"Your Majesty, look!"
Irene pointed at the pot of wheat seedlings, her speech brisk.
"In the same amount of time, using my fertilizer, the growth rate is three times that of ordinary farming! Moreover, this type of seed can mature before early winter, perfectly avoiding the Kingdom of Mason's frost period! Those ordinary seeds are simply too difficult to keep alive; in comparison, these new seeds are practically 'strong men'!"
Sophia looked at that pot of vibrant green. Although the tip of her nose could still catch a whiff of the strange fertilizer smell, her gaze softened for a moment.
This wasn't just a seed; this was clearly her money, steak, and grain!
"Irene, well done."
Sophia reached out and patted Irene's shoulder with somewhat stiff movements.
This single pat nearly moved Irene to tears.
Then Irene remembered Sophia's identity as a 'Tyrant', shrank her neck, and hurriedly stated her position.
"This is all due to Your Majesty's effective guidance with the 'Secret Arts'! I was merely responsible for the execution, just the execution!"
Sophia: "..."
No, when did I teach you to mess with NPK formulas?
Even if this knowledge were explained again, it wouldn't stay in Sophia's brain for long.
Forget it, as long as you're happy.
"Victor, pass down the order."
Sophia stood up, her small black leather shoes stepping onto the ground.
"Have those three hundred soldiers prepare to escort the first batch of seeds and fertilizer to Kree Village. Tell those villagers that if this year's autumn harvest doesn't meet the target, they won't even have the chance to cry."
She paused, then added a sentence: "Of course, if they meet the standard, every household will be rewarded with a reduction in taxes."
Applying both kindness and severity—this was the sustainable path of slacking off.
Meanwhile, Delilah, standing in the shadows, looked at those green wheat seedlings referred to as a 'miracle', and the scales in her heart began to tip madly.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Sophia turned around, her small black leather shoes making a crisp 'clack-clack' sound on the bluestone pavement.
"Let's go. Let's take a look at your experimental field."
Sophia was somewhat impatient to see what these seedlings looked like in the soil.
She had changed into a relatively simple black Gothic-style dress today. The layered lace wasn't exaggerated, but it perfectly accentuated her complexion, which was like cold jade.
The small golden crown on her head shimmered slightly in the afternoon sunlight. Her hands were clasped in front of her, her bearing impeccable, looking alive like a black swan patrolling its territory.
Irene hurriedly followed behind, leading the way like a cheerful little sparrow.
The maidservant Willow and the 'newly appointed bodyguard' Delilah followed silently.
In the shaded area beneath the West Tower, what was originally a desolate patch of gravel had now been enclosed by Irene with wooden fences into two extremely small square fields.
Her Majesty had said that this area was hers to 'mess around with', so it was very convenient for Irene.
"Your Majesty, look!"
Irene pointed to the plot on the left, her expression excited.
The soil in that field was a deep dark brown, obviously having undergone meticulous plowing and fertilizer composting. Right within that black soil, tender green sprout tips had broken through the earth layer, swaying gently in the breeze.
Although they were just little sprouts that had just emerged, they grew extremely strongly, their roots exuding a vigorous vitality.
As for the field on the right acting as the control group, the wheat sprouts inside were sparse and yellow, looking malnourished and ready to wither at any moment.
"This plot used my specially made primary fertilizer, plus the effect of the seed soaking treatment."
Irene squatted by the ridge of the field, carefully fiddling with a tender leaf.
"Although the seeds currently developed aren't enough—only sufficient for that small patch of land in Kree Village—as long as this harvest is good, we can save more 'improved seeds'."
Sophia lowered her head and stared at those tender sprouts.
They're growing quite fast.
Once this wheat is ripe, will I be able to eat white bread that doesn't break my teeth? If I could get some yeast and make that kind of soft, fluffy bread, that would be great.
That girl Irene should be good at cooking too, right?
But even if she has no insights into cooking, it doesn't matter, because Willow can still do these things.
To the side, the maidservant Willow clasped her hands together, her eyes filled with near-fanatical worship.
"As expected of Your Majesty, to actually be able to foresee this kind of 'light of life'. If not for Your Majesty's blessing with the Secret Arts and the promotion of Miss Irene, how could such a miracle appear in our barren Kingdom of Mason?"
Willow looked at Sophia's back, her gaze reverent.
Your Majesty must have been studying in the Imperial Capital; on the surface, she was eating, drinking, and having fun, but in reality, she was secretly researching how to save the Kingdom's agriculture!
This kind of deep foresight, this kind of endurance...
Ah, Your Majesty is truly too great!
Originally, because of various remarks, I thought Your Majesty was an inhumane Tyrant, but after getting familiar, I discovered that Your Majesty's charm is simply impeccable. Whether in concepts or behavior, Your Majesty does much better than the Old King.
Thinking of it this way, the Old King 'going missing' to make way for our Majesty was truly a wise choice.
Willow had completely forgotten how terrified she was when she first saw Sophia after she returned from the Imperial Capital a while ago.
As for that Old King who went missing and was rumored to have been secretly disposed of by Her Majesty? Willow had long since thrown that to the back of her mind.
Delilah stood at the rear, coldly listening to Willow's murmuring.
She looked at those tender sprouts.
Vigorous little lives.
As a general who had experienced countless wars in her past life, she knew better than anyone what these tender sprouts represented.
This represented confidence—the confidence that even if blocked from grain by neighboring countries, this country could be self-sufficient.
A Tyrant who only knew slaughter would not be this interested in things in the dirt.
Delilah gripped the sword hilt at her waist, her gaze falling on Sophia's cold profile.
But if she is doing this to create more 'labor force' and 'soldier sources' for her to squander, then this behavior is too terrifying. Using full bellies to exchange for the people's blind loyalty, making them willing to die for her...
"Your Majesty, if this batch goes smoothly, I also want to build a few 'greenhouses' before winter sets in."
Irene's voice interrupted Delilah's contemplation.
"Greenhouses?"
Sophia tilted her head slightly.
"Yes, built using special stone bricks and wood, with fires lit inside to maintain the temperature. Although there is no glass yet and lighting is a big problem, if we can slowly improve it, perhaps in the winter, Your Majesty can also eat fresh vegetables, or even... some kind of berries?"
Irene glanced at Sophia with a guilty conscience.
Actually, it was because she herself was craving vegetables and fruits.
In this place where eating Black Bread and wild vegetables until full was a luxury, Irene couldn't imagine how happy she would be if she could have some refreshing vegetables and crisp, sweet fruit.
Fresh vegetables? Berries?
A flash of imperceptible desire passed through the depths of Sophia's eyes.
Winter in the Kingdom of Mason only has salted meat and hard bread. If there really could be fresh vegetables, that would simply be too good.
"Granted."
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