I’ll Become a Villainess That Will Go Down in History

“Heavy taxes?”

Victor scoffed at my suggestion, and his brow furrowed in laughter.

“Yes. If I’m the one who saved your life, don’t I deserve to be paid that much?”

“You’re going to antagonize them.”

“Who will antagonize whom?”

“You will be the one to face the public’s wrath.”

“Why?”

I tilted my head.

I was like the devil right now. And I suppose that was the only way to make it worth my while.

I would be pleased if I were recorded as a Villainess in this country.

“There’s a fine line between stupidity and genius.”

Victor muttered quietly as he stared at me in amazement.

I didn’t intend to impose such a heavy tax, but I would take money as long as they could live well. There would be no point in having them go bankrupt.

“You’re not giving them hope that their lives will be spared, you’re giving them assurance that their lives will be spared, right?”

“Well, even if that’s true…”

“What the heck is wrong with you? Won’t it make you look bad?”

“Yes, that’s right. But if I want money, they will give it to me.”

“It is meaningless if the money does not come from your own efforts.”

“Then think of it as a reward for the expedition.”

“Pretending to be a hypocrite like that does not serve the country well. I have my own way of doing things. I’m not going to let anyone get in my way.”

There was a sense of unease in the air.

I wondered if I would really be sleeping in this room with him starting today. I wouldn’t be able to sleep because of the suffocating air.

“Don’t think that money is the only thing that will make our finances and our country better. The most important thing is what the people will do. It is enough for the churches to help people for free. We are going to raise taxes because the taxes we already collect are not enough to cover the costs. We need to do more to keep them safe.”

“Is the current taxation really enough to solve the problem?”

I thought for a moment at Victor’s comment.

I could never fully grasp the budget of the Ravaal Kingdom, but maybe it couldn’t be done. In this world, there was no insurance or social welfare system, but maybe the state budget was still tight. If only the roads were paved, this wouldn’t happen….

This is happening because of all the stupid aristocrats who waste their money on tea parties, jewelry, dresses, etc. That was the hard part about being a big country, wasn’t it? The larger the country, the more people there would be.

The nobles’ wasteful spending should be resolved fundamentally, but if my current plan succeeds, the country will move forward after sanctioning them.

A big blow should be dealt to the whole system at once. My plan for the future would be far more efficient that way.

“I don’t know what you’re up to, but I don’t think you should do it.”

“Why not?”

“I do not want to antagonize the public.”

“Running away?”

He wiggled one eyebrow at my words.

A person with Victor’s personality must hate the act of running away. I guess there was no point in trying to get him riled up now.

I continued to speak.

“Besides, it is I, not the prince, who will make enemies with the people. You can report that the prince’s men were blinded by money. Please go ahead and be a victim to your heart’s content.”