/
‘I guess it’s not just because of the spirits.’
Ethan thought as he looked at Theon’s distorted face.
He really values and wants Dorothea.
Due to his long experience, he reflexively felt a ‘crisis toward Theon Fried,’ but on the other hand, he was happy.
Because the sentence that seemed impossible to exist in the world was born, ‘Theon Fried is jealous of Ethan Bronte’.
He also hoped that one day Theon would be so jealous that he would want to strangle him.
On the other hand, he also hoped that Theon would stop paying attention to Dorothea altogether.
‘How to explain this paradoxical feeling?’
TL: paradoxical feeling is feeling happy and sad at the same time.
“It’s an honor that Grand Duke Fried’s son is jealous of me, but I don’t need that honor anymore, so I hope you accept it. At least I am confident that I will love the princess more than you.”
Ethan bowed his head politely and smiled.
* * *
Dorothea met Theon again at a scheduled meeting.
A meeting she had attended on Raymond’s recommendation.
“Dorothea!”
Rather than Raymond, who was approaching her warmly first, her gaze drifted to Theon behind him.
‘So
It bothers me so much.’
Contrary to her wish to remain a good friend, Dorothea found it hard to look Theon straight in the eye, like a sinner.
The only good thing was that Raymond was between them, blocking her view.
“You are finally attending the meeting. I wish you’d come out earlier.”
“I’m just here to watch. I’m just going to sit and listen.”
“Where are you listening? Even among the ministers, most of them fall asleep all the time.”
Raymond brought a hand to his mouth and whispered.
Then he turned to Theon, who was behind him.
“And meet my new aide, Theon Fried!”
Raymond patted Theon on the back and said proudly.
“Hello, Princess.”
“Hi
Theon.”
Dorothea smiled awkwardly at Theon’s greeting.
Ray looked back and forth between the two of them as they exchanged awkward greetings.
‘The atmosphere is a failure.’
He’d tried to lighten the mood between them since it seemed like it would never be possible for them to see each other separately, but even his ‘be innocent without noticing’ tactic doesn’t work.
‘If it was Dorothea, it would seem that she didn’t care too much about such things and passed on coolly and I didn’t know Theon was this serious about Dorothea.’
‘Both Dorothea and Theon are more sensitive than I thought
’
Even if they act like they’re not, on the inside they are the most sensitive people in the world.
“Well then, shall we go in?”
Raymond opened the door to the conference room and took the two, who had become honeyed mute, into it.
TL: A honeyed mute is a person who can not say what he/she wants or thinks.
* * *
The biggest issue in the meeting was Hark’s customs tax.
The issue, which Dorothea thought had no particular reason to oppose it, took a lot of time.
“Changing the existing tax rate like this could make our relationship with Hark worse.”
The words that looked at Hark again.
If it was Dorothea before the return, she would have immediately stood up from her desk, shouting and asking what was scary about Hark.
After all, the international community operates on the logic of power. Conventions, agreements, and treaties are just pieces of paper made to look good.
“But now, isn’t Hark’s wheat converted to imperial production, deceiving and disrupting the wheat market? We have to impose some sanctions.”
“Raising the tax rate won’t stop the wheat coming in, it’ll just increase the amount coming in through the black market and disrupt the market even more. The opposite effect is greater.”
At Raymond’s words, Marquis Dmitry smoothed his beard and said that.
“That’s why there has been talk of making the border more strict and the level of punishment higher. Sir Dmitry.”
Carnan, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.
“Strengthening the border would put political and forceful pressure on Hark. Improving relations with Hark might encourage a more internal resolution of the problem.
”
Dorothea’s lips twitched as she listened to it.
‘What’s wrong with putting a little pressure on Hark?’
‘The reason we pay attention to Hark is because we’ve lost localized battles with them under the previous emperors and have a history of being unable to negotiate with them.’
So, they need to increase our military power.
‘You think you can rule the country through peace?’
Dorothea thought about that, exhaling slowly, calming her thoughts.
‘Yeah, war and diplomatic tensions are bad
’
Then Raymond spoke again.
“But the Hark will not attack the Empire that much. We just need to prepare to reinforce our troops and military power. There are also ways to make friendlier relations with other countries.”
Raymond says a word as if scratching Dorothea’s itchy spot.
‘You’re pretty good at talking.’
He doesn’t like fighting very much, so he wondered what would happen if he fell flat on Hark.
