The Villainess Lives Twice

Where there are those who fall, there will also be those who rise.

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Duke Riagan’s punishment was confirmed.

Next, a meeting was held to discuss the disposal of property and the salt business confiscated from the Duchy of Riagan.

Officials looked at each other.

Who will get the salt business this time?

It was clear that the Emperor would not entrust the entire monopoly to the noble family this time.

In the past, Fernando Riagan was given a monopoly after becoming the Duke because it could not be ignored that the Duchy of Riagan had practically dominated the salt business for a long time.

In addition, the former Riagan ducal couple were said to have died in an accident.
There was no justification to forfeit their privileges and properties.

But this time it was different.

The Emperor would probably want to appoint an officer to rule directly.

If so, who will be in charge?

It is impossible for the central government to directly control the business of the South.
Even if the business sites were divided into several groups and operated by the state, in the end, a proxy deputy was needed.

It is not a family property that can be hereditary.
However, the impact that can be exercised on the spot will be enormous.

Even taking into account the strict supervision of the Emperor, they would be able to seize great power in the South.

Not to mention the accumulation of wealth.

On the other hand, it was also difficult.
After this happened for the first time.
When the owner of the throne changed, it was easy to experience storms and waves .

If Grand Duke Roygar ever ascended the throne, it was certainly a position to be purged.

As a result, the meeting was delayed.

It was a time when the Emperor had to make a decision, but he had an indifferent attitude.

The Emperor has been disappointed with his subjects one after another recently.
The other official who sat in this position didn’t seem to be any different from Bellon or Amalie.

When he gathered only those kinds of officials and discussed important things, of course, there was no reason to be motivated.

“If they have to stay in the South for a long time and take over the salt business right away, it won’t be easy.
It is difficult for those whose families have taken root in the Capital, and it is difficult for them if they are old, so I will choose young and capable people without considering their current status.”

said the Emperor.

“Let me recommend it without hesitation.”

Even though he seldom spoke openly, Chancellor Lin spoke,

“How about appointing it as a temporary job?”

“Hmm?”

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“This year, we have inventory secured by confiscating the embezzled salt from the Duchy of Riagan.
The Ministry of Home Affairs will assist and solve the problem somehow.”

“The investigation into the distributor is not over.”

Ferguson intervened,

“In many cases, the licensed wholesalers supplied through the Eimmel Kingdom already knew that it was coarse salt.
They are clearly accomplices.”

“If we want to investigate and punish even the wholesalers and select a new merchant, distribution will only be possible at the end of next year, Your Majesty.
Aside from the skyrocketing prices of the salt, think about the spread of coarse salt across the country in the meantime.”

Chancellor Lin said seriously.
An interior ministry official added anxiously,

“It cannot be controlled by a crackdown on daily necessities.
At this rate, it is no different than building up the soil for coarse salt merchants to take root.”

“Besides, for normal production next spring, we need to hire a manager right now and get the factory running properly.”

“Then, are you saying that after all, we should entrust the distribution of salt to those who have served as coarse salt merchants?”

As soon as the words started to burst, remarks pointing out the problem followed.

The Emperor opened his mouth only when the chaotic circumstances were about to come.

“I know, so please stop.”

The speech ceased.

“Is this a problem that can be solved by fighting? As the Chancellor said, I should send temporary workers for now.
But don’t think of it as a simple temporary position, but think of it as the opportunity to choose a major responsibility if you do a good job.”

“Yes.”

“Do not think about taking charge of it, there will be young people who say they are capable in each department, right? Take a good look and recommend them one by one.”

“I will obey your orders.”

The officials bowed their heads and answered.
If it was a recommendation with such restrictions and benefits, it was relatively easy to recommend.

It was then that the door creaked open.
The attendant hurried in without knocking.

“What’s going on?”

asked the Emperor.
The servant bowed his head in a bewildered manner.

“Her Majesty is here now.”

“Empress?”

Before he could finish speaking, the door to the conference room opened.

The two lady-in-waiting, who came in and opened the door by hand, bowed their heads from the left and right.
The Empress entered at a slow pace.

The officials in the conference room jumped up in surprise.
The Emperor was surprised and asked,

“What happened?”

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The Empress showed no interest in this at all, except on the day it happened.

In fact, that day too, the daughter of Duke Riagan visited the Empress’ Palace and did not back down, so she stepped outside and accounoced her decision.

So, he thought she wouldn’t get involved in this.

Cedric pulled out his chair and moved it to the seat next to the Emperor.
The Empress gave a brief thank you, and she sat down.

The Emperor asked without hiding his surprise,

“I thought you had decided not to get involved in this.”

“I don’t care anything about Fernando.
But I need to get my inheritance back.”

“Inheritance?”

The Emperor was dazzled.
There was a chill in his voice.

“You have already lost your inheritance of the Duchy of Riagan when you were crowned the Crown Princess.”

“Property is separate.”

said the Empress.

