Wei Wei's concern was the same as what Felix had been pondering.
They could hide things from the Church—after all, the Church didn't hold much power in Puladi and couldn't interfere with their affairs. But the king was a different matter altogether.
As a noble, Felix undoubtedly wielded the most authority within his domain. Even the king's ability to control him was limited—as long as he didn't commit outright treason, even open conflict with a neighboring lord wouldn't be a big deal.
Still, one couldn't afford to completely disregard the king, especially when it came to profits. If he didn't offer the higher-ups a share of the benefits, and the king happened to take offense, even if he had no legitimate reason to intervene, he could always revoke Felix's title on a technicality and righteously seize his assets.
Of course, such an act would risk pushing the noble to defect to another kingdom—or worse, raise arms and crown himself. Any king with half a brain wouldn't take that path so openly. But underhanded sabotage? That was another matter.
Moreover, Felix's family was a direct vassal of the king, meaning the king held more sway over him than other nobles.
If they began mass cultivating high-yield crops next year without offering the king even the slightest benefit, no matter how much he'd favored Felix before, he'd likely turn on him. And if he did, other nobles who had long coveted Sardinson would seize the opportunity. Things could get very ugly for Felix.
So, it was best to stick with the old playbook: offer the king a share.
Once the king had profited from Sardinson, he'd surely back Felix—especially if he wanted more benefits down the line.
Felix quickly made up his mind. "Once the sweet potatoes are harvested, we'll send a batch to His Majesty along with the corn and potatoes. I'll deliver them personally."
Wei Wei was surprised. "You're going to the capital?"
"Mm. It'll show more sincerity if we deliver them ourselves. Sweet potatoes won't be ready until August, and by then the Church will have left. It'll be fine if I'm gone for a while. Besides, there are matters in the capital that need my attention."
There was news he hadn't yet shared with Wei Wei.
"Kingsley caught those three men. They confessed that the people who tried to kidnap you were from the Beresford family."
Wei Wei couldn't immediately recall the name. She had to dig through her memories before something clicked.
"The earl with the wealthy estate?" she tilted her head, vaguely recalling that he was suspected due to his involvement in the incense trade, like the other two suspects. Sardinson's essential oil business had hit them hard.
Now, it wasn't just essential oils—perfume was likely an even bigger blow.
"I thought he was the least likely of the three. So it was him?"
Among the suspects, the Earl of Beresford held the highest title. The other two were barons, though one was the Keeper of the Seal and the other the Minister of Finance. While their titles were lower, their political clout in Puladi was higher.
"Not necessarily," Felix said calmly. "They might be lying. Those mercenaries aren't easy to crack."
He'd analyzed the suspects extensively to figure out which one was the mastermind. At first, his rage had led him to target three individuals, but after cooling off, he realized the Earl of Beresford, while suspicious, was the least likely. His territory was wealthy. Though he was in the incense trade, it wasn't a primary source of income. At the time of Wei Wei's incident, his business hadn't suffered enough for such a drastic response. Plus, his territory was far from the capital, and he rarely stayed there. His influence wasn't strong enough to orchestrate a murder and body disposal under royal lockdown and hide the survivors in a monastery without a trace.
"The earl has a poor relationship with the Church. He once ordered his knights to destroy a church in his domain. There were no casualties, but it soured relations."
Wei Wei asked, "Didn't the black room get anything out of them?"
Felix shook his head helplessly. "Probably not. Kingsley left for the capital with his men before the Pope's incident."
So, they had no idea about the 'black room' method that could break the mind without harming the body. Naturally, they didn't use it.
Well, once Felix made the trip himself, he'd make sure they broadened their horizons.
So the trip to the capital was settled. Felix would take his men and the crops by boat. He planned to present the king with one hundred pounds each of corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. It wasn't much compared to their total harvest, but enough as a tribute.
Of course, this wasn't just charity. Felix was hoping to get something in return—maybe more manpower from the king.
"If word leaks from the king's side, we may have to prepare extra for trade."
That was just a precaution. They didn't need to prepare much. While they feared that other nobles might rush to buy seeds if they caught wind of it, without seeing the yields for themselves, most wouldn't believe the claims. Even if Felix told the king about the output, he'd likely be skeptical, thinking Felix exaggerated.
Until there was hard evidence, anyone who heard about these crops might be curious, but they wouldn't risk replacing their wheat fields with something unfamiliar.
While Felix was still mulling over how to present the crops to the king and waiting for the Church to leave, Pope John's condition finally improved enough for him to travel.
When Wei Wei gave the diagnosis, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Even the Pope himself, though he cherished the reunion with an old friend, knew it wasn't the right time to linger. The Church's travel itinerary had been set long ago. Their delayed departure might already have caused problems.
And the fact that a longtime aide could be bribed to attempt an assassination made the Pope uneasy. He wanted to return to Rome and root out any remaining threats. He also wanted to find out who paid Sean to kill him.
