“I know it is tough to believe me. After all, I am the daughter of the very man who is clearly making your daily lives difficult,” Francesca began, her voice steady and carrying across the quiet room. “But believe me... I harbor no affection for that household whatsoever. If anything, I am profoundly grateful to Lord Miller Ironwood and this Viscounty for rescuing me out of that living nightmare.”
A wave of astonished murmurs and frantic whispers rippled through the audience as she so openly and casually disgraced Duke LeonCraft.
Taking a deep breath, she pressed on. “This territory is my home now, the very place that saved me! And there is not a single person in this world who would willingly watch their own home be destroyed! So, whether you choose to fully trust me today or not, I promise you all that I will do everything within my power to ensure that the Ironwood Viscounty and its people live happier, more prosperous lives!”
Before anyone in the crowd could even process her words, Francesca bent at the waist, lowering her upper body into a deep, respectful bow, exactly as she would have in her past life as a Korean corporate worker.
The gesture sent a shockwave of astonishment through everyone present. It was completely unheard of for a high-ranking noble to bow to commoners, much less a Duke’s own daughter.
“Y-your Ladyship, you do not have to bow to us!” “We are just a bunch of peasants, such a thing is not necessary!”
As the people frantically protested, Francesca straightened up and firmly replied, “And why shouldn’t I?”
“Back in the Capital, I was constantly abused and looked down upon simply because I am unable to stand perfectly on my own two feet. Yet here?” Francesca paused, her eyes sweeping across the rows of seats. “Not a single one of you has given me a look of disgust or disdain, even while you harbor justified resentment for your current, difficult living conditions.”
“What is a noble territory without its people? It is just a useless chunk of dirt and rocks, that's what it is,” Francesca declared, looking the front row citizens directly in the eye. “I, Francesca Ironwood, bow before you today not as a sign of losing my noble honor, but rather out of profound respect for a populace that survives even in these harsh conditions, and refuses to mock others for their physical defects.”
A heavy, emotional silence gripped the entire theater. Then, the elderly man with the long white beard slowly stood up and began to clap. “I've only ever heard rumors about how prim and foolishly snobbish the capital people are, but I didn't realize they were truly that rotten...”
Another citizen joined in the applause, shouting, “Haven't you heard? They even oust and neglect the brave soldiers who bled and suffered crippling injuries in the wars protecting them! Such utter ungratefulness!”
Within seconds, the entire theater erupted into a roaring standing ovation. As the thunderous clapping bounced off the walls, a profound warmth blossomed in Francesca’s chest. A small, emotional tear pricked the corner of her eye, but a confident smile broke across her face.
She raised her hand, gracefully directing everyone's focus back to her as she transition smoothly back into her element. “Now, as for the critical issue regarding the communal coop...”
The crowd instantly quieted down to listen.
“I believe we should absolutely build one, strictly as a vital precaution in case Lord Miller is unable to entirely resolve the trade blockade before the winter freeze sets in,” Francesca recommended.
The chicken association leader tensed, about to loudly object, but Francesca smoothly cut him off by tapping the tip of her cane against the wooden stage floor.
“Of course, as I said, it is merely a safety precaution. I will personally be seeking out Miller tonight to deeply inquire about the road and trade issues we are facing,” she assured them, turning her gaze directly toward the large-statured old man. “I completely understand your concerns, Association Leader.”
Her smile sharpened with the brilliant, calculating edge of a seasoned modern consultant. “Which is precisely why I already have a strategic idea to combat the exact profit issues you presented during today's debate.”
“Both of the arguments presented today were entirely valid,” Francesca began, addressing the stage. “Coop owners rely heavily on their seasonal sales to earn their livelihoods, while those who have fallen on hard times desperately need to eat to survive the winter freeze. Therefore,” Francesca looked out toward the towering mountain walls in the distance before turning back to the crowd, “we will simply do both.”
“We will meticulously measure the physical size and output capacity of every owner's coop before temporarily for the winter, merging them into a single, massive communal facility,” Francesca explained. She made a conscious effort to look at each of their faces, maintaining direct eye contact to build absolute trust. “Currently, different sellers and vendors are forced to compete against one another, undercutting prices on eggs and poultry just to survive. But if everyone operates out of a unified communal coop, we can standardize the prices throughout the winter. This will keep the market prices stable for the consumers while guaranteeing the owners a steady, protected profit.”
“If we are still selling the poultry, how exactly will the individual profits be distributed? And how will this function as a charity for the poor?” the association leader asked, raising an eyebrow.
Francesca replied smoothly, “Since we will have already recorded the exact sizes and capacities of each owner's original setup, we can distribute the net profits gained from the winter sales proportionally to each owner based on their initial share.”
She gestured toward the smaller vendors in the front row. “This will entirely stop the aggressive price gouging used to steal customers, a ruthless tactic that smaller coop owners could never compete with, leaving them to struggle. Furthermore,” Francesca then turned her gaze toward the citizens dressed in rough, weathered clothing, “for the poor, we will establish cooked meal camps throughout the town. These charity kitchens will be funded directly from the profit margins of the coop owners on a rotation system.”
“On a rotation?” the association leader asked, his confusion turning into profound interest.
Francesca nodded. “That's right. We can divide the local owners into twelve distinct groups. We will deduct a small, manageable percentage of the profits from just one group each week to fund the food camps, rotating through the list until the winter season ends. This way, every single owner participates in helping the needy, but no single business is financially burdened. Everyone retains their livelihood.”
A heavy, stunned silence descended upon the entire crowd. The audience stared at her in absolute awe. The proposal was incredibly detailed, dropped carelessly just a few minutes after she had listened to their debate, and yet it was entirely feasible. It was a level of structural economic planning they had never witnessed before.
“We can have the local chapel conduct the initial survey to ensure the measurements stay completely impartial,” the association leader suggested, his eyes gleaming as the brilliance of the system clicked.
Excited murmurs and loud praises immediately erupted throughout the seats. The elderly, scarred man who had brought up the original proposal eagerly added, “Yes! And we can make it so the chapel formally organizes the meal camps as well, so the people know they can trust it and ensure no one is discriminated against!”
“Your Ladyship, please have a drink with us!” “You really are a blessing to this territory!!”
“If this actually works, we might finally be able to minimize starvation during the winter freeze! My Lady, you must visit my restaurant sometime, we make the greatest chicken roasts in the province!”
The entire theater became incredibly lively as the heavy tension melted away into pure celebration. Francesca smiled warmly, stepping down from the stage to genuinely mingle with the boisterous crowd. For the first time across two separate lifetimes, a profound realization settled into her heart.
This place and these rugged, honest people, really made her feel like she finally belonged.