How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 1

Souma didn’t desire excessive wealth or fame. He just wanted to live in peace and quiet. For Souma, being a “king” bound by “noblesse oblige” was the exact opposite of his calling in life. Even though my father had made the decision, I felt awful that we had pushed this burden off onto him.

…But, right now, this kingdom was changing to center around Souma.

This country, which had been thought of by the surrounding nations as a moldy old kingdom that never changed, was now changing. It was thanks to Souma that we had been able to cope with the deepening food crisis. As for Hakuya, Poncho and the others, they had only volunteered to serve because Souma was there. Even if the throne were abdicated to me, could I keep them all tied down here?

But besides that, more than anything, I myself wanted Souma to stay in the kingdom. And so…

“Souma… Does it bother you to have me as your fiancée?” Those words naturally came to my lips.

Souma’s eyes went wide, and he turned his bright red face to the side. “…It’s not fair for you to put it like that.”

“O-Oh, yeah?” I stammered.

“Then are you fine with it, Liscia? Having me as your fiancé?”

“I don’t mind.” I was a little surprised myself that I was able to say it so clearly. Though, after I did, I felt just a little embarrassed. “You know, I think you’re better suited to rule this country than I am, Souma.”

“Even if I’m suited for it… are you going to get engaged to someone you don’t love?”

“Isn’t that what it means to be royalty?” I asked.

“I’m not royalty. Besides… I’d rather marry for love.”

“Then… do you hate me, Souma? Can you say for sure that you’ll never fall in love with me?” I asked.

“Urgh… I told you, it’s not fair when you say stuff like that. The thing about men is, if a girl shows even the slightest hint of liking them, they’ll fall for her. That’s the sort of creatures we are. If a beauty like you says that to me, Liscia… there’s no way I wouldn’t start to feel conscious of you.”

Souma had said something that sounded like an excuse. He was surprisingly calm and realistic in his duties, so it was funny to see him flustered in a situation like this.

I giggled. “You can make the country move, but you’re hopeless when it comes to this.”

“…I lack the experience. In so many ways.”

“I spend all my time in my studies and military duties, so I haven’t had much experience either, you know?” I said.

“Don’t act like it’s the same for guys and girls. Our base specs when it comes to love are completely different.”

While we were talking about that, a hesitant voice spoke up. “Um…”

When I turned around, Aisha had woken up at some point, and she was looking at us with a wry smile that looked like it had been concentrated to three times the usual intensity.

“How much longer do I need to pretend I’m asleep for?” she asked.

““…””

We both leapt into the air.

◇　◇　◇

After leaving the park, we walked around the castle town some more. It was noon and we were getting hungry, so the three of us decided to head to the singing cafe where Juna worked.

As we walked down a cobblestone path, Liscia said, “So, about what we were talking about earlier…” and asked me a question. “You mentioned changing the laws, as well. What was that about?”

“Oh. What I did was convert the smaller roads into pedestrian paradises and nationalize garbage disposal.”

“…I’m sorry. I have no idea what that means.”

Well, no, I suppose she wouldn’t have. They both tied back into the hygiene and sanitation problem, though.

“Well, first, let me explain the pedestrian paradise thing. This one’s simple. I prohibited carriages from using anything but the largest of thoroughfares. Carriages that carry merchandise receive a special exemption, but only for a few hours in the morning. We’ve been walking in the middle of the street all this time, and nobody’s run us over yet, right?”

“Now that you mention it…” Liscia looked all around, not spotting a single horse.

“This provides an easy reduction in the number of horse accidents, creating a safe environment for people to shop, which helps to stimulate the economy, but… the main goal was to clean up all the horse dung.”

“Horse dung?” Liscia repeated.

“When a horse is on the move, you generally just leave its droppings behind, right? Well, that dung dries out, gets picked up by the wind, and it harms the lungs of those who inhale it. The more unsanitary a place was to begin with, the more likely horse dung is to be left alone. If we limit the horses to the main roads, it makes collecting their droppings easy. This ought to bring down the number of people contracting pneumonia considerably.”

“Huh?! That’s all it takes?!” Liscia exclaimed.

“…Yeah,” I said. “‘That’s all’ it would have taken to save lives.”

“Urkh…”

It may have been a harsh way to say it, but I couldn’t have her writing off something that would mean the difference between life and death for people with a “that’s all it takes.”