Gilta wore a troubled expression. The matter was not written in the budget, making it difficult for him to discuss it lightly.

“I’m the lady of this castle. I need to know the exact situation to consider solutions.”

After a brief hesitation, Gilta sighed a beat late and finally spilled the truth.

“Actually, the late Duke spent a huge amount of money to rescue the people of his fiefdom who were captured and taken to Kursia.”

“Citizens of the fiefdom captured and taken to Kursia… You don’t mean the imperial citizens who were given as slaves right after the unification by the Kursian Empire?”

“That’s correct.”

Kursia, which had unified with the Ofil Kingdom, had planned to start a large war to check the Requies Empire, which had a close relationship with the Ofil Kingdom. However, due to the weakened army caused by the pandemic at the time, they had to propose several unreasonable conditions to end the war.

One of those conditions was offering the young and healthy imperial citizens to Kursia.

Hundreds of commoners were dragged away to a foreign country out of nowhere.

There was no way to bring them back.

“The Duke tried his best to bring back the fiefdom citizens, not all the imperial citizens, but at least those who were born and raised in Blandiche.”

“So, if you couldn’t reclaim the fiefdom citizens, you paid money and smuggled them in?”

“That’s right.”

Of course, nothing was impossible with money.

“How much does it cost each time you bring back a fiefdom citizen?”

“It costs 300 million gold per person. As it’s not a legal method, the price is rising every year.”

She felt stunned, as if struck on the back of the head.

300 million?

It was an unbelievable amount.

“So, how many fiefdom citizens are left to be brought back?”

“Twentyfive.”

That meant 7.5 billion was left.

Without realizing it, she almost blurted out the words that suggested giving up on the fiefdom citizens at the sound of such a huge amount.

Of course, that was not something to say.

It was the will of the predecessor Duke and a task that Hertian had inherited.

If she were to give up on the fiefdom citizens as they were, no one would acknowledge Hertian as a lord in the future.

‘But 7.5 billion is too much!’

She felt a burst of anger inside.

Hertian was cleaning up the mess the Emperor had made.

Thinking of the Emperor, who was unaware that his son was going through this hardship and was leisurely staying in the palace, made her annoyed.

“So, if you use about 1.2 billion as a budget to reclaim the fiefdom citizens each year, then four people a year… it would take at least six years to bring everyone back?”

“Yes, my lady.”

That meant that the repairs to the Duke’s castle could only be done after six years.

It would be better to wait until the divorce than to wait for that time. Though she might freeze to death before she could wait for the divorce.

“We need to make money.”

That was the only way.

To personally work to earn money. She had to earn money to reclaim the fiefdom citizens as soon as possible.

“But… as you can see, our fiefdom is barren and we don’t have any specialty products.”

“We don’t need specialty products because I’m here.”

“My lady?”

“I have a little ability to foresee.”

Gilta’s eyes widened in surprise.

“There’s nothing to be so surprised about. I’m not becoming a prophet or anything. It’s just that I sometimes see what’s going to happen in the near future.”

There was no reason to throw away the information from the book just because she had strayed from the original story. She needed to utilize it to the fullest to earn money.

“First, call a merchant to get as much herbs as you can.”

“What kind of herbs are you talking about?”

“I’ll write a list for you. You have to get it as soon as possible. You understand?”

At her sudden request, Gilta was flustered.

“But, my lady. Even the herbs that grow in the Duke’s castle are enough to treat the fiefdom citizens, so why do you want to buy herbs?”

“I’m thinking of doing business with the herbs.”

“But if it’s a herb that can be easily obtained, it won’t sell for a high price?”

“I have a plan.”

After parting with Gilta, I immediately went down to the underground of the Duke’s castle.

The comforting warmth that always cheered me up was momentarily forgotten. I quickly picked the herbs and put them in the basket I had brought.

“My lady. What are you going to use all these picked herbs for? You also ordered the merchant to bring a lot of herbs.”

“I need these for something else. Keep picking and putting them in.”

Here, various herbs were available, making it possible to make medicines in various combinations.
After carefully preparing all the herbs, I returned to the room and spread paper on the desk.

I recorded the treatment methods I had researched at the academy, and the countless experiences of consuming various herbs and medications.

By reviving the memories and documenting them diligently, I quickly completed an entire book.

“What are you writing so hard?”

“Hertian?”