The grain embargo of the Kingdom of Frostwave was announced by the Governor’s Mansion.
The populace was no longer as panicked as they had been at the very beginning.
After all, the Governor’s Mansion had already implemented a series of measures, including the opening of old grain stores, allowing labor to be exchanged for food, and the tax cavalry of the Republican Guard scouring the towns and villages in a frenzy to purchase and requisition grain.
They had even allowed the purchase of one-way tickets to the Southern Islands at low prices.
The residents had long since accepted this reality.
However, what truly surprised and bewildered the residents was the simultaneous announcement of the resignation of Governor Carlos Luzzi, who had been with them for more than a dozen years.
Carlos wrote in his statement: “My service to the public cause of the Republic is reaching its end, but I have failed to achieve a dignified and honorable conclusion. Due to my oversight, a mob stormed the consulate of the Kingdom of Frostwave and killed the ambassador. The sword of the grain embargo, which had already been hanging over the Republic’s head, was plunged into its skull by the enraged King Wladyslaw and his favorites.”
“The Kingdom should bear the responsibility for all the misfortune and calamity caused to the citizens of the Republic by this treacherous act. However, within the Republic, I shall take full responsibility for all misfortune and calamity, and I hereby resign.”
“I have designated the erudite Lord Marino Faliero to serve as Acting Governor until next year’s general election. The Council has also agreed to this final proposal before my departure. May glory bless our greatest Republic. All glory to Hobric.”
Many elderly residents began to weep as they leaned against the public notice boards.
Their most dignified years in their prime had been realized under Carlos Luzzi.
The middle-aged were lost and confused.
When they were young and striving, they had felt only the era of stability brought by Carlos Luzzi.
The youth and children had no idea what was happening.
Was Governor Carlos really going to leave?
And how had the Republic become like this?
Clearly, only ten years ago, under the command of Governor Carlos, the Republic had resisted the invasion of the Kingdom of Saint Remy on both sea and land, firmly blocking the Kingdom’s Decree Knights to the west of the Polani River.
In the decisive fleet battle, the Republic had almost completely annihilated the Kingdom’s fleet that had ventured out to attack.
In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed, and the Republic was now trembling before the Kingdom of Frostwave.
‘That hateful Kingdom!’
The residents began to think resentfully, ‘If only we could catch King Wladyslaw and drag him to the docks like a stray dog to be beheaded for all to see!’
‘How great that would be.’
…
The Governor was packing his luggage, and the carriages outside were already prepared.
He intended to spend the final year of his life returning to his hometown, accompanying his granddaughter in the courtyard every day as she chased chickens and ducks.
He would watch to see which one was the sturdiest and fastest to be served for dinner.
The Governor’s Mansion still had some good wine and fine tea stored away.
He would give those things to Marino; after all, the doctor had suggested he should stop drinking wine and tea.
Marino and Domenico stood to the side, quietly watching the Governor pack various small items.
“Your Excellency…”
“Do not call me Your Excellency anymore; you are the one who is Your Excellency now. Just call me Luzzi.”
“Are you truly leaving? When I came today, I heard many people along the way talking about these matters with concern. I think the Republic cannot survive without your support.”
Carlos stopped his packing and looked at Marino.
Then, a free and uninhibited smile, like that of an old child, burst forth.
He chuckled while lightly tapping the table.
“Marino, oh Marino. I am not a king; I was not born to be imprisoned in the governor’s seat. Do you remember the legend of the Bronze Charter from 10,000 years ago?”
“It was about group after group of unruly people exiled to the old Lantingset lagoon. There was no City of Lantingset back then. They made their homes on a few patches of dry land in the marsh. Gradually, they grew in scale and became a town. Then, according to the ancient feudal laws of that time, they smugly believed they were qualified enough to have an administrator like a governor.”
“So, they carved a sentence onto one of the wooden boards. The Governor of Lantingset is not appointed by the First Consul, nor by any usurper, and certainly not by any King of Kings. The Governor is elected by independent citizens who hold property.”
“Apologies, my old habit of lecturing is acting up again. Actually, I was thinking it would have been so much better if I had continued as a professor at the Lantingset Academy. Perhaps I would have retired long ago. Ah.”
At the very last, Domenico and Marino watched their “teacher” board the carriage.
He waved to them, bidding farewell to all the luxury and decadence of Lantingset as he began his journey back home.
The era of Marino Faliero as Acting Governor had begun.
Marino did not dare to sit in the Governor’s great chair, which still held some residual warmth.
Instead, he sat on a nearby sofa.
“Lord Domenico. I will be honest with you. I really have no confidence that I can hold out until the end of the final audit you are hoping for.”
Domenico nodded.
“No, Your Excellency. The reason I nominated you, and not Emilia or Vittorio, is because you represent the moderate opposition.”
“Do you remember repeatedly arguing with me in the Council when we were preparing the budget proposal? Now, the surviving opposition members no longer dare to openly advocate for leaning toward the Kingdom. I need you to gather them together as a minority government of the Council.”
“The Elven faction will not topple the cabinet, and the opposition is in our hands, so it will not be difficult to hold out until next year.”
Marino gave a bitter smile.
The plan sounded reliable.
“However, Lord Domenico, I fear that the issues will not arise within the Council, but rather in the streets, alleys, and country fields. You also showed me the report regarding the Sans-culottes. The suppression of more than 200 rioters last time even shocked our allies. The Elven Kingdom even protested directly to us in the name of the Queen.”
Domenico shook his head, indicating it was of no importance.
“All of this stems from Lady Livyat being far too merciful. She clearly did not need to make such a fuss. However, thanks to her mercy, the Elven Kingdom sent us quite a bit of grain this time. They were truly very generous.”
Marino continued, “No, my Lord. My point is, are we to preemptively arrest and execute the Sans-culottes? That would truly be contrary to political common sense.”
Domenico continued to speak without hesitation.
“Julia asked me to investigate who was the first to receive the news of the grain embargo leaked by the Kingdom’s spies. I found that it was related to the Sans-culottes. Or to be more specific, it was related to that man, Androni.”
“It is true that he is a student of Lord Luzzi. But now that Lord Luzzi has resigned, I do not believe we need to continue tolerating his propagation of those fallacies.”
Marino argued, “Androni’s achievements in criminal law and procedural law are truly irreplaceable.”
Domenico sneered.
“Yes. His research in constitutional law is also irreplaceable, and that is precisely the problem. Rest assured, I will not do anything to him. I need him to stabilize those unstable people. The biggest problem is that those who are illiterate hear his ideas through hearsay in cafes and taverns.”
“By the way, Your Excellency. During this period, we must bypass the Council and continue to expand the scope of mercenary contracts. Just in case, we must also prepare a mercenary group to support the Grand Duchy of Tyro and the Karl Mercenary Group. According to the spies, it seems the Kingdom is preparing to conscript peasants and herders.”