“Come in.”
After the servant left, a tall man walked quietly inside.
The Marquis of Ocre was the royal administrative minister in charge of the royal and capital administration and was in charge of the administrators, specially appointed governors, and local admirals throughout the kingdom.
“Your Majesty.”
“What is it, Marquis?”
When the face of the Marquis of Ocre who rarely showed his emotions, was filled with worry, Arkan felt an ominous premonition.
The Marquis paused for a moment as if he didn’t know how to speak, then opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, it’s a pest. A report has just come in that a pest has broken out in the wheat-growing region in the east, causing severe damage.”
Plat, who was surprised, looked at Arkan.
He, too, couldn’t hide his surprise.
Arkan, who looked out the window for a moment, made a bewildered expression. A pest, in this season?
“Why is there a pest in this season? And, wasn’t the eastern region well prepared for the frequent locust damage that occurred every fall?”
Marquis Ocre nodded.
However, his complicated expression did not disappear at all.
“Yes, but as Your Majesty said, the season for the pests and diseases was too early this year. We are looking for the cause, but it will take a long time. And this pest and diseases were not caused by locusts. That is why we were unable to prepare.”
“This is ridiculous.”
Arkan sighed briefly and said.
“Ascertain the extent of the damage as quickly as possible, and calculate and report the expected wheat harvest this year.”
It was no exaggeration to say that most of the wheat moving in Vetor’s domestic market was produced in the east.
Vetor, which did not have a large granary due to the borders of the surrounding countries and the terrain, was greatly affected by the decrease in the wheat harvest.
‘Damn it, we will need to send the supplies to Hirschsten in the fall.’
Arkan furrowed his brow.
He thought that he had been getting annoying headaches frequently lately.
Plat said,
“If the Marquis of Ocre reports the wheat yield, I will discuss it with the Count of Burke, who is the Minister of Ceremonies, and the Marquis of Telbain, who is the Privy Councilor, and figure out the amount stored in the royal warehouse.”
The Marquis nodded with a worried expression.
Plat let out a short sigh as if it was a big deal.
“If the temperature drops a little more, an autumn fever will strike once, and it will likely have a big impact on the farmers’ lives, not to mention the harvest.”
Arkan was also thinking about that.
Autumn fever, an inland disease endemic to Vetor and Etonhorn, does not have serious symptoms, but if the disease is prolonged, it can spread to the lungs and other organs, resulting in incurable results.
Since it is something that everyone, regardless of age or gender, experiences at least once, when the fever spreads, the royal doctors are busy setting up temporary clinics in each region and securing medicines that can quickly improve the symptoms.
“What’s already happened can’t be helped. The first thing to do is to clean it up. It would also be good to prepare for the fever a little early.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
After Marquis Ocre left, Arcan told Plat to bring last year’s eastern wheat yield and tax details.
As the King, one task after another comes up and he cannot ignore them, it was rather surprising that he had not suffered from a headache until now.
“I don’t know why everyone is like this when I say I’m fine.”
At Erdene’s indifferent words, Viscountess More pretended to be surprised once again.
As Arkan and his party were returning from their turbulent outing, she happened to have entered the palace and witnessed Montiel Zelma and her father, Count Zelma, being dragged out one after another.
As soon as she learned that Erdene was involved in the matter and that Montiel had nearly knocked Erdene off her horse with a pin, she came running to the palace without even having time to catch her breath.
More spoke reprimandingly.
“Your Majesty! This is not the time to be talking so calmly. Didn’t you almost get into trouble!”
After the servant left, a tall man walked quietly inside.
The Marquis of Ocre was the royal administrative minister in charge of the royal and capital administration and was in charge of the administrators, specially appointed governors, and local admirals throughout the kingdom.
“Your Majesty.”
“What is it, Marquis?”
When the face of the Marquis of Ocre who rarely showed his emotions, was filled with worry, Arkan felt an ominous premonition.
