Episode 4

Irritated by my gentle assault, Frederick narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

“What do you mean by real? Can’t you even listen properly now?”

“Yes, brother, everything you say is right.”

I nodded and smiled insincerely as if to agree with everything you were saying. It’s best to smile with an unaffected face at those who come to pick a fight, to infuriate them.

At that attitude, Camilla suddenly scowled. It seemed her mood was soured because I did not act maliciously as they intended.

I showed a leisurely smile and turned my eyes away from them, looking around the competition hall’s dining table. Among the dreary ministers, a man with a cool demeanor and sparkling blond hair caught my eye.

Even upon a second glance, he was the perfect-faced murderer, Duke Adler.

Since the moment I appeared, Duke Adler could not hide his displeasure. Nonetheless, the Emperor looked back and forth between me and Duke Adler, smiling contentedly.

“I called for you, Charlotte, because Duke Adler is attending the competition today. Isn’t the engagement of the two of you a joyous occasion for the Empire?”

As soon as the Emperor uttered ‘Duke Adler,’ Camilla and Frederick pounced on me as if they had caught a big fish.

“Hohoho, Charlotte’s hunger strike was worthwhile. She’s become so light that she could easily flit from Grand Duke Killian to Duke Adler, hasn’t she?”

“Charlotte’s lightness isn’t necessarily because she skips meals. Perhaps she carries less than others—like culture or knowledge. Ah, but maybe she does have a flower or two.”

“Oh my, the floral scent that’s been around must have been coming from Charlotte’s head.”

The two of them craftily insinuated that my head was a flower garden, causing the competition attendees to snicker.

Camilla looked at me with triumphant eyes as I quickly became the subject of ridicule, seemingly waiting for my imminent reaction.

However, I gazed at Camilla and Frederick with sparkling eyes instead, truly admiring their way with words.

How on earth can they insult so elegantly?

Such refined insults made me think I could take another bowl. Compared to the vile curses I heard in my past life dealing with criminals, this was nothing.

As I smiled calmly once again, the two faces twisted miserably.

The Emperor also seemed surprised at my demeanor, remaining calm amidst Camilla and Frederick’s ongoing provocations. Nevertheless, he pretended not to notice and continued the competition.

“Oh, it seems that Count Laienback has some concerns.”

This implied that the Count would be presenting today’s competition challenge. As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, the Count began to prattle on.

Half-listening, I plunged my fork into the fluffy egg benedict before me. Just as the appetizing egg yolk burst, I felt a chilly gaze from somewhere.

Startled, I looked up to meet a pair of cool blue eyes. Duke Adler frowned upon making eye contact with me.

He clearly disliked the fact that his fiancée was being ridiculed for ignorance and lack of culture in front of many people. It was evident he thought his own reputation was being tarnished because of me.

And yet, he scowls at me when he himself is a serial killer?

Somehow, anger welled up within me. Then I should repay in kind. Rude action for rude action.

With a slight squint, I winked as cutely as possible at the Duke, who was glaring at me fiercely.

“Pffft! Cough cough….”

The Duke coughed loudly at my sudden wink, drawing the attention of the entire competition hall to him.

“Duke Adler, please have some water.”

“I-I apologize, Your Majesty.”

The Duke’s ears turned red as he inadvertently interrupted Count Laienback’s speech, receiving a glare from the Emperor.

I couldn’t help but smile smugly, head bowed. It was understandable that the Duke was flustered by receiving a wink from someone he was glaring at. It was my own version of an ‘elegant insult’ I had just learned from the people here.

Once the Duke stopped coughing, the Count continued speaking.

“So… last year’s wheat harvest was good, and we have a surplus, but this year is also expected to be a bountiful one. This could lead to a crash in wheat prices.”

“If the farmers’ income decreases, public sentiment and security will worsen.”

The Emperor stroked his chin thoughtfully, a signal for the prince and princess to come up with a solution.

Prince Frederick was the first to speak up.

“How about deploying the imperial army to plow the wheat fields? We have to reduce the supply to maintain the price.”

Ugh. It was a one-dimensional answer focused only on the equilibrium price of the supply-demand curve. I frowned secretly at Frederick’s simplistic answer.

