It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

Is this how books are written?

His friend... no, isn't he himself afraid of being confronted by angry readers with knives?

Stroking the paper with its rather plain handwriting, Veronica fell into deep thought.

I really want to see what happens next...

"Your Highness."

Holly, who had been standing quietly to the side, couldn't help but speak up when she saw Veronica's regretful expression again: "Since you like this novel so much, why don't you just order him to continue writing it?"

Veronica didn't answer, but just glanced at Holly sideways.

Holly immediately stopped talking, and then said in a wronged tone, "Your Highness, it really wasn't my fault for revealing your preferences. It was that despicable guy who tricked me into revealing things, and I was fooled by him."

"I know."

Veronica remained noncommittal.

Holly tried to explain herself further: "But..."

Knock knock knock—

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Veronica glanced at the doorway, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, and said loudly, "Didn't I tell you not to bother me during this time?"

I'm very sorry.

A servant's somewhat nervous voice came from outside the door: "But Your Highness, Earl Anderson has come to see you personally, saying he has something very urgent to discuss with you."

Earl Anderson came to visit in person?

Veronica was slightly taken aback when she heard the name of the person who came.

She knew Anderson. Although he was just an earl, he had a sharp and reliable business acumen. After years of hard work and mergers, he eventually became the largest textile giant in the country with his skillful tactics.

He's someone worth cultivating a relationship with, but logically speaking, he shouldn't be visiting me, given what happened last year...

Although Veronica had her doubts, there was no reason not to refuse since the other party had come to her door in person.

However, as a princess, Veronica could not receive guests in such a revealing dress. So, with Holly's help, she spent half an hour changing into a complicated and formal long dress.

When she finished tidying up and came out of the room into the drawing room, Earl Anderson was already waiting for her in a chair covered with soft cushions.

He appeared calm on the surface, but the occasional shifting of his toes betrayed his inner turmoil.

Louise is his biggest weakness, but over the years, no one has ever tried to threaten him with that.

When Anderson first learned yesterday that Louise had been captured by the princess's men, he panicked and thought that his contact with the prince had been discovered and that the princess did not want him to support the prince.

But after Anderson calmed down, he discovered that there were many suspicious things about the matter.

After all, even if he had truly pledged allegiance to the prince, the princess had absolutely no need to resort to such extreme measures. Kidnapping Louise would only create a significant rift in his heart, and if word got out, it would make the other nobles feel insecure.

The logic is simple: if you can use someone else's children to threaten them into submission, then they can use your children to threaten you. Unless someone is truly insane or has no other options, no one would do that.

Unless... Her Highness the Princess is in some desperate situation where she has no choice but to resort to such extreme measures...

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Upon hearing that elegant voice, Anderson immediately snapped out of his turbulent thoughts.

He stood up and bowed to Veronica, who had changed into formal attire: "It was my presumptuous visit that disturbed Your Highness."

Veronica shook her head: "The Earl must have come in a hurry for something important, but please speak freely."

Anderson did not respond directly, but instead changed the subject, saying with concern, "I wonder how Your Highness's health is lately? I have heard that the country's finances are strained, which has led to a disadvantage in the war against the Netherlands. I only hope that Your Highness will not overwork yourself."

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Veronica had no idea what Anderson was trying to do, so she could only offer some simple responses: "The Earl need not worry too much about the war against the Netherlands. The pandemic has ended earlier than expected, and the national finances are gradually recovering."

She paused, then added, "Unless a huge fire suddenly breaks out and burns down half of London, even if we can't win, we can hold out until the Netherlands can't bear the losses and sues for peace."

?

Not only is it completely stress-free, but you can even win?

Anderson was even more confused after receiving the answer.

His previous deduction was that the national treasury could no longer bear the costs of the war against the Netherlands, and that His Highness Veronica desperately needed funds, which was why she thought of fleecing him, this fat sheep, to solve her immediate crisis.

After all, the most important thing for Princess Veronica right now is to stabilize the government until His Majesty Charles II returns to London to take over.

If, during her tenure as regent, the finances become unsustainable, leading to a British naval defeat, it would be a disgraceful predicament, causing her to lose the prestige she had painstakingly built up during the Great Plague...

But to everyone's surprise, Princess Veronica said that there was no problem with the national treasury!

no problem?

Why did you tie up little Louise of his if there was no problem? Did you think he was easy to bully?

Anderson was subtly annoyed.

But at that moment, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he seemed to understand something; his eyes lit up.

Wait, I understand.

This must be His Highness testing us!

