After pondering for a moment, the Earl of Salisbury, Robert Cecil, soon realized the queen's "deeper intention" and smiled.
"Ah... I understand."
Cecil immediately sent envoys outside the occupied territories and distributed food to various places.
"Th-this... from that witch?"
"...Did that wi—no, queen really distribute this?"
Of course, the Irish farmers aren't fools. They knew that the one giving food now was the enemy leader, and that this was a ploy to entice them.
Nevertheless, they silently accepted the food.
And ate it. To survive.
"G-good heavens, the queen is distributing wheat around the port?"
"We must distribute some too, right away!"
"But, our military provisions..."
"Are military provisions important? Can you bear the public opinion that says the heretic queen cared more for the people than we did!"
Belatedly, the native Irish lords, who were split into factions, also panicked and released grain recklessly.
"Uh... huh? Public sentiment is fluctuating?"
