Warhammer Divine Throne

Teresa wanted to reach out and touch the sheets of the big bed. After hearing Veronica’s words, she frowned, but she knew not to argue with Veronica in front of Laine, so the female sorcerer pulled over a long chair and sat down: ”Such a luxurious Wizard Tower, Veronica, I think you might not need to leave this place anymore.”

”This has nothing to do with you, Trovik. Don’t meddle in my affairs. By the way, when do you plan to return to your council? Don’t keep your mother waiting!” Veronica retorted sarcastically, and the Jialan Witch sat directly on Laine’s lap, then deliberately kissed him on the mouth: ”Don’t come to bother me and Laine anymore, please.”

”You!!!” Teresa was so provoked that she almost exploded.

”Alright, alright, ladies.” Laine finally spoke, holding Veronica tighter for a moment before gently letting her go. He stood up and walked to the window, his voice calm: ”I have some things I want to discuss with you.”

Upon hearing Laine’s words, both witches knew he had important matters to discuss. Veronica kicked off her black high heels, revealing her long, slender legs in black stockings, exuding a charming allure. She lounged lazily on the bed: ”Tell us, dear, you’re facing a problem, aren’t you?”

”Laine, what’s going on?” Teresa turned her head, her black glasses with butterfly patterns shifted as she looked at Laine standing by the window.

”I have a few plans. First, I want to tax my entire territory less; the peasants’ lives are too hard.” Laine said in a stern voice, his gaze looking out the window: ”I need to reduce taxes to increase their enthusiasm.”

All that met his eyes was farmland and prosperity, where peasants were laboring hard, and during the height of summer, the wheat waves rolled.

”This means you’re challenging the existing ’Ten Tax Nine System,’ dear.” Veronica immediately realized something and furrowed her brow: ”Dear, what are you planning to do? If you tamper with such a thing, it means you’re waging war against the vast majority of nobles in the entire Kingdom, and your territory will also become unstable.”

”Laine, be careful about the tax issue.” Teresa also advised: ”Even though you are the Lady of the Lake’s champion, taking such action will incite opposition from the nobles.”

”Therefore, it has to be done cautiously.” Laine frowned and thought for a moment, then shared his idea with Veronica and Teresa: ”How about this, those who open farmland in the forest, Lords who have worked hard for over five years, pay taxes on time, and have family members promoted to sergeant status, they will enjoy tax reduction rights, their taxes will be reduced from the Seventeen Percent Tax to Sixteen Percent Tax, how’s that?”

The newly appointed Count knew that if he wanted to change the tax system established since the founding of Brittania, he would shake the foundation of governance. He couldn’t discuss this with his Knights or Steward, or Tax Officer, because there was no need to think about it, it would be unanimously opposed; he could only discuss it with Veronica and Teresa.

”Impossible!” Veronica immediately criticized: ”Laine, whatever you do, you cannot touch the Seventeen Percent Tax. If you don’t want to face the Kingdom’s condemnation and hostility, you must not touch this tax. If you want to die, then hurry to bed, leave me a child, then you can hang yourself from a tree.”

”Exactly! Laine, don’t touch this tax; consider the fact that the vast majority of peasants in the Kingdom are under the ’Ten Tax Nine’ system. Duke Francois’s ’Ten Tax Seven’ has already subjected him to much criticism and pressure; Francois, as a descendant of Arthur and a Holy Grail Knight, faces such immense pressure—if he is in your situation, you have shallow roots in this country, you can’t achieve it, Laine.” Teresa also said softly: ”Absolutely not.”

Laine turned away from the window; the Count truly felt the pressure from the whole society and entire class.

Neither Veronica nor Teresa belonged to the noble class; their standpoint was for Laine’s good, yet even they opposed his idea.

Imagine how intense the opposition would be if Laine convened a meeting with his Knights.

”Laine, remember, don’t think that tax reform is easy; you’ll make countless enemies in the Kingdom. If the Kingdom reduces from Ten Tax Seven to Ten Tax Six as you suggest, how many Ranger Knights will lose their positions and salaries, how many Kingdom Knights will go bankrupt as a result?” Veronica added seriously: ”You’ll be at odds with the entire Kingdom’s Knights!”

Laine nodded slowly and sighed, sitting beside Veronica, he asked gently: ”Then let me think again... Or perhaps we can change the approach, we could convert Seventeen Percent Tax to a flat tax, collect it based on the standard output of farmland. We could invite the Merciful Goddess Church and the God of Justice Church to ensure impartiality, set a general standard, and as long as the peasants can pay according to that standard, the rest would be theirs; if peasants are unable to meet it, then we’ll tax according to the Seventeen Percent Tax, how about that?”

”You mean, flat-rate tax, earn more, get more?” Veronica indicated her desire for Laine to hold her.

Laine embraced the warmth and tenderness of the Jialan Witch in his arms; he caressed Veronica’s enchanting legs wrapped in black silk, enjoying the silky touch. Veronica let him have his way, her eyes filled with longing. She thought for a long time and finally nodded: ”If that’s the case, then the resistance you face will be much smaller. From the surface, the Knights’ interests do not seem harmed, and now you carry the prestige of killing the Blood Red Duke and being a newly appointed Count, enjoying a massive halo... You do have the capability to achieve this, but... dear, aren’t you truly sympathetic to the peasants?”