The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 265

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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 265

The fire at the port was finally extinguished on the fifth day. Even that was only possible with Bi’s help.

The warehouse where food supplies for the North had been stored collapsed down to its framework. Nearly half of the Central Army’s temporary warehouse nearby was also destroyed.

The only thing that remained intact was the gunpowder warehouse, which the port officials and stationed troops had risked their lives to protect.

Two docks were reduced to ashes. The state-owned cargo ships and warships that had been moored there also suffered damage.

The damage was not limited to state property.

Sparks carried by the wind also set fire to the warehouses of major grain merchants and textile dealers.

The property damage on that side was also indescribably extensive.

“If the plague in the Western Regions isn’t quickly contained, there will be famine.”

The Interior Ministry official, who always presented pessimistic forecasts, went so far as to say that.

The Central region was fertile, but there were no large-scale farms. Those with such financial resources had already jumped into commerce and industry.

They built structures on empty land and raised dairy cows and pigs. On farms, they planted expensive luxury goods consumed by nobles or fruits and vegetables that had to be harvested nearby because they wilted easily.

Naturally, they depended on the Western and Eastern regions for staple foods.

But plague was spreading in the West, and conflict had broken out in the East.

It would be fine if the plague in the West was quickly contained.

However, they still hadn’t found any treatment method other than the miracle of holy relics.

If this plague were to spread throughout the entire Western region, next year’s harvest would be ruined.

And even right now, farming wasn’t the immediate problem. They couldn’t bring food from a place where a disease of unknown origin was spreading.

There was no guarantee that people and livestock moving back and forth wouldn’t bring the plague with them.

The Central region was the center of logistics. It was no exaggeration to say that the moment the plague infected the Central region, it would spread throughout the entire Empire.

The Eastern region was equally difficult.

The large landowners’ warehouses would have grain stored up. But would those who had rebelled and fled willingly hand it over?

Of course, there were more who thought that was an overly pessimistic view.

“The plague isn’t such a serious situation yet. And even if it becomes a bit more serious than now, the West can endure it sufficiently.”

“There’s a new crop called Melben. You just need to plant it and it requires almost no care, so even if the wheat harvest fails, famine won’t strike.”

There were also those who said the Central region would be fine.

“Let me speak frankly. The Central region is fine. The problem is the North.”

At those words, all the officials fell silent. The one who had spoken sighed.

“Whatever happens to the West and East, grain prices in the Central region will definitely rise absurdly. But we can’t wait for prices to stabilize. We have to set sail before the northern ports freeze.”

For that, they needed to prepare large quantities of supplies again before autumn.

In the past, they would have requisitioned from grain merchants. But this time, the grain merchants’ warehouses had also been damaged.

If they requisitioned indiscriminately from undamaged warehouses in the capital and Central regions, they wouldn’t be able to handle the Central region’s public sentiment this time.

Moreover, grain wasn’t the only thing that needed to be requisitioned. They also needed various military supplies including weapons.

They also needed something to replace the burned ships.

The Emperor would never give up the Central Army’s military supplies. In the end, that too would become an additional burden on the people.

“If you suppress the rebels…”

The Interior Ministry and Chancellor’s Office officials attending the meeting whispered quietly among themselves.

As they did so, they looked at the military generals sitting on the opposite side.

The Emperor was neglecting the East, reasoning that deploying troops twice in one year would plunge the people’s livelihood into misery.

However, now that things had reached this point, shouldn’t they deploy troops for the sake of the people’s livelihood?

Even if it equally raised prices and increased the burden on people’s livelihoods, spending military funds to suppress rebels would face less backlash than requisitioning for the North.

They could suppress some of the large landowners in the East, open their warehouses, and confiscate their property. Then they could obtain grain, various essential resources, and ships without difficulty.

No opinion emerged to abandon the North.

Karam’s southward advance happened once every few years.

Since it had happened at the end of the year before last, the possibility was high that it wouldn’t happen this year.

So there might be no particular problem even if they didn’t supply materials this year. The North would have stockpiled enough to last about a year.

That would also reduce the burden of requisitioning ships.

But no one dared to say such things.

The Crown Prince was the Duke of Evron. Who could step forward and suggest abandoning the North?

Prime Minister Lin coughed lightly.

The assembly fell quiet. As if timed perfectly, the meeting room door opened.

“His Highness the Crown Prince enters.”

The official in charge of opening and closing doors announced.

The officials attending the meeting all rose from their seats in unison.

Sedric sat in the empty seat to the right of the head seat prepared for the Emperor.

And he gestured for the officials to sit down.

Rin spoke.

“You look tired. I heard you returned to the palace last night. Did you get some sleep?”

Sedric rubbed his face with his palm.

