see the face of the Marquis turn red and about to explode. Before that happened I spoke up.

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“How many times do I have to say that I am giving up on being a King?”

I said in a low tone, well I have yet to hit puberty so it sounded more like a child’s tantrum.

“I don’t know nor care who you are but I do not care about this court’s politics. Whoever sits on the throne is your business. Do not involve me with your games.”

Some nobles turned hostile towards me.

“Prove that by relinquishing your claim to that city then!”

Many sounded their protest and became openly hostile towards me, even some who belonged to the neutral faction joined in. But the Dukes and the leaders of the faction stayed silent until…

“We will adjourn for today.”

The Prime Minister said.

“Wimbledon. Let him answer.” the Queen Regent spoke. Looking annoyed at the Prime Minister.

“It is the first day of the New Year festival Your Majesty. We will continue this after the New Year Ball. Many Lords here have travelled for weeks just to arrive here, I am giving people time to rest and ensure that they have the proper evidence to support their claims.”

“... Very well.” the Queen responded.

The court adjourned for the day leaving the Neverwinter argument open… for now… duke Lancelot kept his gaze at me.

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[Sebas POV]

Just a month after His Highness left for the capital, troubles in the territory started to appear. We are heading to another year of importing food and other resources.

“Sir Sebas, the agricultural department is insisting that we expand the farms. With the sugar-beat farming beginning, the amount of grains and other essentials we can produce can only support 100,000 people. Not to mention that the livestock also requires an astronomical amount of feed. We will be reliant on importing like last year.” an official said.

Recently with the acquisition of Roella, the number of residents in the entire territory under His Highness has reached 150,000.

In context the city of Neverwinter has a total walled land area of 1,260 square kilometres, around 60% of the total land area is being used for agriculture, allowing us to feed 126,000 people if need be. With some plans to expand North in the near future, the reason is just like last time, we can use the logs from the north to create the walls as we clear out the forest.

I proposed expanding the farmlands instead of creating more University and Manufacturing space. And to hasten the project so we can harvest by fall, we can import logs from nearby towns and cities, and just like last time, use mages and the military to make the walls. But it was firmly rejected by his Highness.

“Sebas, Neverwinter is meant to feed the people in Neverwinter, not the entire territory, each town and city must have its way of supplying itself. If supply lines get cut from each one they should be able to sustain themselves in a prolonged period of time.”

His Highness told me. But more crucially…

“There will come a time when Neverwinter and the town of Lucas you guys are making will not be reliant on agriculture anymore, we need to be ahead of the curve. Although it is important to feed people, there are better ways to do that. The capital and the southern lands have better soil for farming anyways, I expect that in the future our farms will be gone and replaced by factories.”

After listening to the agricultural department, I still stuck with His Highness’ decision.

Instead of expanding Neverwinter’s farm, I ordered the reclamation of farmlands south of the territory especially the villages surrounding Roella, reinforcing their walls and assigning guards for each village. We’re spreading thin right now due to the construction of Lucas and Roella. I just hope nothing happens while we’re spread this thin…

I ordered the agricultural department to develop those lands.

“Hehe, Sebas~” a woman with dishevelled hair entered my office, she reeked of bad odor, and her boots left mud marks on my floor. She smelt like animal excrement.

“Miss Tilly. What might you be doing in my office?”

“I heard you assigned my babies to the villages surrounding Roella. May I inquire about that?” she told me as she got closer to me, further dirtying my workspace.

“...” This is Miss Tilly the Head of the University’s Agricultural Department.

“I don’t care what you people are doing in other Departments but the agricultural department is mine.”

Sophia, may you protect His Highness from troublesome women like these.