“I’m trying to utilize the fallow land.”

“Fallow land?”

“Yes. As you well know, uncle, the lands of our family are honestly too barren for farming, so after growing wheat for one year, we have to leave that precious land idle the next year. Even the wheat yield itself in one year is pathetically low compared to families with fertile territories.”

“…Indeed. Your late elder brother always worried about that point. But there’s no particularly good solution, is there? It costs less to leave the land idle for a year than to pour fertilizer on it.”

Saying so, the duke let out a soft sigh. I opened my mouth with a gentle smile.

“I’ve found a way to solve that problem.”

“What? How?”

“We plant crops that restore soil fertility in the fallow land.”

“Crops that restore fertility? Is there such a thing!”

“Yes. According to my informant, in the island kingdom of Polumines, which harvests the most wheat and rye on the continent, they solve this problem by planting clovia grass in fallow fields. That grass not only helps restore soil fertility but can also be fed to livestock like cows and goats, so it’s useful in many ways.”

The duke looked at me with a doubtful gaze and said:

“…Hmm, it’s hard to believe. Will soil fertility really be restored just by planting such a weed? I think that weed would rather deplete the soil fertility.”

“The first queen of the Polumines kingdom who introduced this method had the same reaction as you, uncle. But how is it now? They’ve achieved amazing results, haven’t they? The queen even designated this farming method as a state secret. Isn’t the fact that it’s classified as a secret proof that this method is very effective?”

“…Hmm. Still, I’m very doubtful.”

Despite my further explanation, the duke shook his head, still looking unconvinced. I stared at him blankly and thought.

‘I knew he would react like this.’

The duke in my previous life had said the same thing at first. Back then, I had persuaded the duke for three days and finally pushed through with this method.

And the next year, I doubled the wheat production in the Yusten territory.

But now there was no reason to do so. I had no intention of doing anything that would benefit this person. No, if it was something that would harm him, I would do it, whatever it might be.

Hiding these inner thoughts, I said to him:

“Well, if you’re so unsure… How about we test that method?”

“…Test?”

“Yes. Let’s first plant clovia grass in the fallow lands of Plima Castle. In the territory that I will inherit later when I get married. Then, even if the soil fertility is depleted because of this method, I alone will bear that loss. What do you think?”

The duke’s expression brightened at my question. He nodded and said:

“Oh, yes. That would work. Good, go ahead and test it.”

“Thank you for allowing it, uncle. …So, about that.”

This is where the main point begins. I paused briefly before continuing.

“I was thinking of going to Plima Castle in person to oversee the implementation of this.”

“You want to go all the way there yourself? Can’t you just send a letter with instructions to the manager there?”

“You just expressed doubt about this method after hearing my explanation, uncle. If I don’t supervise, I don’t think the manager or the territory’s residents will follow the instructions.”

“Hmm, that’s a fair point. …Alright. Come back within two days.”

The duke muttered. I smiled brightly at him.

“Thank you, uncle. I won’t disappoint you this time. Do you trust me?”

“…Yes. If I don’t trust you, who else would I trust?”

The duke responded to my words. I gazed at Duke Yusten, who was strangely trailing off at the end of his sentence.

“Papa! Good morning!”

At that moment, the elaborately dressed Danae entered the dining room. After greeting the duke with a bright smile, she stiffened awkwardly upon seeing me sitting next to him. She said:

“…Oh. Elder sister is here too?”

“Yes. I wanted to have breakfast together with everyone today. I also had something important to discuss with uncle.”

“Hmm, something important to discuss? Did you come up with another half-baked plan?”

“…Danae. What kind of way is that to speak to your elder sister?”

The duke admonished Danae in a stern voice. Danae sat down in the chair to the duke’s right, pouting her lips. Soon, maids entered pushing trolleys laden with food. As Danae spread marmalade on freshly baked bread, she asked me:

“So what were you talking about with Papa, elder sister? I’m curious, can’t you tell me?”

“We were discussing ways to increase the territory’s income.”

The duke answered in a gruff voice instead of me. Danae turned to him with a curious face and said:

“Oh my, how?”

“We’re going to try planting clovia grass in the fallow lands.”

I answered that way and then observed her reaction. As expected, Danae burst into laughter.