Princess Camilla, too, seemed to have noticed the flaw in the response, smirking as if she found it laughable. She was a smart and ambitious contender, the closest to the throne among her siblings.

“We should address the root cause first. We can simply export the surplus wheat to neighboring countries.”

Camilla stated her opinion in an arrogant tone.

Her advocacy for ‘free trade’ might seem sensible from a modern perspective, but it was flawed in this world. The Empire was a nation that had vassal states from conquest wars, and the surrounding vassal states were constantly attempting independence and rebellion against the Empire. To liberalize grain exports in such a context was tantamount to inciting war.

Count Laienback seemed to share my thoughts, as he just stroked his beard silently without comment.

However, Felipe, the third prince, suddenly pulled me into the conversation.

“Charlotte, since you’ve attended the competition after a long time, why don’t you share your thoughts as well?”

Startled by Felipe’s sudden call, the large stem of asparagus I was chewing gulped down my throat.

“Cough cough, hack hack.”

My uncultured coughing caused the Emperor to furrow his brows, looking at me with disdain.

“Ah, of course, if you’re going to suggest that the god of grain will solve everything like last time, you need not bother answering.”

Camilla laughed behind her fan as if my flustered appearance was amusing, and the other participants also covered their mouths, struggling to contain their laughter.

I scrunched up the bridge of my nose. I had no connection to the throne anyway; I was just going to watch quietly and leave. But if this keeps up, even I won’t be able to hold back.

I looked around the competition hall defiantly and opened my mouth to speak.

“Brother Frederick, if you mobilize the imperial army to discard the wheat that the farmers have worked hard to grow, won’t the commoners harbor grievances against the royal family? That would surely pose a problem for the imperial authority. You’ve certainly missed the mark.”

“What, what did you say?”

Frederick yelled in response to my unexpected attack.

“And sister Camilla, if you release the wheat to neighboring countries, it could be used as military provisions and become a great threat to the Empire. Then, we might really have to pray to the god of war for a solution.”

Suddenly, the banquet hall became quiet as if doused with cold water. I could feel several pairs of eyes staring at me, enlarged.

Then I continued in a clear, ringing voice.

“Select farms to give up wheat cultivation and grow fruits or vegetables instead, and provide them with subsidies. The wheat harvest will naturally decrease.”

It may seem simple at first glance, but it’s a theory of price and quantity adjustment dealt with in microeconomics.

For reference, my minor was in economics.

In response to my opinion, Camilla slammed her fan down on the table with a thud, her face twisted in displeasure.

“You seem quite ignorant, do you think you can just grow fruits or vegetables on land that was used for wheat?”

“Such land can be used for growing barley. Making and selling alcohol from barley won’t pose a problem for exports either.”

I replied in a crisp tone. At my words, Count Laienback nodded his head with an impressed expression.

“Certainly… You are correct.”

The other siblings’ faces contorted as if doused with cold water upon the Count’s assessment. Even the Emperor looked at me with a slightly surprised expression, then soon laughed heartily.

“I had no idea Charlotte possessed such qualities.”

“You flatter me, Father.”

I was modest before the Emperor. He seemed quite pleased with my demeanor.

“From now on, Princess Charlotte will participate in the breakfast competition every week.”

I responded to the Emperor with a smile. Caught off guard by the situation, the other siblings couldn’t manage their expressions.

As the Emperor finally left the competition hall, Camilla, who had approached me closely, glared at me venomously.

“You’d do well not to be deluded by today’s events. Such flukes only happen once.”

Camilla spat out her venomous words like a curse and whipped her head around, storming out of the competition hall. Her coiling red hair sharply grazed the tip of my nose.

Of course, it was neither painful nor ticklish to me. Once again, I must say, even in cursing, the royals were far too elegant compared to villains.

I hummed nonchalantly, unaffected, lingering by the door of the banquet hall. It seemed my demeanor only served to fuel their ire, as the two princes also glared at me and then left the hall with heavy footsteps.

Soon a large shadow fell in front of me. The man, who was about to leave the banquet hall, stood blocking the door and looked down at me intently. I lifted my head as if I had been waiting and met his eyes.

“Today is the day of our date. You haven’t forgotten, have you, Duke Adler?”

I beamed a refreshing smile at my esteemed date.