"Your Excellency, do you have any good ideas?" Henry, who had a little headache, glanced at the Privy Counsellor sitting on his left side.

Isabel Walton thought about it, and when she stood up, she said: "Your Highness, agricultural harvest failure is a very bad natural phenomenon that we cannot resist. Therefore, we need a combination of approaches to address last year's poor harvest, known as famine. ”

Then she added: "In the first place, I propose that the gentlemen and the men should pay a certain amount of compensation from the public land and wasteland you have enclosed to compensate for the poor part of the harvest. Second, encourage your bookkeepers and indentured tenants to use other means to increase their agricultural income, such as hired laborers, carpenters, bakers, merchants, etc., while relying on the land for their livelihood. Point 3......"

Isabel turned her gaze to Henry, who was sitting behind her, "Your Highness, my third point is that you can take a part of the budget of the Duke's Palace that I propose you to set up to compensate for the poor crops. ”

"Therefore, the compensation made up of these three parts should keep this year's agricultural harvest in a state of balance in previous years." After Isabeth finished speaking, she nodded at the people in the audience and sat down.

Henry glanced at the retainers present and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, if you have no problem with the advice of the Privy Councillor, you can go ahead and implement it." If there is a different opinion or a better solution, you can say it now. ”

Herbert's father, William Frederick, pondered, "Your Excellency, what should be done if you are not able to make up for last year's poor harvest in full?" ”

Isabel just said very calmly, "Gentleman, this is a problem that I need to solve as an advisor to His Highness. You and others can start by implementing the three suggestions I just made. ”

The retainers discussed for a while, and after reaching an agreement, saluted Henry and the Privy Counsellor, and left the council chamber one after another. After asking Eugene to bring him and Isabel two glasses of wine, Henry told Eugene to close the door to the parlor.

After taking a long sip of wine, the Duke of Richmond looked at his advisor: "Isabel, do you have any good ideas?" I mean, if you don't use the money. ”

Isabel stood up and tried to relieve the fatigue caused by sitting for a long time, walked back and forth in front of Henry and said, "Henry, do you have any interest in Lord Haswell's property and land?" ”

"What do you mean?" Henry asked curiously with his wine glass.

"This is the idea that came to me after talking to Lord Haswell. His Excellency has told me that after His Highness's departure he will do his duty of security and security in the county of Richmond, and that in the name of the King there will be no major violent cases in the county. However, His Excellency also said that he would support the northern petition procession in the south in spirit and faith. ”

"What? How dare this bastard betray me?? Henry scolded in disbelief and threw the glass out with all his might.

The servant in the drawing-room, who heard the sound of the glass being thrown on the floor, was about to push the door open and come in to collect the glass and the wine that had been spilled on the floor, when he heard Eugene, who was standing outside the door, whisper: "Don't go in, Your Highness hates to be disturbed by his conversation with the Privy Councillor." ”

"Henry, it's not surprising that Oliver would have this thought. It seems to me that all the old nobles of the North will certainly support the petitioners as fully as Oliver, because they do not think that the time of the king's autocracy has come. Isabel continued to pace in the meeting room.

Henry, who was sitting on the throne, said hatefully, "Oliver, there are other nobles who must be cursed. ”

"Henry, Lord Haswell's property and land are just right to make up for last year's poor harvest. I mean, let's say you report Oliver's situation to the king. ”

"Well, that's right. His property and land had been given to him by the king, and it was up to the king to decide whether to take it back. ”

"However, in this case, I cannot guarantee that the southbound petition procession will cause major riots, riots, and cases of assault on the bodies and property of others as it passes through the county."

"It doesn't matter, God will not have mercy on them."

Today's dinner was the first dinner after the day of fasting, so the attendees were particularly interested in the variety of meats served at the huge rectangular table. Herbert's father, William, happened to be sitting next to Isabel, and William, who was very cultured and courteous, said happily: "Your Excellency, I have heard that my second son has served as your bodyguard, do you have any opinion of Herbert?" ”

Isabel just smiled after glancing at William: "Very well, your second son is a qualified quasi-knight with a chivalrous spirit and dares to challenge his opponents. ”

"I think it's not easy to get your praise."

"It's nothing, I don't think there's anything in this secular society that people can't do, and the problems that a person encounters in his life are often caused by his laziness."

"Your Excellency is right, hard work pays off."

"By the way, gentleman, have you ever heard that Herbert is in love with a young, beautiful girl?" Isabel thought it was necessary to tell Herbert's father about it. Even though the father is unlikely to help his second son get a satisfactory marriage, there should still be a show of respect for William's gentlemanly status.

William Frederick was stunned for a moment with his glass, but quickly smiled and said, "Your Excellency, it is his own question which girl Herbert likes. I think as long as the other party's family doesn't care if he has a knighthood and property, or whether he has a reputation in the county. ”

Isabel heard the second meaning of the father's words, and said casually: "Gentleman, I tell you this matter only as a sign of respect for your title and status as a gentleman. I know that Herbert will never be able to replace his brother, your eldest son, in your mind, right? ”

Henry, who was sitting at the head of the table, saw that Isabel and the gentleman Frederick were having a pleasant conversation, and quietly focused on the conversation between the two. I only heard the gentleman say curiously, "What do you mean?" The primogeniture decided Herbert's fate, and there was nothing I could do about it. ”

"It's all right, gentleman. I just want to tell you that your second son is trying to become a true knight for the girl he likes. ”

"Thank you for your kind intentions. Uh, do you know which girl Herbert likes? ”

Isabel tasted the beef stew in red wine on her plate, and said with a slight smile, "The second daughter of Sir August's family, Miss Euphemia." ”

Hearing these words, Henry quietly glanced at Sir Augustine opposite Isabelle, and said with a smile: "Sir, is this true? ”