Let’s Clean Up The Trash!

World Era 1910, August 20.

“Count Oliver is said to have not only unleashed harsh criticisms of the new king but also uttered profanities without hesitation. Furthermore, in a private gathering, he and nine other viscounts and barons continuously slandered the king, and among their remarks were words too vile to even repeat. In addition to that…”

The noble society of Pullea, capital of the Polia Kingdom, was in an uproar. A full-scale confiscation was underway against the House of Count Oliver, a family previously considered prestigious. Investigations by the court had already been conducted for the ten individuals, and their testimonies had confirmed the accusations.

As the offense was deemed severe, Count Oliver was sentenced to death for the crime of insulting the king. Even the other nine nobles had all their wealth seized by the state, and both they and their families were demoted to commoners.

The nobility had no choice but to react with shock to this ruling. The severity of the punishment handed down by the newly crowned King Ian far exceeded what they had expected. Of course, they understood the gravity of the crime—but wasn’t death a bit too much?

Still, no one dared to voice such thoughts aloud. They had come to realize just how ruthless King Ian could be. Naturally, all murmurs of dissent vanished.

Even the casual gossip about the king that used to circulate at small parties disappeared completely. As expected, King Ian had eliminated anyone who opposed or criticized his policies. In a sense, this incident had helped him solidify his absolute monarchy.

And so, the date for Count Oliver’s execution was set, and it was carried out sooner than expected. On September 10, as the month turned, the execution took place. It was done swiftly—by firing squad.

The execution, with Oliver’s eyes covered, was conducted publicly. This was done to show everyone just how supreme the king’s authority was. It sent a message not only to the nobility but also to the common citizens that criticizing the king could cost them dearly.

Indeed, some of Ian’s planned policies were unfavorable to the nobility, and some to the common people. Though things might improve in the long run, it was inevitable that discontent would arise from the unknown.

So he responded with bold action. Thus, on that day, Count Oliver was executed by firing squad.

It was dinner time. Tonight, he wasn’t dining with his mother or his younger sister. The table had been swapped out for a longer one, and dozens of people sat together for the meal.

‘Everyone looks utterly uncomfortable.’

“Is something wrong? No one seems to have an appetite.”

“N-No, it’s very delicious.”

“Yes, it’s absolutely delicious.”

“The steak today is incredibly tender and flavorful.”

The ones hastily shoving food into their mouths while praising it were the younger princes. They were desperately trying to avoid giving Ian any excuse to reprimand them. Even the older princes beside Ian were eating quietly.

“I’m glad everyone’s enjoying the meal. As you all know, soon you’ll be scattered across various colonies, and once you’re there, meals like this will be rare. I arranged this dinner so you can enjoy it while you can, so please relax and eat up.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“We’re truly grateful for Your Majesty’s thoughtfulness.”

“Even in the colonies, I will begin every morning by paying respect to Your Majesty from afar.”

‘They’re overdoing it. Am I really that frightening?’

Well, it was only recently that Ian had executed Count Oliver. It was understandable that they’d react like this. Technically, Ian hadn’t executed any of the princes since becoming king. But from their perspective, they lived in constant fear that he could change his mind at any moment.

‘More than that, they’ve begun to accept reality.’

He spotted the First and Second Princes seated closest to him. Though they remained silent, they no longer wore expressions of humiliation. Perhaps they had finally realized they were no longer contenders for the throne.

‘They’re even avoiding eye contact with me.’

The twin princes—the Seventh and Eighth—who had once gone with him to the colonies during the war with the Doicheun Empire, now had their heads bowed. In the past, they had been full of arrogance, but now they were completely subdued.

‘Oddly enough, seeing them like this feels satisfying.’

A wicked urge to tease them rose for a moment, but Ian reminded himself that a king shouldn’t be petty. He decided to let it go with a generous heart. Just then, he noticed Prince Dian sitting timidly in one spot.

The boy who had once injured his knee because of Ian would also soon have to leave the mainland.

‘I do feel bad, but none of the princes can stay here.’

Still, at least he wouldn’t be sent to the colonies. Ian planned to first send him to the Kingdom of Jermia as a diplomatic envoy—a symbolic royal representative meant to foster good relations with other countries. He wouldn’t have much authority, just serve as a figurehead.

‘Traveling through different countries will be good experience for him.’

“Prince Vincent, it seems you don’t have much of an appetite? Your plate is still full.”

“My stomach’s been a little upset…”

“Oh dear, perhaps you’ve developed a digestive issue. You’ll be on a ship soon—you should take care.”

“It’ll probably pass in a bit…”

“Is that so? That’s a relief. Then again, has Prince Rubid also come down with something?”

“No, I’m eating just fine.”

He forced himself to slice his steak and eat it as if everything were fine, but it was clear he was struggling. Ian thought it showed how much he had let go. At first, Rubid had refused to accept Ian’s rule, but now, after the coronation, that resistance had faded.

“I’m glad to hear you’re eating well. The chef put in extra effort, so I’d appreciate it if nothing went to waste.”

“Of course.”

Watching them eat despite the discomfort, Ian continued.

“That aside, even in the colonies, the two of you should work well together to develop your new lands. The regions you’re going to are quite underdeveloped, which means there’s plenty of room for progress. You might find the natural environment pleasant and plenty of places to explore. Oh, perhaps you could even turn them into tourist destinations.”

“Yes, we will.”

“Certainly.”

“I’m even allowing you to go with your mothers. You do understand that normally, this would not be permitted?”

“Yes, we understand completely.”

“We’re truly grateful for such consideration.”

