A Reward Fit for Empire's Hero?

"As the heroes of His Majesty the Emperor's father and mother, they will be featured in the revised textbooks for academy students. It is only natural that a substantial reward be granted, considering the immense contributions they made toward helping His Majesty found a new empire. It was merely that the preparation was a little late."

Adam, the late father's knight, was a man whose respect and pride for his lord ran deep.

Having toiled in the fields of Galnem since childhood, I had remained oblivious to such matters, but I was told that many people besides Adam cherished both my father and mother.

My father had been an unparalleled Great Spiritist, and my mother—though not from Albreon—had achieved the rank of palace knight through sheer talent alone.

"The Duke Siegfried has proposed a pension plan, and all chancellors except Duke Maechert have voted in favor of it. His Majesty promptly approved the proposal. Allow me to extend my congratulations."

Duke Siegfried proposing the agenda?

Was this terrifying man acquainted with my parents?

My expression turned dazed as I asked.

"Um, what amount will we receive?"

"Fifty thousand brights per month."

"Hah! Really?!"

Thinking of my departed father and mother brought a pang of sorrow... yet.

'With this money, I won't have to worry about the basic expenses of the Marquisate.'

"It's truly wonderful!"

Placing a hand over my heart and letting out a relieved sigh, Adam smiled at me, finding my cuteness endearing, and added.

"The Marquisate's finances should remain strong for the time being, so don't worry, young miss."

'I'll head over to Parmeses soon and thank him properly.'

I'd also have to send my gratitude to Duke Siegfried when the chance arose.

"But I have no intention of resting on the pension alone. To truly rebuild the Marquisate, we must create a stream of revenue."

At my words, Adam looked surprised, as if he had not expected me to speak so maturely.

Well, up until now I had shown many signs of adult maturity, but my appearance was still that of an eleven-year-old child.

"I'm aiming to catch two hares at once."

I smiled faintly, recalling my initial reason for approaching Lady Alence.

"Arinell? That famine two years from now... are you going to save the people's lives?"

In the lounge of the prestigious academy, Professor Armin Friedrich sat with legs crossed and read the letter he had received, frowning slightly.

Across from him, Hammers Rohim had also received a letter from a child whose name he did not know.

"A famine? That's nonsense. There is no empire richer than Albreon."

"Exactly. You must be quite the imaginative little rascal."

"What kind of child is this friend of mine, Armin? No new student has such a name in the records..."

"In any case, the rules are loosening. Tsk."

Armin crumpled the letter into a paper airplane and tossed it toward the trash bin.

Even though his workload was already heavy, he did not like this kind of prank letter at all.

"That's why education for the kids is important. What kind of environment would produce someone who writes such silly letters to an academic researcher..."

Hammers muttered as he folded the child's letter into a plane and sent it flying.

But the plane never took flight and was caught in the hand of someone.

Hammers raised his gaze and, in shock, sucked in a breath and shot up from his seat.

Armin, who had been leaning at a slant, did the same.

"...D-Duke."

Both quickly lowered their eyes.

It was Siegfried, Duke of the Empire, one of the three most powerful figures who could make a bird fall from the sky.

He oversaw the Economic Affairs and was also the master of the academy.

He was meticulous to the point of terror, catching even the smallest mistake... the Duke of Hell.

Slowly unfolding the paper airplane, the duke read the letter inside with his eyes.

"..."

And his slightly upturned lips trembled faintly.

"You have been raised in an environment far beyond compare. It will continue to be so..."

Both scholars shuddered and exchanged glances, unable to understand a word the Duke was saying.

"A future far brighter than yours, who would dare treat such precious letters so casually."

In an instant, Duke Siegfried's cool gaze behind his glasses made the two men gasp.

Whether they had made a mistake or not, their luck today seemed quite poor.

"Head held high, back straight. Very good."

Lady Violet, or rather Lady Alence, was entirely focused on my education.

And every time I did well, her cheeks flushed with pride as she praised me loudly.

"How amazingly flexible your body is. Ah, my eyes are indeed perfect!"

Even as I received endless praise, I could only tilt my head in wonder.

'Honestly, I don't know if I'm that talented.'

"You are truly elegant, Arinell. Good. Let me see you stretch your neck a bit more."

Compared to the noble ladies who had been raised from childhood to sit like dolls while working in the fields, my physical sense was undoubtedly superior...

"While keeping in mind that you will become the flower of high society, now, for the right foot. Tap, tap."

Clap, clap, clap-

With short steps I tapped the floor, and Lady Alence's flamboyant applause rang out.

She looked at me with a very satisfied expression and praised me again.

"From now on, you will walk like this at every event in high society."

"Huh? You want me to walk in the steps of the academic dance?"

"While dancing the academic dance inside your dress, you will appear to others as a graceful swan. Everyone will be unable to help envying our beautiful and adorable Arinell."

'Hmm, is this really the trend in high society?'

I couldn't understand the lady's words as she placed her hands on her cheeks in delight.

But as the palace internal affairs chancellor who had mastered etiquette, if she said it was correct, it was correct.

"A famine. It seems you are still worried about it, Arinell."

During a brief break, Lady Alence loosened the grip on my small shoulder and spoke.

"You always said we must prepare for the future."

In Galnem village, I had given cooking lessons on sugar beet recipes to the villagers, explaining mainly foods that were easy to store and rich in carbohydrates with sufficient calories.

Lady Alence, who loved sweet dishes, had become an enthusiastic student.

"That was sincere back then, and it is sincere now. I believe a difficult time is coming."

'It would be wonderful if I could explain just how terrible the famine in the original novel was.'

It was a pity I couldn't do so.

At my words, Lady Alence stopped kneading my shoulder for a moment.

And let out a small sigh.

"Arinell, you are truly a special child, and I believe your words. But if a severe famine truly strikes for four years, no matter what preparations you make, it will not be enough."

"Still, we can't just sit idle."

I knew it too. To prepare for the famine, the entire two-year imperial budget would have to be spent solely on stockpiling food.

That would mean leaving gaps in other areas, and people would complain.

"Yes, you are right, Arinell. But to support your claim, we need solid evidence. My field has little relation to food or the economy."

With the excuse that a little kid from Galnem made such a claim, I couldn't execute a massive budget.

The fact that the evidence was simply what I had seen in the original novel made it even more puzzling.

"I agree. Therefore, the field where I would like your immediate assistance as the lady is not political but..."

Just as I was about to reveal the solution to catching two hares,

Lady Alence's eyes lit up with opportunity.

"Well, if you give me the confidence that Arinell is willing to sacrifice her political future, I might just give it a try."

"Huh? Confidence?"

Lady Alence stood in front of me, placed her hand on my shoulder, and spoke.

Her hand was thick, wrapping completely around my small shoulder.

Why was this feeling so bright? Somehow my cheeks were even more flushed.

"For example, choosing a career. I have always longed for a successor with the talent to follow in my footsteps."

A sudden sense of déjà vu struck me.

"You, Arinell, are already the disciple of this Lady Alence. If you only have the confidence to steer your path in this direction, I would like to entrust you with all the knowledge of etiquette I know and the connections of high society."

It had been around the time I was graduating from university and worrying about my career choice.

One day, the usually stern professor who answered difficult questions called me quietly.

"The vast knowledge and connections needed in high society will be an enormous help in building your life as the crown princess. Arinell will rise to the highest position a woman can achieve, receiving the greatest envy. Whatever you desire will become easy to obtain."

And the sweet words that had entered my ears. If I had been a little more careless...

"It is said because I see immense talent in you, Arinell."

Toward the path of becoming a graduate student.