After leaving the orphanage, the princess was visibly irritated.

At that moment, the naivety of the princess of my own country was on full display.

…And I had a hand in making it happen.

That’s right, someone with THAT level of naivety is our future queen. I wish I was joking.

If the ruler makes a mistake, the people are the ones who will bear the brunt of it.

“Your Highness, what do you think is the problem with the orphanage?”

Indignantly, the princess folded her arms and answered.

“I don’t even have to think about it.”

But I want you to think before answering. Please, lest you come up with more nonsenses.

“First of all, there are no separate bedrooms. Secondly, they’re dressed in tatters!”

Like I said, think before you answer.

“It’s actually quite common for commoners to not have separate bedrooms, and not just orphanages. After all, houses themselves aren’t that big. The same goes for their garments. This is more so now that the country is levying the task for post-war processing and reconstruction. They can’t afford to spend money on unnecessary things.”

“Why?”

Again, what do you mean ‘why’? How can you not understand?

“Put simply, clothes aren’t food. Your Highness, did you know? The clothes you and I are wearing costs around three months’ worth of a commoner’s wage.”

The princess was taken aback.

She doesn’t even know the value of what she’s wearing…

Certainly, it was a little-known fact among the aristocrats, but as a princess, she had to know.

“Commoners can’t afford to live in mansions with multiple rooms. Considering their salary, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to purchase one, even if they worked for the rest of their lives.”

“But for them to be huddled in such a cramped room, it’s just pitiful.”

Your words sound condescending to me.

“Moreover, while wearing such ragged clothes…”

They honestly weren’t that bad. She kept repeating the word ‘rags’ since a while ago, but the apparel itself was a normal sight among commoners. Certainly, they were frayed and covered in stitches because of wear and tear, but even average children had them.

“Commoners don’t buy clothes all that often.”

“I have several tailored every month.”

“Yes, because you’re the princess and not a commoner. If Your Highness were dressed in rags, other countries would look down on us. We’d be informing them that Paides’ economic power is inferior. That would basically be giving them an opening. In some cases, it might even lead to war.”

“No way, you’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not! Lack of economic strength translates to low military strength. It will make others think that we can easily be defeated.”

During, and even after the war between Paides and Elda, some countries were trying to mess with us. After all, Paides was in an even more vulnerable state now.

“Just raise the average monthly salary of commoners, then.”

“…How?”

“By telling the congress to do so?”

…I was speechless. The smiling crown prince, Milan, also stiffened.

How can you be so stupid?

“The monthly income of a commoner is determined by the employer. In short, the government has an iron law of non-intervention. Therefore, if an employee wants a raise, they’ll have to ask their employer, and if that doesn’t work, the court will intervene. After all, if an employer just raises it willy-nilly, he can go bankrupt.”

“How complicated…” Then, the princess’ face lit-up, as if she’d come up with something.

“Then, we should get rid of the tax imposed on commoners by the country.”

“How would Your Highness plan to live afterwards? You also need money to live, and the latter doesn’t fall from the sky. Your Highness, you live on the taxes paid by the people. Therefore, you shoulder a heavy responsibility—one so heavy that you can trigger a war with your every move. People pay taxes because the country promises to improve for their wellbeing.”

The princess was the king’s sole daughter, and she is someone who was also born late. With the queen’s passing, the king showered her with lavish affection. Hiding the vile parts, he only showed her beautiful things, didn’t force her to study what she didn’t like, and bought her whatever she wanted.

…What a foolish king.

“Afterwards, we should expand the land to allow them to raise plenty of crops. That way, they’ll be self-sufficient, at least for food.”

—Expand the land.

The crown prince reacted to those words. Although he’d been indifferent until now, he began to carefully observe the princess. Tension ran through my body.

“…Are you going to start a war?”

“Huh—!? How did you come to that conclusion!?”

“You can’t expand the land without colonization. No country would be willing to sell their own land, since it’s considered an asset. Furthermore, not everyone wants the life that Your Highness envisioned. Some only want to work, earn enough for a living, and have some luxury from time to time. If you impose your own values onto them, the people will only be confused. Your Highness, please consult with your own tutor for further information.”

I concluded the study session in order to prevent her from speaking carelessly in front of the crown prince. Besides, we were still in the middle of the inspection. I couldn’t afford to ignore the crown prince anymore.

“Let’s resume the inspection.”

Because of the princess, the inspection had been derailed.

---

***T/N: The study session ended with our main casts losing brain cells instead. smsm, why don’t we apply for anger management class together?

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