ISPF CHAPTER 101

Perhaps it was due to her lineage. As the meeting dragged on and spontaneous questions were thrown her way, Retina answered without hesitation, clearly stating what to take and what to give. Despite her aversion to headaches, she displayed particularly quick thinking, especially when money was involved.

Her unexpected talent for dealing with the stubborn old men surprised everyone in the room, including Noden. Some assumed Retina had been briefed on the meeting’s contents beforehand, but even Noden was astonished by her performance. He had only informed her about the assets of the Ignis family and the realities facing Raglaras, without advising her on how to steer the trade negotiations.

“So, are you saying you refuse to sell half of the Terbana harvest?” one of the nobles asked.

“As I mentioned earlier, the Terbana harvest is reserved for the national treasury and the citizens of the empire…”

“If you paid any attention to the numbers, you would know that, except during major famines like the one twenty years ago, the produce from each territory is more than sufficient. And I am not asking for all of it, just half. If a fixed amount of grain is exported annually, it will provide financial stability, allowing the empire to aid its citizens in other ways with the surplus.”

Retina addressed the noble who insisted that the grain from the Terbana Plains should be reserved solely for the imperial treasury and distributed only to the empire’s citizens. This noble was an aristocrat who made substantial profits by selling the excess crops from his lands to other regions or the western territories.

“It’s quite ironic that while the crops harvested each year increase, the people of your estate are said to be struggling so much that they even sift through stones in their grain. Many of them leave to find work in other areas, often passing through the duchy,” Retina thought.

She had long been aware of the conditions in his estate, where locals found it hard to afford even two meals a day and often had to migrate for better opportunities. The areas they traveled through were frequently within the duchy’s domain, so she had a good understanding of their situation.

“Is your opposition due to the fact that if the purchase is conducted under the emperor’s supervision, you would not be able to fulfill your personal greed through the trade?”

The noble, caught off guard, raised his voice in response. “How dare you! The Grand Duchess, being an outsider, accuses me of greed without understanding the facts! Look at the figures! If you truly knew the figures…”

The noble, clearly offended, shouted back. Despite having received economic education, he underestimated Retina, assuming that her lack of political experience meant she would be ignorant of the practical realities.

“Before I came here, I reviewed the ledger. It seems that the figures you’ve seen differ from those I have.”

Everything Retina said was based on direct verification. She was knowledgeable about even the details that were difficult to grasp without consistent participation in previous meetings.

The noble fell silent and turned to glance at the duke, who had not said a word since the meeting began. Despite the chaos involving the northern territories, the duke remained calmly sipping his tea, clearly having passed along some information but leaving it unaddressed.

“Since we always keep a reserve of grain for famine relief, there’s no problem in trading half of it. If Rudenheim agrees to a steady grain export, what will Raglaras offer in return?”

The emperor supported Retina’s argument by asking her what Raglaras would provide if Rudenheim committed to a consistent grain export. He trusted that Retina, who had a firm principle of receiving as much as she gave, would not make unreasonable demands.

“I will offer you the exclusive rights to the steel produced in the ducal domain.”

Retina clenched her fist on the table. Trade should never be about gaining only benefits; it’s about maximizing returns by giving up something in proportion to what you receive. This was a negotiation tactic she learned from observing her father and brother Sat.

“Exclusive rights to steel, you say…”

The emperor pondered as he twirled his pen. The idea of exchanging half of the Terbana harvest for steel was significant.

Though the annual grain yield was substantial, the Terbana Plains were known as Rudenheim’s golden fields and held great importance for the empire’s citizens. Many, especially the elderly who referred to the plains’ produce as a blessing from the sun god, would likely oppose selling these goods to foreign lands.

However, it was not easy to dismiss the offer of exclusive steel rights. The deal wasn’t asking for something for free; it was a fair trade with a legitimate price. Thus, it was a matter worth careful consideration.

“But we do not know how much steel is actually produced in the ducal domain. Even though the Duke has inherited the title, he might not be familiar with the current situation there. Information conveyed through the Raglaras royal family has its limits. Trust is crucial in trade, and this is not a matter to be decided lightly.”

