When the announcement of the examinations for promotion to officials was made on bulletin boards in towns and other places, there was apparently quite an outcry.


    It must have been quite bizarre to think that anyone with good grades could become a government official.


    Of course, it would be difficult to pass the exam if one''s status is low because of the lack of educational opportunities, but theoretically, for example, a person who is a low-ranking priest, but clever, could become a government official.


    On the other hand, some small and medium-sized landowners in the suburbs of the capital, who had been holding the positions of officials by hereditary succession, complained about it.


    To their complaints, I answered as follows.


    "If you get a good score in the examination, we will hire you without any problem.


    There is a limit to the quality of human resources that can be maintained only by hereditary succession.


    It is hard to have a complete meritocracy, but perhaps society will be more active if there is a moderate degree of fluidity.


    In fact, there are not so many vassals in my clan itself.


    This is natural, as the number of vassals who were in the original Nevre''s territory is very limited. Since our territory is exploding, we have no choice but to absorb various people.


    The new king, Hasse, also expressed his concern, "I wonder if this is going to work. ......" Well, I can understand his feelings of not wanting us to do anything strange.


    "Your Majesty, the king has been driven out of the capital many times. The reason why is because they were leaning on the existing system. Because that system is incomplete, he has been defeated by the enemy forces.


    "I see. ....... You may be right about that. ......"


    "So we should first sift through the best and brightest to find the best and brightest. In the extreme, those who are good at their jobs but hold their tongues behind the scenes are more useful to His Majesty than those who just claim to be loyal to His Majesty.


    "It''s not a good idea to use someone who could turn on you in your sleep at any moment..."


    "If they were all truly loyal, they would have come to your side when you were living in seclusion.


    Hasse fell silent.


    That is the answer. Most of the lords have given up on the royal family after all. They do not have the will to destroy the royal family, but they also do not really want to be on the side of the fallen one.


    "I will surely develop the lands near the capital in a big way. That is the only way to prevent the growth of Paphs'' power.


    I''ll say it''s for Hasse''s sake.


    "Okay. And the date of my sister''s wedding: ......."


    "Yes. We are working on that as well.


    Kerala, another girl, was assigned to study with Rumi, and Serafina was assigned to teach him all sorts of things.


    Rumi seemed to be very eager to learn.


    He was looking through old books with great enthusiasm.


    "Dear Regent, I need a book on the classics, but I can''t find it because there are not many of them. Do you know of any?"


    What I was told was quite technical. I''ve never read it either.


    "Master Rumi is very good. The foundations of the monastery are really well laid."


    Kerala seemed quite impressed.


    "Rumi is very honest. That''s why he learns so quickly.


    Serafina, who was standing beside me, agreed.


    "And then there''s the part where she''s a little naive, but I''ll teach her that," Seraphina said. I will educate her so that she will not be ashamed of being the Master''s wife.


    "Okay. I''m counting on you."


    Serafina will never fail me.


    ●


    And three months later.


    I married Rumi.


    As one would expect from the wedding of the king''s sister to the regent, the number of people attending was quite large.


    The local lords, in particular, may have been desperate to celebrate this wedding, since they might be declared enemies if they did not.


    I met Rumi again, dressed up before the wedding.


    "Ah, Mr. Regent. No, I should call you "you" from now on.


    There was a beautiful girl there, so beautiful that all the flowers in the castle garden hid her face in shame.


    Her tiara was also very gorgeous, encrusted with jewels. However, it was not in bad taste, and even expressed a sense of purity.


    "That''s funny. I thought you had more of a childish side to you, but I didn''t realize you had become such a fine lady.


    "I have learned a lot from you, Serafina and Kerala. If I am shining now, it is because of their help.


    Rumi smiled warmly.


    "You are weak. If you''re so pretty, I''ll make the other king''s vassals jealous.


    "You are very good. I have tried to be worthy of you. It is I who should be embarrassed by an uneducated person.


    In the back, Serafina was laughing too.


    She was smiling as if to say, "How did you do?


    This is another step up in my power in King''s Landing.


    But for now, let''s just thank God that I can have this beautiful girl as my wife.


    --You can thank the High King too. If it weren''t for the High King I might have ended up as a lord''s brother.


    You interrupted me. I know. I''m grateful to you too.


    It''s a little strange for me to thank God.


    Let''s go. Come on, Rumi."


    I took Roomie''s hand.


    "Yes, honey. I will be a good wife to you."


    I walked slowly toward the priest who was in charge of swearing the marriage vows to the gods.


    In a formal marriage ceremony, two people are supposed to kiss each other. The priest asked me to kiss him.


    "I''m so happy for you, my dear!"


    "I will make you happy, too. This is the kiss of commitment."


    At the moment of the kiss, I was wedded to the royal family.


    I was one step closer to the power of a king.