The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 220

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

Chapter 220

When someone falls, there is bound to be someone who rises.

Duke Liagan’s punishment was confirmed.

Next in order, a meeting was held to discuss the disposal of assets confiscated from the House of Liagan and matters concerning the salt business.

The officials exchanged glances with each other.

Who exactly would obtain the salt business rights this time?

It was clear that the Emperor would not entrust the entire monopoly rights to a noble family this time.

In the past, establishing Fernando Liagan as duke and granting him monopoly rights was because the fact that the House of Liagan had practically dominated the salt business for a long time could not be ignored.

Moreover, the late Duke and Duchess of Liagan were recorded as having died in an accident. There was no justification to confiscate their interests and property.

However, this time was different.

The Emperor would probably appoint an administrator to govern it directly.

Then, who would take charge?

It was impossible to directly control southern business from the central government. Even if the business sites were divided into several groups and operated as state enterprises, ultimately a plenipotentiary representative would be needed.

It would not become hereditary family property. But the influence that could be exercised from that position would be enormous.

Even considering that the Emperor would conduct strict inspections, one could wield great power in the south.

Accumulation of wealth went without saying.

On the other hand, it was also a difficult job. This was after such an incident had occurred once. It was a position that would easily face turbulence if the occupant of the throne changed.

If Duke Loigar were to ascend to the throne, it would certainly be a position subject to purges.

Therefore, the meeting was sluggish.

It was time for the Emperor to make a decision, but his attitude was lukewarm.

The Emperor had recently been disappointed by his subjects one after another. The other subjects sitting in this place didn’t seem likely to be any different from Bellon or Amelie.

Having gathered only such people to discuss important matters, naturally there was no way enthusiasm could arise.

“One would have to stay in the south for a long time, and the work of immediately managing the salt business wouldn’t be easy either. It would be difficult for those whose families have put down roots in the capital, and it would also be difficult if they’re elderly, so without considering current status, I’ll select someone young and capable.”

The Emperor said.

“Feel free to make recommendations.”

However, hardly anyone opened their mouth.

Prime Minister Lin spoke.

“How about sending someone in a temporary position?”

“Hmm?”

“This year we have secured inventory by confiscating salt that the House of Liagan had diverted. The Department of Internal Affairs will assist to resolve it somehow.”

“The investigation of distributors has not been completed.”

Ferguson interjected.

“Among the licensed wholesalers, many cases involved receiving supplies through the Kingdom of Eimel while already knowing it was contraband salt. These people are clearly accomplices.”

“If we investigate and punish even the wholesalers and select new trading companies, distribution will barely be possible by the end of next year, Your Majesty. Setting aside the soaring prices, please also consider that contraband salt will spread even more nationwide in the meantime.”

Prime Minister Lin said seriously. A Department of Internal Affairs official added with concern.

“Daily necessities cannot be controlled just by cracking down on them. At this rate, it’s no different from building soil for contraband salt dealers to take root.”

“Moreover, to produce normally next spring, we must select a person in charge right now to ensure the manufacturing facilities operate properly.”

“Then, are you saying we should entrust salt distribution again to those who acted as contraband salt dealers?”

Once words began to flow, remarks pointing out problems followed one after another.

Only when it reached the point of shouting matches did the Emperor open his mouth.

“I know this too, so stop it.”

The remarks ceased abruptly.

“Will fighting solve the problem? As the Prime Minister said, we must send someone in a temporary position for now. However, don’t think of it as a simple temporary position, but think of it as selecting an important post that can continue to hold that position if the work is done well.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t think of taking it yourselves, but there must be young people in each department who are considered capable, right? Look carefully and recommend one person each.”

“We will obey your command.”

The assembly bowed their heads and answered. With such restrictions on recommendations, it was relatively easy to make recommendations.

It was then that the door opened slightly. A servant hurriedly entered without even knocking.

“What’s the matter?”

The Emperor asked. The servant bowed his head with a flustered attitude.

“Her Majesty the Empress is now.”

“The Empress?”

Before those words could finish, the meeting room door opened.

Two maids who had opened the door themselves rather than leaving it to the servant bowed at the waist from left and right. The Empress entered inside with slow steps.

The officials in the meeting room jumped up in surprise. The Emperor also asked in surprise.

“What brings you here?”

The Empress had shown no interest in this matter at all except for the day this incident occurred.

In fact, even that day, she had stepped outside and revealed her intentions only because Duke Liagan’s daughter had come to the front of the Empress’s Palace and would not leave.

So they thought she would not get involved in this matter.

Sedric pulled out his chair and moved it to the seat next to the Emperor. The Empress briefly said thank you and sat down.

The Emperor asked without hiding his surprise.

“I thought you had decided not to get involved in this matter.”

“I have no interest in what happens to someone like Fernando. But I must reclaim my inheritance rights.”

“Inheritance rights?”

The Emperor’s expression became serious. Coldness settled in his voice.

“You already lost inheritance rights to the House of Liagan when you were appointed as Crown Princess.”

“I gave up succession to the title. Property rights are separate.”

The Empress said.

“I will reclaim the artworks and jewels passed down through generations in the House of Liagan, the mansions and villas, 72 salt manufacturing facilities and the nearby mines, logging sites, and other lands. These were what my parents should have left to me in the first place. Since they weren’t Fernando’s, you have no right to confiscate them.”