Ian had allowed the princes to travel with their mothers to the colonies. He thought it best for the younger princes’ emotional well-being. Some of the former consorts had refused to go, however.

‘They claim they want to stay with the princesses, but really, they just don’t want to be sent to a backwater colony.’

Thinking of the young princes’ situations, Ian couldn’t help but pity them. Still, he couldn’t force anyone to go. After all, the young princesses would be left behind as well. In any case, Ian continued his meal, and when he began to feel full, he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“I think we’re all full now. Let’s end it here. I wish you all the best.”

As Ian stood up after saying that, the rest hurriedly rose to their feet as well. Their relationships had changed drastically. And those positions would no longer shift. Ian exited through the dining hall doors, and only once they closed behind him could everyone finally breathe easy.

Meanwhile, the First and Second Princes were glaring daggers at each other.

“Once we’re there, don’t you dare act like you know me.”

“Right back at you, brother. Don’t pretend we’re close.”

Now that Ian was gone, Prince Vincent and Prince Rubid were baring their teeth at one another again. Their relationship had always been hostile, and now that they’d both been sent to the colonies, it had worsened.

“I’ll say it again—live your life, and I’ll live mine.”

“Hmph, same to you. Just don’t come anywhere near where I am.”

“I’m warning you—don’t do anything reckless. If you create trouble for His Majesty, I’ll suffer too.”

“You’re one to talk. Just stay quiet and don’t stir anything up.”

With the two of them snapping at each other, the other princes could only anxiously watch. Even though they were out of the line of succession, the memories of their power plays still lingered, and they were taking some of their forces to the colonies. Naturally, the others had to pay attention.

In a way, the other princes had to pick a side between the two. That meant carefully observing and deciding whose camp to join. In fact, Ian had permitted both princes to lead some nobles to the colonies with them.

Duke Gwens, the First Prince’s maternal grandfather, was being forcibly sent to the colonies. So was Marquis Veloster, the Second Prince’s maternal grandfather. Ian’s reason for sending them rather than executing them was that killing such figures would be too troublesome.

Some thought Ian’s decision was overly lenient. Others believed there was no need to worry. After all, the difference between the mainland and the colonies was enormous.

Not just economically but in infrastructure too—the colonies were so underdeveloped that even if they went there, they could never influence the mainland. Most accepted it without resistance. Of course, the greater reason was simply that the decision came from Ian.

Time passed, and by September 17, all the princes boarded ships headed to their respective destinations, including the colonies. With their departure, it could be said that the Polia Kingdom was now free of internal instability.

Amidst this new order, Ian began moving to solve a problem he had been pondering for a long time: the trash.

September 22.

“Let’s clean up the cities! His Majesty has declared that we can no longer allow garbage to pile up in the urban centers.”

“Announcement of nationwide establishment of ten new landfill sites!”

“Strict ban on dumping trash in rivers. Violators will face harsh penalties and fines if caught.”

“Clean cities mean healthy citizens. Morning campaign launched—let’s pick up trash and throw it into newly placed bins across the city!”

“From now on, burying or burning trash at will is banned. It risks soil contamination and fire hazards.”

“Mass recruitment of a new profession: ‘City Cleaners.’ Their duty is to sweep and scrub the city daily and turn it into a better place to live.”

Ian had drawn his sword against garbage. It was a matter he had long considered, and now he was ready to address it thoroughly.

There was simply too much trash inside the city. It not only caused various infectious diseases but was also an eyesore. Moreover, unrestricted burning and burying polluted both the air and the soil, so Ian banned those practices altogether.

This sudden move threw the citizens of the capital into confusion. In their entire lives, they’d never experienced such regulations about trash. It felt unfamiliar—but since it was a royal decree, they had no choice but to obey.

Soon, illegal dumping in rivers drastically decreased, and fewer people were throwing or burning garbage in alleys. Of course, Ian never expected perfect compliance.

Already, over a hundred people had been caught attempting to dump trash in the rivers. Their punishments were severe: 50 days in prison and a fine of 1,000 grang. If unpaid, the sentence extended to 300 days.

To nobles, 1,000 grang might not be much—but to ordinary citizens, it was a massive sum. They had no choice but to comply. Thanks to these measures, within just one month, the city’s cleanliness and appearance began to improve.

The city itself became cleaner. Hundreds of newly hired “city cleaners” were employed as state workers and began cleaning the capital, slowly transforming its appearance. The heaps of garbage that had once lined alleyways disappeared.

Those who noticed the change most directly were the citizens living in the urban center. The city, which always reeked, now felt fresh for once. Though it wasn’t perfectly clean due to long-standing pollution, the difference was noticeable.

Everyone agreed the cleaner city was more pleasant to live in. Even those who initially opposed the king’s campaign began to change their minds as they saw the results.

Encouraged by the outcome, Ian planned to extend this initiative not only to the capital but also to surrounding cities and towns. He even laid out long-term plans to expand it nationwide.

Meanwhile, the trash cleared from the cities was temporarily piled in open lots, and the volume was enormous. With a population of 2 million, the city naturally generated a staggering amount of waste.

To handle this, construction began on massive pits for landfill use. Though they could’ve been placed on flat land, Ian’s plan involved digging deep in anticipation of future waste.

Since it was a large-scale project, many laborers were hired. Though it cost significant funds, it also provided jobs and helped stimulate the economy.

Because the landfills needed to function for years to come, digging continued as deeply as possible. In total, ten such large-scale projects were underway across the country. Then, as December arrived, Ian received an unexpected report.