The Marquis paused for a moment as if he didn’t know how to speak, then opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, it’s a pest. A report has just come in that a pest has broken out in the wheat-growing region in the east, causing severe damage.”
Plat, who was surprised, looked at Arkan.
He, too, couldn’t hide his surprise.
Arkan, who looked out the window for a moment, made a bewildered expression. A pest, in this season?
“Why is there a pest in this season? And, wasn’t the eastern region well prepared for the frequent locust damage that occurred every fall?”
Marquis Ocre nodded.
However, his complicated expression did not disappear at all.
“Yes, but as Your Majesty said, the season for the pests and diseases was too early this year. We are looking for the cause, but it will take a long time. And this pest and diseases were not caused by locusts. That is why we were unable to prepare.”
“This is ridiculous.”
Arkan sighed briefly and said.
“Ascertain the extent of the damage as quickly as possible, and calculate and report the expected wheat harvest this year.”
It was no exaggeration to say that most of the wheat moving in Vetor’s domestic market was produced in the east.
Vetor, which did not have a large granary due to the borders of the surrounding countries and the terrain, was greatly affected by the decrease in the wheat harvest.
‘Damn it, we will need to send the supplies to Hirschsten in the fall.’
Arkan furrowed his brow.
He thought that he had been getting annoying headaches frequently lately.
Plat said,
“If the Marquis of Ocre reports the wheat yield, I will discuss it with the Count of Burke, who is the Minister of Ceremonies, and the Marquis of Telbain, who is the Privy Councilor, and figure out the amount stored in the royal warehouse.”
The Marquis nodded with a worried expression.
Plat let out a short sigh as if it was a big deal.
“If the temperature drops a little more, an autumn fever will strike once, and it will likely have a big impact on the farmers’ lives, not to mention the harvest.”
Arkan was also thinking about that.
Autumn fever, an inland disease endemic to Vetor and Etonhorn, does not have serious symptoms, but if the disease is prolonged, it can spread to the lungs and other organs, resulting in incurable results.
Since it is something that everyone, regardless of age or gender, experiences at least once, when the fever spreads, the royal doctors are busy setting up temporary clinics in each region and securing medicines that can quickly improve the symptoms.
“What’s already happened can’t be helped. The first thing to do is to clean it up. It would also be good to prepare for the fever a little early.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
After Marquis Ocre left, Arcan told Plat to bring last year’s eastern wheat yield and tax details.
As the King, one task after another comes up and he cannot ignore them, it was rather surprising that he had not suffered from a headache until now.
***
“I don’t know why everyone is like this when I say I’m fine.”
At Erdene’s indifferent words, Viscountess More pretended to be surprised once again.
As Arkan and his party were returning from their turbulent outing, she happened to have entered the palace and witnessed Montiel Zelma and her father, Count Zelma, being dragged out one after another.
As soon as she learned that Erdene was involved in the matter and that Montiel had nearly knocked Erdene off her horse with a pin, she came running to the palace without even having time to catch her breath.
More spoke reprimandingly.
“Your Majesty! This is not the time to be talking so calmly. Didn’t you almost get into trouble!”
More, who only knew that ‘Erdene almost fell off her bucking horse,’ but did not know the whole story, jumped as if Erdene had been stepped on by a horse’s hooves.
She looked at Erdene, who pretended not to hear as if she was frustrated, and then turned her arrows to the pitiful Sophia.
“Miss Fiddler, say something! As Your Majesty’s close maid, we can’t just let this go!”
Sophia looked at Erdene with an indifferent expression.
She heard from Anne about what happened at the lake and realized that Erdene had already set a trap when she heard that Montiel Zelma had been put on Arkan’s horse.
Erdene said,
“The palace said that nothing happened. Sometimes when I see you, I think of my mother. My mother used to nag me when she saw me.”
More shook her hips and sighed loudly.
“Why not! If Your Majesty were my daughter, I would have done the same. Of course, Montiel Zelma was the worst, but it’s frustrating that Your Majesty is so calm.”
“Don’t worry. I chased her away.”
