"Huh, how come all this happens?"
"I should ask the nearby village if they know anything about it. If it's true, it would be a big problem..."
A clever trap had been set upon the anxious people. The same rumor had spread not only in Verite but also in the many rural and border towns where the merchants had stopped.
"Huh? Didn't you say last time that you only had to install it the first time?"
"Yes, but the drought is getting worse, so we need more management... However, since the situation is difficult, we will only charge a special 5. 0% price."
And the town that Cheryl had dreamed of becoming rich in was starting to get harder and harder. It was clear that Cheryl had grown bigger and better after installing the expensive device.
But the drought has become more severe, adding to the cost of maintaining Cheryl.
The money she received from handing over the seedlings to Cheryl was quickly used as management fees.
As the days passed, the villagers had only small amounts of money in their hands.
But once you taste money, the addiction is too strong. It is a temptation that seems so easy to catch but so hard to grasp.
As the drought made it difficult for people to make a living in farming and lodging, people became increasingly shaken.
"If you raise it a little more, a little more, you can become rich."
Eventually, the entire village became obsessed with growing cheryl. Men, women, and children alike tended the cheryl fields and watered the cheryl before anyone else.
The merchants demanded more and more. Cheryl gave more gold coins and took more money back.
People were confused, but they didn't know what was wrong and just worked hard every day to get out of the situation that was in front of them.
They didn't know that the same thing was happening not only in Verite but in other small towns as well.
The drought gradually began to spread from the outskirts to the capital, and from the countryside to the cities.
"Why isn't it getting any better? Even though we're providing all kinds of support from the royal family, the drought is getting worse. And it's not raining either."
"Droughts have begun in other countries as well. But Semele is definitely the worst. Ametrine is said to be unaffected in the midst of all this."
"Huh. So His Majesty is really unfit to be a King? Is it the gods who are angry and are punishing him?"
Fatigue and suspicion grew among the weary people. And the groundless rumors that spread along with the drought gained strength as they passed through many people.
***
"Adele, now all I need to do is get some Lenaus leaves, right?"
"Yes. Your Majesty, no, Madam. Thank you!"
Adele was smiling amiably. Boris followed her and muttered secretly.
"I told you that the quality of the Lenaus leaves is not very good these days because of the dry weather. For Adele's research, the Sedu root is better than the Lenaus leaves..."
"Boris, you played rock-paper-scissors, right? Weren't you supposed to be helping me with my experiment?"
Adele turned her head and smiled at Boris. Boris nodded and waggled his tail.
With Julia's support, the two took turns doing whatever experiments they wanted. This time, Adele won, so it was Boris's turn to help.
"Yes, I told you clearly. Don't regret it later if you fail."
"Oh my, are you upset because I won twice in a row?"
"Huh, huh! Who do you think is a child?"
Boris walked quickly, his face flustered and flustered. Adele, with a knowing expression, gently comforted him.
"Are you upset? Hey, I used your kindness. If my magic separation experiment goes well, I'll help you with Boris's experiment twice in a row. Yes?"
"Yes, yes. I told you it wasn't a problem."
Boris cleared his throat, his face brightening. Adele, holding back laughter, winked at Julia and shouted brightly.
"Let's go over there quickly."
Boris followed quickly, his face much more relaxed. Although they bickered every day, the two were secretly on good terms.
'Hmm. It seems like you two are getting along well?'
Julia followed along, secretly amused by the tips of Boris's reddened ears.
"What should I do? The lenaus leaves just sold out. The weather is dry these days, so there is less supply."
"Really?"
The store that sells the largest selection of rare herbs in the capital.
Adele frowned. Boris noticed and quickly ordered.
"Then what about the Sedu roots?"
"Ah! That's one left."
The owner quickly took out the Sedu root.
"It's less effective than the Lenaus leaves, but I don't think it's worth buying at this price."
"Hmm. That's true. But I guess we have to finish the experiment today, right?"
"That's true."
Adele nodded helplessly at Boris's persuasion. Julia, who respected the opinions of both of them, readily stepped forward and did the calculations for the study.
"Thank you! Oh my, the weather has been so dry lately that the price of herbs has gone up fivefold."
The owner quickly started to pack the food while laying out the rice, fearing that he might refund it because it was too expensive.
"You must be worried. But since the government has increased support, prices will stabilize starting next week.
Julia comforted the master affectionately. Then the kind and gentle master sighed and shook his head.
"I hope so. I don't know if the wrath of God can be resolved by human power."
"The wrath of God?"
Julia asked back at the strange remark. Adele and Boris, who had been bickering lightly again, also turned their eyes wide and looked this way.
"Oh, you haven't heard yet? Well, it hasn't spread to the capital for long. They say it's already spreading in the border areas and lower regions."
The owner whispered that his country nephew, whom he met a few days ago, told him about it.
"This severe drought in Semele is actually a punishment from the god Dynamis to the King."
"What is that..."
"Hey, right? Semele is the only country on the continent that has been hit by a drought. And the poverty in the rural areas is even worse. It is said that the gods are angry because the current King Semele is lacking in talent. It is thanks to the Queen, who is god's favorite child, that we can survive without collapse."
