"What do you mean there's no money!?"
I couldn't help but raise my voice after hearing the shocking truth from Princess Ellis inside the carriage.
"There isn't a single coin of spare money in the royal treasury," she said calmly.
"I know the kingdom is struggling, but you're telling me there's not even any funds to carry out reforms?"
"Well, our country is currently in the middle of a full-blown decline."
Even if we're in decline, there's no way to do any reforms without money. It's simply impossible.
"… Well... I may have made a mistake. Maybe I shouldn't have set a two-month deadline."
If there's no money, all we can do is wait until we have some. In that case, setting a time limit was a big stupid mistake. But now, if I take back my word, I'll lose everyone's trust.
"No, Lord Seiou, the two-month deadline you set was absolutely correct. In fact, two months from now… our country will go bankrupt."
"What!?"
"Currently our debt payments are overdue. If we fail to make the payment due the month after next, the kingdom will officially collapse. And the women of our country will be sold as slaves."
Princess Ellis said this with a calm face.
What a disaster of a country…
There's no such thing as a personal bankruptcy system here. But there is slavery. If they can't pay with money, they'll have to pay with our bodies, literally.
"Of course, to prevent that from happening, I plan to revoke everyone's citizenship in the name of the royal family and take full responsibility myself."
"I won't let the Princess carry this burden alone. I will follow her wherever she goes."
Secretary Mia also declared her willingness to share the same fate. That's an admirable resolve, but ultimately, it's not going to change anything.
"Sigh… No funds for reforms, and the only thing we do have is a deadline…"
This feels exactly like a company on the verge of collapse.
"Well, our country is currently in the middle of a full-blown decline," Princess Ellis repeated with a calm smile.
They really are standing at the edge of a cliff.
"What about government bonds? Can't we borrow money somehow?"
"We can't. Our country's credit is completely worthless."
"Ugh…"
That's not something to say so proudly.
"Our country is currently in the middle of a full-blown decline," she said once again.
"Okay that's enough. I get it already."
If the country has no credibility, then I'll have to make the money myself.
I started going through my pockets in desperation. What do I have with me from my old world that might be worth anything?
All I had on me were my watch, my smartphone, a wallet, a solar-powered mobile battery, wireless earphones, and some chocolate.
"In any case, we need to secure funds, or we can't do anything. Princess, is there a marketplace in this country?"
"Yes. I can take you there. But it's almost closing time, so let's hurry."