“Katrin.”

“There are probably many other miscellaneous things, but since they’re not valuable as family history, never mind those. Feel free to take everything that Fernando increased using my property as seed money.”

The Emperor’s face contorted.

The Empress’s words were not wrong. What she had given up was the title of Duke Liagan. Not the property side.

Things like mansions or land didn’t matter much. Of course, it was enormous wealth, but it wasn’t as if they had planned businesses to undertake by confiscating them in their governance plans.

But the salt manufacturing facilities were a different problem.

The salt manufacturing facilities currently operated by the House of Liagan totaled 150 locations. 72 locations would be nearly half that scale.

Not only in numbers, but the scale made the problem more serious.

The two largest salt mines in the Empire and all seven large-scale manufacturing facilities belonged to the House of Liagan.

The salt produced here amounted to 30% of total production. Without that, it would be impossible to supply salt throughout the entire Empire.

The officials held their breath.

The Empress’s claim could not be unconditionally denied. If it were another noble, they could forcibly expropriate in the name of national interest, but the opponent was the Empress.

“What do you intend to do by taking the salt manufacturing facilities? Private salt production and distribution are now prohibited.”

“Since they belonged to my parents, I simply want them returned. Just owning without operating the salt business wouldn’t violate national law. Whether I blow them up or abandon them would be my choice, wouldn’t it?”

“That cannot be allowed, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Sedric, who had kept his mouth shut until then, interjected. It was just as the Emperor’s face was turning red and blue.

“Salt is a daily necessity. If those salt mines are closed, the path for proper salt distribution becomes hopeless.”

He bowed his head deeply to the Empress.

Originally, such daily necessities should have the monopoly system lifted and be made into a licensing system. Only then would the people’s lives not completely collapse in situations like this.

In any case, enormous profits could be gained just by controlling manufacturing facilities and distribution networks. Just as the House of Liagan had done in the past.

However, he could not say those words, and since he was not in a position to be directly involved in practical affairs, he had kept his mouth shut.

“Please look down with compassion on the people’s lives.”

As soon as his words ended, Prime Minister Lin knelt before the Empress.

“Prices are already soaring now. Considering that salt is an item people store and use, next year will become an unbearable situation.”

When the Prime Minister knelt, the officials from the Prime Minister’s office and Department of Internal Affairs could not remain standing.

They knelt in a line. Only Ferguson remained standing.

The Emperor became quiet. Sedric might have spoken with pure intentions, but Prime Minister Lin had certainly done so to create an atmosphere where fighting was impossible.

The Empress wore a bitter smile.

“Sedric, you’re making me out to be a very bad person.”

“I apologize. How could I not understand the heart that cherishes parents’ inheritance? But state affairs come first.”

“Fine. I wasn’t really planning to blow it up anyway.”

The Empress said reluctantly and looked at the Emperor. The Emperor asked in a calmed voice.

“What will you do? You couldn’t possibly have any real interest in salt distribution.”

“Just as I said. It’s my parents’ legacy, so I’ll take ownership. When I die, I plan to pass it on to my ward and relatives.”

“Hmm.”

The Emperor stroked his chin, lost in thought.

If the Empress’s purpose lay in inheriting ownership, there was room for compromise.

Inheritance issues were always sensitive matters for both nobles and the temple, so if it became a fight, the chaos in state affairs would last even longer.

The Emperor said.

“I’ll pay rental fees for the factories and facilities. Don’t interfere with operations and distribution at all.”

“I’ll receive part of the mine’s profits in salt.”

“Only for salt crystals that have value as ornaments. If what you want is a symbol of House Riagan, that should be sufficient.”

“No. Even if distribution goes through your agents, I need to receive proper salt first. And I want my heirs to be able to properly own the mines.”

“Katrin, I cannot allow that. Your heirs will receive profits from the mines and rental fees from the salt factories, just like you.”

“If I can’t handle my inheritance rights and my family’s succession as I wish, then you won’t be able to either.”

The Emperor’s face hardened slightly. The Empress said as if spitting out the words.

“But if you guarantee my heirs their rightful privileges, I might allow what you proposed before.”

“Katrin, that is…”

“Don’t forget. You may have rendered me powerless as Empress, but it will take at least 30 years after my death for the Riagan name to be completely forgotten in politics.”

The Empress said this and stood up.

“Ah, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Sedric called out to her in confusion, trying to stop her.

However, the Empress left the meeting room without even looking at him.

The ministers were bewildered.

Except for the Emperor himself, only Sedric in this room knew what the ‘proposal’ the Emperor had made to the Empress was. Even Sedric was officially supposed to be unaware of it.

The Emperor watched the Empress’s retreating figure and said in a sunken voice.

“Let’s adjourn today’s meeting here.”

It was when the ministers stood up after hearing those words.

The sound of knocking on the meeting room door rang out again. Since the Empress had been in the meeting room, someone who had been waiting outside was immediately requesting an audience.

The Emperor asked irritably.

“What is it?”

“A messenger has come from the port.”

“Is it an urgent matter?”

“Not urgent, but significant.”

The Emperor gestured for the messenger to be brought in.

The messenger knelt on one knee and said respectfully.

“The King of Aemel has arrived.”

Indeed, it was a significant matter.

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