19. Dazed and Confused

"I beg you to reconsider your decision. Take the side of the farmers." Leonardo said it seriously, and he dared to look his king in the eye.

"They never fail to pay taxes on time, and they didn't make our kingdom buy vegetables and fruit from other kingdoms. These two things should allow you to assist farmers who are fighting to defend their plantations."

Leonardo was an 11-year-old boy. The king could have ignored his words, but it didn't matter, at least he had tried to be on the side of the farmers, and Leonardo wouldn't feel too sorry if the king still chose to side with the merchant.

Tristan frowned. He was amazed at Leonardo's courage and that the 11-year-old boy was also intelligent.

"Thank you, Leonardo." Tristan patted Leonardo's shoulder. "Go study. Your teacher is probably waiting for you."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Leonardo nodded. He stood up, but his feet had not yet taken a step to carry him back to the palace where he, his mother, and his little sister lived.

Leonardo didn't understand why the king was thanking him. Would the king consider his words, and then the king would side with the farmers? That was the hope of Leonardo and 20 farmers.

Leonardo couldn't be happy until he knew whether the king had changed his mind or not.

"Those farmers," Leonardo said, turning towards his king, who was lost in thought. He swallowed hard when the king looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Their faces were bruised like they had just been in a fight. Don't you want to find out why they are like that, Your Majesty? Maybe they just got into a fight with the thugs sent by the merchant," said Leonardo.

"Why do you say that?" Tristan tilted his head. "Don't talk without evidence, Leonardo. You will be punished if they are offended." Tristan shook his head.

"But things like that often happen." Leonardo lowered his head and squeezed his fingers. "The rich oppress the poor. Such cases always end peacefully. No rich person went to prison because of that case."

Tristan was shocked. He was curious about where Leonardo got such information. On the other hand, Tristan was not surprised when he found out that in this world, many rich people also felt superior.

"There's nothing that can be done if they decide to reconcile," Tristan said. He patted Leonardo's arm. "Study hard. One day, perhaps I will need your intelligence."

Leonardo's eyes widened. He was surprised and happy. The king said that to him, even though no one heard him.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Leonardo said it excitedly. "I will study hard." He made a promise to his king and himself.

I take my leave, Your Majesty. I'm sorry I talked too much, and thank you for listening to me," Leonardo said as he left the king, a faint smile spreading across his handsome face.

Tristan leaned back in the garden chair, raising his head to look at the bright blue sky, lost in his thoughts.

Today, he hasn't had any bad luck.

He didn't know whether the farmers who came to his palace belonged to the category of bad luck he had.

The system hasn't given him a task yet. Maybe because Tristan was still serving a penalty.

Tristan already knew why the merchant insisted on buying the plantation lands belonging to the 20 farmers, and not only that.

Tristan also knew why the twenty farmers did not want to sell their plantation lands.

He was very confused. He didn't know whether to side with the 20 farmers or the merchants.

As a good king who thinks about the welfare of his people, he should side with the farmers because the results of their plantations are very beneficial for everyone in the kingdom, including him, who enjoys eating fruit.

However, the luxurious inn with complete facilities that the merchant will build will have a positive impact on this kingdom. Officials, merchants, nobles, and those who could afford the rental price of the inn would gather there. Both those from this kingdom and other kingdoms.

If the whole world knew about this inn, this kingdom would become famous too.

The shops around the inn will get new customers if those staying at the inn shop there.

As the prime minister said, the kingdom could set high taxes for the inn. The merchant has many businesses, and it has been proven that he has never been in tax arrears.

That was very good.

"But the main problem is that the kingdom has to buy vegetables and fruit from other kingdoms to cover the reduced food stock due to the sale of plantation lands belonging to 20 farmers to the merchant." Tristan's eyebrows knitted together as he interlocked his ten fingers.

Vegetables and fruits imported from other kingdoms will definitely be expensive, leading to an increase in the cost of domestically produced vegetables and fruits to avoid a price war.

"I don't seem fit to be king." Tristan gave a loud sigh. He had never served as an organization or class president in his previous life. Now he inhabits the body of a king.

Tristan didn't understand why the system chose him. The system seemed to have selected the wrong candidate.

He was very sure that the system regretted choosing him.

Being a king was a difficult job. He had only been in this role for two weeks, yet his head already felt like it was about to burst.

***

"You have lost your horse, we know you are still grieving, but it is important for you to have a horse. There are many well-trained horses that you can choose from," said knight Aiden.

Tristan looked at his two knights, who always followed him wherever he went. He was in his throne room, he had just finished a meeting with the ministers.

"I'll do it tomorrow," Tristan said. He honestly didn't know how to choose the best horse for him.

Tristan Madigan did not seem to remember the first time he met his horse. Tristan wanted to know whether Tristan Madigan chose his own horse or someone chose it for him because, at that time, Tristan Madigan was still 12 years old.

Tristan has to go to the library. He should read a book about horses. He was afraid that others would suspect that he was not Tristan Madigan.

"Your Majesty." A palace soldier standing in front of the throne room had stopped Tristan from going to the library. "Mr. Baron of Taylor Merchant wishes to see you."

"Mr. Baron?" Tristan raised his eyebrows.

"He is a leader of Taylor Merchant who wants to buy the farmers' plantation lands, Your Majesty," said knight Ajax.

Tristan rounded his lips. He was so stupid. He didn't even know the merchant's name.

"Why does he want to see me?" For some reason, Tristan shuddered in horror. He was a king, he shouldn't be afraid of anyone.

However, he had a bad feeling.