After all, Princess Veronica has always presented a strong image to the world. Even if the government's finances were really in trouble, she wouldn't just casually reveal it to her!

Anderson thought about it more and more and it seemed more and more plausible.

Yes, that must be it!

No wonder His Highness hasn't mentioned Louise at all since they met. Her goal must be to quietly resolve the predicament without letting anyone find out, so as to continue to maintain her image as a strong woman.

As for why he chose himself... it wasn't just because he valued Louise highly and had a large amount of disposable funds—that was merely a facade. The most crucial reason was that he had privately contacted the Prince, and out of guilt, he would never reveal this matter to him!

hiss--

Anderson gasped.

After figuring everything out, he found Veronica increasingly terrifying, to the point that he dared not look her in the eye.

This series of calculations is simply terrifying!

He took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and bowed respectfully: "I understand, but as a citizen of Great Britain, I cannot ignore such matters and take the nation's sacrifices for granted."

As an earl, Anderson was quite talented in public speaking.

As he spoke, he raised his fist and waved it, displaying a passionate and impassioned expression, saying with great excitement:

"To show my support for the country, I am willing to donate £3 in my personal capacity!"

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Some things will be known sooner or later

£30,000.

This is actually a very subtle number, which also includes Anderson's probing and bargaining.

During Cromwell's military dictatorship, frequent wars, including the suppression of opposition domestically and expeditions to Ireland and Scotland, as well as war with Spain, left the country with a debt of £200 million.

Although he is not clear about the government's debt at the moment, it should be around one million pounds.

His proposal to donate 30,000 pounds came at a crucial juncture.

If it were 80,000 pounds, Princess Veronica would be able to resolve this debt problem with great ease and could rest easy while waiting for Charles II to return and take over the mess. At that time, no matter how much the government owed or even if the war against the Netherlands was lost, it would have nothing to do with her.

And if we win... that would be even better. Her Highness the Princess has made a great contribution to maintaining stability, and she deserves credit for it.

But £50,000 is just the right amount. Although Princess Veronica is feeling rather uncomfortable, she can grit her teeth and get through it without showing any signs of financial insecurity.

As for why it's said to be 30,000 pounds?

Since the saying goes that you should cut your losses in half when you meet someone, £25,000 would seem too deliberate, and £20,000 would be too little, so £30,000 would be the best price.

In that brief moment, Anderson thought of many things.

Although he was not good at politics, he had an innate keen sense of money and could calculate the most appropriate amount in a short time, which was the reason why he became a textile industry tycoon.

......

Meanwhile, on Veronica's side...

When she heard that Anderson was going to donate 30,000 pounds, she felt confused.

What's happening?

It's one thing to suddenly show up at the door, but why do they suddenly want to give money? And it's a whopping 30,000 pounds?

You say it's because of patriotism that we can't turn a blind eye to war?

Don't be ridiculous. The British Isles are isolated overseas; there's absolutely no need to worry about the Dutch actually launching a land attack. These nobles are more than happy to lose the war, so they can weaken their father, King Charles II's, power and thus pay less tax.

One point must be mentioned here.

Britain never achieved centralized power, so the power of the monarchy and the power of the nobility were in a state of ebb and flow.

When the king is strong, the nobles obediently pay taxes and obey orders; when the king is weak, the nobles become arrogant and will try every means to evade taxes, and in serious cases, they may even revolt.

Enough with the small talk, let's get back to the main topic.

In a past life, a well-known figure once said: "After eliminating all impossible options, the one that remains, no matter how absurd, is reality."

Therefore, after a quick internal thought, Veronie could barely come to a reasonably plausible conclusion.

[Anderson wants to support me and is offering this £30,000 as a gesture of goodwill.]

As for the reason, Veronica attributed it to the subtle signal she had given to the bourgeoisie and the new aristocracy after listening to Li Cheng's advice some time ago—Anderson is a very typical aristocrat, so it makes sense and is a good signal.

After figuring things out, she felt much lighter, and even the lines of her face softened, no longer looking cold.

"Earl Anderson, you're too kind."

Veronica gave a very elegant and proper smile and said, "I have already felt the Earl's patriotism, but there is no need to mention the thirty thousand pounds again. The national treasury is still well-funded."

After all, even if the money goes to the national treasury, she won't receive it...

Upon hearing this, Anderson not only did not stop his futile efforts, but continued to add money, saying, "Thirty thousand pounds is indeed too little, Your Highness. I am willing to donate forty thousand pounds."

???

I can't even get the money, so why am I so persistent?

Veronica was somewhat bewildered. She parted her lips slightly and let out a soft breath: "Does the Earl have something to ask of me?"