The owner spoke hurriedly.
"Why, before the Queen and His Majesty were married, there was a famine on the continent. But as soon as the Queen came to Semele, the famine began to subside. I heard that Ametrine is not suffering from drought damage now. That is all proof that Dynamis cherishes the Queen in particular."
The tone was full of confidence. It was as if the rumor had been an official statement from the temple.
"Of course, everyone is keeping quiet. But you know Cheryl, right? That precious flower was produced the most in Semele until recently. If you combine all these factors, Semele is certainly holding on thanks to the Queen's protection."
Julia furrowed her brows as if she was about to see something. But the owner, who didn't notice, firmly declared.
"Anyway, seeing as the drought is this severe, I'm not sure if the rumors are true. If it weren't for the wrath of God, such a disaster wouldn't have struck so suddenly. People are keeping quiet, but everyone seems to think so."
The owner packed the belongings and prayed that the condition would improve.
Julia, who would have greeted him brightly as usual, just gave him a nod and left the store. Boris and Adele, who had been watching her closely, quickly followed her out.
"Oh, Miss Adele. I'm sure we'll be able to find out the Queen's magical properties in this experiment, right?"
"Oh, yes! Boris... The Queen's attributes must be of a more wonderful kind, right?"
Adele and Boris tried hard to change the subject. The atmosphere was cheerful, as if they had never argued before.
"That's right. Why is it so hard to distinguish my attributes? It's about time it was revealed."
As Julia smiled and spoke as usual, the two of them looked relieved. Julia returned to the castle with the two of them, escorted by the knight.
"I'm sorry, but can we do the experiment again tomorrow morning? Something came up suddenly."
In front of the laboratory, Julia smiled and asked for the two's understanding as they discussed the magic separation experiment. Adele and Boris told her to hurry up and promised to finish the preparations in advance.
"Yes, take it easy!"
"Thank you for providing the materials, Your Majesty!"
"No problem. You two should rest for today, and I'll see you tomorrow."
Boris and Adele disappeared into the laboratory. Julia returned to the Queen's Palace and changed her clothes.
Before she knew it, it was dinner time. Julia had originally planned to stay in the lab until bedtime today.
"Where is His Majesty?"
"He is in his office. Should I contact him to tell him that you will be joining us for dinner?"
"No. I will serve it to the Queen."
Julia stood up after smiling at the maid. Maid Mary Ann asked in bewilderment.
"Your Majesty, are you going to the main castle?"
"Yes. I will bring His Majesty and have dinner with him, so please prepare by then."
"Yes. Then I will quickly prepare the clothes again."
The head maid gestured to her maids with an urgent look on her face. Julia glanced at the mirror and shook her head.
"No. It will take time to prepare again. You said there are no other ministers?"
"Oh, yes. I heard that Duke Hyde has gone to the Princess's palace, and His Majesty is alone in attending to state affairs."
Then it's okay. Julia smiled brightly and left the room.
Instead of the elegant Queen's attire, she wore indoor clothing that was only worn in private spaces. It was comfortable, but not revealing, and could be worn only in the bedroom.
The head maid followed her, not knowing what to do.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty! The clothes...!"
"Huh? It's in the garden."
Julia, who was walking along the passage connecting the Queen's palace and the main castle, looked outside. Endymion was sitting at the garden table, talking alone with the knight.
"It won't be long, so I'll go alone. Will you come back when you're done preparing dinner?"
As Julia spoke with a smile, the head maid put a shawl on her and reluctantly stepped aside.
"Then I will come back to pick you up later."
"Thank you."
Julia said elegantly, turned around, and started to walk away, but then stopped.
'Hmm.'
Julia thought for a moment, then asked her maid to bring her some paper and a pen. She wrote something down, then carried it in her arms and walked out into the garden.
Fearing that someone might see the Queen's casual attire, the head maid quickly ordered the people wandering around to be cleared away.
"... Also, according to the report..."
Slowly and steadily.
Julia approached cautiously, her footsteps muffled.
The gardens in the castle where the King resided were divided into four areas. Endymion enjoyed the garden connected to the Queen's palace the most.
That was where he was, sitting under an old tree that was said to have been alive for a thousand years.
"Here is the list of nobles you instructed. They are all lords who embezzled drought relief funds. Just give the order and we will detain them immediately."
"If we arrest them all at once, the public sentiment will be confused. Secure the new recruits in order of the largest amount of embezzlement."
Julia, who had arrived, hid behind a tree trunk. The tree, which was said to be a thousand years old, was a little withered, but its trunk was very thick.
Endymion and the knight were about seven paces away from her.
"Yes! And the matter investigated..."
Julia took the paper out of her bosom, still clinging to the tree like a fairy.
Rustle.
It was a very small sound, like the rustling of leaves. However, Endymion's eyes, which had been flipping through the papers with an indifferent expression, immediately found her.
At the same time, the knight seemed to notice the movement and tried to turn around.
"Like that."
"Yes?"
"It's just a passing squirrel, don't worry about it."
The knight's face became strange. It was obvious to anyone that he was not sincere.
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