Chapter 3: Petunia: The Way to Not Lose Hope

WEST border Adenium is an area that often experiences extreme weather changes. Even though it has entered summer, the site often turns into a rainy season with high frequency. The duration can reach 2-3 months. Thus, places on the western border have shorter summers than other regions.

The topography of the area is low and categorized as a flood-prone area. Anemone Village, Forsythia Village, and Burnet Village have slightly higher ground levels than Petunia Village, so it won't be too severe if a flood occurs. On the other hand, the Petunia was surrounded by long rivers that stretched out to be very vulnerable.

Since joining Adenium three years ago, Petunia has been concentrating on regional development plans. The biggest problem that until now has yet to receive a solution is the problem of flooding.

Hamon Quante reported two days ago that the floods had destroyed the barrier that had been repaired three months ago. Meanwhile, the ditches that were built along the roads in the western border area overflowed due to not being sufficient to accommodate the rainwater discharge. As a result, the losses were estimated at tens of trillions of gold coins.

Based on the records Leocadio kept while I was on the battlefield, this year's losses were the biggest compared to last year's. As much as sixty percent of the agricultural, plantation, and fishery products that come from Petunia, none of them can be saved due to the floods that hit just a month before the big harvest season arrives.

"This year, Adenium can only get forty percent of the agricultural and plantation to produce from Anemone Village, Forsythia Village, and Burnet Village." Leocadio turned over the paper and continued, "We can't tax the forty percent, Your Majesty."

I agree.

If the palace breaks down the sixty percent, food shortages will occur throughout the western border region. This problem must be resolved before there is a way to exempt taxes temporarily. So, I would need to find a solution immediately.

"Regarding Petunia—" He cleared his throat before continuing, "The crops that the village has been able to provide aren't enough to cover the palace's budget, while the palace's expenses since Petunia joined the Adenium Empire are quite large."

His words are not wrong but can not be justified either. Even though Petunia was currently taking up a lot of the palace treasury, the village would provide an even more significant advantage when it was successfully repaired.

Petunia belongs to the blessed land. The soil is very fertile, making it suitable for gardening and farming; the rivers that stretch are filled with various types of freshwater fish to increase regional income; besides that, the Petunia forests provide vegetable and animal sources that can relieve and facilitate the people. But often floods close the potential of Petunia.

When viewed from these three aspects, Adenium has nothing to lose if he lets go of Petunia. Petunia's agricultural, plantation, and fishery products can be obtained from other regions of the Adenium Empire without spending much money to improve those areas first. However, as the Emperor, I can't let go because the village has become part of Adenium.

"It seems the nobles are protesting."

He confirmed.

I finally took a deep breath as I flipped over the last piece of paper in the document Leocadio gave me. Could you take off the reading glasses, record the document on the table, and the back of my right hand supporting the chin, lazy.

After defending the throne for hundreds of years, I realized one thing that would never change: the country's problems would become more complicated and complex over time. Either because of the changing earth, destructive human intervention factor, or both.

"Do as usual," I said after a few minutes of silence. "If they persist—" The thumb of my left-hand rises to neck level; moves slowly from right to left horizontally, saying, "Cut his neck."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then, I have finalized the budget details regarding the repair of Petunia," he said as he handed me several sheets of paper. "The distribution of aid has been distributed from the first day, but the aid budget is inadequate, so I made details of taking part of the palace's emergency fund."

"Approved."

"Fine, I'll report it to the finance department."

I returned the proposal signed and officially stamped. He received it while I opened my mouth after supporting my chin with my right hand. "Because aid distribution is prone to abuse, go with Hamon to take care of it. I will send some people to help in the field."

"Fine, I understand."

Next, I turned to Hamon, who was standing straight beside Leocadio. Her light blue hair shone like the sky during the day, while his dark gray eyes looked exhausted after returning from Petunia.

"What about the evacuation of residents?"

"The evacuation of all of Petunia's residents is likely to be completed this afternoon, Your Highness."

"The other three villages?"

"The evacuation of the residents of Burnet Village was completed this morning, while the other two villages were able to carry out their activities as usual."

I cleared my throat and then closed my eyes; leaned against the chair's back; I said, "All right. If your reports are done, come out."

The door to the study that was tightly closed suddenly opened wide and made quite a loud sound when the door collided with the wall. Leocadio burst in after a few moments and then walked out with Hamon.

"YOUR EXCELLENCY!"

A piercing gaze instantly fell on him. "I will kill you if what you say is not urgent."

He took a deep breath before saying, "A noble family that was proposing their daughter as a candidate for Empress suddenly came to me and protested.

His eyes closed when I threw the pen right after he finished the sentence. Targeting his smooth cheeks, but unfortunately, my fingers were slippery, so the throw missed by about an inch and stuck sweetly on the wall.

"The pigs never give me a break." Rising from seat; walked to the side of the table; and stopped beside Leocadio, standing in the doorway.

"Send them into the hall right now. I'll hear what the pigs are all fussing about."

A flock of humans who made hog noises in front of the palace suddenly became silent when I sat on the throne. They lined up on the left and right; glanced at each other as if giving the code to open the voice. Others turned their eyes in all directions; avoided the glares I was giving them.

Duke Costello, who stood at the forefront, the line closest to me, began surveying the situation while Leocadio did the same while waiting for the pigs to make a sound.

"Say it."

Folding my right leg over my left leg while the back of my right hand supports my chin, the pigs whispered. Some glanced at me fearfully before looking down again, while others pretended to clear their throats.

"Tell me before I cut your tongues."

Marquess Matheo took a step forward and turned around. He stood obediently before me before raising her head and saying,

"Your Majesty, how could you pass the Emperor's bloodline to someone so obscure?! How could His Majesty reject a lady from a distinguished family and choose another obscure woman out there?!"

"Say it clearly."

"It's about your child who suddenly appeared in front of the palace gate."

I frowned. "Child?"

"That's right, Your Majesty."

"Your Imperial Majesty would not have done such a thing." Duke Costello interrupted. He glanced sharply at Marquess Matheo. "Can you prove your words, Marquess?"

The fat man smiled. "Bring the child before His Majesty the Emperor!"

One of the nobles stepped out of line. He walked towards the door, opened the door slowly, and spoke to someone. Then a tiny child escorted by a soldier appeared from there. They then walked forward while the noble returned to the line. The little girl's appearance immediately caught a lot of attention, and she saw a lot of eyes: yellow hair that still glistened even though it was dull and dirty and green eyes that were stunning yet sharp.

Her appearance and whispers from my left and right were increasingly heard. As she walked, many noble eyes followed her, paying close attention to her actions. At the same time, I froze when I realized she was standing in front of me.

"Your Highness, this child claims to be your daughter."

Marquess Matheo's words brought me back to a shocking reality. I never thought the child I accidentally found would appear in front of me again. The kid I met a week ago in the woods, the child in the burlap sack and I didn't get to kill, a child with the same physical appearance as me!

"Papa...."[]