The Laval House carriage came to a slow, steady halt.
Bernard had just stepped down from the carriage and straightened his lapels when he saw an unexpected figure waiting ahead.
Her Highness Princess Charlotte Durand had actually come to greet him in person.
Although Bernard had gradually cultivated the air of a high-ranking official recently, the personal appearance of this princess—famed for both her beauty and wisdom—still left him feeling somewhat flattered.
He instinctively lowered his posture, becoming a few degrees more humble.
The Princess was dressed in elegant, casual court attire today, not in full ceremonial dress, which only served to highlight her natural grace.
She was accompanied only by a few female officials in standard maid outfits. They stood quietly to the side, their temperaments serene.
Bernard did not dare be negligent. After bowing to the Princess, he also gave a slight nod of greeting to the female officials.
He knew full well that these women, who appeared to be maids, were actually mostly female members of other prominent Noble families and belonged to the most trusted inner circle of the King.
Their own titles or lineages were likely far above his own rank as a Viscount.
Bernard’s poised and polite performance clearly left a good first impression on Charlotte and her officials.
It stood in stark contrast to the overly eager, even fawning, attitude other Robe Nobles displayed during their first audience with royalty.
“Viscount Bernard, it is a pleasure to meet you.” Charlotte’s voice was gentle and pleasant.
She purposefully used a familiar form of address and added a playful joke. “Could it be that you’ve come today to get an early word on the selection for the Minister of Finance?”
“Haha, I am also delighted to meet you, Princess. You are indeed as beautiful and moving as the rumors suggest.” Bernard replied with a smile, his tone calm.
“Thunder, rain, and dew are all the King’s grace. If I obtain the position of Minister of Finance, it is my luck; if not, it is my fate. That is all.”
This last sentence, filled with open-minded wisdom, had naturally been taught to him by Allen.
However, this statement caused a spark of admiration to flash in Princess Charlotte’s eyes.
“If I obtain it, it is my luck; if not, it is my fate…”
Charlotte repeated the words softly, savoring them.
She keenly felt that these didn’t sound like words Bernard would usually say, so she asked with a teasing smile, “These must be the words of your son, right? They have a romantic flavor, like a devoted youth searching for true love. Is there a full version to this saying?”
Bernard’s heart skipped a beat. This Princess was indeed just as rumors said—frighteningly smart.
Bernard honestly admitted, “Your Highness is perceptive. These are indeed my son’s words. The full quote is: ‘I shall seek my soul’s unique mate in the vast crowd; if found, my luck; if not, my fate.'”
“Wow, how truly romantic.” Charlotte couldn’t help but think of the turbulent marriage contract between Livia and Allen, and she followed up curiously, “So, has your son found that unique soulmate of his?”
Uh… that was a difficult question to answer.
A perfectly measured look of embarrassment appeared on Bernard’s face as he hummed vaguely, “The answer to that question is likely known only to my son himself.”
Charlotte gave a light laugh and stopped prying, turning instead to the main topic. “Since you didn’t come primarily for the matter of the Minister of Finance, then what is the purpose of your visit today?”
“I have a request for Your Highness,” Bernard said frankly. “To that end, I have prepared a gift for you.”
He turned and lightly clapped his hands toward the carriage.
“Come down.”
The carriage door opened, and the butler Jean respectfully extended his hand. A slender, fair hand reached out, and then, under everyone’s gaze, Olivia elegantly stepped down from the carriage.
Her posture and expression were eight or nine tenths similar to the real Princess.
Charlotte looked at the girl before her, who was almost an exact copy of herself. Only a perfectly appropriate hint of surprise and curiosity flashed through her eyes.
Meanwhile, the female officials couldn’t help but scrutinize the two.
Had they not served the Princess closely for a long time and known Charlotte’s subtle expressions and habitual movements like the back of their hands, they might have struggled to tell the two apart for a moment.
“Good day, Your Highness.”
