Twisted Games(Ryeji ver)

YEJI[CHAPTER 27]

TWO WEEKS AFTER MY DATE WITH REI, I LEFT FOR MY GOODWILL
tour with Chaeryeong, Ryujin, another bodyguard named San,
the palace photographer Jay, Jay's assistant Jinni, and Lucas, a reporter from the Eldorra Herald.

Everyone loved my idea, including my grandfather, and
the palace had worked around the clock to put together the
perfect itinerary on short notice. We hit all the country’s
most important regions, including the manufacturing hub of
Northern Kurtland and the oil and energy center of Hesbjerg.
I felt like I was campaigning for an office I’d already won,
somewhat undeservingly, thanks to genetic lottery.

But I had to do it. After years of living abroad, I needed to
reconnect with the people of Eldorra. Understand the way
they lived, what problems kept them up at night, and what
they wanted that was within my power to give. In practice,
the prime minister and Parliament ruled the country, but the
royal family, as an institution, wielded considerably more
power in Eldorra than in other countries. It boasted an
eighty-nine percent approval rating—far higher than any
politician—and the monarch’s opinions held a lot of sway.

If I were to be a good queen, I needed to get back in touch
with the people. It didn’t matter that I didn’t want the
crown. It would be mine one day regardless.

“It’s just us and a handful of staff,” Ida, the owner of the
dairy farm we were visiting, said. “Our farm is on the
smaller side, but we do the best we can.”

“It looks like you’re doing a lovely job.” I walked through
the barn. It was smaller than the others we’d visited, but it
was well-kept, and the cows looked healthy. However, I
noticed half of the stalls were empty. “Are the other cows
with the farmhands?”

Behind us, Jay's camera clicked and whirred. The Part-
Time Princess headlines, which were already fading thanks
to my dates with Rei, had all but disappeared during the
tour, replaced with pictures of me touring factories and
reading to schoolchildren.

I would’ve done the tour even if no one covered it,
though. I enjoyed meeting with locals, far more than I did
another tedious gala.

“No.” Ida shook her head. “The dairy industry isn’t doing
so well. Milk prices have gone down over the years, and a lot
of farms in the area have shut down. We had to sell some of
our cows for extra cash. Plus, there isn’t enough demand for
milk to justify keeping so many of them around.”
Despite her words, sadness flitted across her face. The
farm had belonged to her family for generations, and I could
only imagine how difficult it must be to see it shrink year
after year.

“Have you contacted your minister about the issue?”
According to my briefing materials, the drop in milk
prices resulted from a trade fight between Eldorra and a few
other countries in Europe. Trade and tariff policies fell under
Parliament’s purview. Ida shrugged, looking resigned.

“We used to write to our officials, but we only got form
responses, so we stopped. No one listens to us anyway.”
I frowned. The whole point of Parliament was to
represent constituents’ concerns. What were they doing if
not their job?

“You can write to me,” I said on impulse. “All of your
friends and neighbors can write to me. If you have an issue
you want addressed, write or email me and I’ll bring it up
with Parliament. I can’t guarantee legislation, but I can at
least make sure your voices are heard.”
Seoyeon coughed, and Lucas the reporter scribbled furiously
in his notepad. Ida blinked.

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly—”

“I insist,” I said firmly. “Seoyeon, can you please share the
mailing and email addresses with Ida before we leave?
Actually, please share them with everyone we’ve met so far.”
Seoyeon rubbed her temple.