“That’s right. They should have been prepared for that much when they sided with the marquis.”

Other ministers openly expressed antipathy toward the lords who had been on the marquis’s side and opposed Roderick’s opinion.

“But this festival is precisely an opportunity to win over those who weren’t on our side.”

“However, doing so might instead provoke the resentment of the lords who have supported and devoted themselves to Her Majesty the king from the beginning.”

“I think rewards and punishments have already been sufficiently meted out. And if the pro-princess faction lords look further ahead, they won’t think they’ve been treated unfairly over festival supplies.”

“But only by making distinctions can we engrave in their minds that this is the price of being on our side, that they can only enjoy prosperity by being on our side.”

“That stage is already over.”

Duke Pendrel, who had been quietly observing the discussion, interjected.

“From now on, we must win over all sides as the king’s people.”

Duke Pendrel agreed with Roderick. Erica also agreed with Roderick.

“The intention is good, but it’s impossible.”

Meanwhile, the finance minister, whose face had been ashen since Roderick voiced his opinion, spoke up.

“It’s already tight helping the territories that sent supply requests, and now you want to help all territories. To do that, the royal palace would have to starve.”

The territories had money left over, but the royal palace had no money. This was because the scale of expenditures was different. Thus the topic of discussion shifted again to how to procure money and supplies.

‘Ugh, I need speaking rights too.’

Erica, who had been quietly listening to the meeting from behind Elodie, felt like she was dying of frustration. She had a good idea but couldn’t speak up in the ministers’ meeting because she was the head maid.

‘We could mobilize wyverns from our family.’

Right now the fundamental problem was that land and sea routes were slow, so they couldn’t obtain supplies even with money.

‘Then we should use the sky route.’

Couldn’t they go to distant countries to sell the luxury items the royal family received from foreign delegations during the coronation ceremony, buy supplies with that money, and distribute them to each territory? If they mobilized the wyverns of the Staig mountain range as well, they could procure and deliver all supplies before the festival.

‘While we’re at it, having wyverns fly around the entire kingdom could also elevate the prestige of the Winterborn family throughout each territory.’

And while delivering the king’s gifts, our family could also make a big profit!

Since they’d be visiting foreign countries and each territory with wyverns anyway, if they brought back loads of other goods and sold them in each territory, the Winterborn family’s coffers would become quite full.

‘Should I organize a trading company while we’re at it?’

Erica was the type who absolutely never did anything that only resulted in losses.

Anyway, she had thought of such a good idea but couldn’t voice it. It would be nice if Roderick, who had speaking rights, would think the same thing, but since Roderick was a soldier to his bones, not a merchant, expecting that was unreasonable.

‘Roderick, receive my telepathy. Say we’ll lend our wyverns.’

Why don’t I have telepathic abilities?

“What does Your Majesty think?”

When there seemed to be no sign of reaching a conclusion, Duke Pendrel asked the highest decision-maker who had been silently watching.

“I……”

The child who used to always begin with ‘Elodie thinks’ now started with ‘I.’ At first she had been awkward and didn’t know what to do, but now it was quite natural.

And at first, whenever she had to express her thoughts as king, she would glance at Roderick and Erica, reading their expressions to see if what she was saying was right, but she didn’t do that anymore.

“A king doesn’t show they’re reading the room. Well, they do need to read the room, but they don’t show it.”

Because Erica had taught her this.

“……am the master of this kingdom. To me, whether they were on my side or not, they are all my people.”

In the end, she had sided with Roderick, but it was such a textbook perfect answer as king that it didn’t sound at all like ‘I’ll do as Dad says.’

‘Well done, my child.’

Erica’s neatly clasped hands twitched.

‘I want to pat her bottom.’

She’d have to make sure to do it later when no one was watching.

“Your Majesty truly has the makings of a wise ruler.”

The finance minister offered praise while looking extremely troubled.

“I too would like to share Your Majesty’s intentions, but as you know, there is no proper way to procure supplies.”

“That……”

Elodie answered as if she had been waiting, having given it thought.

“Couldn’t we borrow wyverns from the Winterborn family?”

At the young king’s suggestion, everyone’s expressions brightened and their gazes turned to Roderick. However, Erica’s surprised gaze was directed at Elodie.

