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Once they finished camping, they rode the carriage back to Vale Castle, the capital of the Southwestern region.
“…”
Inside the narrow carriage, Marie stole glances at the Crown Prince. After following him yesterday, she somewhat feel unsettled.
“What’s wrong?” the Crown Prince asked while reviewing some documents.
Marie quickly shook her head, replying, “Oh, it’s nothing.”
As usual, the Crown Prince remained unreadable. Even without a mask, she couldn’t guess what he was thinking.
“We’ll be arriving at the Vale Castle shortly. Once we’ve spent a day there, we’ll inspect the potential sugarcane plantation the following day.”
“Is it to find the perfect location for growing sugarcane?”
“Yes I must assess which land works best and figure out the amount of manpower needed.”
Hearing that, Marie asked with a puzzled tone, “But wouldn’t it be more efficient to send an administrator to do that?”
Coming all the way from the capital to the southwestern region wasn’t a walk in the park, especially for someone as busy as the Crown Prince. Wouldn’t it be more convenient to simply receive a report instead?
“Because it’s important,” replied the Crown Prince. “Cultivating sugarcane is not only beneficial for the southwestern region, but for the entire empire as well.”
Rael looked outside the window of the carriage. As winter was fast approaching, the fields in the southwest region were barren.
“If we manage to successfully cultivate sugarcane in the southwestern region, it will be able to rise from poverty.”
“Ah…..”
“So why on earth would I just casually skim through a couple of reports when I’m dealing with something as critical as the future of the southwestern region?”
In response, Marie looked at him with admiration. It was so becoming of him as a Crown Prince.
He smiled faintly and said, “That’s why I truly am grateful to you, Marie.”
“Pardon?”
“Thanks to you, we were able to import sugarcane, didn’t we? Oren and I considered trading with the Eastern Kingdom, but importing sugarcane seeds never occurred to us. I wasn’t even aware that the southwestern region would be suitable for sugarcane cultivation.”
“I-It’s nothing.”
Marie shook her head in embarrassment. If it weren’t for the dream, she never would’ve come up with it.
“Thanks to you, the struggling southwest region has newfound hope. Once the sugarcane cultivation proves successful, I have another plan in mind. I intend to transform it into a trading hub.”
“A trading hub?”
“Yes, I’ll set up a trading port on the southwestern coast, opening up to Western Europe. Then, in the northern region, I’ll create a market where merchants from the Hanseatic League of Northern Europe can come and trade. It’s like creating a second Champagne.”* he said, explaining the vision he had for the southwestern region.
*it literally spelled out champagne. idk what that means… or maybe he means sugar is the new profitable champagne for the southwest???
If it went as planned, the southwestern region would undoubtedly flourish.
‘He looks pleased,’ Marie thought to herself.
Although his voice remained as cold as ever, Marie could sense his genuine delight at the prospect of the southwestern region overcoming poverty.
‘Your Highness…’
Marie recalled the image of Rael looking at the ruins of the village last night. What could he have been thinking while gazing at it?
Just then, Almond, who had been riding on horseback, approached the carriage window.
“Your Highness, we have arrived.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, we’ve reached the Vale Castle.”
As they looked out the window, they saw a large castle with traces of ashes scattered around. It was Vale Castle, the capital of the southwestern region.
Finally, they had arrived at their destination.
“I am honored to meet Your Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince. I am Viscount Givrol, the administrator in charge.”
The Crown Prince directly rule the southwestern region, and instead of a lord, he appointed administrators to manage it.
Viscount Givrol had been waiting outside the castle gate, ready to welcome the Crown Prince and his entourage.
“Greetings, Givrol. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“Not worries, Your Highness. Since you’ve traveled such a long way, I’ve arranged warm water and meals for all of you.”
“First, I would like to hear your report. Let’s discuss it over the meal.”
Following Viscount Givrol’s lead, they headed towards the castle.
During their commute, Marie sighed as she looked at the scenery outside the carriage.
‘It’s worse than I thought.’
The living conditions of the southwestern people was drastically different from the capital.
Their clothing appeared tattered, and majority of them looked malnourished.
Especially their eyes.
Perhaps due to the ongoing famine, their eyes looked hollowed.
‘I heard that His Highess has been using his personal funds to provide relief. But it seems that even that has not made a difference.’
As Marie pondered that, the carriage arrived at the castle.
The Crown Prince and his entourage quickly settled in and started to eat the meal prepared by the viscount.
“The castle’s situation is currently not good. I apologize, Your Highness, if it’s a bit lacking,” Viscount Givrol said apologetically.
The Crown Prince shook his head. “It’s fine. I am well aware of the current situation in the southwestern region. If you had actually served gourmet food regardless of the ongoing famine, it would have made me angry,” he replied reassuringly, causing the Viscount to looked relieved.
“Have you heard the news, viscount?”
“Yes, according to the deal with the Eastern Kingdom, we will grow sugarcane in the southwestern region…”
However, there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice, catching the attention of Crown Prince Rael and Marie.
“Is there a problem?”
“No, it’s not that. Of course, we should proceed. It’s a great way to restore the southwestern region. However…”
“However?”
Viscount Givrol hesitated responding for a moment.
The Crown Prince frowned and said, “I dislike beating around the bush. It’s fine, just tell me the truth.”
