*** *** *** *** ***
At the age of nineteen, an event occurred that solidified Karen’s position as both a scholar and a politician. It was the issue of currency production.
In those days, not only Leahian but most of the surrounding countries used silver and gold as currency.
However, what Leahian overlooked was that it was an extremely wealthy country.
In short, in Leahian, it was more profitable to sell gold and silver to other countries than to use them as currency.
As a result, three types of currency abusers flourished in Leahian. The first were the cunning ones who slightly shaved the edges of silver or gold coins, turning two coins into three.
The second were those who melted silver and gold coins into ingots and smuggled them abroad.
And lastly, there were counterfeiters who mixed copper or tin to create fake gold coins.
“Your Majesty, we must weed out these individuals immediately. Because of them, there’s a shortage of proper currency domestically, and national wealth is leaking out.”
Because Queen Soneti of Leahian was no ordinary human, it had become customary in Leahian society to bring any problem to the queen.
The queen, in turn, didn’t turn away such people and provided appropriate solutions as if they were divine revelations. But this time, she gave an unexpected answer.
“Then who could solve this problem?”
You, Your Majesty.
That was undoubtedly the answer that crossed the minds of the courtiers who brought up the issue. But one can’t simply respond that way when the queen herself asks the question.
Caught off guard by the reverse question, the courtiers stammered. The eldest among them finally spoke up.
“Wouldn’t the most brilliant person in this country be able to solve this problem?”
“And who is the most brilliant person in this country?”
“Well, that’s…”
Again, you, Your Majesty.
Leahian was such a rigid society that the queen was the answer to every question. While this might seem natural given that the queen was a transcendent being, she had grown somewhat weary of leading the country alone.
As the courtiers glanced at each other like startled crabs, one of them stuttered out a response.
“There’s a scholar and student who recently immigrated to Leahian. The student, a woman named Karen Prime, is currently the most notable intellectual. I hear she’s a genius versed in all fields.”
“Oh, is that so?”
The queen’s straight lips curved into a smile.
“Then summon her.”
And so began Karen’s first political venture.
At nineteen, Karen, blossoming both as a woman and an intellectual, had noticeably changed from before.
In Adelbar, everyone had thought of her as just a scrawny, unremarkable girl.
But since coming to Leahian and gaining recognition as a scholar, Karen’s lake-blue eyes sparkled with vitality.
Her nutrition had improved greatly, adding luster to her once frizzy hair, and she had grown significantly taller.
While her freckled face remained unchanged, no one would call Karen unremarkable anymore with her slender figure, fiery red hair tied in a ponytail, and those gleaming eyes.
Where others might have been greatly flustered by the summons to the palace, Karen merely smiled confidently.
Standing in Leahian’s royal palace, built of beautiful marble, Karen bowed her head with perfect Leahian language and etiquette as she greeted the queen.
“Young scholar, Karen Prime, presents herself before Your Majesty.”
“Raise your head.”
As Karen lifted her gaze, she beheld Queen Soneti, a living god.
Queen Soneti was a perfect beauty, as if she had stepped out of a painting. Her beauty was so sculpturally perfect that she hardly seemed like a living being.
Her wavy black hair was casually loose, and the royal crown sat slightly askew on her head, yet she exuded an unapproachable aura.
An aura that, at first glance, made one realize she wasn’t human.
‘This is a living god.’
Karen bit her lip. She felt overwhelmed by a power that humans couldn’t dare to challenge, similar to what she once felt towards her younger sister Karla.
But Queen Soneti was different from Karla. Having truly transcended humanity, unlike Karla, she had no intention of taking or threatening anything from Karen.
What she possessed was truly impartial, just, and perfect.
She simply cut to the chase in a dry tone.
“Leahian is currently facing these problems. How would you solve them?”
“May I ask one question before I give my answer?”
“What is it?”
“Why do you seek the answer to such a significant problem from someone as young and inexperienced as me?”
Karen’s question to the queen was a somewhat audacious provocation. However, the queen’s response was merely dry.
“Is age and experience important? I simply called you because you are said to be the most intelligent person in Leahian.”
Those words ignited Karen’s loyalty to the queen and her love for Leahian.
There was nothing here that oppressed her.
