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If he ordered the riverworks to halt, there would be consequences. This year had already seen several bouts of heavy rain. If another storm came, the uncompleted works would lead to flooded fields and homes, and the people would be quick to voice their discontent.
“Are you suggesting we halt construction?” Salvador finally asked.
Sophie, undeterred by the weight of his gaze, answered resolutely, “Halt construction. Arrest and investigate the officials within the Waterworks Department.”
“If construction is halted now, do you understand the consequences if flooding occurs?” Salvador countered, his tone sharp.
“Your Majesty, do you understand the consequences if the conscripted laborers turn out to be rebels?” Sophie shot back, unwavering.
Salvador fell silent, his expression darkening as he wrestled with the dilemma. Finally, after a long pause, he conceded partially.
“No arrests. Investigate in secret.”
Sophie’s brow furrowed in frustration. “How can that work? Even with a secret investigation, there are too many officials in the Waterworks Department. It could take months-far too much time.”
Salvador no longer trusted either side, so he wouldn’t listen to only Sophie.
“My decision is made. There’s no need for you to investigate. I will arrange for Commander Walker to look into it,” he said resolutely.
“So, in the end, you still don’t trust me, Your Majesty,” Sophie replied, her tone tightening as her frustration deepened.
Salvador’s expression hardened. “If you want me to believe you, bring me evidence. As of now, you cannot even prove Prince Nicholas is a traitor, let alone implicate the riverworks project’s workers.” “Your Majesty-“
“Bring me proof,” Salvador cut her off sharply, his voice rising. “Until then, you’re dismissed!”
Sophie was livid. She felt like the stress might cause her to sprout gray hairs right then and there. No wonder court officials always seemed to age prematurely-Jeremiah, barely in his sixties, already had a head full of white hair.
Frustrated, she sought out Jeremiah, hoping he could sway Salvador and speak on her behalf.
The prime minister greeted her with his usual calm, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Already upset?”
“I wouldn’t dare say upset,” Sophie replied. “But this delay is slowing everything down and I fear we’ll lose the advantage. Worse, we might alert the enemy. His Majesty still doesn’t trust me.”
Jeremiah leaned back, unruffled. “It’s only natural that he doesn’t trust you completely. Even if it were you in his position, would you believe everything someone under you said without evidence?”
“But he has no evidence that Prince Hayden is plotting treason either, yet he’s constantly wary of him,” Sophie countered.
“That’s precisely why he’s wary-because there’s no evidence. If there were proof, action would’ve been taken already.
“You see, many things in court are far more complicated than you think. Every decision takes endless debate among the ministers. A policy might take a year or more to push through. And the riverworks project is already nearing completion by the year’s end.
“Do you think His Majesty can halt it now and order the arrest of all officials involved without solid proof, merely because you suspect treason? Even if you convinced His Majesty, you’d never convince the rest of the court,” Jeremiah explained with a soft sigh.
Sophie’s face fell, her expression sour. “But Mr. Judd’s land-grabbing is blatant! Anyone could investigate and uncover it easily.”
“That’s not land-grabbing,” Jeremiah corrected patiently. “Those areas were approved by the court for temporary shelters-simple housing for the conscripted laborers working on the riverworks project. The land can be reclaimed at any time.”
Sophie sighed. “So, you think I’m overreacting too, don’t you?”
Jeremiah’s gaze softened as he studied her. “I believe your instincts, Lady Sophie. And I agree something about this situation feels off. But when it comes to decisions that impact the court and the people, I would also require evidence before acting.”
In other words, he trusted her personally. But as the prime minister, he needed evidence to act.
Jeremiah continued, “You may not fully grasp what the riverworks project means to His Majesty. The lands surrounding the capital are heavily cultivated, yet heavy rain leaves them flooded. Water stagnates, causing landslides and claiming lives.
“Even the streets of the capital-yes, even the royal avenues are flooded every few years. If His Majesty can fix this during his reign, it will be an outstanding achievement. It’s not just a personal legacy, it’s a public good that will benefit generations and alleviate the immediate struggles of the people.