“I will take back the land, including art and jewelry handed down through the Duchy of Riagan, mansions and villas, 72 salt manufacturing mills, nearby mines and logging farms.
This is something my parents should have handed down to me in the first place.
It wasn’t Fernando’s, so you have no right to confiscate it.”

“Catherine.”

“There are many other small things, but it is not worth it as a family history.
Use my fortune as seed money and take everything that Fernando has grown.”

The Emperor’s face contorted.

The Empress’ words were not wrong.
What she gave up was the title of Duke Riagan.
It wasn’t the property.

A mansion or land was probably fine.
Of course, it was a huge asset, but it was not confiscated as a part of the state management plan to establish any business with.

But the salt mills were different matters.

Currently, there are 150 salt factories operated by the Duchy of Riagan.
If it was 72 factories, it was almost half the number.

As with the numbers alone, the problem was more serious with the scale.

All nine of the Empire’s largest salt mines belonged to the Duchy of Riagan.

Salt produced there accounted for 40% of the total production.
Without that, it was impossible to supply salt throughout the Empire.

The officials held their breath.

The Empress’ claim could not be denied unconditionally.
They would be able to forcibly detain other nobles in the name of the national interest, but the other person was the Empress.

“What are you going to do with the salt mills? The private production and distribution of salt is now prohibited.”

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“It belongs to my parents, so I just want to get it back.
It would not be against the law of the Empire to only own the salt business and not do it.
Whether to blow it up or leave it alone, isn’t it to my heart?”

“No, Empress.”

Cedric, who had been silent until then, intervened.
It was at that moment when the Emperor’s face turned red.

“Salt is a daily necessity.
If those salt mills are shut down, the proper way for the salt to circulate becomes difficult.”

He bowed his head deeply to the Empress.

Essentially, these daily necessities should be released from the monopoly system and made into a permit system.
In this way, people’s lives will not be completely destroyed in times like these.

After all, if they control the manufacturing sites and distribution network, they can reap huge profits.
Just like Duke Riagan did in the past.

However, Cedric could not say that, and he kept his mouth shut because he was not in a position to be directly involved in the business.

“Please look at the lives of the people.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Chancellor Lin knelt in front of the Empress.

“Even now, prices are already skyrocketing.
Considering that salt is a commodity that is stored and used, it will be unmanageable next year.”

The Chancellor fell to his knees, and the Minister of the Interior and the Ministry of Home Affairs could not sit still.

They lined up and knelt down on their knees.
All that was left was Ferguson.

The Emperor was quiet.
Cedric may have said it with a pure heart, but Chancellor Lin was certainly trying to create an atmosphere where he couldn’t fight.

The Empress stifled a laugh.

“Cedric, you are making me a very bad person.”

“Forgive me.
How can I not know how much we value our parents’ heritage? But the government comes first.”

“Nevermind.
I really didn’t mean to blow it up anyway.”

The Empress spoke promiscuously and looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor asked in a calm voice,

“What are you going to do? There’s no way you’re really interested in the distribution of salt.”

“It’s just like I said.
It’s my parents’ inheritance, so I’ll take ownership.
When I die, I plan to pass it on to my ward and relatives.”

“Umm.”

The Emperor patted his chin and fell into his thoughts.

If the Empress’ purpose was to inherit ownership, there was room for compromise.

The issue of inheritance rights has always been a sensitive issue for the nobles and the temple, so if there is a fight, the chaos in state affairs will be longer.

The Emperor said,

“I will give you the rent for the manufacturing site and equipment.
Do not directly engage in any operation or distribution.”

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“I’ll take a portion of the mine’s profits in salt.”

“Only the salt crystals that are of value as ornaments.
If what you want is a symbol of the Duchy of Riagan, then that should be enough.”

“No.
Even if the distribution is through your agent, I need to get the proper salt first.
And I want my heirs to be able to properly own mills.”

“Catherine, that is unacceptable.
Your heirs, like you, will receive the proceeds from the mills and the rent of the salt mills.”

“If I can’t control my inheritance rights and the heirs of my family, neither can you.”

The Emperor’s face hardened slightly.
The Empress spoke out,

“But if you give my heirs the rights they deserve, I can grant what you suggested before.”

“Catherine, that is…….”

“If you need time to think, do it.”

The Empress said so and stood up.

“Ah, Empress.”

Cedric panicked and called her.

But the Empress left the conference room without looking at him.

The officials were perplexed.

Except for the Emperor himself, Cedric was the only one who knew what was the ‘proposal’ that the Emperor had made to the Empress.
The one that Cedric was officially supposed to not know.

The Emperor looked at the Empress’ back and said in a subdued voice.

“Today’s meeting ends here.”

It was when the attendees heard that that they stood up.

The knock on the conference room door resounded again.
The Empress was in the conference room, but the person who was waiting outside immediately asked for an audience.

The Emperor asked nervously,

“What’s going on?”

“There is a messenger from the port.”

“Is this urgent?”

“Not urgent, but important.”

The Emperor motioned to bring in the messenger.

The messenger knelt down on one knee and spoke politely.

“King Eimmel has arrived.”

Indeed, it was a serious matter.