The Last Princess of the Kingdom of Verdant
52.
“Thank you for taking the time to come. Please, I have prepared tea and a little snack to accompany our discussion.”
“Thank you Miss Anne, but I'm pregnant. Can I have some water?”
“Oh, it's okay Viscountess. This is peppermint tea that I prepared for you, because it is good for women who are pregnant.”
“Ah really? Em, fine then.”
‘So he already checked our background? Though Viscountess is only one month pregnant, and not many know about this.’
“Alright, so what have you prepared for the festival this time Miss Voinn? Do they also do harvest festivals in Verdant?”
“No, the residents of Verdant celebrate the harvest with family and pray for gratitude together. Verdant farmland is mostly family owned and not too large, in contrast to Terra which is dominated by nobles, and the population only as workers.”
“Ah ..., so their crops are not too much and sold only in small quantities?”
“Iya's right, Viscountess.”
“How can they progress if they only rely on small land and compete with each other between farmers. How can they pay taxes? Just deserve ...”
The countess deliberately hung up her words, but they clearly understood her point. Verdant is not a rich country, but that does not mean that they are poor. Some Verdant regions do not require residents to pay taxes to regional leaders.
“Because that's why Verdant's fruit and vegetable quality is better than Terra's. They take care of their land like their own child.”
“A-what did you say?”
Countess Tulle did not believe what Anne had just said. She could not believe Anne would return her words like that.
Anne had heard too many bad words from the people around her. He just never answered their words. He knew well the masks of the nobles.
“Because the farmland in Pallona belongs to the nobles, meaning the funds for the harvest festival are from the nobles right?”
Anne did not want to extend their debate, and went back to discussing the main purpose they met today.
“Ah, yes of course. We each donated something to the festival. Like bringing in a magic show or a musician.”
The viscountess who was also starting to pale, afraid of a bigger problem, immediately replied Anne.
“Can you tell me how the harvest festival took place last year?”
“Em, we used to hold a festival for three days, with different performances every day. Sometimes we also hold cooking competitions or games.”
“What about last year's festival? We can't do the same.”
“Last year there was a drama show on the first day, a singing race on the second day, and a fireworks show as the festival closes.”
“Alright, have the nobles talked about what they will provide for the festival this time?”
“Nothing has been set for sure, we just talked about it while ago.”
“Send a notification letter to all the nobles in Palliona to send their proposal in three days, we will discuss it again then. Then what about the decoration?”
“Last year we used colorful flags and made vegetable and fruit figurines.”
“That's it?”
“The street light is also decorated with colorful paper.”
“What if we use flowers this year?”
“It will be very expensive when using flowers to decorate along the square.”
“Not, not with ornamental flowers like roses or tulips. We can use wildflowers, and flowers from harvested vegetables. What do you think?”
“Seeds! They are not at all attractive and do not smell.”
The countess who had been silent had finally commented.
“This is a harvest festival, not a flower festival. Although simple, they also have their own charms, you certainly know how happy farmers are when they see these flowers blooming.”
As the nobleman with the largest farmland in Pallona, of course he often saw the flowers. But of course, he was never interested.
“Yes, maybe this is a good idea countess. Of these flowers are simply discarded, and added with foliage tendrils.”
“Aubergines, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, or whatever is there. Can you prepare it Countess?”
“Alright, I will talk about it to my husband.”
“For the necessary funds, the nobles can give it voluntarily at the tea party next week. Is there anything else to prepare?”
“We also need to determine which sellers are allowed to sell at bazaar.”
“A-em, is there another Countess?”
“Guardians. At least the Marquis will increase the number of guards during the festival, right?”
“Three hundred guards will guard inside and outside the festival.”
“Don't you have to ask the marquis first miss?”
“Iya, I've talked to the marquis. Is it less? How many guards were directed last year?”
“Se-one hundred.”
“Good, three hundred then. I do expect the festival this time to be bigger than the previous year. Cheers”
Anne raised her glass to pray for the success of this year's harvest festival. The Countess and Viscountess immediately raised their glasses, which they had not touched from earlier, and drank with Anne.
‘What kind of talk is this? Looks like I didn't breathe from earlier.’
Viscountess was still confused by what had just happened. Have they just been questioned or discussed? He did not even have time to drink or taste the cakes in front of him.
“One more time thank you for helping me prepare this year's harvest festival. Please enjoy your snacks and tea comfortably. Please bring new tea.”
Anne waved, asking the waiter to prepare a new tea.
They looked at each other and looked at Anne in confusion. It's completely different than they imagined. Have they just been expelled? Their conversation was not even more than an hour.
Where is the casual talk about clothing and accessory trends that are usually done by women? He did not even praise their clothes and appearance at all. Oh, my God, he's blind.
Anne knew they must be uncomfortable, so she did not want to extend their discussion. He also did not know about what the noble wives were happy to talk about. Anne just sat quietly enjoying her tea.
“Emm, this cake looks so good, I've wanted to eat it since I saw it.”
“Please Viscount, just say if you want to make another. Our chef is quite adept at making cakes and other desserts.”
“Since pregnancy my appetite has greatly increased. Hmm-mm, try one Countess. It's very tasty.”
“Ehm, yes.”
He quickly picked up his favorite lemon cake, before it was devoured by his starving friend.
“I told my husband I was coming home in the afternoon. How about shopping in the city? Come on Miss Annette, you also need to see the city square directly to be able to decorate it.”
“Ah, I have to ask my Brother first about that.”
“It's okay, just a few hours. Just bring your bodyguards and servants.”
“I will ask him immediately to the young master.” Kiara replied as Anne looked at him with a worried face.
“Say we invite her to see firsthand where the festival is held. This is very important.” Viscountess said quickly, before kiara left.
“Oh and Baroness Cassel say there is a store that sells cakes from yams, which turned out to be very tasty! Imagine, yams! The food of the commoners. We have to try it.”
“I've never tried ubi.”
Anne said quietly while recalling what a sweet potato is. He had obviously heard of the yam in Verdant, but never knew that they sold it here.
“They say it feels like eating ground.”
“No! I remember the Baroness really liked it! Oh, I'm so impatient.”
“Viscountess, please take care of your attitude.”
“ Is it okay Miss Annette?. We are not at the official event, no need to be too stiff. ”
“Ahaha, yes. Just call me Anne.”
Tok
They all stopped talking and looked towards the entrance.
“Young master lets you go, but you have to bring two bodyguards.”
“Well, come-ayo!”
Viscountess immediately stood up while patting the remaining cake crumbs on her dress.
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