"Hmm."
The Emperor of the Aurelion Empire, Aurelius Ashley Aurelion, let out a groan at the visit of his cute seventh daughter.
He had no choice.
After acting spoiled and staying at the Grace Viscountcy, she suddenly came back and said,
"Royal Father, please designate this fairy tale book as required reading for the children of the Empire."
Because she said something like this.
As both a father and an Emperor, only a hollow laugh came out.
'Did I raise her too indulgently?'
Since her admission to the Academy was coming up, accepting her whims to let her have some free time had its limits.
Moreover, upon looking into the situation, she apparently did this because she fell for the novel of the Viscount's daughter, which had recently become a hot topic in the social circles.
He had no intention of interfering with personal tastes or hobbies, but trying to drag that into 'State Affairs' was a different story.
Although she was a child with a lot of whims, she had never crossed the line like this before….
To cause a stir like this just to push the author she liked—he couldn't help but give her a stern talking-to.
However….
"It is not a request out of self-interest, Royal Father. I am saying this because I truly believe this will be a great help to the growing children of the Empire."
He heard this from the daughter he had called to scold.
Thinking of Lydia normally, she wouldn't say things in vain.
If she wasn't doing this blinded by self-interest, it would be right to at least review it.
"Alright, I understand. Then leave that fairy tale book and wait for a moment."
At the Emperor's words that he would decide after reading it once and judging whether her words were true or false, Princess Lydia curtsied elegantly and withdrew from the audience chamber.
Coincidentally, urgent state affairs were settled for the moment, and he had enough time to drink a cup of tea and read a book.
"I will prepare refreshments, Your Majesty."
"Please do."
For the Emperor's rest, the chamberlain prepared refreshments in an instant.
Enjoying the profound scent of tea, Aurelius began reading the fairy tale book his daughter recommended.
Actually, it wasn't bound as a book yet but was in manuscript form, so it was awkward to call it a book, but the important thing was the content, wasn't it?
Emperor Aurelius, who began reading the compilation of three fairy tales in order──.
"This is…."
He felt like he now understood why his daughter Lydia, who was worthy of being called talented, had been acting like that recently.
It was different from existing fairy tales.
Honestly, other fairy tales were stories that made one wonder if they were really meant for children.
Encouraging good and punishing evil was fine, but boiling villains alive in oil, or villains forcibly slicing off their child's flesh for their own benefit—they fit the description of cruel fairy tales better.
Just like the original versions of fairy tales on Earth, they weren't stories that seemed likely to have a particularly good influence on children.
Otherwise, there were only cliché heroic tales featuring a hero and a demon king… but this was different.
A protagonist who helps an injured Hatchling and receives a reward for the good deed.
Conversely, a villain who intentionally injures a Hatchling and asks for a reward because he gave both the disease and the medicine (caused the problem and fixed it).
As a result, the story where the protagonist becomes happy and the villain becomes miserable; or the Princess who is betrayed by humans she trusted but is revived with the help of Dwarves; or the Woodcutter who hides an Elf against slave hunters.
Some might say the sentences are crude and light, but isn't it a fairy tale?
Reading smoothly and easily was perfect for children.
The content wasn't cruel yet filled with lessons, explaining good and evil at a level easy for a child to understand, and naturally making them understand why they should be kind, and why they should help others and live together.
'Certainly, if it's this, it is worthy of being required reading for children.'
He felt the urge to immediately make it into a book and distribute it to libraries across the country so that the growing pillars of the Empire could read it.
However, even as an Emperor, he couldn't proceed with things just as he pleased.
Because everything has a procedure.
First, he decided to discuss it with other officials, even if just formally.
It was an unplanned agenda, but Emperor Aurelius was a style that preferred quick handling of work.
He immediately had copies prepared before the afternoon state affairs meeting to prepare to hear the officials' opinions.
After processing weighty agendas to move the colossal nation called the Empire,
"I would like to hear everyone's opinion on what you think about designating that fairy tale as required reading for children."
Sending a signal to the waiting chamberlain with a raise of his hand, he brought up the topic.
Then, the chamberlain placed the prepared copies one by one in front of the officials.
'Fairy tale?'
'Required reading for children?'
'What is he talking about?'
Those unaware of the circumstances thought it was out of the blue, and,
'Is it related to the Princess?'
'Hmm? Wasn't the work the Princess was interested in a romance novel, not a fairy tale?'
The quick-witted officials made rough guesses.
The Emperor instructed those officials to read it first and present their opinions on designating it as required reading.
Following those words, the officials quickly read the collection of fairy tales placed before them.
Assisting the Emperor in running the country isn't something just anyone can do.
Speed reading was the basic of basics, so everyone devoured the fairy tales in an instant.
While doing so, they read grasping it properly so as not to miss any parts,
"Hoh."
"Oho."
Encountering a fairy tale that was truly fairy tale-like, everyone admired it.
