"Your majesty, locusts have been found in the West. At first they were only a few, but now they’ve been seen in large numbers. We can’t control them. They’re devouring everything!"
The people in the dining room couldn’t even scold the ssenger now.
The steward who had run after him to stop him stopped himself when the King raised his hand.
The adults exchanged glances.
Seeing that the king and the others were listening, the ssenger explained more about the news he was told to relay.
Fedor nodded and turned to his steward.
"Call the noble heads to the palace imdiately for a eting."
"Yes, your majesty." The steward bowed and left.
The family sat down to finished their al.
After eating lunch quickly, Fedor, Wilson and Father King lvin left the dining room.
The won exchanged glances.
"This could only an that a famine will occur." lissa muttered.
When Aristia had told them about preparation in case of a famine caused by locusts, they had acted without doubt because the concept of storing food really was beneficial, famine or no famine. But that didn’t an they really expected there to be a famine caused by locusts.
They didn’t expect that locusts would really attack two years later. And it was still winterti!
Aristia ate her al quietly, thinking to herself. [Was it around this ti that the famine happened? Do locusts survive in winter?] She wondered.
But then it hit her. [Oh yes. The locusts hit the West first. It doesn’t snow in the West!]
The West was also the most affected, being suddenly hit first without warning.
But it would also affect other parts of Amberale because the farrs couldn’t plant in winter and by the ti winter was over, the locusts would spread to other parts of Amberale.
[At least what happened in the book won’t happen now.] Aristia thought.
That was the only good thing about the whole situation. They couldn’t stop the locusts, but they could prevent damage to the kingdom.
Rowaine put down her spoon and stood up calmly. "Mother, Catherine, we have to et with the ladies of nobility and make sure they keep the people of their fief calm and reassured."
Word of a famine would definitely leave the people feeling panicked. It was necessary to not let them panic too much so that the plan their husbands had decided would go as planned.
lissa nodded and got up.
Catherine stood up too and followed after them.
The children who were left behind exchanged gazes before finishing their als one after the other.
After they got back from the palace, Wilson and Catherine got busy.
But the children’s lives remained normal.
Now they were at a tea party held for won and children. All the noble families would soon return to their fiefs to deal with the looming famine, so the Queen had organized a get-together of nobles.
While the gathering was going on, the Fief Lords would be with the King having a final eting before their departure.
This ti, the Oswalts had attended the tea party.
Previously, the whole of aristocracy was aware that Marchioness Charlotte Oswalt was sick and that her health kept worsening.
When she stopped coming to social events, they speculated that her health had only gotten worse. So even whispered that she would die soon.
Almost everyone thought that way. Even her friends, the four madams, were not aware of her situation.
Whenever they wrote letters, they would receive replied saying that her health remained the sa. They also couldn’t co to visit because George had spread that the illness was contagious.
This was because George felt that he couldn’t trust anyone, so he kept them all at arm’s length, not wanting them to know that his wife was actually recovering.
Now she was fully recovered after months of resting at ho.
The nobles’ were stunned to see her. After all, so were eagerly waiting for news of her death. Those who wanted to marry George.
"Princess Tia, here’s what I got you. No, I asked my father to get it when he went to our Fief." Wade said, handing her a small wrapped bundle.
"What’s this?" Aristia asked without expecting an answer, while unwrapping the bundle.
[Sweets?] She thought in surprise, looking up at Wade’s smiling, slightly nervous face.
"It’s famous in the Oswalt Fief. I thought you’d like it." Wade responded.
Aristia took a small bite of the small, round sweets. Her teeth bit into each soft one.
[Mm. Caral candy. Sweet.]
"Thanks, Wade." She said, holding one in front of Alaric.
Imdiately, he opened his mouth for her to feed him the candy.
Wade nodded.
"You didn’t bring any for us?" Nova Kiran asked with a small pout.
"I did. I did." Wade shook his head. "But the servant is holding them in the carriage."
Nova Kiran’s face that had just brightened up, imdiately fell while the others tried not to laugh.
"Here. You can have one. You all can." Aristia said, holding out the candy.
"Really? Thanks Tia."
"Thanks, princess Tia."
The children thanked with smiles while taking one.
"But..." Aristia stopped them. "You’ll each give one of yours after the banquet."
"Of course." Beatrix and Nova nodded, taking one.
"That’s fine." Serina and Alicia Eldridge nodded their heads.
"Mm. It’s really good. No wonder it’s famous in the North." Lauren said, looking at them with wide eyes.
While they all chewed on the candy, Alicia shook her head.
"It’s hard to believe we won’t see each other for a long ti."
" too." Lauren sighed.
They would all be in their individual fiefs and wouldn’t be able to et together like they were doing now.
"At least so of you will be able to see each other sotis. We’ll be in the Capital." Beatrix complained.
The others looked a bit apologetic. The princesses would still remain in the capital.
"It’s so bad. And that’s not the worst thing!" Serina said.
Everyone’s eyes widened.
"What is?" They asked, leaning closer. Even Alaric, Lilith and Juno wanted to know.
"Tia’s leaving too!!!"
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