“Is it just chased her away? If I were Your Majesty, I would have done that annoying thing...!”
More, who had clenched his fists, shut his lips tightly when he saw Erdene’s face.
Erdene, who was laughing as if she was dying of laughter, said,
“What, what? What are you going to do?”
“That, what... Anyway, I won’t just leave it alone. Oh my God, how could you do such a terrible thing.”
Erdene giggled like a mischievous child.
It was true that she didn’t care, but she didn’t hate the attention and concern of the Viscountess Wickes.
As she said, she thought of her mother.
“Thank you for worrying. Even getting angry like it was your own.”
More softened her eyebrows.
When she first met Erdene, she was so frightened by her fierce demeanor that she wanted to run away at any moment, but she was nowhere to be found.
“Of course, I should be angry. If I don’t get angry about this, what would I be angry about?”
“Do you have a daughter?”
“No, I only have one son. And now that he's married, I don’t even know if I had a son or not.”
Erdene burst into laughter.
Just then, Anne came in and whispered something to Sophia. When Erdene and More turned their heads, Sophia said.
“Your Majesty, Captain Wiziard has something to tell you.”
At that, More quickly stood up from her seat.
“Your Majesty, I see that you are well, so I will take my leave for today.”
“Yes, I will stop by next time.”
After Viscountess Wickes left, Erdene called Belen and sent the other maids out except for Sophia.
“Your Majesty.”
“Get up.”
These days, Belen Wiziard had a habit of showing a moved expression whenever Erdene said, “Get up.” She had been beating him up once a week under the pretense of training to see if he was a worthy match for Sophia, but the more he got beaten, the more passionately he followed Erdene.
When she mentioned in passing that he might have something in common with Thelma in that regard, a sudden sense of pride and accomplishment came over Belen’s face.
“It must be Sabnake?”
Erdene immediately figured out what he was talking about before he could even speak. When Sophia closed the door, Belen said.
“I arrested all those occupying the house and brought them before the judge, and then I investigated the inside of the mansion. However, I have come across something serious that I must report to Your Majesty.”
Erdene, who was fiddling with her fingernails, turned to Belen.
“Speak.”
“There was a hidden cellar in the mansion that seemed to have been built in the past two or three years. A large sum of money and a large quantity of suspicious plant roots were found there.”
“Plant roots?”
“Yes. I’m still investigating the identity.”
Plant roots. Erdene narrowed her eyes and fell into thought. They keep such things in the cellar, along with a large sum of money...
‘I’ll have to take it all out. Damn it, I won’t be able to handle it alone.’
Her instincts told her that the roots weren’t meant to be used for making tea or applying to compresses.
If it was an undistributable poison or something similar, it was necessary to consult with Arkan.
'He's going to nag me again.'
She didn't tell Arkan about Sabnake and her father.
She thought they were just a bunch of troublemakers and left it to Belen to deal with, but this is how it turned out.
Erdene frowned and sighed, then coughed.
"Are you okay, Your Majesty?"
Erdene nodded, who had been croaking.
"I just had a shortness of breath and a cough. First, investigate the root of it and tell me. If it's something serious, I can't help but discuss it with His Majesty."
"Understood, Your Majesty. Oh, and there's one more thing I have to tell you. The Spearman selection you mentioned last time has ended. I've prepared it so that you can begin training right away."
Erdene nodded. That was the only piece of news he had heard.
“Then, have the soldiers gather at the parade ground tomorrow morning.”
“I will prepare accordingly.”
After Belen left, Erdene coughed again. Her throat felt strangely sore.
“Your Majesty, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”
She looked at Erdene, who pretended not to hear as if she was frustrated, and then turned her arrows to the pitiful Sophia.
“Miss Fiddler, say something! As Your Majesty’s close maid, we can’t just let this go!”
Sophia looked at Erdene with an indifferent expression.
She heard from Anne about what happened at the lake and realized that Erdene had already set a trap when she heard that Montiel Zelma had been put on Arkan’s horse.
