The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 44

***

In the Seora Empire, farming is conducted using the transplanting method. This method increases the yield compared to growing rice in dry fields, but the success or failure of the crops depends on the year’s rainfall.

If it doesn’t rain for a long time, the paddies dry up, and the rice plants die.

As a result, Seora has developed irrigation techniques, but there have often been difficult issues, such as improper management of reservoirs leading to stagnant water and performing rituals to solve these problems.

Watching those two argue over rain indicates it’s a water issue… Someone said, “If there’s no bread, eat cake.”

If there’s no rice, why not eat potatoes or sweet potatoes?

Of course, they might be less efficient and less tasty than rice, but they would suffice to prevent starvation.

Drought-resistant crops don’t need as much water as rice and grow well in colder regions. If rice is cultivated only in the central regions where it’s always summer, and other areas focus on drought-resistant crops, there would be much more food available.

According to Baekan, if people on the verge of starvation were offered these crops instead of rice, they wouldn’t complain about not getting rice, so why limit the food supply to just rice?

That was the question prompted by such thoughts…

I rolled my eyes. The consorts were staring at me intently without any reaction.

I was quite flustered. I had expected an explanation as to why drought-resistant crops couldn’t be cultivated. Perhaps the term “drought-resistant crops” doesn’t exist in this world?

“Like potatoes or sweet potatoes. They can grow well even in the cold and barren lands of the North, and eating just one can fill you up.”

Even after my additional explanation, the assembly remained silent. I fidgeted with my hands, trying to endure the focused attention on me. Honestly, the sight of wide-eyed gazes fixed solely on me was somewhat frightening.

Come on, any reaction?

“What exactly are these miraculous crops…?”

One of the consorts asked me in a dumbfounded voice. I frowned at the question.

They don’t know about them? Maybe they’ve been raised too delicately to have ever seen drought-resistant crops? Or perhaps these crops are known by different names in this world?

“Well, they are plants whose roots can serve as a meal substitute, and their stems can be prepared as vegetables.”

Even after my explanation, the bafflement on their faces didn’t fade, and I was truly perplexed.

What, they really don’t know?

At that moment, a soft laugh broke the silence. It was Yemyeon, the consort who had been arguing with Suwon. Her pink eyes met mine, cold as the winter wind.

“Her Highness is quite creative. The future of Seora seems bright.”

Her unexpected praise for my creativity left me slightly agape. It was a kind comment, but it had an edge to it.

“It’s early, and you could have stayed in bed, yet you’ve come out here even though you’re not fully awake. How commendable.”

Ah…

Ah…?

Despite the sharp look on the woman’s face, I grinned broadly. Oh well, if you don’t know, better to stay quiet and go back to sleep, right?

“That could be.”

I bowed my head again and chewed on a snack. After all, it’s not like they hadn’t thought of such a simple solution as increasing the cultivation of drought-resistant crops.

The surprise at the mention of drought-resistant crops must be because they are either known by different names in this world, or they don’t exist at all.

I acknowledge that the question might have seemed foolish, but I still pouted a bit.

“Consort Hwa.”

Then, Mirinae’s kind voice reached my ears.

“How many years has it been since the year of mercy?”

“Eight years remain until the rite of maturity.”

“Is that so? Her Highness the Princess is eight years old this year.”

Mirinae answered her with simple words, making it easier to understand. She counted with her fingers like a child, then smiled broadly and said,

“Consort Hwa has lived fourteen more years.”

The atmosphere tensed with her softly spoken words. Mirinae was the only one smiling. I watched the scene unfold as if I were watching a fire across the river, detached yet intrigued.

“Thank you for explaining kindly. The Princess is still very young, isn’t she?”

That was it. It felt like a breath of fresh air.

Right. Adults don’t just grow up overnight. There’s no need to be so harsh with a child. It’s like a frog that doesn’t remember being a tadpole.

Consort Hwa’s eyes grew cold at the patronizing comment. Mirinae, unfazed, smiled and continued to gaze at her.

I timidly agreed with Mirinae’s approach. I understand being busy and tired from all the responsibilities, but let’s protect the growing sprouts. After all, she’s officially a mother, in a way.

The atmosphere had cooled, and no more words were exchanged. As silence took over, drowsiness crept up alarmingly.

I had woken up early, and the sun was already high in the sky. It was about time to feel sleepy. I yawned stretchingly and didn’t try to fight the sleepiness in my eyes.

Under these circumstances, someone—likely Yehwa—would usually make a fuss and suggest I go to sleep, effectively sending me off.

“Sanya, are you very sleepy?”

And as expected, Mirinae next to me gently stroked my forehead with concern. I nodded obediently. He whispered, ‘You’ve done well. Go and rest now,’ and quietly signaled to Seoyeon standing behind me.

Just as I was about to reach out to her, asking to be picked up, I heard Yehwa’s voice.

“Consort Hwa.”

Her voice was still gentle, but devoid of any warmth or affection, an unfamiliar tone indeed.

Turning my head, I quickly realized that her gaze was directed at Yemyeon, and that Mirinae and Garam were also following suit.

