The village heads held their breath and, as one, watched to see how Celine would respond.
Celine, however, did not stir. Without letting her smile falter, she answered in a soft voice.
"Indeed. My lord husband slew a great many magical beasts for our sake, so I should think it only natural, as his wife, to reward him for his efforts. And besides, do not the people of the domain belong to their lord as well? What possible problem could there be in a lord distributing the lord's own goods among the lord's own?"
Volf's brow twitched for the briefest instant.
Not missing even that slight change, Celine continued.
"Furthermore, we have turned over a considerable quantity to the Adventurers' Guild. By putting it into circulation through the market, I believe we have given all the common folk an equal chance to buy it."
A murmur began to spread through the hall.
Celine's explanation drew several nods from the village heads, but Volf raised his voice.
"And that's exactly what's stealing the butchers' livelihood!"
Volf's shout sent a louder wave of commotion through the hall. But Celine answered calmly, her expression unshaken.
"Of course. If matters continue as they are, the butchers will be driven to ruin."
Volf's eyes narrowed, and as the tension in the hall tightened another notch, Celine deliberately deepened her smile.
"That is precisely why we intend to merge them with the Adventurers' Guild and place all of it under centralized control through a new Agricultural Cooperative Guild."
Celine's proposal set the hall murmuring again.
The village heads looked part surprised, part hopeful, but Volf did not relax his grim expression, instead throwing back a cool reply.
"Unified management, you say... And you truly believe a system like that can distribute meat properly, when freshness is everything?"
With the same smile still on her lips, Celine answered calmly.
"Of course. We are already moving forward with plans to improve both our methods of preservation and the structure of our distribution."
But Volf's expression only hardened further.
"Preservation methods? You make it sound simple, but reality is not so kind. From the moment a carcass is dressed to the moment it is sold, it is a race against time. Put all of that under centralized control, and delays are inevitable. And when that happens, it is plain to see that spoiled meat will end up on the market."
Volf's voice grew hotter and hotter until, at last, it rang through the entire hall as a roar.
"Are you planning to feed rotten meat to the people?"
Tension rippled through the room.
The village heads exchanged uneasy glances, and some of the guildmasters nodded along, clearly siding with Volf.
Yet Celine remained composed. Tilting her head only slightly, she asked in an elegant voice,
"And why, exactly, would it spoil?"
Taken aback by the unexpected question, Volf frowned.
"What are you even saying? Everyone knows meat spoils if you leave it sitting out! Even a child knows that!"
A faint ripple of laughter escaped through the hall, but Celine only smiled softly.
"My lord husband says that tiny invisible fairies work away at the meat, spoiling it."
Almost everyone present looked as though they had misheard her.
"Left out in the open, those fairies apparently make trouble and spoil the meat. But in a place kept cold with ice, they become too chilled to move. Which is why, if we make use of an icehouse, it should be possible to store the meat without fear of spoilage."
Volf's face grew grim.
"An icehouse, is it...? And where, pray tell, are you planning to find something so convenient? Do you imagine the baron-consort, skilled though he may be at slaying magical beasts, is going to diligently haul ice down from the peak where dragons dwell?"
Even that sneering remark failed to rattle Celine in the slightest.
If anything, her smile deepened as though she found it amusing.
"Yes. That would do nicely. Let us do exactly that."
Volf's eyes flew wide.
Cries of surprise rose from all around them, but Celine continued lightly.
"If it is my lord husband, I am sure something of that degree would be no trouble at all. He does possess the Merchant's Gift, after all. I daresay even doing business with a dragon would be child's play for him. I have heard dragons are fond of gold as well."
Volf raised his voice.
"Doing business with a dragon...? What utter nonsense. You make it sound like one of those fairy tales about the Hero!"
Celine gave a soft, musical laugh, her eyes shining.
"Hehe... There is nothing the Hero can do that my lord husband cannot. It is my pride to have such a man as my husband."
That sent another stir through the hall.
Unable to hide his irritation, Volf goaded her again.
"If you are that confident, then perhaps you ought to provide this icehouse for us."
Celine inclined her head gracefully and answered in an even tone.
"Yes, I think that would be best. Seeing the real thing will be quicker than any amount of talk. Once my lord husband returns from the March of Ishurias, I shall discuss it with him."
Her words set the hall murmuring for a moment.
As surprise and expectation mingled among the village heads, Celine kept her smile in place and laughed softly to herself.
Hehe. There is already a freezer in the inner palace kitchens—an icehouse of sorts, or whatever he calls it.
Knowing nothing of that, Volf seized the moment and raised his voice.
"Then if you fail, this plan is dead. Is that clear?"
