After all the budget isn’t inexhaustible. If His Majesty would mention these stingy words, his popularity with the people and nobles would also drop. Thus, it is sometimes the Finance Minister’s job to say those disagreeable things instead of His Majesty.” (Burkhart)
The outcry to bargain on the price of those bones during the audience had such an ulterior motive, Burkhart-san explained.
Because the Finance Minister tried to lower the price of the bones, he was disliked by me. And there, His Majesty intervenes in order to salvage the situation in my favor. (ED: Yes, you were played by the King, Wend.)