Common Sense of a Duke’s Daughter - Chapter 203

Conference

“If you are concerned about the situation of the people, you will not oppose the preventive measures to be suggested in the future.”

“Yes” Bern said shouting as a general.
His power is increasing in his eyes as he said so.

“From now on, the royal palace will announce the guidelines through Bern. Everyone should listen to him!”

I step forward so as to respond to the words of Prince Alfred.
Then Bern opened his mouth.

He said the family names of many aristocrats steadily and without any error.
Even those whose names were raised before and those who weren’t, I was muddle headed about what he was going to say.

“The previously called houses… the territory must be confiscated and relinquish their positions.”

However, everyone is shocked to his last words.
No way, it’s the first time since the founding that so many aristocrats are removed from their titles.
As a matter of course, they were so angry that abusive language started going back and forth in the venue.

Bern just sits down after giving the announcement.
That way, the voices blaming him became kept increasing.
How will you manage the situation brother… and Prince Alfred just smiles at all this.

While the people kept rising their voices, Bern stands up and raised his face to look at them.
Looking at his face, those who are screaming abuse quieted one after another until all were in silence.

No … exactly, what produced this effect? his face?… no, it is his eyes?
He was looking around the venue just expressionless.

It is a fierce anger that resembles deep hatred what dwells in his eyes.
It is enough to think that all the anger from the previous time when he saw the extreme hunger and desperation of the people pushed him to this state.
“Is that all you want to say? ” He seemed to be asking, although he did not open his mouth.

“… You don’t look alright, it’s as your father said…”

I heard my uncle murmuring intrigued.

“The houses called earlier … are those who have sold for their own interests even the minimum amount of stockpiles determined by law to be saved for disasters. If you are a ruler who doesn’t care about your people, you should relinquish from your position and leave it for someone who cares for them. Your position, as it has benefits, it has obligations by law and you have broken those regulations. “

Quietly and firmly, he said so.
But the only thing that was quiet was his expression, his voice was feverish like his eyes.

“That such thing alone can erase what our ancestral generations contributed to the nation?”

“That only you say?…. That only? When hundreds and thousands of people have died?!! “

The last words were practically thrown at them. That anger is more powerful than adding all the  anger from the nobles who’ll be removed from their titles in the venue.

“Well …… We could not help it, our house was in a state of poverty… “

“I did not expect to suffer from such a disaster! Prince Alfred said earlier that this couldn’t be predicted!”

“You should be prepared for unpredictable disasters, but even if a disaster did not occur, your punishment will not change. There’s evidence of your doings.”

Bern firmly speaks to them who try to make excuses for themselves when all excuses are futile in front of the evidence piled up against them.

“Why is it so!”

“As I mentioned earlier, your doings these past years are crimes punishable by the kingdom’s law, your deeds start with distribution of fake gold coins, appropriation of the crops for emergence situations, turn the kingdom in a state of confusion, and embezzling of the people resources and the kingdom taxes.”

“such a….!”

“… More than anything, though the ceasefire is still on, the crime of communicating with the enemy nation carries a heavy punishment.”

The last words were not so loud.

… although, it heavily resonated in the hearts of everyone.