No one forced her to yield everything to Karla, the saint, just because she wasn’t as pretty as Karla. Karen only needed to showcase her talents to the fullest.
With no one to push or block her, she was like an eagle spreading its wings. Karen confidently shared her views.
“There are two methods. First, the state could deliberately flood the market with counterfeit currency. This would lower the trust in Leahian’s currency itself, making foreign countries less inclined to buy Leahian’s silver and gold coins.”
“And?”
“A reform of the currency itself. Currency is a virtual item that has already been given the value of ‘money.’ So why make it out of silver and gold? Use iron, copper, and tin to make currency. Just having Your Majesty’s visage engraved on it gives it value.”
Again, not only Leahian but all the countries on the continent used silver and gold as the materials for currency.
In such a situation, Karen’s statement that currency itself holds value was certainly an extraordinary break from common sense.
“A clear answer.”
The queen applauded Karen’s solution. Then she issued an order that would astonish everyone.
“From today, you are the head of Leahian’s currency manufacturing department. Eradicate the criminals and ease my mind.”
“I am deeply grateful.”
Thus, at the young age of nineteen, Karen was appointed to a key position in the state. As per the queen’s command, she implemented the currency reform in Leahian.
The reform, which changed the currency itself, was a double-edged solution that also eradicated the black money hidden in the shadows.
The reform was a great success, and the criminals who had been playing with currency were all executed.
Karen’s reputation also became unshakeable. Now, there was no one in the country who didn’t know her name.
“In recognition of your contributions, I bestow upon you the title of knight.”
That winter, Karen became Lord Karen Prime.
And the following year, at the age of twenty, she received the title of Countess along with the title of sage. By then, it was impossible to discuss the Leahian administration without mentioning Karen.
It seemed that unwavering honor lay ahead of her.
Just when no one doubted that fact, a decision by the queen threw a significant stone into Karen’s life.
As always, life is unpredictable.
*** *** *** *** ***
<To my beloved sister Karen,
I was surprised to hear that you’re doing well in Leahian.
They say all the officials in the administration tremble when you appear? When I first heard it, I thought it couldn’t possibly be you. You were so passive and not very articulate when we were young.
Unlike you, I’m not doing well. As a saint, I can’t possess personal wealth, but our parents keep demanding money, saying they have none.
Sister, what do you think about our parents moving to Leahian and settling there? They worked so hard to raise us. Especially mother, how much she…>
Karen stopped reading there and tore the letter to shreds. Whatever else was written after that, she had no way of knowing since it was torn.
Watching her, her mentor Von Neumann chuckled.
“You foolish disciple. If it were me, I would have torn it up as soon as I saw the sender’s name, but you chose to read it and get upset. You still have a long way to go.”
“……”
Karen was indignant but couldn’t refute him. In this matter, Von Neumann was entirely correct.
In fact, Karen was well aware of the situation of the Regis barony even before receiving the letter.
She already knew that the words from Karla in the letter were not true.
Even ordinary priests received donations of dozens of gold coins for consultations, let alone a saint. A saint with flowing golden hair and blue eyes, as beautiful as an angel.
Could it be true that such a person had no money? It was said that the dresses and jewels delivered to her home daily were beyond measure.
‘She must have just grown tired of our parents.’
As her parents wished, Karla got engaged to a prince in January of this year.
Though not the crown prince, he was a prince destined to become a grand duke. The opposition from the temple was so strong that it seemed unlikely they would marry within a few years, but she was indeed the prince’s fiancée.
What kind of state would uneducated parents be in, suddenly enjoying overflowing wealth and honor?
“Why are you so curious about a home that didn’t even look for you when you left, tsk tsk.”
Von Neumann disappeared, scratching at Karen’s heart until the end.
Karen glared at the back of her old mentor. Yet, she couldn’t utter a harsh word because she knew that even his harsh words were out of concern for her.
‘Master is right.’
Even Karen, having left home at a young age, couldn’t help but feel homesick.
If her parents admitted their mistakes and begged her to return, she was willing to go back.
But her parents’ response was colder than Karen had imagined.
“As the eldest daughter, you should at least become a concubine to a cardinal to support your sister.”
“Even concubines need to be pretty, she’s hopeless.”
“Still, does it make sense to run away with an old man in his seventies? If I had known, I would have extorted money from that sly old man.”
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