The emperor did not immediately accept Retina’s offer. He had his own agenda for this opportunity, aiming to achieve two benefits at once.

“Without the Duke personally managing the northern territories, it seems difficult,” the emperor remarked. His intention was to distance Retina from the Crown Prince as well. The duke’s expression darkened momentarily, realizing that sending Retina to the north meant removing her from his own influence.

“I agree with His Majesty’s opinion. The mines have been managed by other families rather than the royal family, so without the Duke’s personal involvement, how can we trust that the trade will continue smoothly? There is a risk that they might divert resources secretly. If we are to promise exclusive rights, the Duke himself should go to the north and take responsibility for at least three years.”

“I agree.”

Nobles seated around the round table raised their hands to express their agreement.

“How can the Duke, who has never been to the north, understand the situation just by looking at figures? It might even be a closed mine.”s

“This is a matter of trust, so please do not take it personally.”

Retina looked at the nobles who, while pretending to be courteous, did not hesitate to belittle her. They were mocking her, a newcomer to the northern territories, who had grown up in the east. Their comments, suggesting she should experience the hardships of the north, only fueled her determination to go.

“In fact, I plan to go to the north with Prince Norden after this social season ends.”

“Excuse me?”

“As many of you have mentioned, I am the Duke of Raglaras. Although I was born and raised in Rudenheim, Raglaras has become my home now. Rudenheim is my hometown, but I have decided to leave for the north.”

Retina remained calm despite the earlier decision she had made to go to the north. The Duke had offered to use any means necessary to keep her in Rudenheim if she wished, but Retina had decided otherwise.

She averted her gaze from the emperor’s fixed stare. It wasn’t because of the emperor’s words, but rather a decision she had made based on her circumstances.

“Are you speaking sincerely?”

“My surname is Ignes. As Duke, I have a duty to take responsibility for the domain and its people.”

Although it was possible to manage affairs without residing in the domain, especially during the social season in the capital, Retina realized that if she chose to stay in Rudenheim with the name of the Duke of Raglaras, she would not be fulfilling her responsibilities. To stabilize the domain, especially after a hundred years, she needed to spend at least three years in the north to properly care for her people.

“If that is the Duke’s intention…”

“If you personally oversee the transactions in the north, there is no reason to oppose it.”

“Ahem, ahem. But, um, Duke, you have a… ahem… lover, don’t you? If you are going to the north, does that mean… you will be ending your relationship with that person?”

At that moment, someone from the nobles, unable to contain a sliver of hope, stepped forward and asked Retina. This noble, who had a daughter of marriageable age, was probing whether Retina’s departure to the north signaled an end to her romantic entanglements, potentially opening a path for new alliances.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has only been kind to me because of his friendship with my two elder brothers. There has been nothing more between us. While I have stayed at His Highness’s palace, there has been no romantic involvement between us.”

Retina said this clearly, gripping the bracelet on her left hand tightly as if to prove her innocence. Despite her calm and composed demeanor, her hidden hand trembled violently, shaking with emotions she struggled to control.

“Wasn’t the Crown Prince’s attitude towards you one of affection?”

“Then what about the Crown Prince’s behavior?”

“Everyone assumed you were lovers. We never saw His Highness take such care of anyone else.”

The nobles whispered among themselves, their skepticism evident. Despite the lack of official confirmation, many had been convinced of a romantic relationship between Retina and the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince’s apparent affection had led to widespread assumptions and gossip. It was those who had believed in this relationship who were now speaking out, likely feeling misled by what they had perceived as undeniable signs of intimacy.

However, the answer from Retina was quite the opposite, causing divided opinions among them. Since neither side provided an accurate account of the situation, they had no choice but to believe Retina’s claim that there was no relationship with the Crown Prince.

“If it’s not the Grand Duke, then isn’t it irrelevant?”

Seemingly pleased with Retina’s choice, the Emperor dismissed the nobles’ unnecessary doubts with a smile. Since Retina had clarified her position, they only needed to observe how the Crown Prince would act until the end of the social season.

“Let’s conclude the meeting here. A dinner has been prepared for our new guests, so please enjoy it.”

With the maximum gain achieved, the Emperor concluded the lengthy meeting.