Chapter 75: AN ADVANTAGE— FINDING THE ALLIES

Chapter 75: AN ADVANTAGE— FINDING THE ALLIESWilson had no issue with answering.

"We’ve built storehouses and graneries. We also hired farmers to farm the land and informed the Fief Lords to do the same."

"Father issued a decree to the Fief Lords that storehouses and granaries be built in every fief and that workers should be hired to work on the lands." Ivan added.

Wilson continued. "We hired workers to work with the farmers and help with drying and storing the food. Large quantities of grain have already been stored that could last up to six months, along with dried fruits and vegetables that could last up to five months for each fief."

"The workers and farmers are being paid their wages. This has also improved the people’s living condition." Melvin said.

"Thanks to this arrangement, there will be ample food during winter, and when the famine comes, we can sell the stored grain to the common folk at a low price, maybe even to people from other kingdoms. A famine caused by locusts will not affect our kingdom alone." Aristia said and took a sip of her tea.

After a short pause, she added. "Uncle, we could use this famine to our advantage."

That was the reason she was here.

"How so?" Fedor asked, interested.

They all say up straighter to listen to what she had to say.

"This is an opportunity," she began, scanning each and every one of their faces. She smirked, knowing full well that she had their undivided attention. "To find out our allies and enemies."



In the novel, the famine had greatly affected the kingdom. For that reason, they had asked for help from other Kingdoms.

They didn’t expect that those kingdoms would be extremely unreasonable, stating impossible or unreasonable conditions.

Others even wanted to join forces to attack their Empire. Among these kingdoms were kingdoms that they considered allies.

She had already considered it. Since she was now here, she wouldn’t let the kingdom be ruined, even though she knew the kingdom would not be ruined. This was because even in the original book, the kingdom suffered great damage, but those kingdoms did not succeed in invading their kingdom. After a few years, the Kingdom managed to bounce back.

"Have the people been informed about a possible famine?" She inquired.

"No. Only the Fief Lords have been informed. The people have no clue." Ivan said.

"It is to prevent panic." Wilson explained to his daughter.

"Then, what about the storage houses? Do they know?" Aristia further inquired.

"The farmers and the workers know, since they are the ones who are doing the work. But they don’t understand the reason for it, seeing as it is a new concept." Fedor said, reasonably.

"If only the Fief Lords know and the common folk don’t, then there is a possibility that other kingdoms do not know. We can pretend like we are really helpless and ask allied kingdoms and other non-allied kingdoms for help when the famine comes." She knew that she didn’t need to explain further as they already understood, but for the sake of Ivan, she continued,

"We can act like our Kingdom really has no solution, that we are helpless and desperate and the people are about to die from hunger. Then we will ask the allied kingdoms and other kingdoms for help. Those who try to use the opportunity to take us down would be immediately cut off as an enemy of our kingdom."

"That is brilliant!!" Melvin exclaimed, looking at her with love and newfound respect in his eyes. This child... Such intelligence!

He had known she was intelligent since she was a child, but in these few months after she turned five years old, she showed a different type of intelligence.


He acknowledged that fact after finding out that she was starting a business, but deep within, he had the same thought as those who knew— that she was just curious and wanted to try it out, and that they would assist her if it went downwards— however, to be able to contribute to politics... the awe in his eyes could barely be hidden.

"Then if you want to, you can take a step further and attack the kingdoms that try to take advantage of us, and we can take over their kingdom and merge it with the Amberale empire," Aristia finished.

She wouldn’t tell them what to do to take over those kingdoms. They were leaders. It was up to them she figured it out.

"Thank goodness you were born as a princess in our Kingdom, and not in some other kingdom." Fedor said half jokingly and Aristia smiled, but her thoughts said something else entirely.

[No. I wasn’t born in this kingdom. I have my own country, where I was born. In my world. Don’t thank your goodness. It could increase my stay here.] She thought grumpily.

Wilson stared at her with a proud look in his eyes. This was his beloved daughter. She was a genius.

Aristia emptied her teacup and stood up. "If you’ll excuse me, I will take my leave now, Grandpa, Uncle, Papa and Ivan." She curtsied lightly and walked towards the entrance.

Fedor’s voice behind her stopped her. "How are we supposed to hide such a matter from other kingdoms? There could be spies in the kingdom."

Aristia smiled. They were obviously waiting for what she would say.

