As Lucas entered the audience chamber, the waiting nobles all stood up in unison to pay their respects.

“His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is entering!”

The chief attendant deliberately chanted the obvious fact even more resoundingly, and Lucas walked down the long carpet to sit in his own seat, just one step below the throne. Cedric silently followed behind him and stood by his side.

“The long-empty seat is now filled, and it already feels reassuring.”

“Yes, it is truly a pleasant sight to behold.”

The nobles were conversing among themselves when the trumpet sound announcing the Emperor’s procession caused them to stand up again.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

This time, Lucas also stood up to pay his respects. The current imperial family maintained a very close family relationship, but they had no choice but to draw the line when it came to official duties.

“Alright. Everyone, be seated.”

The Emperor took his place on the throne and spoke leisurely. Although he didn’t mention it explicitly, he was secretly proud to see Lucas seated on his left.

“Prime Minister, present today’s agenda.”

There was no need to specifically mention that starting from today, the Crown Prince would be attending the council meetings. It was only natural for his one and only heir to be present in this place.

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

The Prime Minister stood up and stepped forward in front of the throne. He was the head of the prestigious Duke Riche family and an elderly man with grey hair.

“Today, thanks to Your Majesty’s deep grace, the Empire is safe and peaceful. However, as our Empire’s power grows and the population increases, the challenge is to safely pass the winter.”

The Tern Empire had almost the same history as this continent. Its prestige was so great that even the long years of the Papacy paled in comparison to the imperial family.

Naturally, its might grew higher with the passing of time, and the Empire found it increasingly difficult to control its own size.

“In particular, although some vassal states were incorporated into the Empire due to the war a few years ago, expanding our territory, we now have to support that many more people.”

In fact, there was no reason for the Tern Empire to covet the territory of small vassal states. However, the story would be different if they had gathered together to plot a rebellion.

The Empire accepted the war, if only to show that it was still strong, and Lucas personally experienced some of the battlefields.

“As Your Majesty, in your wisdom, already knows well, the rebellion of some vassal states only involved the nobles, and the people were innocent. By Your Majesty’s mercy, they are already imperial subjects.”

Anderson once again paid his respects to the Emperor. Although the Emperor was helpless in front of his young daughter, this was a moment where one could truly feel how great his authority actually was.

“Specifically state what the problem is.”

“Our Empire is very prosperous, but those who have newly become our people have not yet fully recovered from the damage they suffered in the war a few years ago. Furthermore… since they were not originally imperial subjects, they lack proper care, and many are sick and poor.”

Lucas nodded his head without realizing it. He had personally wielded his sword on the devastating battlefield of war and was able to realize that overwhelming victory was not everything.

“The war was already three years ago. Didn’t we already bestow mercy upon them with our imperial treasury?”

“Of course, Your Majesty’s words are just and true. However, the rebels who started the war had exploited the people so much… the chains of poverty have not been broken.”

No matter how much a few vassal states sharpened their swords and united, no matter if they hired mercenaries with money squeezed from taxes, they would collapse in a matter of days if the Empire confronted them with even a bit of seriousness.

They had made the foolish judgment to squeeze the lifeblood out of their own people, yet they were defeated far too easily.

“I took the heads of those rebels and have provided aid for the three years since. What more do you want me to do?”

The Emperor was wise and charismatic, but it was inevitable that he would gradually lose his edge over time. Especially since Lucas, whom he had always worried about, had returned, and he found late happiness with young Luana, his attention was focused on the peaceful imperial palace.

“Moreover, the reason for the rebellion in the first place was because their lands were not fertile. Even I cannot save all those born on harsh lands.”

From the Emperor’s position, everything he said was correct, but Lucas’s thoughts differed. It had been a long time since the Emperor had directly seen a real war and truly harsh lands. However, Lucas still could not erase those vivid memories.

“I also believe that Your Majesty’s words are just and true.”

Lucas stood up from his seat, paid a light respects to the Emperor, and spoke. The nobles, who had not expected the Crown Prince to express his opinion from the first day, were a bit unsettled.

“The war at that time was caused by corrupt and depraved nobles, and in order to do so, they squeezed the lifeblood out of the people, leaving nothing on the already harsh lands. It was all a result of the foolish nobles’ own actions.”

Some nobles had secretly doubted Lucas’s level of education and qualities in imperial studies, as he had been absent from the imperial palace during the most important period, but seeing Lucas calmly stating his opinion now, he was indeed of the Emperor’s caliber.

