This morbid yet devout response caused the whirlpool in Astreia’s eyes to instantly transform into a sweetness so thick it couldn’t be stirred.
She loved this version of Wendy—completely hers, even longing to be utterly dominated by her.
“So well-behaved. You always know how to please me.”
The Witch’s red lips gently nipped the Prince’s earlobe, her scorching breath spraying onto his skin, her voice low and husky.
The Prince trembled slightly, then relaxed, allowing that love filled with intense Possessiveness to envelop him.
The following “exchange” was naturally filled with heat, tossing and turning, tossing and turning, tossing and turning.
The luxurious shag carpet in the Guest Hall became the duo’s new Battlefield, until the Prince Highness was too lazy to move even a single finger.
Only then was he carried in the arms of the satisfied Witch and taken back to the Bedroom.
***
But the sweet world for two didn’t last long.
A very realistic and severe problem now faced everyone.
The newborn Valoran Kingdom had run out of money.
Inside the Council Hall, the atmosphere was oppressive.
The Little Queen Yekaterina sat in the main seat, her small face tense, her brow furrowed into a tight knot.
“That’s the situation. The national treasury… is already empty.”
Prime Minister Allison pointed at the thick Account Book spread out on the table, her eyes bloodshot.
“Before, confiscating the assets of the Nobles from the Wider Faction seemed like a massive amount, but the vast majority of it consists of land, manors, Art, and a large quantity of military supplies. These things cannot be liquidated in a short period of time.”
“Meanwhile, we just spent a large sum of money to provide back pay for Soldiers across the regions, pensions for fallen soldiers, and to purchase urgently needed winter supplies… Now, the Gold Coins that can be utilized in the treasury are nearly gone.”
“At most, we can only hold out for half a month.”
Half a month.
This unit of time caused Yekaterina’s breath to stagnate for a moment.
Had she only just escaped her status as a Puppet only to face a bankrupt country?
“Then… what should we do?”
Allison did not answer, instead turning her gaze toward the most “leisurely” person in the Council Hall.
Wendy was currently reclining in Astreia’s soft embrace, using those “Northern Hemisphere” peaks that could drive any man wild as a pillow, staring blankly at the intricate carvings on the ceiling.
Astreia looked down, her slender fingers moving through his smooth hair, grooming it bit by bit, gentle and doting.
The way her beloved looked when he was worried was also quite cute.
That slightly furrowed brow and those unconsciously pouting lips made her heart itch with the impulse to pull this man into her arms and bully him until he cried.
“Sigh…”
Wendy let out a long sigh, which sounded exceptionally clear in the silent Council Hall.
He naturally knew Allison was looking at him.
But what could he do? He was just a transmigrator, not a god of wealth.
Governing a country was a hundred times more complicated than imagined, especially in this western fantasy World with low productivity and ignorant thoughts.
“If all else fails,” Wendy spoke weakly, “just force those Nobles wearing ‘Loyalty Collars’ to donate money. Their money is just rotting at home anyway; it would be better to bring it out for the country and the people, and they might even gain a good reputation for it.”
“No!”
Yekaterina and Allison rebuked him almost in unison.
The Little Queen’s face turned red with anxiety: “Wendy! The ‘Loyalty Collars’ were already a desperate measure, and they have already caused deep resentment. If we go and force them to donate money now, isn’t that just driving them to their deaths? If they would rather die than obey and develop rebellious hearts, the collars will take their lives directly!”
“When that happens, not only will we not get the money, but we will also gain a reputation for being tyrannical and bloodthirsty. Furthermore, we will lose a large number of Nobles with administrative experience, and the local regions will fall into complete chaos!”
Allison also added in a heavy voice: “Her Majesty is right. Coercion is the worst strategy; it will only intensify the conflict, like drinking poison to quench thirst.”
“Sigh, this won’t work, that won’t work… then you guys tell me exactly what we should do…”
Wendy was completely out of options.
He simply buried his face in Astreia’s embrace, nuzzling her like a spoiled child, his nose filled with her sweet scent.
This coquettish display made Yekaterina’s eyes twitch, her heart filled with both anger and envy.
She was angry that this man, while discussing major national affairs, was actually so… so frivolous!
She was envious, wondering when she could be like her Elder Sister, holding this hateful man in her arms and watching him act spoiled toward her?
Pah, pah, pah! Yekaterina, what are you thinking?!
Just as the Council Hall fell into a deadlock once more, Wendy, buried in that tender embrace, suddenly jolted.
He abruptly lifted his head, his eyes lighting up.
“I’ve got it!”
This sudden shout instantly attracted everyone’s attention.
Allison and Yekaterina both looked at him, their eyes containing three parts doubt and seven parts expectation.
Wendy was remembering his past life, where his greatest pastime while slacking off was reading web novels.
The entertainment activities in this World were truly lacking.
The pastimes of ordinary people were nothing more than playing cards and bragging in taverns.
Wealthy Nobles and citizens liked to go to the theater to watch troupes perform plays praising the Gods and great men, or stories of love and hate.
And now, Valoran had its own propaganda weapon—the newspaper!
If they carved out a specialized section in the newspaper to serialize a brand new kind of story, one more exciting and gripping than a play…
What would happen then?
Using the web novel tropes that had been proven by countless markets in the future would surely be a dimensional strike against the natives of this World!
First, use free serialization to attract a massive audience and cultivate reading habits.
When the story reaches its most critical moment… hehehe, then release beautifully produced physical books.
This was simply a money-printing machine!
“We can run newspapers, so why can’t we serialize stories in the newspapers?”
Wendy sat up straight, his face showing the confidence of a master strategist.
“We can create a brand new literary form; I call it a ‘Novel’. It is longer than a play, the story is more winding, and the world-building is grander. We can publish a small part in the newspaper every day, allowing everyone who can read to see the most exciting stories for the least amount of money.”
“When they are deeply attracted by the story and are scratching their hearts out waiting for updates every day, we take the opportunity to release physical books, divided into paperback and hardcover editions.”
“The paperback price will be affordable, so ordinary citizens can buy it. The hardcover edition will use the best paper and be accompanied by exquisite illustrations to be sold to those wealthy Nobles and collectors!”
Wendy spoke with increasing excitement, as if he could already see Gold Coins pouring into the treasury.
However, after hearing this grand blueprint, both Yekaterina and Allison showed skeptical expressions.
“Telling stories in a newspaper?”
The Little Queen frowned, clearly failing to fully understand.
“Isn’t that just printing the script of a play on it?”
“Will anyone actually like watching that?”
“And… Wendy, I admit you are very wise, but do you really understand scripts?”