Chapter 69

Princess Mia Mentally Overloads

Ludwig appeared to Mia five days after she returned to the empire.

“... I’m tired.”

It hasn’t been an easy five days for the Princess: greetings to the emperor who is her father, greetings to the great aristocrats, and a party to commemorate her return. Just because she is the Princess doesn’t mean that she gets to laze around all day.

“I miss the easy school life.”

Mia wants to go back to school as soon as possible. There she could laze as much as she wants.

That was when her loyal retainer Ludwig visited.

“Welcome back, Princess Mia. We are delighted that you have returned safely.”

Ludwig’s usual unfriendly face looked nostalgic for some reason.

“You seem to be fine, Ludwig.”

With some greetings, Ludwig begins to report on imperial affairs during the absence of Mia.

“Not enough ...”

After receiving all the reports, Mia sighed.

“Sure, our food stocks are low, but Mia-sama, I think it’s very likely if we keep stockpiling, the food will just go to waste.”

Ludwig was could not understand Mia’s concerns. The amount she wants is as large as if they are preparing for a large-scale famine. One that the Empire hasn’t experienced before. At the moment, they have enough stockpiled food to feed the people for several years if the crops fail. Mia’s request seems too excessive. The crisis of financial collapse seemed to Ludwig to be a more pressing problem.

Stockpiling means keeping the food in a warehouse. If nothing happens, the money spent there will be wasted. Besides, just keeping them in the warehouse also needs money. These are issues that Mia surely understands.

If it isn’t limited, then it will reach a point where a bag of wheat can buy a castle. She had experienced this kind of hell first-hand...

The only way to prevent merchants from taking advantage is to stockpile more food, but...

that cannot be done. There is little hope of increasing the supply. All the crops will almost be wiped out. Even if they multiply the farmlands in the empire by ten times, it will still be not enough, and it is not very efficient.

In the first place, the situation is not fair! Why is it only her Empire have to suffer? It is not like all food is gone from all over the world!

Surprisingly, Mia wasn’t just playing around at the school. While she did love to laze around, but she was also studying properly. At one point, Mia, who was researching about famine, found out that she was misunderstanding how famines happen.

Famine is not caused by a lack of absolute food. It happens because the flow of food is stagnant. It is not that there is no food, rather it is because the food does not reach the people. It is not about supply, rather it is about distribution.

The business of taking the food to a hungry area and selling it at a high price is exactly how food business in the first place.

“Oh, that’s right!”

At that time, Mia was inspired. She got an inspiration! She suddenly jumped up which made Ludwig flinch. But she ignored him.

If food can be bought cheaply from merchants even during famine, then it will solve their problem...

It’s a friend’s discount. Friend’s discount!

What Mia came up with was really straightforward and rather selfish idea... She plans on using friendship to get a discount.

“So, friend’s discount......”

Upon hearing that, Ludwig contemplated for a few minutes,

“That’s... actually... a great idea.”

In a voice filled with admiration, Ludwig was clearly impressed.