Kingdom's Reform

Several days later

Joseph and Elyndra stood at the edge of the vast cotton fields, the golden glow of the setting sun casting long shadows over the land. The gentle rustling of the cotton plants filled the silence as Joseph crossed his arms and looked at Elyndra with a firm expression.

"Elyndra, we need to talk about the kingdom's agriculture," Joseph said, his voice steady. "Focusing on cash crops like cotton while our people are starving makes no sense. We need to shift to food crops."

Elyndra arched an eyebrow, folding her arms. "Do you know how much revenue these cotton fields generate? The kingdom relies on exports. You can't just flip everything overnight."

Joseph shook his head. "Revenue is useless if the people have nothing to eat. If we don't change course, we'll have riots, or worse. We need to prioritize food crops."

She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Fine. I'll comply with your decision. But you better have a solid plan for this."

Joseph turned to Henry, who was waiting nearby. "Henry, I need you to start cultivating food crops immediately. We need enough to feed the kingdom. Can you handle it?"

Henry grinned, placing a hand on his hip. "You got it, Your Majesty. It won't be easy, but I'll make it happen."

With that settled, they returned to the palace to continue their exhausting daily work, going over the budget and restructuring the kingdom's economy.

Days passed, and Elyndra grew more concerned. Joseph worked tirelessly, barely stopping for meals. One evening, she confronted him in his office.

"You need to take a break, Joseph. You're going to burn out," she insisted.

He waved her off without looking up from the parchment in front of him. "I'm fine. There's too much to do."

Salvador, who had just entered, smirked. "Then how about this—go on a date with Elyndra. Consider it part of your royal duties."

Joseph blinked, glancing up at Elyndra, who suddenly looked flustered. "A... date?"

"It'll be good for you," Salvador said, already walking away with a satisfied grin.

That evening, Joseph and Elyndra disguised themselves in simple clothing and visited a quaint café in the heart of the city. The place was lively, filled with chatter and the aroma of fresh bread. They settled at a corner table, enjoying their brief escape from royal responsibilities.

As they sipped their drinks, their attention was drawn to an argument at a nearby table. A young beastkin mage named Silvia was passionately debating with a knight named Solomon.

"You can't seriously be thinking about defecting to Duke Eleazar's side!" Silvia exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table.

Solomon frowned. "Eleazar has a point. This new king was just dropped onto the throne. Many nobles refuse to acknowledge him."

Joseph quietly observed, his expression unreadable. Solomon hadn't recognized him yet due to the disguise, but the conversation intrigued him.

"So you'd draw your sword against your own childhood friend if civil war broke out?" Joseph suddenly spoke, his voice calm but sharp.

Solomon turned to face him, narrowing his eyes. "What business is it of yours?"

Silvia, however, gasped as realization dawned. "Joseph... You're the king, aren't you?"

The café fell silent. Solomon's face paled as the weight of his words hit him. Before he could stammer out an apology, Joseph stood up, brushing off his cloak.

"Think carefully, Solomon. This kingdom needs unity, not division." With that, he left, Elyndra following close behind.

The next morning, Solomon, his father, and Silvia came to the palace. Solomon's face was bruised, his father standing beside him with a stern expression.

"Your Majesty," his father said, bowing deeply. "My son has been punished for his foolishness. We came to apologize."

Joseph sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's not about punishment. It's about understanding. If my leadership is making people consider rebellion, then I've failed somewhere. But from now on, let's work together instead of fighting amongst ourselves."

Solomon knelt. "I swear my loyalty to you, Your Majesty."

Joseph nodded. "Then let's build a better future for this kingdom—together."