Castor reflexive answer was immediately rebuked by Excel.
『What you will say in this place will be considered as the words of the Duke of the Valgas Duchy! Your shoulders carry the fate of the Valgas Duchy citizens, you know! Please be careful to not make any careless statements.』
As expected from Duchess Excel Walter. So as to not make any imprudent promises to my side, she conducted herself. Her appearance was that of a young girl, however she was not called the Amazoness for not being well versed in both military and political affairs. Someone that I absolutely don’t want to make an enemy out off.
『Your Majesty, there is something I want to inquire from you.』(Excel)
Excel began to question me in such a way.
「…… What is it?」(Souma)
『What does Your Majesty intend to do with the Three Dukes’ territory?』(Excel)
Excel looked directly at my eyes. If I told a lie to her, she would immediately know.
「If you abide by me then…… I will not interfere in the Three Dukes’ territory.」(Souma)
『Then the Three Dukes’ Army?』(Excel)
She immediately counterattacked. It seemed that she had seen right through my aim.
…… I shouldn’t untactfully keep it secret anymore, right?
「…… I will incorporate the Three Dukes’ Army into the Royal Army to form a new United Army. In addition, I will prohibit the nobles to possess additional soldiers, except for the number needed to police the territory. The surplus soldiers would also be incorporated into the Royal Army. Because of this, I will abolish the Three Dukes’ special privileges to maintain an army. It will be treated similar to other nobles’ territory.」(Souma)
『As expected, it is this……』(Excel)
『Haaa!? Do you want to put all the army completely in YOUR[3] hand!』(Castor)
Castor snapped at my declaration to requisition the Three Dukes’ Army.
『Are you ignorant!? The Three Dukes’ system is to prevent the rise of a Tyrant. If the King of this country become a Tyrant, then we Three Dukes will observe him, and then if it needed then, with the entrusted army, to depose him! Do you want to destroy his system!?』(Castor)
「If this is a peaceful era, then I think it is a splendid system. However, this is an age of war. In the North, the threat of the Demon Army is approaching and in the West, the Empire is putting pressure all around. Amidonia and Torgis are waiting with vigilance to aim at our territories and in the East, the skirmish with Seven Headed Dragon Archipelago Union doesn’t shown any signs to cease. This is the time to establish a centralized rule.」(Souma)
『If the center becomes corrupted, then what will you do!? Do you think you could just assert that YOU will not become a Tyrant!? If all the armies are put into YOUR hands, then who will be judging YOU!?』(Castor)
「The Citizens will.」(Souma)
When I confidently declare this, Castor was immediately taken aback.
「It is because this is the law system of this country. 『King』, 『Law』, and 『Citizens』, are three interrelated things. 『Law』 is a community’s collective value system, in this case, the community are the people who live in the same country. That’s why 『Law』is the same thing as a 『Nation State』.」(Souma)
『Eh, ah…… Community? Nation State?』(Castor)
Although Castor seemed to be unable to understand and Georg was just closing his eyes while silently listening, as for Excel, she was nodding and said 『Please continue.』