My sleepiness vanished instantly.

Right. That was it. I had forgotten until now, but in the original story, she was a very cold-hearted person.

She was a benevolent ruler but with clear boundaries. Now, the Empress is my mother, and Consort Hwa had… insulted me? Anyway, she was someone who had tormented me.

This, this can’t be left alone.

“Oh dear, is our Princess sleepy?”

Since I hadn’t been picked up by Seoyeon, Yeoryu cheerfully spoke up and scooped me into his arms. I flailed in his embrace, but Yeoryu didn’t put me down.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. It is time for the Princess to take her afternoon nap.”

“You may leave.”

Wait, hold on. Leaving it like this could cause trouble.

“Yeoryu. Wait a moment. I―”

“Yes, yes. My lady. We’ll hurry.”

No, that’s not what I meant!

Through the slowly closing door, I could see Yemyeon’s face. She was still smiling leisurely. I flailed my hands awkwardly, realizing it was already too late, and clenched my fist tightly, cheering myself on silently.

…Fighting.

* * *

Back in the palace, as usual, I flopped down on the bed.

“My lady! How can you lie down without changing your clothes?”

The maids screamed as if the world was ending, but I covered my ears with the blanket, pretending not to hear.

‘I really didn’t expect them to be nonexistent.’

Surprisingly, there really were no drought-resistant crops like potatoes or sweet potatoes in the Seora Empire. I asked everyone I met on the way back, searched the library, but couldn’t find a trace of such plants.

Why could that be? After much thought, I realized a very important fact.

Crops like potatoes and sweet potatoes were brought from the Americas to Asia and Europe on Earth.

In this world, Seora, or the Eastern Continent, resembled the East, while the Western Continent was more akin to the West. Therefore, these plants did not exist in the Eastern Continent because they had not been introduced from the Western Continent yet.

To suggest non-existent plants as alternatives during an important lecture. It might have seemed like the fantasy of a child…

“Ughhh…”

I’m so embarrassed I can’t live with myself!

I screamed internally. In my head, the current me scolded the past me. I clenched my fists, trying not to struggle, when suddenly my body was lifted up with the blanket.

“……”

It seemed unnecessary to check who had lifted me.

“It seems that you no longer treat me with the deference due to a superior.”

“Oh my, I still find our lady to be the scariest in the world.”

“Indeed. Where else in this world would you find someone as formidable as our Princess?”

Even as they spoke, the maids’ hands swiftly extracted me from the blanket and combed my hair.

“I’m too lazy to change into my night clothes.”

“Just stay still, my lady. We’ll take care of everything for you!”

How wonderful it would be if Heesa could take care of all my tasks. If I threw a tantrum demanding sweet potatoes and potatoes, would they appear before me?

“…I’m tempted.”

Honestly, it feels like they would do it. But I quickly banished the thought from my mind. If that were possible, Yehwa would have already found and planted them in the North.

I can’t just throw a tantrum to go to the Western Continent or send someone to fetch plants I’ve never seen before. No, I couldn’t even be sure that drought-resistant crops existed in this world in the first place.

So, if drought-resistant crops are not an option, is there no other good solution?

“Good… a good method…”

There isn’t such a thing.

Even searching through the knowledge of the 21st century in my head, I couldn’t come up with anything to solve the situation. After all, the regular education system didn’t teach how to effectively solve drought and relief issues in a land about twice the size of China!

“Maybe the straightforward approach is best.”

There are no brilliant strategies or new plants suitable for the situation. So, the only option was to make do with what we had.

“It would be nice if we could just fleece the wealthy noble families…”

But I already knew that was incredibly difficult.

Seora, being a large country, had an astronomical amount of money circulating within it. Although it wasn’t a feudal system, the country tended to grant quite a lot of rights to the local gentry of each district.

Most importantly, since the founding noble families had built up their capital and power over generations, raiding their coffers could solve the relief problem in one fell swoop.

The issue lay in maintaining a harmonious relationship between the Empress and the nobility.

Seora was known for the good relations between the Empress and the nobility. This was partly due to the characteristics of the imperial family, but also because the Empress treated them quite gently.

Since the supernatural abilities weren’t physical, the imperial family was relatively weaker. Among those the Empress had to keep in check, the founding noble families, the seven great houses, were paramount.

It wasn’t my business, but it still left me feeling uneasy. Surely, the first dragon was a bit odd. Being the origin of all supernatural abilities, it must have had immeasurable power, but the abilities it bestowed upon humans were just that.

Due to the vague ability of ‘being loved by everyone,’ the Empress had to carefully cater to their preferences.

If the nobility ever thought of rebelling against the Empress and started investigating her, revealing the fact that the Empress had no abilities, it couldn’t be guaranteed that a regime change wouldn’t happen.

“Being the Empress is definitely not for me.”

It was surprising that there hadn’t been a change in the imperial power until now.

And then, Giyun Yeoran.

I buried my face in the pillow, lost in thought. I remembered what had happened on my way back to the palace.