As he said, if the preferential treatment of wheat tariffs is eliminated and war is fought just because it is imposed equally with other countries, it is Hark’s side that has no justification.
The Empire is in a more favorable situation to unite with other countries internationally

‘Besides, even if there’s a war, we can win enough.’
They are freaking out because they have been beaten by a smaller force once before. This is like a human being afraid of a bee just because they have been stung once by a bee.
Of course, stings are painful, but isn’t it much easier for humans to kill bees if they fight them?
‘Nevertheless, you’re prejudging one bee because you were stung once before.’
“But Your Majesty, the Empire is making widespread use of cheap Harksan wheat. But if you increase the tax on that, it will put a burden on people’s livelihood!”
“That’s right, Your Majesty. This will only make it harder for the people.”
All the ministers said in unison.
But Dorothea, and Raymond, were waiting for these words.
“It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Yes?”
“I intend to increase production within the empire.”
“What? So, are you going to cut down the forest and increase the wheat field?”
“No. We will increase food production in the area of the current wheat field through the farming method.”
“Farming method?”
“Look at the materials I’ve prepared for you.”
Raymond pointed to the papers in front of them.
Inside it was written the farming method of cultivating a mixture of wheat, turnips, clover, barley, and soybeans.
“In this way, we expect to double the average food production in the same area of land.”
Dorothea smiled quietly at Raymond’s words.
It may seem like nothing, but what Raymond did was enormous.
How can he produce results in just a few months for work related to agriculture that takes place over a long period of two to three years?
The result surprised even Dorothea.
According to Raymond, he studied and researched all of the local and international farming methods.
In particular, Raymond was able to understand and decide the principles and feasibility of the research because he had cultivated and farmed the fields himself.
If all goes as expected, this will be a great achievement that can be called an ‘agricultural revolution’.
“Of course, the results may vary depending on the nature of the land and the climate, but we will spread this farming method to areas that can produce this crop. Especially since fodder crops can be grown together, so even pastures that used to be used for livestock can be turned into fields.”
Raymond’s expression is enthusiastic as he explains the new farming method.
“But this is just a plan that has not even been put into practice yet, Your Majesty the Crown Prince.”
“You’re right. There are so many variables when you try things out for yourself, but how can we fight Hark if you only believe in that?”
“If production doesn’t increase immediately, the people will have to starve again for years before the results come out, Your Majesty! You have to look at people’s lives. Even now, everyone is poor and starves to death.”
Raymond made eye contact with Dorothea. The opposition of the nobles was already expected.
“So, if this new farming method more than doubles the harvest within three years, will you agree to raise the customs duty of the hark, and promise not to increase the tax in each region further for the ‘people’s livelihood’ that the nobles are so worried about?”
Raymond dealt with their objections as he had arranged with Dorothea.
Then, the faces of the nobles hardened with difficulty.
“What?”
“I will only tax a certain amount from the same land. Because the people who are starving and crying come first.”
“But
.”
“As long as this farming method spreads evenly, we could later export the imperial wheat to Hark.”
‘I knew that there would be strong opposition when it comes to Hark.’
Dorothea, in particular, had seen the bill fail before the return.
TL: A bill is proposed legislation under consideration by a legislature. A bill doesn’t become law until it is passed by the legislature as well as, in most cases, approved by the executive.
Therefore, Dorothea prepared a meeting with Raymond, anticipating opposition from the nobles, and strategizing in advance.
Raising Hark’s tariffs is not an immediate priority. It was a question of how to use it to their advantage in the long run.
Just then, Raymond had figured out a new farming method, and Dorothea sharpened it so it could be used as a weapon.
“Barahan and some pilot areas have been using this farming method since this winter. Since it is related to the previous wheat farming, it can be seen that the first year has already been completed, so we’ll probably see the exact results next year.”
Raymond said to the ministers.
Then, a faint smile appeared on the lips of Carnan, who was sitting in the highest seat.
“If it’s confirmed that the new farming method produces twice as much food in the same area, I will dispense with all other formalities, raise the customs duty of hark and strengthen the border.”
“But Your Majesty—!”
“Let it be.”
Carnan emphasized once again to Dmitry, who was about to refute. No more logically objected to it, and at the emperor’s command, the scribe made a clear record of the matter.
Dorothea met Raymond’s eyes, and Raymond smiled, revealing his white teeth.
And Theon watched the two of them silently from behind.