# Chapter 15
When I asked my question, Edmund hesitated for a moment before answering: “…You said so.”
“I didn't say!”
I didn't tell anyone, just talked to Natasha about house hunting after work.
When she looked at him, Edmund coughed and turned away.
“Hmm, then let’s go before it gets too late, Felix.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Where was he hiding while he was following him? At Edmund's invitation, Felix suddenly appeared calmly.
“Drive the new employee home.”
“No, no need! I can go alone.”
The sun is still shining, and the distance from here to the temple is not far. Most importantly, even if he was hiding his identity, the First Prince could not be left defenseless.
“You should be protected, not me.”
“I'm not so weak that I need protection.”
No, this is not the point. I said firmly: “However, no one knows what might happen!”
What if an armed gang suddenly appears?
“This area may seem quiet, but when it gets dark, drunks show up and cause trouble. What if they attack you with a knife while you are unprotected?”
Edmund sighed deeply, as if the ground would collapse beneath him.
“Okay, go with me.”
"What?"
I thought I misheard, so I looked at him.
“I need another vantage point to check out the site anyway.”
He said that and started walking with long steps.
“Wait, I'll go with you!”
When I ran after him, Edmund slowed his steps a little and muttered: “Even if you run with your short legs, you will get nowhere, so walk.”
Not that short. I looked at my legs and then sighed.
Well, short.
***
“The Umfa area is as chaotic as I expected.”
Edmund breathed as he looked at the surrounding area. Remember, how did Ecla solve this problem in the novel? Lucid built wards, but Ecla...
Oh, right. Proposed redevelopment of Umfa. That is, rebuilding the area, constructing new buildings, and renting them out at low prices to merchants.
At first, Lucid's quick fix seemed more effective. But…
The wards will fail.
The people of Voglich believe that everything should be paid for at a fair price. Dormitories with a rent of only 3 kiran were not fair to them, so they refused to live in them.
Moreover, Aryan people refuse to live in one building with other families for religious reasons.
In the end, although the Ecla plan took longer, it was more effective, and became a reason for the foreigners and poor people of Umfa to later support it.
But Ecla is not here now...so...
The plan that Eclat suggested in the novel, can't I suggest it?
“Hey, new employee, what's got you so distracted?”
“Ah, there!”
What am I thinking? Is this a time to think about conscience? I might die if I don't act.
"What? Are you hungry?"
Now that he mentioned it, I'm hungry...no, not that!
“I think...”
She grabbed the hem of my skirt, hesitated, then spoke: “Redevelopment?”
“Umfa’s image is full of negatives. Even if it takes time, I think it is better to think about the future.”
I started recalling Ecla's plan from the novel one after another.
“Clean the roads, eliminate illegal businesses, demolish old buildings that distort the view, and build new, clean buildings. Then rent them out.”
“Of course, this is the basic solution. But trade will start soon, and foreigners here have no place to live during this period.”
In the novel, Ecla doesn't offer a short-term solution, but I have an idea.
“During this period, places should be provided for them. Such as shared accommodation. Renting an entire hostel might be a good idea.”
“Do you think foreigners will be able to pay the rent for these new houses?”
Edmund sneered and said, “You know that most of Umfa’s residents live here illegally.”
This is already a problem. Wealthy foreigners are very few.
“I have another idea.”
“What about loans from the Empire?” I spoke cautiously, wondering if this system would work in a romantic world.
“Loans?”
Edmund frowned, clearly not liking the idea, and puffed out.
“I know that house prices in the capital are high. So, the empire is now imposing a ceiling on house prices.”
“But the nobles are strongly against it, aren’t they? If you put a cap on prices, those who invested in real estate will revolt.”
The privileged classes in any country do not give up what they have. In the novel, Ikla focused solely on improving Umpha. But if it were me...
“So, you're suggesting that the empire offer high-interest loans?”
For the nobles, high interest is the merchant's game, so they don't go near it.
But this is a project that the empire must manage seriously.
The general public has nowhere to suddenly borrow large sums of money.
As a result, moneylenders emerged who exploited them.
Despite knowing the injustice, they have no choice but to borrow from moneylenders, and unable to pay the interest, let alone the debt, they turn to Umfa, drowning in debt. This project is not only for foreigners, but also for the poor of the empire.
“Do you know how much you have to pay if you borrow 100 kroner from a moneylender?”
Edmund opened his mouth in surprise.
Of course he doesn't know, he thinks money is a dirty game.
“150 kroner within a month. If you do not pay, 250 kroner within six months, and 500 kroner within a year.”
"What?"
She continued as he asked in amazement: "Those who cannot pay sell their children or engage in illegal activities, and this is how the population of Umfa increases. This is not only for foreigners, but for the poor in the empire as well."
She sighed and continued: “The Voglisch people believe in fair payment. Prince Lucid’s wards? They will never enter them.”
“So, lend them money to buy houses?”
"Yes. If the return is fair, they will pay it. Increase housing for foreigners in Umfa, and offer low rents. For those who cannot afford it, lend them the money and let them pay it back gradually."
Edmund rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
“Even if they were arrogant, wouldn’t they have to live in the cheap wards if they ran into financial problems?”
“Aryans will refuse on religious grounds.”
If Aryan refuses, Nikita will not enter either because of their pride.
“You'll see, those wards that Lucid will spend his own fortune on? No one will live in them.”
Edmund looked at me strangely as he heard my confidence.
“How did you know Lucid would spend his own fortune?”
She paused for a moment. I can't say I read that in a novel.
“Well, this is...”
Think fast. I can handle this!
"You know, Prince Lucid likes to brag. I heard him talking about that the other day."
"truly?"
"Yes, of course."
Doesn't he suspect I'm a spy again? I smiled awkwardly and looked around. As darkness fell, she felt worried glances at Umpha.
“More importantly, the redevelopment of Umfa depends on improving security.”
“…I know that. Most security problems come from Umpha.”
Edmund impatiently undid another button of his shirt.
Ah, his chest muscles. No, I shouldn't be distracted!
“What if we built guard wards in Umfa?”