Bishop Umberto felt the same. He had also learned quite a bit from Wei Wei about wheat farming. Though the booklet had already been sent back, he felt it was safer to be present for autumn sowing. The Church's tour would last several more months and span many countries. If delayed again, he might not return to Rome in time for the planting season.
More importantly, the Sean incident still needed to be handled.
Initially, Bishop Umberto had considered asking the Pope to let him return early. But leaving the Pope alone with the remaining two bishops didn't sit well with him—especially if someone tried to kill the Pope again.
Fortunately, he had already written to a trusted colleague to investigate who had bribed Sean. Hopefully, they would have good news by the time the delegation returned to Rome.
As for Bishop Roberto, he'd been trying to leak information and had succeeded, but it was too late. He feared the Pope's side would find the person who turned Sean first—and then trace the network back to more people. That would be disastrous.
What worried Roberto most was that this might lead back to him. He'd lost all interest in investigating Sardinson's secrets and spent his days obsessing over how to resolve the situation.
Attempting to assassinate the Pope—even a puppet Pope—was high treason. Stripping titles would be the least of it. The usual punishment was life imprisonment or death.
Everyone wanted to leave Sardinson as soon as possible. But with the Pope unwell, no one could say anything. Now that he had recovered, they didn't waste a single day. The morning after receiving the all-clear, they packed up and set out.
As hosts, Felix and Wei Wei naturally had to offer parting gifts.
Wei Wei prepared a variety of Sardinson-made goods: essential oils, perfumes, pasta, meat sauce, canned fish—everything but cosmetics. She figured there was no need since clergy were supposed to remain celibate and there weren't any women among the high-ranking members of the delegation.
The gifts were made up of three sets, for the Pope and two bishops. She completely ignored the third bishop still waiting at the port in Princia. The items were valuable, and even a noble household wouldn't give them away lightly.
The three packages looked the same on the outside, with only the Pope's being slightly larger. However, Wei Wei and Felix had secretly tucked a five-pound bag of corn seeds into the Pope and Bishop Umberto's crates, along with instructions for planting and storage. They didn't mention yield—just that this was a staple crop from Silkland, drought-resistant, cold-tolerant, hardy, adaptable, and delicious. They were welcome to try it out.
The decision to include seeds came down to their ongoing cooperation with Bishop Umberto, especially regarding the bank plans. A little goodwill was necessary. They wouldn't reveal yield numbers just yet—let them plant and see for themselves.
In any case, it was already too late to plant this year. By the time next year's harvest revealed the yield, Sardinson would already be mass-producing these crops. At that point, it wouldn't be a secret anymore—in fact, it might even become a marketing advantage. If the Church returned asking for more, they'd just sell the seeds—at seed prices, which were higher than food prices. More business for them.
Wei Wei felt she'd been generous. With five pounds of corn seeds, assuming a good yield, they could easily produce a thousand pounds of seeds the next year. Planting dozens of acres would be no problem. Even she had started with only about a pound.
As for the tithe? If they had to pay, they'd use something else. Until corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes became commonplace, there was no way they'd be paying tithes with them. And if pushed too far, they'd simply pay nothing—which was normal in Puladi. As long as the local church could function and provide charity, the Church wouldn't even be allowed to complain. Tithes weren't enshrined in Puladi law. Most of the peasants tithed out of genuine faith or because nobles used the Church's name to collect wealth. Where those goods ended up was anyone's guess.
When the gifts were loaded onto the carriages, Bishop Roberto subtly glanced at each crate. After confirming that they all looked the same and only the Pope was a little fuller, he said nothing, keeping a wooden expression.
As the carriages disappeared, Wei Wei let out a long breath. "They're finally gone."
Yes, finally.
Everyone around her shared the same deep sense of relief.
The tension hadn't just affected the lord and lady—servants and guards had also been walking on eggshells. The castle atmosphere had been tense and constricted. Everyone had to be careful, cautious, and constantly alert for traps. It had been exhausting.
Even Father Matthew, himself a man of the Church, visibly relaxed.
He chuckled. "Now I can finally go back to the chapel and resume classes."
Father Matthew had mostly recovered and was ready to return to his priestly duties. But with the Pope around, as the castle's only cleric, he'd been forced to stay and attend to the guests. There had been no time for his usual work—and Bishop Roberto had kept piling requests on him. He was exhausted too.
Given how staunchly he had sided with Sardinson during the Church's stay, and how tight-lipped he'd been, Felix's trust in his godfather had grown considerably.
As a doctor, Wei Wei nodded. "Of course. You can go back whenever you're ready—but don't overwork yourself. Get proper rest."
With the Church delegation gone, the mood at Sardinson Castle immediately lifted. Everyone returned to their usual duties. The extra corn, potatoes, and peanuts that couldn't fit at the villa were transported back to the castle.
This year's corn and potato harvest had been a massive success. Wei Wei was generous enough to use some to reward everyone for their hard work. Peanuts were in shorter supply and had already been stored in the villa's cellar, so those were off-limits—but corn and potatoes were shared freely.