Olivia lifted her skirt and performed a flawless curtsy. Her voice was soft, and her tone was handled perfectly, even mimicking the unique sense of royal reserve to a tee.
Charlotte stared with great interest at this other version of herself in the world, her tone carrying a hint of amusement.
“Viscount Bernard, have you helped me find a sister I lost many years ago?”
She seemed to find this sudden “double” very novel, even revealing a bit of satisfaction.
However, deep within those beautiful blue eyes, a flash of sharp light revealed that her thoughts were far more complex than just “novelty.”
The game between clever people had already begun.
“If Your Highness is interested in her, please allow me to explain in detail.”
“Of course,” Charlotte readily agreed and issued an invitation. “Viscount Bernard, would you be willing to move to the garden? We can chat slowly over tea.”
A princess’s private tea party was an honor that many Robe Nobles dreamed of.
Bernard knew this meant the Princess was starting to truly take him seriously.
He bowed respectfully. “It is my honor.”
On the way to the garden, Bernard’s heart wasn’t entirely calm.
With his status as a Viscount, being invited into the core area of the Royal Palace as a guest was a favor he could hardly have imagined in the past.
The palace garden was meticulously maintained, with exotic flowers and rare plants competing for beauty.
Neatly trimmed shrubs outlined elegant geometric patterns, and the air was filled with the faint scent of flowers and tea.
Under an exquisite white garden pavilion, fine wicker tables and chairs were set out.
After the three of them were seated, Bernard gave a detailed account of the “life story” he had carefully fabricated for Olivia.
As Charlotte listened, she didn’t show any obvious doubt. She simply looked at Olivia with a gentle smile and asked, “Do you have your own name?”
Olivia lowered her head, her voice soft. “Answering Your Highness… I have no name. I am whoever you want me to be.”
“That is wonderful.” Charlotte took her hand, carefully studying the face that was identical to her own, and said softly, “You have suffered so much; it hasn’t been easy. I’ve always wanted a younger sister. Are you willing to become my sister, Charlotte?”
As soon as those words were spoken, Bernard understood that Charlotte had accepted the existence of this body double.
At the very least, she would never let Olivia leave.
The royal bloodline could not be muddled, but a “nominal” sister—especially one who looked so much like her—could play an unexpected role in certain situations.
“Yes, Sister Charlotte,” Olivia—no, Charlotte—obediently changed her address. “From now on…”
Charlotte’s personal charm was indeed extraordinary; her words and expressions were highly infectious.
If “Deep Sea” hadn’t been a strictly tested, firm-believing revolution member, she might have truly been completely won over by this Princess.
As for whether Charlotte truly accepted this “sister” who existed as a double, or if it was merely a political performance, neither Bernard nor Charlotte cared.
The important thing was that the moment Charlotte was accepted into the royal circle, Allen had successfully planted a vital chess piece into this airtight Royal Palace.
The atmosphere of the tea party was relaxed and warm.
The three sat around the tea table, not rushing to the main topic but instead leisurely sipping black tea, eating delicate pastries, and chatting about random things.
Charlotte didn’t try to dig for any “inner scars” Charlotte might have. Instead, she kindly asked about her hobbies.
Upon learning that Charlotte liked to read, the Princess appeared even happier.
She enthusiastically introduced the Royal Library, stating that Charlotte could go there to read as a “princess” in the future.
As for Bernard, Charlotte concernedly asked about some livelihood and economic issues.
As an experienced merchant, Bernard was extremely sensitive to price fluctuations and market conditions, and he answered fluently.
“Have grain prices risen to such an extent?” After listening to Bernard’s report, Charlotte’s beautiful brows knitted together, and a look of genuine worry appeared on her face.
“It seems the lives of the Kingdom’s subjects are much more difficult than what is written in the memorials.”
Bernard complimented her without showing it. “Perhaps under the efforts of a leader who cares about the people’s suffering as much as Your Highness, these declines will eventually be reversed.”