Erdene said,
“The palace said that nothing happened. Sometimes when I see you, I think of my mother. My mother used to nag me when she saw me.”
More shook her hips and sighed loudly.
“Why not! If Your Majesty were my daughter, I would have done the same. Of course, Montiel Zelma was the worst, but it’s frustrating that Your Majesty is so calm.”
“Don’t worry. I chased her away.”
“Is it just chased her away? If I were Your Majesty, I would have done that annoying thing...!”
More, who had clenched his fists, shut his lips tightly when he saw Erdene’s face.
Erdene, who was laughing as if she was dying of laughter, said,
“What, what? What are you going to do?”
“That, what... Anyway, I won’t just leave it alone. Oh my God, how could you do such a terrible thing.”
Erdene giggled like a mischievous child.
It was true that she didn’t care, but she didn’t hate the attention and concern of the Viscountess Wickes.
As she said, she thought of her mother.
“Thank you for worrying. Even getting angry like it was your own.”
More softened her eyebrows.
When she first met Erdene, she was so frightened by her fierce demeanor that she wanted to run away at any moment, but she was nowhere to be found.
“Of course, I should be angry. If I don’t get angry about this, what would I be angry about?”
“Do you have a daughter?”
“No, I only have one son. And now that he's married, I don’t even know if I had a son or not.”
Erdene burst into laughter.
Just then, Anne came in and whispered something to Sophia. When Erdene and More turned their heads, Sophia said.
“Your Majesty, Captain Wiziard has something to tell you.”
At that, More quickly stood up from her seat.
“Your Majesty, I see that you are well, so I will take my leave for today.”
“Yes, I will stop by next time.”
After Viscountess Wickes left, Erdene called Belen and sent the other maids out except for Sophia.
“Your Majesty.”
“Get up.”
These days, Belen Wiziard had a habit of showing a moved expression whenever Erdene said, “Get up.” She had been beating him up once a week under the pretense of training to see if he was a worthy match for Sophia, but the more he got beaten, the more passionately he followed Erdene.
When she mentioned in passing that he might have something in common with Thelma in that regard, a sudden sense of pride and accomplishment came over Belen’s face.
“It must be Sabnake?”
Erdene immediately figured out what he was talking about before he could even speak. When Sophia closed the door, Belen said.
“I arrested all those occupying the house and brought them before the judge, and then I investigated the inside of the mansion. However, I have come across something serious that I must report to Your Majesty.”
Erdene, who was fiddling with her fingernails, turned to Belen.
“Speak.”
“There was a hidden cellar in the mansion that seemed to have been built in the past two or three years. A large sum of money and a large quantity of suspicious plant roots were found there.”
“Plant roots?”
“Yes. I’m still investigating the identity.”
Plant roots. Erdene narrowed her eyes and fell into thought. They keep such things in the cellar, along with a large sum of money...
‘I’ll have to take it all out. Damn it, I won’t be able to handle it alone.’
Her instincts told her that the roots weren’t meant to be used for making tea or applying to compresses.
If it was an undistributable poison or something similar, it was necessary to consult with Arkan.
'He's going to nag me again.'
She didn't tell Arkan about Sabnake and her father.
She thought they were just a bunch of troublemakers and left it to Belen to deal with, but this is how it turned out.
Erdene frowned and sighed, then coughed.
"Are you okay, Your Majesty?"
Erdene nodded, who had been croaking.
"I just had a shortness of breath and a cough. First, investigate the root of it and tell me. If it's something serious, I can't help but discuss it with His Majesty."
"Understood, Your Majesty. Oh, and there's one more thing I have to tell you. The Spearman selection you mentioned last time has ended. I've prepared it so that you can begin training right away."
Erdene nodded. That was the only piece of news he had heard.
“Then, have the soldiers gather at the parade ground tomorrow morning.”
“I will prepare accordingly.”
After Belen left, Erdene coughed again. Her throat felt strangely sore.
“Your Majesty, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”
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