Needless to say, he was exhausted.

The fire had lasted five days, but he had spent nearly two weeks on follow-up measures. During that time, he had barely slept at all.

Both as Crown Prince and as Duke of Evron, he had to resolve this matter.

And when he returned, only Artizea’s letter remained in the Imperial Prince’s Palace.

“I’m fine. I’m not so tired that I’ll fall asleep during the meeting.”

Sedric said in a voice hoarse with fatigue.

“Your Highness…”

Rin called to him with a pitying voice.

Sedric let out a long sigh.

“What were you discussing?”

“We haven’t put it in the meeting minutes yet, but we were sharing personal opinions about the grain price problem. Sometimes solutions emerge from discussions like this…”

An Interior Ministry official spoke up.

“The grain merchants have already locked up their warehouses tight, Your Highness. If we want to conduct forced requisitions, we’ll have to rely on military force.”

Following him, a Finance Ministry official said.

“It’s common for people to appear who hoard goods expecting price spikes at times like this, Your Highness. If we try to pay full price, the national treasury absolutely cannot handle it.”

A Public Security official said.

“Let’s arrest a few merchants who are going too far, execute them as examples, and confiscate their property.”

Finally, Prime Minister Lin sighed silently.

Any of those options would lose public support. Sometimes they had to accept that, but he was reluctant to do such things right after Sedric’s Crown Prince investiture ceremony.

This was because this matter happened to be connected to northern affairs.

If there was someone behind this incident, they would certainly spread rumors along with it.

That the Crown Prince only cherished and loved the North, and intended to squeeze all other regions dry for the North’s sake.

And that would provide a good excuse for the Emperor.

Sedric rubbed his face once more.

“Fortunately, I have a way to partially solve that problem.”

“What is it?”

“The Crown Princess received last year’s relief grain back this spring… in Melben of equal value. She had most of it stored in warehouses in areas bordering the Central region before summer.”

Not many knew what Melben was. Only a few among the Interior Ministry officials.

However, they all brightened up.

“Considering the value of wheat and Melben, the quantity must be enormous.”

“That’s right. Since Melben grows even in the dead of winter, the spring harvest wouldn’t have been small either.”

“If it was collected in advance, it would save the trouble of requisitioning and reduce the risk of bringing in plague.”

Sedric hid his sigh and said.

“If we mix the stockpiled grain and Melben appropriately and distribute it, we can get through about a year without difficulty. It’s not a region where we need to be particular about grain quality anyway.”

“Her Highness the Crown Princess’s foresight is immeasurable.”

Praise poured forth.

Sedric nodded with a gloomy expression.

Artizea’s advance collection of Melben had two purposes: one was to leave wheat in the West to stimulate the economy, and another was to supply Melben to the North.

If possible, she wanted to spread it quickly. However, in the North, it was difficult to produce large quantities sufficient to supply Melben as seeds to all regions in a short time.

He had discussed this with Artizea during winter.

I never thought it would be used in this way.

“We’ll need to assess the quantities to know for sure, but for now, we can consider the food problem not urgent. The issue is with the transport ships.”

“That’s also been partially resolved. We’ve arranged to borrow transport ships from the Kingdom of Ients free of charge.”

Sedric said.

That too had been arranged by Artizea.

『I have briefly broached the subject with His Highness Crown Prince Bernart. If you need it, do not hesitate to make use of Ients.』

After reading that sentence in Artizea’s letter, he met with Crown Prince Bernart.

Bernart immediately brought up the matter of borrowing transport ships. Artizea had said she only broached the subject, but it seemed the discussion had progressed quite far.

Artizea had made provisions for all sorts of things. Her letter contained everything she could advise about.

Except for anything about herself.

『I believe the possibility that the port fire was accidental is slim.

It’s too dangerous to write about here. However, if the mastermind is ‘that person,’ keep in mind that they would know not only what I accomplished, but also what I discarded, and even the plans I laid as groundwork but failed to see through.

This is undoubtedly the same objective executed through different means. It will certainly not stop at merely burning supply materials.

The highest priority should be tightening control over the North.』

All those sentences were not written by a wife to her husband. They were written by an advisor to their lord.

『Do not resist His Majesty the Emperor. No matter what happens, I trust you understand better than anyone that you must protect your current position to reduce future sacrifices.

Please continue to let Natalia stay at the Imperial Prince’s Palace. Do not take your eyes off Leticia. Protecting your heir must take priority over everything else.

This is also connected to your maintaining your position as Crown Prince.』

She had even written her request about their daughter in such a manner.

And the single sentence added at the end was written by a criminal.

『All of this is my responsibility.』

Artizea surely had no idea what she was doing wrong to me.

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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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