ISPF CHAPTER 100

Retina placed her hand on the round table. The ring on her middle finger appeared larger in contrast to her slender, long fingers.

“I am here as the representative responsible for the House of Ignis by royal decree. However, listening to the thoughts of those gathered here, it seems there is no will to continue negotiations with me.”

With her exotic silver hair cascading down and her expressionless gaze, she seemed to belong to a different world from the people gathered in the room.

“To disregard the head of a house simply because she is a woman is to disregard all of Raglaras, a society centered around women.”

Retina tapped the table to hide her trembling hand. Facing nobles of her father’s age, just because she had suddenly received the title of grand duchess, was naturally nerve-wracking.

However, she knew that if she showed even a hint of hesitation here, the people in front of her would undoubtedly pounce on her weakness. Still, having gone through this once before, she was less nervous than during the horseback riding meeting.

“We do not oppose the lady because she is a woman. We question whether the lady has the knowledge to continue our contract. If, as the lady says, you were born and raised in Raglaras and educated as a successor, such doubts would not arise. But how can we not question the capabilities of a lady who was pampered and raised in Rudenheim, and suddenly becomes a grand duchess and attends meetings overnight?”

At that moment, Count Pauline, who had been quietly listening to the other nobles’ complaints, finally spoke up. He ran a small merchant guild trading with the western territories and had married a woman from there, thereby monopolizing trade between Rudenheim and the western lands. He was a merchant to his core.

“That’s right. The reason we’re voicing our opinions is precisely that. If someone with no basic knowledge steps forward and disrupts things, wouldn’t it be better for Prince Noden to continue handling the negotiations as he has been?”

Retina’s solemn demeanor caused a brief hesitation, but Count Pauline’s words served as a platform for the other nobles to vocally oppose her.

These men, who had filled their bellies by belittling others until their hair turned white, would not back down easily.

With the situation repeating itself, much like before, Retina sighed. When she was a princess, they had scorned her as an illegitimate child. Now that she had inherited the title of grand duchess, they were fixated on her gender, questioning how a woman could lead a house.

Their attitude starkly contrasted with their willingness to use an ignorant child to maintain the semblance of legitimacy if the head of the house was vacant.

“As much as I respect you, please show me the same courtesy. And it’s Grand Duchess, not Princess. It seems the heads of the empire’s representative families cannot even adhere to basic etiquette, nor do they attempt to hide this from foreign envoys.”

Retina reminded those who openly disrespected her of her position once again, pointing out how they spoke deferentially to the Emperor and Prince Noden but condescendingly to her. From their attitude towards her, she could read how little they thought of her. They intended to look down on her and start the negotiations from a position of superiority.

However, regardless of what anyone said, she was the one holding the goods they desired.

“Who said that women have not received proper education? Even if I don’t know about other families, every child in the Deneuve family receives equal education. There are no exceptions, whether the successor of the family or a woman. The Duke ensured that we were all equipped with fundamental knowledge in politics, military studies, economics, and martial arts, and encouraged us to find fields suited to our aptitudes.”

As Retina continued to speak, she turned her gaze to her father, who was silently watching how she would resolve this situation. When she was young, she often complained about having to receive the same education as her brother Sat, even though she wouldn’t inherit the family. But as she grew older, she realized the value of that education.

At the academy, she could understand the lessons without needing extra study, and at parties, just overhearing men’s conversations was enough to grasp the empire’s political climate.

Had Retina met an ordinary noble husband and lived a typical life, she might never have had the chance to use these skills. But because she had been educated this way from a young age, she could now speak out boldly.

“If, despite having completed the regular curriculum at Evelinte Academy, you still find me untrustworthy, then Ignis will withdraw from this trade negotiation. This does not mean that all of Raglaras will cease trading; you may continue discussing matters with Prince Noden as you have been.”

While it might have seemed like an impulsive action driven by anger, Noden did not intervene in Retina’s decision. Having dealt with the nobles of Rudenheim before, Noden had anticipated that they would seize upon Retina’s newly acquired title as a pretext to undermine the negotiations. They had already discussed various contingencies.