Her smile widened and she blinked innocently. "I don’t know, uncle. I’m just a child. My small brain can’t handle that kind of thinking."

Melvin guffawed loudly. Just a child indeed, and yet, she was able to come up with a brutal way to handle other kingdoms trying to take advantage of them.

As Aristia left, she heard her grandfather talking to his sons and grandson. "This is indeed a good opportunity to find out who our real allies are. It may not be very efficient as some fake allies might still be cautious and extend help but it will work to a certain extent." Melvin said as he rubbed his chin in thought.

"I will hold a meeting to inform the ministers to be discreet regarding this matter." Fedor said and Melvin nodded in satisfaction.

Fedor continued,

"We will also come to a decision regarding if we will wage war against the Kingdoms which try to oppose us in our seemingly time of distress and need."



Wilson added, "We’ll need to guard against spies who try to infiltrate... I’ll take care of..."

Aristia could no longer hear them as she had already left the room. As soon as she left the study, Adeline who had been waiting outside for her followed behind her.

"Where is Owen?" Aristia paused her steps and asked. She had barely seen him since the second day of the banquet, and that was yesterday.

"He is in the stables with prince Alaric and the first and second princesses." Adeline answered.

Aristia headed towards the stables. "What about Mama, Aunt and Grandmother?"

"They are in the pavilion, Princess." Adeline replied, receiving a nod from Aristia.

Maids hurried by busily, entering and exiting the palace. The third banquet was to be held outside in the garden this time, so it would start early in the evening.

She could see Alaric and their cousin sisters as she approached the stables. Beatrix was petting the mane of one of the horses as Alaric rambled on and on to Serina about horses.

Owen seemed to have noticed her arrival as he turned to her.

"I want to ride this horse," Alaric said to Owen. They had not yet noticed her presence.

"Who wants to ride horses?" Aristia announced her presence making them all turn towards her.

"Tia, you’re back." Serina said with a smile which Aristia returned.

"I do." Alaric said in reply to her question.

"You do?" Aristia turned to him. "But you’re still too little." She teased.

Alaric’s cheeks puffed up, looking like an angry hamster. "I can ride a horse. You will see." He stomped towards a horse, looking like he wanted to mount the horse.

But poor little Alaric’s small body didn’t support his cause. "Alright, alright. I know you can." Aristia smiled and went forward to stop him before he fell down and injured himself. "Which horse would you like to ride?" She asked.

"This one." Alaric said, pointing at a normal sized horse.

"Okay," Aristia nodded. "Then, you can ride with Owen." She glanced at Owen who nodded.

The stable boy came over and prepared the horses they would ride. He brought them out of the stables and helped Alaric mount the horse.

As Owen came over to climb on behind Alaric, he caught Aristia’s gaze. Her gaze seemed to tell him that they would talk later. He nodded.

Aristia averted her gaze to face Beatrix and Serina, "You’re riding too, aren’t you?"

"We are." Beatrix replied and Serina agreed with a nod.

"Seri and Bea will ride together, then." Aristia said.

"What?" They asked.

"Can’t you?" Aristia asked.

"Well, if we move at a slow pace." Beatrix nodded.

At that moment, the princesses two maids walked towards them. "We will ride with you, princesses." They said, each going beside their princess.

"Then, what about Tia?" Beatrix asked Aristia.



"I will ride with Linny," she said.

"But princess, I don’t know how to ride." Adeline said worriedly.

"That is not a problem." Aristia said as the stable boy assisted them in mounting the horses.

"Let’s go." She held the reins. She turned to Adeline. "Linny, hold the reins. Hold it firmly." She said and Adeline did as told.

"We’re not riding into the forest, are we?" Serina asked sceptically. "Mama and Papa don’t know where we are."

"We’ll not go far. The stable boy can come with us." Aristia assured. "Come on."

On hearing that, the stable boy quickly mounted a horse. "As you wish, your highness."

The horses strode on at a steady pace, trotting into the palace. Aristia hummed a tune to herself, keeping her balance in the horse. She was caged between Adeline’s arms holding the reins.

Somehow, she didn’t believe Adeline couldn’t ride a horse.

The stable boy followed them to ensure their safety. He didn’t want to get in trouble with the Royals. He stayed a few distances behind them to provide them space.

They rode on for a few minutes. Aristia kept her eyes forward as she asked Adeline in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Why didn’t you go visit your family and enjoy the festival with them? Are you not on good terms with your family?"