Sighing, Givrol said, “It seems the southwestern people might strongly resist it.”
“Resistance? What do you mean? It’s advantageous for them, is it not?”
“They are aware of that. However…” After hesitating for a while, Givrol finally fessed up. “They are opposed to anything the Imperial Household… or more precisely, you, Your Highness, have undertaken.”
Upon hearing Givrol’s explanation, Marie, who had been quietly listening in the background, was taken aback. ‘What does that mean? They’re against simply because it has to do with the Crown Prince?’
However, the Crown Prince didn’t seem surprised. In fact, he responded calmly, “Is that so? Well, I suppose that makes sense.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Givrol said with a bitter smile. “They still harbor strong resentment towards Your Highness because of the war. As a result, anything related to Your Highness’ name is met with resistance, no matter what it may be.”
The Crown Prince tapped his iron mask. “Is that so? Is the problem related to acquiring labor?”
The administrator made a troubled expression. “Yes, that’s the challenge we’re currently facing. We’re struggling to gather labor voluntarily. Unless we resort to forced labor, it seems impossible to acquire enough manpower.”
After the conversation with the administrator ended, the Crown Prince and his entourage were deep in thought.
“It’s quite a dilemma. Sugarcane cultivation not only requires suitable land but also a significant amount of manpower.”
Someone asked with a puzzled tone, “Why not just force them to work? Even if they resist, they can’t disobey the orders, right?”
But the Crown Prince shook his head.
“They are not slaves. Forcing labor upon those who don’t want it is not right. Moreover, that approach won’t yield any efficiency. Sugarcane cultivation demands intensive labor, and if it’s not done properly, it would be useless.”
The Crown Prince was right.
Sugarcane cultivation is a labor-intensive work. Having low morale would not yield any good results.
Unexpectedly, they ran into a predicament once again.
Marie fell into deep contemplation. ‘Is there any way to change the people’s minds? If it continues like this, we won’t be able to cultivate sugarcane properly.’
Then, suddenly, it hit her.
‘Could it be… Could the dream I had last time be related to this?’
Before leaving for the inspection, she had a dream of becoming the “King of Patisseries”
Could that dream be somehow connected to the current predicament?
However, she soon shook her head. A genius pastry chef and a negative public perception seemed to have no relation at all.
At that moment, the Crown Prince said, “No matter how much we think of a solution here, I doubt it will come. Let’s go out and observe the people for now.”
And so, they stealthily went out and observed the people on the streets. To their surprise, the people’s reaction to sugarcane cultivation was colder than expected.
“I heard that they’re planning to grow sugarcane in our province starting next year…”
“Sugarcane? What is that?”
“Hey, what’s that? Is it the sugar that the nobles eat?”
“Really? Is it better to grow than wheat?”
“Will that make any difference? It’s all in vain; the rich will only benefit from this, while we remain suffering.”
Marie became increasingly frustrated with the cynical reception.
Due to their resentment towards the Crown Prince, their perceptions were automatically negative.
Some even went so far as to say:
“Well, after all, it’s the demonic prince who’s pushing this project, right?”
“Yeah, with that demonic prince in charge, how could it be good for us?”
“What are the heavens doing? Why won’t they get rid of that demonic prince?”
“I agree, I wish he were dead.”
“Exactly, it should’ve been him who died during the civil war, not the 2nd prince.”
“Ever since the southwestern region became under the direct order of the Crown Prince, the famine hasn’t stopped. There’s no doubt that we’ve been cursed because of that Prince of Blood.”
Marie looked at the Crown Prince in surprise. To speak ill of the Crown Prince like that was considered treasonous; punishable by death.
“How dare they speak of His Highness that way…”
Almond, his face hardening, immediately reached for his sword.
At that moment, the Crown Prince intervened, “Enough. Don’t mind them.”
“But Your Highness!”
“Enough. That’s an order.”
With the Crown Prince’s command, Almond reluctantly restrained his anger.
The Crown Prince shook his head and said, “Anyway, I think we’ve heard enough of the public perception. Let’s return now.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Once they returned to the castle, the Crown Prince and his entourage had parted ways to their respective lodgings.
“Let’s meet again tomorrow and discuss how to secure manpower. Let’s call it a day for now.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
Back in her assigned room, Marie was lost in thought.
‘Is the Crown Prince truly unaffected? To hear such unpleasant words…’
If she were in his position, she would probably be very upset. He’s putting so much effort into the southwestern region, yet they still curse him.
“He must’ve been hurt by it; he’s just good at hiding his feelings.”
She sighed.
Marie couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pity when she saw the Crown Prince undeterred, tirelessly working for the southwestern region despite hearing those unpleasant words.
“I wish there was a way to help the Crown Prince.”
She wanted so bad to assist him, to lighten his burden in some way.
“How can we win the people’s hearts over?”
She wracked her brains, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t come up with a clear solution. To get them to willingly participate in sugarcane cultivation wholeheartedly, the resentment towards the Crown Prince had to be resolved first. However, the animosity towards the Crown Prince was a problem that required time to overcome.
“Is there really no solution?”
Feeling stuck, she looked up at the night sky and prayed before going to sleep, “If there’s any solution, please show me.”
Was it because of that wish? As soon as she fell asleep, Marie had another dream.