“However, since Your Majesty has already shown mercy by embracing the innocent people into the Empire, wouldn’t it be complete mercy to also give them a way to live?”

The Emperor’s gaze turned to Lucas, who was in the prime of his youth. In that appearance, he saw both his past self and a very unfamiliar young man.

“So?”

When he deliberately asked indifferently, Lucas spoke again.

“Our Empire is prosperous and its territory is immeasurably vast, but that is why we must always seek the path to the future.”

The truly miserable aspect of war was only seen after everything was over.

It meant that it was not the end when those who started the war were executed and the Empire’s complete victory was declared. Rather, for the people, that moment was the beginning of a harsh life.

“If you’re going to say something obvious, stop.”

“How dare I waste Your Majesty’s time with obvious words.”

Lucas had grown more than the Emperor had expected.

Moreover, in his dark eyes, an extraordinary will and determination could be glimpsed. It was also thanks to having seen the truly miserable lives of the people with his own two eyes, not just the noble conversations exchanged by the aristocrats.

“Providing them with relief aid is a great mercy, but we cannot continue that support forever. It’s not because the treasury is precious, but also for the sake of the people themselves.”

It was easy for anyone to think this far. Isn’t it the same as the proverb about not giving fish, but teaching how to fish? However, in reality, it was truly difficult to come up with those measures.

“They must become self-reliant in order for the Empire to cut off its relief, and only then can they be called proper subjects of this Empire.”

Lucas recalled those who were gleaning unripened ears of grain even during the harvest season. The children, without receiving any education, were picking up fallen ears of grain and eating them as they walked around.

“Do you have a method?”

“If Your Majesty permits it, there is something I would like to present.”

The Emperor nodded at Lucas’s bold ambition.

“I also stayed in the places of war and saw their misery and harsh lands. The people originally should live by farming, but on such lands, no matter how hard they try, the ears of grain cannot ripen properly.”

“I know all of that as well.”

“However, before returning to the imperial palace, I saw a very special territory. That territory was also very vast, and while some lands were fertile, others were not fit for anything to grow.”

Lucas still remembered the moment he first saw Astel from atop the hill. That peaceful yet frighteningly systematic territory where not only the ducal residence but all the houses had their lights on and warm smoke rose from the chimneys.

“That vast territory was operated without a single waste. They farmed on the fertile lands and manufactured goods on the barren lands, selling them so that no place was not abundant.”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes. He did not remember such a territory. However, he clearly knew which territory Lucas had last visited.

“As some may have already guessed, that territory is the Astel Duchy where my wife resided.”

The abundance Serena had achieved in Astel could not be attributed solely to the fertility of the land. She had created a meticulously planned city unlike any Lucas had seen, and they were undergoing self-driven development.

“If agriculture is not possible, commerce can be pursued.”

The rebelling vassal states all shared borders.

“Rather than hoping for unripening ears of grain, we should enable them to purchase raw materials with the Empire’s relief and make products.”

Lucas did not know, but Astel’s development was a rapid growth model that far surpassed the industrial revolution the Empire should have gone through.

Currently, in the Empire, commerce was something only merchant guilds engaged in and was limited to simple trade.

“Not every subject needs to live as a farmer. And not everyone needs to become an outstanding craftsman.”

Some of the nobles couldn’t even keep up with what Lucas was talking about now.

“However, if a wise person determines the method and regulations for making products, and they are repeatedly labored according to that… what do you think?”

It was definitely the most revolutionary opinion that had come out of the council so far, while at the same time showing a glimpse of feasibility.

“Rather than merely providing temporary relief, we must give them something to do.”

“Do you think merchant guilds will transport goods that anyone can make?”

“Yes. If anyone can make them, but the place of production and quality can always be guaranteed to be the same… why would they refuse?”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes and soon nodded. Of course, the nobles and the Emperor were aware of the sensational trend of Astel berries. Lucas had clearly seen and learned something there.

“I will hear more of this story. However, if it turns out to be a waste of time, I will be greatly disappointed in you.”

“You will absolutely not be disappointed.”

Lucas asserted.

“I can guarantee it.”

The first sight of the lights in Astel territory and following Serena to witness the dazzling development was so shocking that it was still vivid.

As a man, he wanted to keep his wife all to himself and not show her to anyone, but at the same time, he wanted to let the whole world know of the fruits of her talent.

And Serena’s brilliant abilities were too dazzling to be confined to the Crown Princess’s palace like this.