Teaching children to be upright and true is the same regardless of time and place.
One of the things adults always worry about is children's education.
The officials here were also someone's father, so the moment they saw the fairy tales written by Noel, they got a feeling.
This was certainly a story worthy of being required reading.
Honestly, hearing "fairy tale" at first, the officials thought of those fairy tales parents or nannies told them at their bedside before sleep when they were young.
Thinking about it now, there's a limit to giving warnings.
The experience of having nightmares that night after listening to a terrible story called a fairy tale—everyone had experienced it at least once.
So they wondered what kind of cruel fairy tale it was this time… but this was truly a story perfect for children to read.
It felt like a sweet rain falling on the 'childhood innocence' they thought they had lost long ago while aging and suffering from heavy workloads.
Before recommending it to children, the officials themselves smiled warmly while reading the fairy tales.
If it's this, required reading is worth pursuing.
However, there was one problem—trivial if trivial, big if big.
"Your Majesty, it is certainly a good story. Such a fairy tale would surely have a positive influence on growing children. However… the budget…."
It's money.
There is a saying that the Empire rules the continent, and the Budget rules the Empire.
It wasn't an era where printing technology was undeveloped, and with the Magic Engineering Revolution, technology had advanced this much, so how much would it cost to print some books and distribute them to libraries in various places?
One might think that, and actually, it doesn't cost a huge budget, but national finance isn't something that can be done recklessly like that.
"Currently, all budgets allocated for cultural promotion or art support have their usage confirmed. It wouldn't be a large amount, but to compile this fairy tale into a book, allocating the budget is a bit…."
They could do it if they wanted to, but the officials felt resistance to modifying a plan that was already set.
They were already dying from too much work and heavy workloads, and now reallocate a budget that already had tags attached?
Even if it's a subject's duty to do as told, it's a tear-jerking matter.
So, making groaning sounds as much as possible, the officials carefully proposed a deal: "Let's designate it as required reading, but postpone library distribution until next year's budget allocation."
At these officials' opinions, Emperor Aurelius rested his chin on his hand for a moment, looking lost in thought, then opened his mouth.
"In that case, I will handle this matter by organizing a special budget from the Privy Purse (Inner Palace Funds)."
If they disliked redrawing the budget, he meant he would pursue it with the Imperial Family's money.
Since there were no opposing opinions on recommending it as required reading for children itself, it was done.
Saying the Imperial Family would step up for such a good deed, Emperor Aurelius accepted the officials' whining about not wanting to work.
Certainly, this way, the project could proceed without touching the existing budget allocation.
However….
'His Majesty… from the Privy Purse?'
'The person who was famous for being a miser since his Crown Prince days…?'
At such a decisive decision from the Emperor, the subjects couldn't help but be surprised in a different sense.
Since Emperor Aurelius, whose nature fit the expression 'penny-pincher' perfectly, said he would proceed with private funds, of course it was surprising.
'Does it mean he liked those stories that much?'
'Mmm, they are certainly good stories.'
At the same time, the subjects could understand the Emperor's heart.
Because they themselves felt like taking this copy home right now and gifting it to their children or grandchildren.
The parent's instinct unable to hold back when discovering something helpful for children's education—that is the same regardless of high or low status.
So since it didn't involve increasing work like modifying the budget, they agreed readily.
"Understood, Your Majesty. We will push forward so the work proceeds without a hitch."
Emperor Aurelius nodded satisfactorily seeing the officials answering loudly.
If someone who didn't know well saw this, they would only think he felt proud of doing a good deed for the country.
No, actually there was such a feeling too.
But it wasn't simply just that──.
'I can just deduct the cost of the project from Lydia's allowance and dignity maintenance fees.'
It was because of the thought that he could save expenses and hold the reins of his troublemaking daughter.
It was a calculation to make Lydia act cute a bit with this required reading designation and distribution matter.
Of course, such inner thoughts of the Emperor,
"Wouldn't His Majesty try to restrict the Princess's actions with this matter? Like ordering you to stop bothering the Viscountcy and return to the Imperial Palace."
"It's fine. I have something in mind."
Princess Lydia had roughly guessed it from the moment she decided to use the 'Daddy Card'.
It meant if he played dirty with allowance, she could just play dirty too.
At such words from Princess Lydia, Rosalyn made a tired face.
"Wouldn't it be better to just return to the Imperial Palace…."
Before the daughter enters the Academy and has to live apart without moving for 3 years, a parent's heart wanting to hold her close for the remaining time—couldn't she understand that?
"I cannot do that until I see the conclusion of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」."
But Princess Lydia, even if she understood her father's heart, couldn't follow it.
Because a novel that kept her awake at night was waiting!
And Rosalyn, who was persuading her, at those words of the Princess,
'That is true.'
Ended up accepting it.
You really can't resist dopamine.
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