***

The next day.

As planned yesterday, Edmund and Sebastian came to the city hall and held a discussion with all the bakery owners and flour factory owners in the city.

They all attended because the invitation came directly from Viscount Edmund himself. This meeting was also used as a discussion forum for them.

They exchanged opinions with one another about production costs and product prices. It turned out that not all bakery owners had raised the price of their bread.

Some of them were confident and believed their concerns would not happen. Today, Edmund as the Ruler of Archester City came to reassure them.

"The total wheat field that burned down last week was two hectares, or around eight tons of wheat. Compared to the annual wheat trade, that amount is not too significant," Edmund explained.

"However, as business owners, you still need certainty regarding the availability of raw materials for your businesses."

Edmund turned and asked Lucas, Head of the Archester City Trade Department, to explain the plan he had arranged together with Edmund.

Lucas explained it to the dozens of people before him, accompanied by trade data and purchase clauses for wheat to cover the losses caused by last week’s fire.

He distributed the papers one by one, allowing them to carefully read the contents.

After all, the information on those papers was important as a guarantee for them to continue doing business and not increase production costs.

"I understand what’s happening. We have already provided subsidies to flour merchants in the market to prevent purchasing power from declining."

"However, the soaring flour prices still make it impossible for us to freely provide subsidies to every bakery because the cost would be enormous," Lucas explained.

They all listened and read the papers. Everything Lucas and Edmund said was completely true.

The business owners’ policies were not appropriate if they raised production prices based solely on their worries.

Lucas stopped explaining and allowed Edmund to continue the rest. Edmund stood from his chair and looked firmly at them.

"I understand your concerns are real. The government is here to ensure those concerns never happen," Edmund explained.

"We will find the best alternative solution for the eight-ton wheat deficit. While waiting for the raw material shipments, I ask all of you to lower your production prices back to normal," Edmund ordered.

Several debates occurred, but Edmund explained everything logically without sounding preachy. They accepted it.

All of them discussed it together and reached an agreement before Edmund and Lucas that they would begin lowering production costs.

That would affect the prices of products such as flour and bread. In the end, everyone would still benefit from the decision.

The business owners could continue operating safely. Buyers could set aside more money for other needs.

The city government would no longer worry about the threat of declining purchasing power.

"We agree to lower production costs. However, the deadline for the wheat shipment is the end of next month," explained a man, the leader of the bakery and flour factory owners.

"If within that period the government cannot provide the proper amount, then we will be forced to raise prices again, and there is little chance prices will go back down."

Edmund nodded in agreement. Next month was still a long time away, while most wheat fields would be harvested at the end of summer, which meant it would happen within the next one or two weeks.

An agreement was reached with a memorandum of understanding signed by both parties.

Right at noon, the business owners excused themselves and left the city hall.

Edmund leaned back in his chair while drinking water from his glass.

Lucas came over and handed him data regarding plans to purchase wheat from outside the Archie territory.

Although the distribution scale was quite large, it was necessary to fulfill the city’s wheat needs.

"Do it. Once Saf’s wheat fields recover, we can look for another alternative that’s more efficient."

"Yes, Viscount Edmund."

Lucas excused himself and left, walking out of the city hall together with the trade department staff.

Edmund and Sebastian became the last people to leave the hall.

"How is Lady Leonor doing?" Sebastian asked curiously.

"She woke up this morning and went back to training with Sera."

"Lord Edmund," Sebastian called while stopping in his tracks. Edmund’s attention shifted as he turned around.

"What?"

"I heard... the Siegfried Family cut ties with the Aschwin Family. Is that true?"

"It’s true," Edmund answered casually.

"You don’t seem very worried about it, Lord Edmund."

Edmund smiled, then continued walking toward the front yard, heading for his horse tied to a wooden post.

The man told Sebastian that losing the Siegfried Family would not significantly affect either the Aschwin Family or the Archie Territory.

"I’d be far more worried if we lost our trade cooperation with Nostra or Ulrich," Edmund answered.

"They are indeed the main commodity suppliers of Archester City," Sebastian added.

"That’s right," Edmund explained. "The ones who will suffer the most from the broken relationship between the two families are adventurers and knights."

"They’ll have trouble finding the best-quality weapons in the city," Edmund continued.

"Do you already have a plan to deal with that?"

"Of course."

"I won’t make any decisions until I’m completely sure the plan will work properly," Edmund answered.

The two of them mounted their horses and rode quickly away from the city hall, returning to the Aschwin Mansion.

Once they arrived, Edmund immediately headed to his office and saw a woman already waiting for him there.

Not Leonor, but Oleander.

"Mother?"

The moment she heard Edmund call out to her, she immediately turned around and stood up. The woman stepped closer with Helena, her butler, standing beside her.

SLAP!

A hard slap struck Edmund across the face, leaving the man shocked. His eyes widened as a burning sensation spread across his cheek.

"You... have disappointed me!" she complained.

"I did what I had to do," Edmund explained firmly.

"By sacrificing the Siegfried Family for that adopted child?! It’s not worth it, Edmund!" Oleander shouted.

"Leonor is not an adopted child!"

"She’s my sister."

Oleander gave a bitter smile, her eyes glistening with tears, "Look at yourself. You care more about her than your own biological sister, Clara."

"Clara has no problem with Leonor. They’re even close friends," Edmund replied.

"I care about both of them equally. Neither one is more important than the other. They are both still my sisters," Edmund stated firmly.

The woman standing before Edmund fell silent for a moment, still listening to what he was saying.

At first, she thought Edmund would remain obedient and respectful toward her.

But over time, his attitude had changed. He became more rebellious and stubborn, although Oleander had to admit Edmund managed the city well whenever Julian was absent.

Even so, she still disliked children who defied and disobeyed her.

"I’ve been thinking about this all night since yesterday’s incident," Oleander said firmly.

"What?" Edmund asked.

Oleander stared sharply into Edmund’s face. Her heart was already set on her decision. She could not delay it any longer.

"I’m moving to Gunther!"

"You are Madam Aschwin. Your place is in Archester."

"No. I have no place here," Oleander explained, "You... the person who was supposed to give me a place here, have now cast me aside and no longer care about me."

"I had no choice," Edmund explained.

"No, Edmund."

"You had a choice, and you threw that choice away," Oleander replied.

"Just wait until your father returns. He will be furious with you!"