Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 102

‘Amanda? It’s a common name, but….’

The whispering voice somehow sounded similar to the woman he had met earlier.

Deshion, now completely awake, sat up. He pressed his body close to the wall to better hear their conversation. Then the man’s tired voice came through clearly.

“I told you not to come unless it was absolutely necessary.”

“Do you think I wanted to come down that treacherous path at this hour?”

Amanda said with a sob in her voice.

“Alice doesn’t look good at all. I think I’ll need to call a doctor as soon as dawn breaks…. Could you help me out a little more? I’m so sorry for always asking favors, Nova.”

“Where would I get money from? There’s no work these days, and the inn rates have gone up too, so I’m in trouble.”

The man let out a deep sigh. Even as he complained about his difficult situation, he seemed uncomfortable and added:

“…I’ll bring you money as soon as I get some. I’ll go begging for work here and there as soon as dawn breaks, so go back for now. You shouldn’t leave that sick child alone.”

“Thank you. Really….”

“It’s dangerous because it’s late. I’ll walk you partway at least. Let’s go together.”

Click.

The door closed, and the sound of the two leaving the corridor together could be heard. Only then did Deshion pull away from the wall.

“If it’s Nova… that must be a nickname for Norbert.”

Though it was a brief conversation, quite a lot of information about Norbert was organized clearly in Deshion’s mind.

A day laborer who didn’t have a steady job but earned money by taking work as it came. Struggling with financial difficulties, and currently staying long-term at this inn. Despite all that, he seemed to have enough humanity to care for his elderly sister and sick niece.

Having assessed Norbert, Deshion sat on the edge of the bed and muttered.

“Since he’s urgently looking for work, I know exactly how to approach him.”

* * *

When Heidi and Betty arrived at the Viscount’s Castle, the feast was gradually winding down.

The large bowls that had been full of food were now nearly empty, and the men were laughing with flushed faces from the wine. Children who had filled their bellies after a long time were squealing and running around everywhere.

Then Betty suddenly opened her mouth as if remembering something.

“Oh, Princess! I forgot that we were supposed to change your clothes again.”

“I completely forgot too. Fortunately, there aren’t many eyes watching, so let’s hurry inside.”

“This way, please. This is a side door mainly used by the servants working in the castle, so we won’t run into people.”

Betty led Heidi toward a less conspicuous route. Just as the two had safely entered the castle and were walking while exchanging light jokes:

“Oh my.”

A face they really didn’t want to encounter in this situation suddenly appeared.

“What on earth is that outfit….”

At Anastasia’s words, Betty looked helplessly at Heidi for guidance.

“There was a good reason for it, so I asked her to change clothes.”

“It suits you well. How about asking the Viscount to give you one as a gift?”

Heidi didn’t respond and turned her gaze toward the window in the corridor.

“It looks like the food we prepared is all gone now.”

“Yes. Everyone was so delighted.”

“That’s good.”

At Heidi’s words, Anastasia chuckled.

“While I was busy working all day, you didn’t show your face even once, so I wondered if you were making some grand plan. But looking at you now….”

Anastasia’s gaze swept Heidi from top to bottom.

“You seem to have been lost in memories. You look happy, so that’s fortunate.”

“Ah, yes.”

Heidi brushed off Anastasia’s provocation lightly and looked at Betty to ask.

“By the way, where are Duke Delern and Viscount Hitchins?”

At Heidi’s question, Betty answered respectfully.

“The Viscount should be in his study by now. Shall I call him for you?”

“Yes, but let me change clothes first.”

* * *

“Potatoes, you say?”

Duke Delern looked at Heidi with a puzzled expression.

“I heard there are potato fields scattered throughout the mountainside. The land there isn’t completely dried up. Water flows there too.”

The Viscount nodded at Heidi’s words.

“That’s correct. Thanks to that, we’re receiving water supply. But it’s not enough for farming.”

“Not enough for growing wheat, that’s true. But I heard potatoes don’t require as much water as wheat. They grow well even in relatively barren land.”

The Viscount’s eyes widened. He asked cautiously with a doubtful expression.

“How does the Princess know about farming…?”

“How could I have known such things in advance? I went around asking the local farmers directly.”

Heidi shrugged.

“Some farms were already growing potatoes in small gardens they’d made. Please look into it and actively recommend it to the estate residents. The first priority is making sure no one starves.”

“Yes, Princess. I’ll do that.”

The Viscount, who had been writing something down with his pen, looked up. He met Heidi’s eyes with a serious expression.

“But even if we plant potatoes right away, they’ll need time to grow. How should we endure until then….”

“I’ve been thinking about that part too.”

At Heidi’s words, interest sparked in the eyes of the Viscount and Duke Delern.

“Viscount Hitchins, have you been to the market directly recently?”

At Heidi’s words, the Viscount’s eyes wavered.

“The market, you mean…?”

“I heard there’s a market once a week.”

“…No. I’ve never been there.”

The Viscount’s face reddened. Worried that Heidi might see him as lazy and incompetent, he added an excuse:

“But I always listen carefully to the voices of the estate residents.”

“I’m not trying to blame you. I also heard from the villagers that you didn’t collect tenant fees this year.”

Heidi smiled reassuringly.

“From what I’ve roughly assessed, the prices of food ingredients sold in Hitchins Estate are three times more expensive than the capital at minimum, and up to twenty times more at maximum.”

“Twenty times, you say?”

Duke Delern frowned as if he couldn’t believe it. He said:

“There would be costs for transporting goods from other regions… Some price increase would be a natural result, but this seems quite excessive.”

“I think so too.”

Heidi nodded.

“It seems the merchants have formed a cartel. They’re overcharging several times the normal price for goods going to Hitchins Estate.”

“Then how should we resolve this situation?”

The corner of the Duke’s mouth lifted slightly as he looked at Heidi. His eyes sparkled as if he was looking forward to Heidi’s answer.

Though the question was directed at Heidi, it was the Viscount who spoke first.

“Shouldn’t we punish the merchants? Taking such excessive profits….”

Heidi shook her head.

“It’s certainly unethical, but I think we need to examine more carefully whether there are grounds for punishment.”

“Ah!”

“And shouldn’t solving Hitchins Estate’s food problem come first?”

The Viscount looked at Heidi with a worried expression and asked. By now, trust in her could be felt in his face as he looked at her.

“Is there a solution?”

“Would it be difficult for the Royal Family to intervene?”

“What kind of intervention do you mean?”

Hmm. After thinking for a moment, Heidi suggested:

“How about the Royal Family directly purchasing food supplies and selling them at reasonable prices? In return, we could mobilize village manpower to maintain the reservoir and waterways.”

“The reservoir, you mean?”

“This drought was the first of its kind in Hitchins Estate’s history, but there’s no law saying it won’t happen again. I thought we need to prepare for such situations.”

“I agree with that.”

The Viscount nodded in agreement. Duke Delern, who had been watching this quietly, smiled gently.

“I’ll speak to The King about it.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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