[Did Papa tell Uncle about the plan to counter the famine?] She wondered, as this was very important.
Her reason for telling the king was simple; if the King ordered for graneries and store houses to be built in every fief, it would make things easier as it would be held with even more severity. She resolved in her mind to ask him about it later. For now, it was ti for lunch.
The dining hall was harmonious as the family chatted about anything and everything. They switched to other topics, conversing joyously as they touched different topics that concerned themselves.
"It’s very likely that a famine will occur," Wilson announced all of a sudden, in the middle of the al they were having.
Aristia almost choked on her food, turning to stare at him in surprise.
[Seriously? Just suddenly drop serious news on them like a bomb.] She thought sarcastically.
Everyone paused in the middle of eating and turned to Wilson.
Fedor asked his brother with a small frown on his face, "A famine?" He looked around the table and picked up his fork to resu his al while saying, "There hasn’t been a famine in more than fifty years, and the kingdom’s weather is steady with adequate rainfall and sunlight. How could a famine occur?"
Not to ntion the fact that a part of the kingdom was very close to an ocean.
That was also the sa thing Wilson had said when Aristia first brought it up. Everyone in the room thought and felt a similar way.
"There have been so sightings of locusts in so lands. They are not much, but we cannot ignore it. We all know the implications of a famine caused by those ravenous insects." Wilson said.
Whether Wilson made it up or he investigated and discovered that piece of information, Aristia had no idea.
lvin finally spoke with a sober expression. "A famine caused by locusts is indeed serious." He said.
Inwardly, he wondered what they could do about a famine caused by locusts. He thought they couldn’t do anything as locusts were too many. They ca in swarms and it was impossible to end them all.
He didn’t want to show helplessness as he was the forr King. He was supposed to try sothing to solve the problem, but there was nothing to try in the first place. It was like a battle had ended without even starting.
"Brother, since you brought this up, do you have any suggestions?" Fedor asked, turning to Wilson.
He was also worried as he knew the implications of a famine caused by locusts, but did not show it as he was the king and wouldn’t show weakness. He had to act like it wasn’t a big problem and wasn’t hard to deal with.
They had only rarely experienced drought since Amberale’s history as their Kingdom was close to an ocean, but if it was just a normal famine, they could get food from an allied kingdom. However, this was a famine caused by locusts. They ate everything.
He hoped that Wilson had a solution to the problem.
"Yes, in fact I do have a suggestion to make." Wilson said.
"Well then, let’s hear it." lvin said, feeling a bit surprised. What kind of solution had Wilson co up with?
"We could have storehouses and granaries built around the kingdom where we could store crops and grains. This way, when the locusts arrive and the famine starts, there will be enough food." Wilson said and the adults raised their eyebrows in surprise.
They didn’t know what it was, especially the word ’granaries’, but they could figure out what he ant by ’storehouses’, and Wilson’s clear words and explanation provided them with a rough understanding of what he was saying.
"That is a brilliant idea, Wilson. That is a new term I just heard of— storehouses and granaries. How did you co up with that?" lissa praised, greatly impressed.
"It wasn’t who thought of it." Wilson said, sparking curiousity in the hearts of the adults present.
"Then who did? Was it you, Catherine?" lissa asked the question on everyone’s mind, but Catherine shook her head with a small smile on her lips.
They were instantly confused and curious as they couldn’t think of anyone who would co up with that. If not Wilson and Catherine, then who? Duke Anton? Their Butler?
"If it is neither of you, then tell us who it is. Do not keep us in suspense. Whoever ca up with this shall be given a reward of a silver coin." Fedor announced.
Amberale had five currency units; copper, bronze, silver, gold and the Cyan Banknote.
100 copper coins=1 bronze coin
100 bronze coins=1 silver coin
100 silver coins=1 gold coin
The Cyan Banknote could range from 10–1000 silver, just like modern currency notes.
So, the reward of a silver coin was hundred bronze coins, which was ten thousand copper coins; an amount of money that the average commoners, who could only make a few bronze coins in a year, would never dream of having.
Hearing money, Aristia sat up even straighter and her eyes lit up. Money! The king just ntioned receiving money!
"It was Tia who ca up with the idea." Catherine exposed proudly, her smile broadening significantly.
Her husband had told her about their daughter’s visit to his study. Just like Wilson, she felt her daughter’s words had a lot of sense to it and would also bring about benefits regardless of if there happened to be a famine or not, therefore she stated that with confidence. She had always known that her daughter was brilliant.
"Tia?!!!" Several voices exclaid at the sa ti. It was obvious who the voices belonged to as the expression of her family mbers revealed unconcealed shock at the unexpected revelation.
There was silence for a few minutes.
"Unbelievable," Rowaine was the first to speak. It was obvious Wilson wouldn’t lie. She was so astounded, she almost clapped. Her niece was both adorable and intelligent!
It was as if her words brought the rest out of their daze and they realized they had not misheard. It was only then they rembered to speak.
"But how did Tia learn about a possible famine?" lvin asked with clear curiosity. They all turned to her, waiting for an answer.
Aristia wiped her mouth with a napkin before saying calmly, "I overheard a few maids talking about locusts back ho at the mansion. I heard one of them say that soone she knew from another kingdom said that there were a few sightings of locusts. I read in a book that locusts could cause famine when they ford swarms, as they have the ability to consu crops in a matter of minutes."
She took in a breath and then continued,
"That is why I tried to think of a solution, so that even if we cannot avoid the locusts or get rid of them, we could control the situation during the famine by providing food, and even if there turned out to be no famine, the stored food could aid us during the ti of Winter. Also, we can sell the food we store for a fixed price. That way, we would both be helping the kingdom and making money..." She paused.
Not wanting to appear greedy, she added, "I want to help the kingdom but I also want to make money... to spend with my family."
She left them all marveled at her wit. They were also amused at the last part of her sentence. Make money to spend with her family from selling the produce? Did her family even need extra money?
Nevertheless, they were satisfied with her intention behind making money even though it really wasn’t necessary.
If Aristia had heard their thoughts, she would have just smiled awkwardly as that was nowhere near her intention.
"That is marvelous. Even if there turns out to be no famine, it would be an advantageous strategy for our kingdom. That is very considerate of you." Fedor praised, then he suddenly frowned.
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