The dried corn was sent to the castle's mill and ground into cornmeal. It was mixed with flour to make corn cakes. Eggs and sugar were added, and the cakes were pan-fried—crisp on the outside, soft inside, with the aroma of corn, the richness of egg, and a hint of sweetness. Far tastier and more filling than plain bread.
There was also pumpkin-corn soup. The not-quite-ripe pumpkins weren't as sweet as mature ones but had a fresh fragrance. When cooked with pre-soaked corn kernels, the result was light and appetizing.
As for potatoes—no need for explanation. They'd already used them last year. The chefs prepared a spread of potato dishes: pancakes, mashed potatoes, and stews. An entire feast.
The castle hosted a banquet, open to everyone. Even the servants were allowed to dine after the lords and officers had finished, and their meal matched the noble fare aside from a few missing luxury spices. Soldiers at both the castle and villa enjoyed the same.
Even the villa's slaves received a corn cake—not as a meal, but as a bonus.
Felix might want to keep these high-yield crops a secret from outsiders, but he trusted his people. He didn't mention yields—just that Wei Wei had brought these grains and how delicious they were.
Even without knowing the yield, the delicious taste was enough to win people over. At the banquet, someone couldn't help but ask if Sardinson was planning to cultivate these grains.
Felix raised his wine goblet and smiled. "That's the plan. Some of Sardinson's fields will be planted with these crops next year. Soon, everyone will get to enjoy them regularly."
Someone said regretfully, "But we just ate so many. Will there be enough seeds for next year?"
Everyone remembered how tasty the food had been, and how even the servants and soldiers had received generous portions. Would anything be left for planting?
After all, the corn kernels in the soup looked like seeds. They knew what they were eating. With so many people partaking, how many seeds could remain?
And they all remembered how Wei Wei had arrived in Sardinson—with only what she could carry. Even though she later brought back hidden supplies, seeds couldn't have made up the bulk. She had silk for entire gowns, rare jewels, porcelain she called "china"—how much space could seeds have taken?
"We've kept enough for planting," Felix reassured them. "Come spring, you'll see for yourselves. And if anyone wants to try growing them, you can speak with the Lady and ask for a portion."
All eyes turned to Wei Wei. She smiled gracefully. "Seeds will be distributed after spring arrives. Cold weather can damage them. But if you're interested, you can sign up with George."
George was the steward Felix had assigned to Wei Wei during the land sale. She'd found him dependable and capable and had kept him on. He now oversaw all farming affairs on the estate.
Naturally, he was at the banquet too. Hearing Wei Wei speak, he stood up and bowed. "Rest assured, milady. I'll handle it."
After the banquet, as everyone left the dining hall, the seed distribution topic remained the hot subject.
"Are you going to sign up?"
In the knights' mess hall, candlelight flickered. All twelve of the castle's stationed knights were present. The table was piled with simple yet delicious snacks and large wooden mugs filled with golden ale. Though it was unrefined and lacked hops, the frothy drink was their favorite—far more satisfying than wine.
Since the Lady couldn't stand messiness, drunkenness was forbidden at formal banquets. Their drinking was limited. But no one complained—they always had these private gatherings afterward, with food and drink provided by the kitchen in generous supply. Occasionally, even the Earl would join—though rarely, since the Lady disapproved and he was too busy to afford a hangover.
The knights understood. They were busy too, and such gatherings hadn't happened in a while.
"If the Earl hadn't thrown that banquet and given us a day off, we wouldn't even be here."
The knight who had asked the question soon got answers.
"I'm signing up. I love the taste."
"Same here. If the Lady brought the seeds, they've got to be good. Remember the strawberries we got before? Mine grew great. Sold them in Dinger Town for a nice profit."
Dinger was full of nobles and merchants. Even though strawberries didn't keep long, travel wasn't an issue. People had already heard of them through Wei Wei's seed giveaway. Seeing them for the first time, they bought them eagerly.
And strawberries weren't just tasty—they were big and beautiful. He'd only harvested a few dozen pounds but made nearly a whole gold coin. That was huge.
Others shared similar experiences. Everyone was eager to try corn next.
The first knight hesitated. "But what if we don't grow them well? We might get scolded. My land's poor, and I don't have great farmers."
Besides, with this year's excellent wheat crop, shouldn't they be planting more wheat next year?
A friendly knight laughed. "That's what you're worried about? Don't be silly. With the Lady around, we won't mess it up."
Another took a swig of beer and boomed, "Exactly! The Lady's a farming genius. She always explains everything clearly. All we need to do is follow instructions."
Someone added, "And the yields? Don't worry."
Everyone looked over. It was one of the knights who'd helped move grain from the villa. He had insider info.
He leaned in and lowered his voice. "I'll tell you something—but it stays here. If the Earl finds out I blabbed, we're all in trouble."
A knight nudged him. "Just spill it. We know the rules. Castle business stays in the castle."
The others all nodded.
They knew the Earl was generous, but also fair and strict. To earn his trust, loyalty wasn't enough—you had to keep your mouth shut.