In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Side Story, Chapter 19

“Now the East will also produce wheat…”
Perez muttered as if reminding himself.
The East, with its vastly different terrain and climate from other regions of the Empire, cannot produce wheat, its staple food.
This has been a common understanding about the East for a very long time, and its greatest weakness.
Because of this, they always had to be wary of the Central region and other areas.
But now, things have changed.
The East has acquired the technology to produce its own wheat.

“Lorraine has suffered a lot during this time. Researching wheat production methods suitable for the East, far from Luman, hidden from others’ eyes.”
At my praise, Lorraine’s face flushed slightly.
“It wasn’t just me. If it weren’t for the scholars from Lombardi that Tia sent, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of it.”
But I shook my head.
What I said was not empty words.
Even after becoming pregnant with Rick, Lorraine did not stop researching wheat production methods.
She even went into labor in the carriage on the way from Luman to this place, which says it all.
“Scholars are, literally, people who possess knowledge and conduct research. But it was Lorraine who gathered such people in one place and led them here. There’s no need to be so humble.”
“…Thank you, Tia.”
Lorraine, who replied that way, smiled brighter than I had ever seen her before.
For a moment, my grandmother, Soura, and something she once said came to mind.
“There are some flowers that grow better in other places than where they were born and rooted.”
Lorraine, who left Lombardi, where she was born, and came to the East, bloomed fully.
As if she had finally found a place to root herself.
I placed a hand on Lorraine’s shoulder and turned back to Perez.
He still had a somewhat dazed expression, still fiddling with the wheat with his fingertips.
Yet his gaze couldn’t leave the vast, ripe wheat field.

“The Luman family head has suffered a lot during this time.”
“The Luman family head?”
“To secretly research various things here, we needed a diversion. So I had to pretend to be completely on Chanton Sheshou’s side.”
How pitiful were those eyes that secretly watched me every time we met at the grand council.
The Luman family head, who resembled Avinox but was much more stoic, made me almost burst into laughter more than once when he looked at me like that.
“Tia.”
“Yes, Perez.”
“This, the wheat production in the East, will cause a huge stir.”
“I suppose so.”
It was not unexpected.
Even the immediate changes were significant.
“First, Sheshou’s influence over the East will greatly diminish. Luman will no longer have to rely on the South for food.”
Now, the Luman family was ready to officially enter the central political arena as one of the Empire’s main pillars.
It was something they had longed for for a long time.
“And dependence on Eastern trade will also decrease. There’s no longer a need to transport food from outside.”
“But if that happens, not only Sheshou but also Lombardi will find it difficult to control Luman.”
It was true that the East had been superficially under Sheshou’s influence, and actually in my grasp.
Because if it weren’t for the Pellet Merchant Guild’s trade ships and cruises connecting the East to the Central region, they would be isolated again.
But now that they can produce food, the East will soon become self-sufficient.
Just like Ivan of the North, who maintains independent political power with abundant minerals.
In other words, it meant they would escape my grasp.
“You’re right, Perez.”
At my calm reply, Perez furrowed his brows, seemingly even more confused.
“Curious why?”
“I don’t understand. Why would you involve Lombardi scholars in something that doesn’t benefit you?”
“Hmm, because.”
How should I explain this well?
After a moment of thought, I chose the simple and honest path.
“I am the head of Lombardi, but I will soon be the Empress of the Empire.”
“…Tia.”
“If the East gains independent power, your work will be much easier in the future. Don’t you think so, Perez?”
The Emperor’s authority comes from military might and wealth.
But how that authority is maintained depends on how well the subordinate nobles are kept in check and how delicate the balance of power is maintained.
“Think of it as a wedding gift, Perez. Now that I think about it, you gave me the Empress Succession Law amendment and a ring when you proposed, but I haven’t given you anything.”
I said it as a joke, but Perez continued to stare at me intently.
“I still have something to show you, you shouldn’t make that face already.”
“…Now you’re even scaring me, Tia.”
“Drama queen.”
I glared at Perez once, then asked Lorraine.
“If I follow this road north, that’s where it is, right?”
“Yes. Just go over that hill, and you’ll see it right away.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”
After giving Lorraine a small wave, I started walking along the straight road.
But something felt empty behind me.
There was no sound of footsteps following.
I turned my head to look back.
And urged Perez, who was still standing rooted to the spot as if nailed down.
“What are you doing? I still have something to show you!”
***
Following Florentia up the hill, Perez wiped his still dazed face with his palm.
The East’s independent wheat production.
Tia had explained everything, but he couldn’t understand it.
‘How could she do that?’
Her actions were like voluntarily laying down a weapon she held in her hand.
If she could control the East, she would have absolute power as the head of Lombardi and as the future Empress of the Empire.
But to voluntarily release the East’s leash and call it a wedding gift.
Perez was almost on the verge of a hollow laugh at the immense gift suddenly bestowed upon him.
“Ah, it must be over there!”
Tia’s voice, exceptionally clear and refreshing as they entered a wooded area, woke him from his thoughts.
“Hmm, so this is what it looks like. It certainly looks a bit different in person.”
Following her green eyes, which were muttering something he didn’t quite understand, he saw a vast open field, just like before.
“That’s…”
Perez’s eyes sharpened.
A scene similar to the wheat field he had just encountered, yet entirely different, unfolded before his eyes.
“Why is all the wheat on one side dead?”
The structure of the wheat fields, separated by a single path, was similar.
But the wheat on the left, looking down from their current position, was completely withered and black, a stark contrast.
The unripe wheat had all fallen to the ground.
It was like looking at farmland left after a rough cavalry charge.

“Do you know why the nobles have been so wary of Chanton Sheshou lately, Perez?”
It was not a new phenomenon for lords of regions needing food to grovel before Sheshou, who owned the granaries.
But recently, it had become even more severe.
Even with harvest season approaching, something felt off, so Perez secretly ordered an investigation.
And the report that came in just a few days before this journey was…
“A plague.”
An unknown disease, starting in the southeast, was killing all the wheat.
It spread like wildfire, and no known method worked against it.
Even experienced farmers were laying down their tools, saying it was a divine punishment.
Furthermore, this blight particularly damaged wheat crops more than other grains.
Naturally, the South’s wheat production would decrease this time, and the pro-Sheshou nobles, who noticed this faster than anyone, would inevitably try to curry favor with Chanton Sheshou even more fiercely for the reduced wheat.
However, unlike the nobles who were scrambling for this harvest alone, the wheat blight was a much bigger concern for Perez, who governed the entire Empire.
“You know, don’t you? If this continues, the entire Empire is in danger.”
“Because it’s spreading so rapidly. By now, the central South must already be affected.”
Perez’s face darkened.
The central plains of the South were where Sheshou’s granaries were concentrated.
Even if they were lucky enough to get through this harvest, who knew what would happen next.
After receiving the report, he hastily planned to dispatch scholars from the Academy to the South, but the results could not be guaranteed.
Such was the terrifying momentum of the plague.
“If this continues, the entire Empire will suffer a famine.”
Florentia, with her hands behind her back, said with a sigh.
“And many people will die, Perez.”
It was a mere prediction, but Perez felt a chill.
There was a strange power in her murmuring words.
Instinctively, he looked at Florentia, who was still gazing at the withered wheat field.
But Perez thought it might not be that.
Her gaze seemed to be looking not at the wheat field before them, but at a distant future.
It was when Perez opened his mouth, wanting to alleviate Tia’s anxiety.
“Tia, don’t worry too much…”
“So I found the cure.”
“…What?”
“The wheat blight, I mean. I found the cure.”