‘You, do you read minds?’

Apparently the ministers had also wanted to mobilize wyverns but hadn’t dared bring it up, because as soon as Elodie broached the topic, they began actively discussing ways to utilize wyverns.

“It’s a good plan, but……”

Roderick trailed off like this while sneaking a glance at Erica. Because even if Erica wasn’t the real power behind the kingdom, she was certainly the real power behind the count family.

‘So you were thinking about wyverns too?’

Roderick clearly wanted to immediately offer to lend the wyverns. Without any compensation.

Roderick Winterborn. Was he a loyal retainer, a generous dad, or a pushover?

‘Do it. Say you’ll do it. But say that if there’s any side income in the process, it’s ours. Oh, and while we’re at it, ask for a trading company license too.’

Roderick, who had quickly read his wife’s expression with wide eyes, returned to being a stern captain of the guards as if nothing had happened.

“We would also be happy to lend our wyverns, but……”

Roderick rather politely explained in roundabout terms that the maintenance costs for wyverns and wyvern riders—food, drink, lodging, etc.—would bankrupt the count family if they had to cover them.

“How much would the daily cost be?”

The finance minister asked.

“Rather than that, how about this?”

However, Duke Pendrel interjected with a proposal.

“There will surely be times in the future when Your Majesty will need wyverns. Not just for military matters like now.”

Since lords had an obligation to lend armies to the king, the king already had the right to borrow wyverns when militarily necessary.

“So how about we establish a contract?”

Duke Pendrel was indeed quick with reading situations and calculations. Thanks to him, an agreement was quickly reached in the direction Erica wanted.

They would lend wyverns whenever needed, but instead of the king paying the costs and compensation, the king would grant the Winterborn family permission to operate a trading company using wyverns.

‘What an unexpected windfall.’

Thus Erica became the only person in the kingdom to receive permission for aerial trade.

‘I can already see gold coins overflowing from the coffers.’

Since the Winterborn family hadn’t demanded it first, there would be absolutely no criticism later.

The meeting didn’t end until another hour had passed after that. Though they had taken brief breaks in between, wasn’t a three-hour meeting too harsh for a nine-year-old child?

“What’s the next schedule?”

“After this time, there are no other schedules for today, Your Majesty.”

They had deliberately created free time after the meeting.

“What would you like to do, Your Majesty?”

When asked what she wanted to do, Elodie answered with someone.

“Where is Eric?”

* * *

“Your Majesty, did you call for this Eric?”

Eric, who had come running when told that Mom and Elodie were looking for him, was with other playmates. Whatever they had been playing, all the boys were covered in dust.

‘Even though the nannies must have brushed them all off before coming here, they still look like that.’

Erica resisted the urge to hold her forehead and asked Eric.

“Eric, where were you and what were you doing?”

“I was practicing swordsmanship! Sir.”

The hastily added ‘Sir’ after the casual speech stood out particularly.

That child who hates any kind of lessons or practice, practicing swordsmanship? He probably just played sword fighting with wooden swords with the other boys and rephrased it in terms that wouldn’t get him scolded by Mom.

‘That cunning….’

He takes after me.

This was so obvious that she couldn’t pin the blame on Roderick.

“I want to go out and play too.”

As soon as they went out to the garden, Elodie’s eyes returned to those of a child.

“Caught you! Now you’re it!”

“Hinggg……”

The adults just watched from the corner while the children played tag for quite a while. Then, perhaps getting bored, they gathered to sit and began playing house.

“Your Majesty will be the mom……”

“Eric will be the dad.”

“Okay, sir.”

“Mom and Dad, we’re hungry.”

“Then Mom will make dinner, so you children go out to the vegetable garden and dig up some vegetables.”

“Yes, Mom.”

At times like this, they really seemed like ordinary kids their age.

“Then Dad will go hunting……”

Elodie grabbed Eric, who was trying to stand up, and made him sit down.

“Dad will wash dishes right away next to Mom.”

Erica felt embarrassed in front of the surrounding maids and nannies. It was something Erica had often said to Roderick when they lived in the cabin.

‘My private life has been completely exposed.’