It was Noden who, before Retina attended the meeting, had informed her of the current state of Raglaras and the wealth of the Ignis Grand Duchy, advising her that it was unnecessary to forcefully continue the trade if it proved difficult. Hence, he was not surprised by her actions.

“Let me inform those of Rudenheim who may not know. The mining rights to one-third of the Tuark Mountains, the birch forests, and the land connecting the northern and eastern regions—all these are included in the Grand Duchy’s domain.”

He supported Retina’s stance by listing the significant assets under the Ignis Grand Duchy that were part of the negotiation.

“Ahem, well, if you have been educated by the ducal household, there is no reason for you to withdraw.”

“As long as it does not impede the meeting…”

With Retina’s decision having the potential to unravel all the agreements built thus far, those who had previously opposed her solely based on her gender began to back down. It was clear to everyone that abandoning the nearly finalized negotiations just because they disapproved of Retina suddenly becoming a grand duchess would be a foolish move.

Even those who had initially opposed her could no longer deny Retina’s rightful participation in the negotiations.

“Finally, things have settled down. Does anyone still oppose the participation of the Grand Duchess of Ignis in this council?”

As the chaotic atmosphere calmed, the emperor spoke. He had refrained from defending Retina too much to avoid increasing doubts about her capabilities, giving her the opportunity to assert herself.

“We’ve delayed too long. Let’s quickly move on to the main agenda.”

The emperor raised his hand, signaling the start of the meeting.

The attendees, skilled nobles, set aside personal feelings and commenced the discussion. Seated around the round table, they talked about how to distribute the trade items, select families, and assign merchant guilds for the trade between Raglaras and Rudenheim.

Retina actively participated, stepping in at the right moments to lead the negotiations.

“The Terbana Plains, known for their high grain yield, are owned by the imperial family, and the grains harvested there are all reserved for the national treasury. The empire’s land is generally flat and fertile, allowing the imperial citizens to sustain themselves year-round with the produce from each territory. Thus, the grain harvested from the Terbana Plains is stored and used only for distribution during disasters or years of poor harvest.”s

“The grain from Terbana belongs to the national treasury, so it’s only natural that it is used for the citizens of the empire,” one noble remarked.

“Indeed,” Retina continued, “because of this, the grain exported to other countries is sold by the lords based on the surplus of their annual harvest. This means the amount available for trade fluctuates yearly.”

In the western territories, where they had mastered the art of farming in the desert, there was little need for imported grain. Thus, they were content with the variable quantities they received, often reselling surplus grain to the northern regions for a profit.

“However, in the north, where farming is impossible, if Rudenheim sells less grain to the western territories, it leads to frequent shortages. During years of poor harvests in Rudenheim, many people in Raglaras have starved. Additionally, the grain imported through the western territories is nearly twice as expensive, making it difficult to buy in bulk and store.”

Retina accurately pinpointed the issues arising from the disconnection between Raglaras and Rudenheim. These problems were the reason for the current negotiations.

“Even if trade between our two countries becomes more active, if the export quantities fluctuate as they do now, Raglaras will not be able to prepare for years of poor harvests. Reducing the cost of grain slightly will not solve the underlying problem.”

The primary goal of these negotiations was to address the food shortages in Raglaras. According to Noden, the situation in the northern regions was more dire than Retina had anticipated.

In years when grain was scarce, people survived by hunting or foraging for plants buried under the snow, enduring the harsh winters. However, during particularly severe winters, even these resources were unavailable, leading to many deaths from starvation.

To solve the problem, Raglaras needed to establish a stable system for purchasing grain from Rudenheim, ensuring that they would not be affected by poor harvests. Hence, Retina made an unprecedented request to the emperor.

It was a proposal only Retina, who prioritized Raglaras’s profits while understanding Rudenheim’s domestic market, could make.

“Your Majesty, I propose that Raglaras commits to purchasing half of the annual grain yield from the Terbana Plains as a condition of our trade agreement.