He glanced at Sophie’s still-troubled face and chuckled softly, shaking his head. “It’s good for the young to have drive. I like seeing your energy and decisiveness. But don’t let setbacks make you bitter. “Everyone in power faces challenges unique to their position. No one-not even the king-can afford to trust anyone completely based on one perspective alone. And frankly, if he were the type of ruler who did, you’d have even more reason to worry.”
Sophie knew Jeremiah was right. People’s hearts were inscrutable, and every official walked a tightrope. If ministers had to tread carefully, how much more so for a king?
“Fine,” she said, rising to her feet. “I’ll find the evidence. I only hope I can uncover it before they storm the palace.”
Jeremiah offered a reassuring nod. “Don’t be so pessimistic. Now that you’ve mentioned Prince Nicholas and the riverworks project workers, His Majesty will undoubtedly keep a close eye on them.”
“Watching them isn’t enough. The riverworks project workers might just be part of it. I’m afraid there could be others involved. I’ll keep digging,” Sophie replied.
Without waiting for further counsel, she spun on her heel and left, her exit as swift and fiery as her resolve.
Jeremiah watched her retreating figure, a faint smile playing on his lips. Her youthful energy reminded him of his own early days in court. He, too, had been determined to charge ahead, right every wrong, and follow his instincts no matter the obstacles.
But he had faced walls, learned that instincts could falter, and found that even evidence could be misleading. Over time, he had grown cautious, his youthful fire tempered by the weight of experience. Was that change a blessing or a curse? Perhaps it was both.
Salvador promptly dispatched lan to personally oversee the riverworks. Upon arrival, lan found himself greeted by Cameron, who skillfully guided him through an inspection of the project’s progress.
The riverworks had been ongoing for a while, and the reservoir was nearly complete. The quality of the reservoir was excellent, with the dam built solidly.
After inspecting the reservoir, they also checked the river channels. The dredging of the channels was complete, and the previously damaged dams had been repaired, raised, and reinforced.
lan also sent people to chat with the riverworks project workers. The rough men, tanned from the sun, seemed a bit shy in front of the officials. Basically, they answered every question posed to them. When asked if they had any complaints, they hesitated for a moment before asking if the food could be improved, requesting more fatty meat.
lan found them to be straightforward men with no signs of hidden resentment or malice.
Next, he inspected the temporary accommodations provided for the workers. The makeshift shelters, primarily constructed of wood and thatch, were modest at best. Each hut contained a communal sleeping area with large shared platforms, housing seven or eight men. The arrangements were untidy but functional.
There were no weapons in sight. Tools and equipment were stored in a large central warehouse, accessible only during work hours and meticulously returned at the end of each day.
After inspecting the area, lan found nothing suspicious. The workers seemed no different from the usual riverworks workers.
As for Cameron, he presented himself as a man of simple means. Clad in plain garments, he dined alongside the workers and spoke passionately about the riverworks project. However, when it came to court matters, he appeared shy and clueless, acting as if he didn’t understand much.
After days of scrutiny, lan returned to the capital and presented his report to Salvador. His opinion was that neither Cameron nor the riverworks project workers seemed problematic.
Salvador furrowed his brow slightly. “Keep watching them. And ensure that the warehouse is closely guarded.”
“Do you suspect something is amiss, Your Majesty?” asked lan, confused.
“Caution is never misplaced,” Salvador replied curtly.
In truth, the king had been uneasy ever since Sophie mentioned the head of the Waterworks Department. To cover all bases, Salvador had already ordered Galen to investigate Cameron and his subordinates. Cameron was flawless in every way, but the officials under him were indeed living well, just as Sophie had said. In contrast, Cameron, their superior, lived very simply, almost to the point of poverty. Of course, Salvador knew exactly how much salary they received each year.
With so few dependents in his household, there was no reason for Cameron to live so frugally-not to the point of denying his wife and children decent clothing. Though, this could simply be attributed to personal thriftiness.