Violet walked to the courtroom to find the Emperor who had just arrived as well.
"Empress , let's go.
All the officials have gathered in the Courtroom."
The Emperor had just arrived along with Robert and Marco when Violet reached the door of the Courtroom.
The doors opened as a servant announced their arrival.
Xander followed Violet but Lillian had to stay outside the Courtroom.
"Greetings to Your Majesty , the Emperor .
Greetings to Your Majesty , the Empress."
The officials got up from their seats ,bowed and greeted them.
There was a classic style luxurious round table at the centre of the hall.
Each person was designed a seat.
Violet saw the her father occupying the seat next to the Emperor.
Duke Williams of the South Territory occupied the seat next to the assigned seat of the Empress.
" You may sit ." , the Emperor spoke after he sat down on his glorious chair .
"Thank you , Your Majesty."
" The Empress is here with us this morning
to discuss solutions to mitigate
the effects of the famine in our Empire.
The Empress has suggested
we donate half of the grains in the
Imperial outhouse to help the citizens
after checking the inventory."
A few objections were raised.
"But Your Majesty , that belongs to the Imperial family.
Such a thing as donating from the Imperial outhouse is unthinkable."
" Yes , Your Majesty.
Your Majesty is the Sun of the Empire.
The well-being of Your Majesty and the Imperial is our priority."
....
....
As the discussions continued, Violet felt slightly worried as a lot of the nobles seemed to oppose the idea of donating grains from the Royal outhouse.
Since it was her first time attending a Royal session filled up men who were older and more experienced than her made Violet slightly nervous.
Violet looked at her father who smiled at her and nodded his head to show that he would support any decisions she made.
"Be confident."
That was what the Duke mouthed to Violet as he smiled at her.
Violet felt her tense muscles slightly relax because of her father's presence and support.
The thought that she had someone who would always have her back gave Violet the support that she needed.
"The Emperor is magnanimous.", Violet started as she stared at the officials with a newfound confidence.
"He thinks of well-being of the Empire and it's people before his own.
Such an act is to be applauded , not frowned upon ."
Violet did not like the Emperor ,
but she couldn't allow personal feelings to affect the lives of the people in the Empire.
Also.
She needed to make a statement in front of the officials.
That she was not just a daughter of the Duke.
But she was an Empress who commanded attention and admiration.
"There are a few farms and granaries under the name of Violet Rossaria Vanidestine. Grains and any food available from these places shall be donated as well." , Violet continued.
She did not mind giving away all the grains from the farmlands in her hands.
She did not desperately need them either.
"Your Majesty , I believe taxes imposed on the people in famine affected regions should be ceased at this very moment.
At least until the people are back on their feet. This will reduce a huge burden on the people and they will forever remember in their hearts of your grace and benevolence."
"I request the aristocrats and nobles to follow the example of the Emperor who is selfless and loves his people with all his heart."
The officials present in the room were stunned.
To donate grains from their own private barns?
Such a thing was inconceivable for most of them.
Donations in huge quantities enough to help thousands of people were quite unheard of.
It was always the commoners who paid the taxes in the Empire.
To completely remove taxes from famine affected regions?
It was not that had not considered such a simple yet effective solution to lessen the burden on the citizens but their selfishness and pride refused to let them make the first move.
If no one made a move, then they were free from the constraints of having to empty out their granaries.
But since the Emperor and the Empress decided to do a large scale donation from the Royal outhouse, all the nobles had to follow suit so as to not offend him.
They had merely reduced the taxes for a time period of 4 months.
But that was not enough.
Not when people were starving and dying.
Violet knew that there was something more that they have to do but she wasn't entirely sure.
Violet's father smiled at her and spoke up first.
"The Vanidestine family shall donate half of the grains from our barns."
" The Ducal House of the South Territory shall donate a third of the grains from our barns."
"The Ducal House of the North Territory shall do the same."
" Marquess Johanson shall... "
"Count Martin shall..."
After every noble official who sat at the table decided to contribute for the welfare of the people, Violet continued to speak to address another important issue.
" I believe we have sufficient grains to help the people get by for a few months.
But it is not enough to help the people get back on their feet.
Is there a way to bring a constant supply of water to the drought affected areas?" , Empress Violet spoke.
Violet looked at the quiet Emperor who had no spoken a word while quietly addressing the situation.
"The river Consas flows in the neighbouring regions of these areas.
However , to change the course of the river water is a problem." , Duke Wilson declared.
"Please look into a way for an emergency interconnection, Duke Wilson.
What about water from under the ground? We can utilise them."
"Yes , Your Majesty , but they're barely enough. They're drying." , Count Silva replied.
" Then shouldn't new and deeper wells be dug?
Unemployed young people from the neighbouring regions can be paid and made to work.
I believe there would be many who are willing.
Have you heard of the J Dam built in the East? Since we cannot afford to waste time ,
we can build a simple yet innovative dam to help the people.
It can be constructed of gravel and masonry, and reinforced with rock fill behind the upstream wall in order to protect the wall from water pressure breach.
I believe we have talented people in the Empire who can work on the finer details.
Labour will be important as well.
Please take that into account."
Violet had learnt about this J Dam from Xander , who was from the East.
"That's ingenious , Your Majesty.
We shall work on it immediately. "
Violet simply smiled and nodded her head.
" Seeds of plants such as mustard greens , herbs and beans that can grow with the least amount of moisture should be provided to the farmers." ,Count Silva suggested.
The discussion went on for another two hours.
The officials were greatly impressed by the young Empress.
Duke Vanidestine smiled with pride as he watched his daughter.
He always knew that she would make a great Empress.
The Emperor's aide Robert and Knight Marco were awestruck.
The Emperor himself seemed to be filled with awe.
"That ends the discussion for today."
"Thank you , Your Majesty "
Everyone left the Courtroom.
"I shall take my leave as well , Your Majesty ", Violet told the Emperor.
"Hmm."
The Emperor watched as his Empress left the Courtroom along with her personal Knight.
Marco remarked , " The Empress is impressive , isn't she , Your Majesty?"
"Well , she's a force to reckon with." , Robert added.
The Emperor did not respond to them.
The Empress was wise. He knew that.
He was thinking of how his 'innocent' beloved will fare when she meets with the Empress later.
' Will she be alright?'