Selan lay directly behind the Ironthorn Defense Line. It was one of the Ironthorn Defense Zone's major grain producers, and several large Holy Silver mines lay within its borders.
But the more resources a kingdom had, the more it was expected to give.
Every year after the autumn harvest, vast quantities of grain were sent to the Eternal Night Wall under requisition orders from the Holy City. Fixed shares of the Holy Silver mines were also allocated directly to several northern defense lines.
On top of that, the Kingdom had to provide large numbers of recruits and laborers before it could purchase the Holy Oil needed to sustain its Sacred Flame Halls from the Holy City.
The long table on the second floor of the Treasury was covered with account books submitted by every department. Together, they made up the budget for the coming year.
Aldrick, the Kingdom's deputy treasurer, slumped in his chair and rubbed his brow.
He had been poring over the books since dawn the previous day. By the time he placed the Mining Department's report on top, the figures had left him unable to sleep.
Selan Kingdom's budget for this year looked worse than Aldrick had expected.
As a vital source of resources for the front, they had long since grown used to these obligations.
In the past, spending had always eased gradually once the Blood Moon Season ended.
But the last few years had been different. The Blood Moon Seasons had grown fiercer and fiercer. Ironthorn needed constant resupplies of arms, casualties were mounting, and the price of Holy Oil kept rising.
To meet its recruitment quota, the Kingdom had pulled more and more young, able-bodied workers from several mining districts. Holy Silver output fell, cutting revenue in turn.
The Treasury could raise some taxes