As the entire hall tightened with tension, Celine's smile never wavered.
"Yes, that is perfectly acceptable. But if we succeed, the Butchers' Guild will be disbanded."
The hall sucked in a breath.
Even Volf froze for an instant.
Without taking her eyes off him, Celine continued calmly.
"A promise made on terms that bind both sides to responsibility. Surely this will satisfy you?"
A bitter look twisted Volf's face.
In a low voice, he forced out his answer.
"Yeah. A man doesn't take back his word..."
Once she had heard that, Celine smiled lightly and let her gaze sweep across the hall.
"Now then, is there anyone else who wishes to raise a matter for discussion?"
As her clear voice rang through the hall, the murmur gradually began to subside.
The village heads looked at one another, while the guildmasters shifted in the midst of a heavy silence.
With this, perhaps I have at least secured a foothold from which to begin correcting the distortions in the market.
Though relief stirred within her, Celine did not let down her guard.
Instead, she turned an elegant smile toward the entire hall.
"Guildmaster Hanza of the Itinerant Merchants' Guild, and Guildmaster Reichbach of the Wool Weavers' Guild in particular—I suspect the two of you have your own reservations regarding this reform plan."
The two men stiffened at the sound of their names.
Hanza furrowed his brow, while Reichbach met Celine's eyes for only the briefest instant before looking away.
As the entire hall watched their reactions, Celine continued in a soft voice.
"Pray put your minds at ease. The positions and roles available to your people have already been properly secured."
Hanza's face tightened slightly, unable to hide his suspicion.
Seeing that, Celine deepened her smile and went on.
"For the Itinerant Merchants' Guild, I would like to entrust the vital role of supporting trade both within and beyond the domain. The Passage Arcade—the management of the new market we are establishing, among other duties—is precisely the sort of work in which your guild's experience may be put to excellent use."
Hanza's brow twitched.
Narrowing his eyes, he looked thoughtful.
"And as for the Wool Weavers' Guild, I would ask you to take on a new challenge—one that will allow the skills you have cultivated thus far to grow still further. Silk weaving—the venture with which we intend to open up the luxury market. I would very much like to have your strength for it."
Reichbach lifted his head in surprise.
Celine answered that reaction with a gentle nod.
"Silk weaving will indeed be a new undertaking for you. But precisely because it is so new, it promises great profit and room for growth. If the members of the Wool Weavers' Guild make use of the skill and experience they have spent so long building, I am certain you will achieve splendid results."
Reichbach looked briefly unsettled, but soon his brow tightened and he faced forward once more.
Seeing that, Celine's smile deepened.
"Of course, I shall support you to the fullest as your lady, including the introduction of any necessary equipment. I have every faith in your abilities."
At those words, Reichbach's expression softened ever so slightly.
"Indeed... if my lady is willing to support us that far, then... perhaps it is worth attempting after all... But... allow me some time to think."
As if following his lead, Hanza cleared his throat shortly and spoke.
"I, too... would ask leave to consider it."
There was caution in his voice, but for Celine it was more than enough to feel the weight of a first success.
I still have not fully won them over... but this should at least weaken Volf's influence.
Once she had finished that calculation within herself, Celine turned an elegant smile upon the whole hall.
At that very moment, as though he had been waiting for it, the Chancellor rose from his seat and cleared his throat softly.
Silence settled over the hall again, and every eye turned to him.
"Then let us bring today's council to a close here. We are grateful for the views you have shared regarding my lady's reform plan, and it has made for a most fruitful discussion. I ask for your continued cooperation in the days ahead."
As the Chancellor's dignified voice rang through the hall, the village heads and guildmasters alike rose from their seats and bowed.
Celine, too, stood gracefully, and as though to bring matters to their proper close, addressed them in a calm voice.
"My thanks to all of you for gathering here today despite your many obligations. I shall devote myself fully to ensuring that these reforms bring about a better future, both for each of you and for the domain as a whole. I ask for your continued support."
The tension that had gripped the hall slowly began to ease.
The village heads and guildmasters took their leave one by one, each carrying away thoughts of their own.
Celine watched them depart in silence, already considering her next move.
Then her eyes caught the broad back of Volf, standing at the very end of the line.
Just before he stepped out of the hall, Volf suddenly stopped.
Slowly, he turned, fixing Celine with a sharp stare.
He said nothing.
Then he turned away again and strode from the hall with the same imposing tread as ever.
When silence returned at last, Celine let out a small breath, straightened her back, and murmured inwardly,
The path ahead is a little clearer now, perhaps. But Volf will not stop resisting so easily. I cannot afford to let my guard down.