He continued, “In fact, while natural disasters have certainly affected the grain harvest, our country has also been importing grain. The fundamental reason for the soaring grain prices lies in… inflation.”
“Inflation?”
This novel economic term made Charlotte instinctively sit up straight. Her expression became focused, and she truly began to listen intently.
Bernard explained in the most common language possible. “Your Highness, you can understand it like this. The value of our Kingdom’s Rifel silver coins lies in the silver they contain. Suppose the total value of all goods and services produced by the Kingdom in a year is equivalent to 10,000,000 silver coins. Then, theoretically, the total amount of silver coins circulating in the market should also be close to that number so that prices remain stable.”
He paused and continued, “But if, for various reasons—such as the King minting more silver coins to deal with expenses—the silver coins circulating in the market far exceed the actual production value of 10,000,000. For example, if it becomes 20,000,000 silver coins chasing those same goods, what will happen?”
Charlotte said thoughtfully, “It means… the things each silver coin can buy becomes less?”
“Exactly!” Bernard nodded admiringly. “That is inflation. Money becomes less valuable. Especially for necessities like grain, the price will rise rapidly. This isn’t just a problem of grain shortage, but a problem of too much money impacting the market.”
“Inflation is like an invisible thief, quietly stealing the wealth from the pockets of every one of your subjects.”
After hearing this set of modern economic theories taught by Allen—theories that transcended the era—Charlotte fell into deep thought.
She realized that Bernard de Laval was indeed the best candidate for Minister of Finance.
He understood the laws of economic operation and the foundations of the people’s livelihood far better than that incompetent and corrupt Marquis of Wealth, Fuyu.
“Your insights on inflation have benefited me greatly.” Charlotte looked up, her tone solemn. “I believe you should be able to meet my father’s expectations for a Minister of Finance. I look forward to you showing your full potential in the future.”
It seemed the position of Minister of Finance was indeed a done deal.
Bernard had gauged the news he wanted, and he said with a smile, “Your Highness, economic activity is a complex phenomenon. To reverse the Kingdom’s economic slump, all parties need to work together with one heart. And sometimes the most difficult hurdle in solving economic problems isn’t the economy itself, but…”
Bernard didn’t finish his sentence, but the clever Charlotte immediately understood his underlying meaning.
Correct. Currently, the greatest resistance to reform came from the political level.
Those entrenched Sword-Bearing Nobles groups would never easily agree to reform plans that touched their interests.
“I understand.” Charlotte picked up her teacup, her gaze firm and her tone gentle. “Rest assured, I will always be your ally in promoting policies that benefit the nation and the people, as well as an ally to all the Kingdom’s subjects.”
Charlotte’s recruitment of Bernard, this “neutral” minister, could be described as moistening things silently.
She didn’t need to make specific promises; she only needed to show her supportive attitude.
However, this clever Princess had no way of knowing at this moment that the Robe Nobles under her were hiding it from her, quietly leaning toward Allen’s revolutionary camp.
In the end, it was difficult for her wisdom to surpass the dimensionality-reducing strike from a transmigrator.
Bernard even felt a trace of sympathy for Charlotte.
She was intelligent, kind, and worried about the country and its people, doing everything she could to the absolute limit.
Unfortunately, what she wanted to repair was a broken ship that was currently sinking.
And her enemy wanted to change to a brand-new ocean entirely.
She was an excellent ruler herself, but the feudal order she worked so hard to maintain was itself the root of much suffering.
She was destined to eventually stand on the opposite side of the Revolution.
When a country’s path of moderate reform reaches its end, violent revolution becomes a historical necessity.
In this process, there will always be the blood of innocent people spilled, but under the long and heavy oppression of the Old System, the accumulated blood of the innocent is enough to drown the chests of those with vested interests.
Perhaps in the future, Bernard would become an enemy of Charlotte, but at this moment, he respected this young sovereign.