Lilith left the room happy. I’m sure she anticipated a harsher punishment, but I need the Eclipse family to elevate literacy levels in the country to create more jobs. A maid entered to deliver snacks and left. I used Identify on the food to check for poison. Eli was already doing her job, testing for poisons. Eli and Anna also sat down to eat. At least they are getting used to it.

Leona stood up from her chair and sat down on my lap. Even the two girls stared at her, but we all fell silent. She started to take cookies from the plate and feed me. The little guy inside my pants started to complain. She felt something touching her, and she smirked. Luckily, Anna and Eli were sitting on the opposite side of the table, so they couldn’t see this little warrior complaining. I also fed her, and she started to play dirty, biting my fingers. Man, I never tasted such delicious cookies—or is it because of Leona? The two girls pretended what we were doing was normal and started to hold their own conversation. After we finished eating, we returned to our positions, as did the girls.

The guard did his job, and Eli responded. A petite woman entered with two other women. The three of them knelt down and bowed their heads. Leona told them to rise. The woman introduced herself as Ademina Adams and also introduced two of her family elders who accompanied her.

"I would like to congratulate your highness and your majesty on the victory," Ademina said.

"Thank you," Leona answered.

I just smiled and remained silent. What a cute loli. This harem king will add you to his harem. I wonder how Granny is doing?

They sat down, and the meeting began.

"Can I please get permission to speak?" Ademina requested.

What permission?, You are already talking. I thought to myself.

"You don't have to ask for permission. Speak freely," Leona answered.

"Thank you, your highness. I would like to apologize to your majesty for involving your father in our conflict."

"It's okay, you do not have to worry about it," Elfan answered with a smile.

"Your majesty is too kind. Please, if you have any request or order, inform me. The Adams family will do anything."

Now you are talking, lady.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Interesting. The Adams family closed big business deals with other families and businesses, but the amount for taxes kept decreasing, huh?" Leona decided to ruin our mood by dropping a bomb on Ademina.

"..." Ademina kept quiet.

Leona continued talking while flipping the papers. "Instead, the debt to the royal family kept increasing. Do you care to explain?"

"Yes, your highness. Firstly, the late crown princess took a significant amount of loans, promising to pay them back after she became queen. She signed with the royal seal on the debt contract. Secondly, after the passing of the crown princess, Elzaran family members kept coming for more loans," Ademina answered.

I see. In order to support their infighting and create more factions, they needed money.

"What about the tax?" Leona asked.

"The late queen reduced the tax. In exchange, we sold stylish products at a lower price to her, and she would be the first to see them before other families or customers."

"I hope you are not expecting us to pay these debts, right?" Leona asked, staring at Ademina.

"Yes, your highness. In our books, those debts were already transferred to the Elzaran family."

I feel sorry for the Vermillion family; they will have to pay all those debts, I thought to myself.

"As for the tax..." Leona looked at me.

Ademina also focused her gaze on me. OK, why are you guys looking at me?

"Actually, you can keep paying that amount of tax in exchange for the maximum number of soldiers belonging to the Adams family not to exceed 2,000, including mercenaries," said Elfan.

"..."

"The royal family guarantees that no family will attack the Adams family. Of course, you can refuse if you want to."

She turned towards the elders, and they both nodded.

"The Adams family will follow your orders."

I knew it—merchants will always be merchants. To them, profit is everything.

I also told them about the school issue I discussed with the Eclipse family, and they are required to select competent people to teach business studies. It's a subject where students will be taught how to manage their finances wisely, how to budget, how to start their own businesses, and how to sustain them. This subject will be available for older students, those from 16 to 21 and night classes.

They have 10,000 soldiers, so the remaining 6,000 and mercenaries—I showed them the detailed plan about what will happen to them. The three of them were really impressed.

"I hope your family will treat other dark elves and forest elves with the same respect you are treating me."

"I pledge that the Adams family will serve the royal family faithfully, and those who discriminate will be expelled from the family."

I see. This is the loyalty you get when your tax is reduced by 80%. Anyway, it doesn't matter soon; she will be back.

I also dispatched my spies to human countries to investigate the market prices for gold, silver, mithril, timber, wheat, and salt since those are the products we trade with our human neighbors. Our country is like North Korea; it is closed off from the rest of the world, and the only humans who can enter are merchants, and they trade at the palace. So it's really not wise to trade without knowing the exact market prices. Anyway, how did Queen Elizabeth do it? I do hope my spies return before month-end when the human merchants arrive. Tomorrow we will be negotiating with the Vermillion family and the Whiteheart family.