Reincarnated Princess Wishes To Avoid Death
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.

Despite this, Mia maintained her stance.

“Mia-sama, I believe in you. If you want to increase our food stockpile, I can increase it. But you’ll need to explain this to the other aristocrats. “

“What do you mean?”

“I have issued a notice to the nobles to refrain from wasting money. However, if we declare that we are increasing stored food provisions, we may invite criticism that these stocks will only just go to waste; and that you are the one being wasteful.”

“That’s true. Those kinds of people are good at replaceing fault with others.”

From Mia’s point of view, it was natural to increase the stockpile. After all, she knows for sure that a great famine will strike in a few years. It was frustrating that she couldn’t explain that even though they have a large stockpile, they still needed more.

“I think we need to change our approach.”

Mia exhales a little and shakes her head to clear her thoughts.

“Ludwig, you said you believe in me. Please continue stockpiling food under the assumption that a great famine that will occur in the next few years.”

Upon hearing that, Ludwig’s eyes narrowed.

“Do you mean to say that we are preparing not if a famine, but we are preparing for a definite famine to happen?”

“That’s right. On top of that, I’d like to ask, but if we can’t store up enough food, what should we do when a famine occurs?”

“If you think about it normally, you have to use a merchant to bring foods into the Empire.”

Yes, Mia knows that much. but……,

“Then, the finances will go bankrupt. Nothing is more expensive than food during famine.”

“It can’t be helped. The price goes up when the demand exceeds the supply. It is natural that the more people want it, the higher the price of things.”

“We should put a limit to that.”

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.