Alexis was downright flabbergasted by what Leisandra said. Before he could stutter, she giggled, amused by the reaction she saw on his face, "I am just joking, my husband. I understand that with the current situation that we are in, we wouldn't fit to be parents yet. There will come a time for it, however, and I'm expecting you to step forward by then."
Wiping the sweat on his forehead, Alexis replied, "I apologize for how I reacted. I just didn't know where to even start when I heard you say it openly." He then laughed sheepishly.
"I have another matter to talk to you about." After letting the laughs pass, she finally opened what her intention really was. With open ears, Alexis looked at her intently. Calmly, Leisandra explained. "Recently, the management of the city's resources and politics was entrusted wholly to you, leaving me with only talking with the wives and children left here by our men."
"My request to you. my king, is permission to participate in the politics of our domain and its surrounding territories." She declared with conviction in her tone.
Alexis' eyebrows lifted with intrigue. He had been noticing Leisandra's activity within the city, as if declaring her presence to be just as essential to Vinya as his. At first she had been the spiritual head of the Northern Lights religion. But, with Alexis' ascendancy to God's Representative, her role became even more set aside.
Alexis understood her efforts. He viewed Leisandra not as a threat to his regime, but as a person that has an integral part in the entire system of Vinya. Beside the literal System, Leisandra's presence since the first day of the refugees' arrival eased the burden bearing down on him. The soothing atmosphere that she exude brings calmness to the weary.
If not for her, Vinya could have erupted into a civil war early in its creation. Even Alexis wasn't confident of putting out a rebellion so early in Vinya's lifetime.
Seeing her expectant gaze, he calmly expressed his happiness, saying, "I'll let you do that, so long as your purpose is not to let the people serve you. Be a servant of the people."
Hearing those terms was befuddling to her. She asked, "Why would I become a servant when my purpose is to help govern the city? Wouldn't that limit how I perform my duties? What if a person makes me wash their clothes at the same time as someone orders me something else?"
Listening to her rant about the impossible task of being a servant to the entire city, Alexis laughed like never before. After calming himself down before Leisandra could smack him, he explained, "My wife, being a servant of the people does not mean literally being a servant on their beck and call. A servant to the populace means doing things in accordance with their greater good." Putting his hand on his chest, he then added, "Being a servant to the masses means sacrificing your life so that they can have a better one."
The explanation hit Leisandra. She knew of the concept of prioritizing the people, but Alexis' lecture made her see it in a different light.
At first, she wanted to help with Vinya's administration because she did not want to be a burden to Alexis and the others. But now?
It seemed as if being a public servant to serve the public is a better-sounding reason.
At the dawn of the morning rays, Alexis woke up and saw an empty bed beside him. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he wondered where his wife was.
When the cottage was upgraded into a stone house, the place gained a second floor, which was where the bedroom was. Walking down the stairs, Alexis saw a table filled with dishes. Beside those, she was nowhere to be found.
Figuring out that she went out to harvest some vegetables in the garden, Alexis sat down and proceeded to eat.
After finishing up and doing the dishes, Alexis left the cottage and made his way to the camp. Before he could get there, however, he saw Leisandra talking with Alvert. Eavesdropping, he heard what they were talking about.
"...host an auction in the town square for farmlands and woodlands. I think, by doing that, we will be able to encourage Vinya's development and sustainability." Leisandra voiced out.
"I understand your proposal, My Lady, but in order to do an auction, we need currency. We currently do not have something of value to back it up." Alvert adjusted his eyeglass and replied.
Leisandra became silent, seemingly stumped. Suddenly, her eyes brightened. "What about having them pay in the form of future crop yield?" She suggested.
"Hmm?" Alvert raised his eyes, intrigued by her idea. Seeing it as a signal to continue, Leisandra explained, "We will have the auction as planned, but instead of paying with money, we instead let them compete for the land by using portions of their yield after, let's say, six months." She then went and got a stick and began drawing symbols on the ground.
"For example," She began, "One farmer bids one-sixteenth of their crops for a patch of land. Another farmer bids by giving one-twelveth of theirs. Once no one wants to give more, the highest bidder will be given six months to grow crops in that patch of land before giving the decided amount to us!"
"Impressive." Alvert nodded with approval. "Not only will that give the farmers a way to generate income, but would also allow us to stock up on resources in the long term. It sounds feasible, but what if they don't fulfill?" Despite being impressed earlier, Alvert still proceeded to poke on the holes of her proposal.
"Then we will reclaim it from them. By the time that six months is up, I believe there will be more people coming in to Vinya wanting a share of its riches." She replied confidently. "What if there is no influx of people coming to reside in Vinya?" He put forward another question.
"I believe that our king has the ability to counter that." Leisan
dra combatted, "I trust him enough with that."