“Ha! What? Clovia? Elder sister, are you in your right mind? Why plant such a weed that’s only good for picking flower fortunes on precious land? If you’re going to plant something to increase income, you should plant expensive medicinal herbs like paenax flowers!”

Instead of refuting her words, I silently focused on my meal. Mistaking my reaction for being at a loss for words unable to counter her, Danae turned to the duke with a triumphant attitude and said:

“Papa, you’re not really going to implement such a ridiculous method, are you?”

“…For now, we’ve decided to test that method only in Plima Castle, which will be inherited by your elder sister.”

“Oh my! Papa, even if it’s elder sister’s words, how could you allow such a nonsensical method!”

“Enough. Your elder sister said she would take full responsibility if this fails, so don’t say anything more.”

The duke cut her off sharply and took a sip of strong brewed tea. I closely observed Danae, who had clamped her mouth shut, wearing a strange smile. It was obvious what she was thinking now.

While considering me stupid for coming up with such a ridiculous method, she was probably thinking of hiring someone to spread poison on the fallow lands of Plima Castle in case I might succeed in this endeavor.

Inwardly coldly mocking her, I casually said:

“By the way. I’m planning to go to Plima Castle the morning after tomorrow. I’ll probably be back around evening three days later.”

“…Elder sister is going in person?”

“Yes. I’m going there myself to persuade the territory residents and the manager, and to supervise them to make sure they follow my instructions properly.”

“…Hmm, I see. Are you going alone? …Are you going with Young Duke Klein by any chance?”

Danae asked me with a meaningful expression. I shook my head and answered:

“No. He’s busy, you know. I’m just planning to go by myself.”

“Alone? That’s dangerous. You should take at least a few guardian knights with you. Papa, you’ll provide knights for elder sister, right?”

“Ah, of course. Christine, I’ll give you a coachman and three knights to go with you.”

“…Yes. Thank you, uncle. Thank you for worrying, Danae.”

‘You think I don’t know your ulterior motive of trying to attach surveillance under the guise of protection because you doubt I’m really going to Plima Castle alone?’

I’m sorry, but I’ve already thought of ways to evade that surveillance as well.

I wiped my lips with a napkin while going over this plan again in my head. Having achieved my purpose, there was no need to continue this uncomfortable meal.

* * *

After breakfast, returning to the annex, I sought out Annie first.

“You called for me, young lady?”

“Annie, may I ask you for a favor?”

“Of course. Do you want me to deliver another letter? Or should I call a carriage for you?”

I shook my head and answered her:

“Well, I’ll ask for that in the evening. Before that, there’s something I need you to do.”

“What is it?”

“Annie, aren’t you close with Emma, Danae’s maid?”

“Yes, that’s right. We get along well in various ways. We gather every evening to share tea and chat.”

Annie answered with a smile. I said in a meaningful voice:

“Then of course you talk about me with Emma?”

“To be honest… yes.”

“That’s perfect. Then could you pretend you overheard me and casually say this? ‘Our young lady was saying that the price of paenax flowers has gone up a lot lately. They say it fetches at least two gold coins per stem.'”

“Um, yes, young lady. I’ll do that.”

“Make sure to say it in front of Emma.”

“Don’t worry, young lady.”

As I repeatedly urged her, Annie reassured me not to worry. Soon after she left, alone in the bedroom, I quietly smiled and thought.

‘You asked what I was thinking, planting such weeds.’

How can she be exactly the same as in my previous life? I chuckled softly and muttered:

“It’s fortunate that you’re so blinded by greed that you can’t see beyond your nose, Danae.”

In my previous life, how difficult it was to repeatedly stop and persuade such a Danae.

Now I was glad there was no need for that. Imagining what she would do from now on felt somewhat exhilarating.

* * *

That evening.

Pretending to be asleep after extinguishing all the candles, I secretly slipped out of the mansion. It was to go to Duke Haven’s mansion. As suggested by the duke, I had contacted the carriage guild a few hours earlier and took the carriage sent by the duke.

Passing through the main entrance of his mansion, which I was now quite familiar with, as I entered the reception room, the duke greeted me in formal attire.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting.”

“You don’t look well. Are you not feeling ill?”

His handsome face looked quite gaunt, as if he had been busy while I hadn’t seen him. When I asked worriedly, the duke shook his head and answered: