The situation in the capital was nothing short of warti.
“My son waited five full days for his turn! Why are you suddenly withholding the dicine now?!”
“It’s by imperial decree...!”
“So explain why such a decree has been issued—of all tis, when it was my son’s turn—!”
Parents scread like banshees as their children writhed in agony.
“There are no beds available! Go to Mary Hospital of the Thirty-Second Manor!”
“Mary Hospital says they’re full too...! My mother is dying! Her fever’s been unbroken for three days! At least give us the dicine—crumatus, that crumatus!”
A daughter wailed, carrying her fallen mother on her back.
“Give the cure! Chris—this child will die without it...!”
A woman trembled, clutching her fiancé.
Screams and sobs ricocheted off every wall. Everyone demanded crumatus.
“Save us! Save my daughter—!”
“Hand over the herb! The herb! We’ll die without it—!!”
“Mother, Mother...!!”
“AAAAHHHH—!”
Officials who had co to assess the situation turned ashen.
‘This is a catastrophe.’
They had no cure, not even painkillers. Hospitals were at full capacity. ‘If it’s this bad in the capital—what of the provinces...?’
“Please give so dicine! My newborn is sick—!!”
“Let him into the hospital!”
“Save us—!!!”
It was a vision of hell.
The Astra estate, rchant district. Elegant cello strains drifted through the air as always.
“Oh my, good day.”
“Ah, well t. It’s been a while. How fares your daughter?”
“Business has been slow lately, so we traveled together, haha.”
“She must have enjoyed that.”
The continent’s busiest bazaar, the Astra rchant quarter, normally buzzed 24/7. But with no custors, it lay quiet.
“Ah, Knight of the Round, I see you’ve caught one! Oh—Queen’s Pawn was headed this way.”
“Haha, in chess, I’m several moves ahead of you.”
“Damn.”
The benches and parasol tables usually for visitors were reclaid by rchants. Groups of traders lounged in leisure.
Under the right parasol, won nibbled pastries and laughed.
“Oh my, it’s delicious—Gelato Bakery’s green grape tart.”
“Thank you. It’s a pleasure to share it. We opened here years ago but sold out within two hours every day, so we couldn’t treat the neighborhood.”
“No wonder. No matter how many ingredients you stock, you sell out in two hours. Mmm, it’s heavenly.”
To the left, elderly gentlen discussed from their newspapers.
“Other regions are in turmoil.”
“Indeed, which is why there’s no one here in Astra’s quarter.”
“Well, for us— perpetual war ans we appreciate a quiet mont.”
“But didn’t you fail to sell a single pair of spectacles this week? I worry your throat will grow cobwebs.”
“Subsidies arrived, didn’t they? A healthy sum. Indeed, the lord of the manor must be wealthy.”
The old man chuckled, and the pastry-eating rchants joined in.
“If this continues, who knows what might happen?”
“They say they’re planning solutions. The Guild of Artisans will set up a trade tower at the Power Hall, so rchants from unaffected continents can trade.”
“Won’t they charge exorbitant fees?”
“No—they say no fees for exporting from Astra estate.”
“What did you say?”
The pastry group squealed in delight.
“The empire’s industries halt without our manor, so many nations want our goods. There’s no fear of lacking trade.”
“So we hold ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) a monopoly.”
“And if they impose no export tax, every rchant in the country will flock here.”
“Marvelous— we can launch great deals.”
“In truth, even without trade, the population here supports itself well.”
The young flower-seller piped up.
“But does Astra estate always respond so swiftly? I’ve only been here a year!”
“Always fast, but never this fast. All thanks to—”
“Erilot-sama’s command!”
“For Erilot-sama’s efforts!”
“She took action imdiately!”
The rchants’ eyes sparkled.
“Diamond’s fief was fad for its rapid response.”
“But this ti, she ford the Astra Health Bureau at the first sign of contagion.”
“And she’s still crafting follow-up asures... Oh, Erilot-sama!”
The chattering rchants turned to see Erilot strolling through the district.
“Ah, good day, Milady.”
“Aha! One greets a princess with but ‘good day’? Thank you for your service!”
“No, no, this one—the glory of Astra! My lady!”
Erilot chuckled softly.
“That is the greeting for royalty.”
“Oh....”
“Lovely weather. Is everyone well?”
“Yes, of course! Only Astra estate is at peace! All thanks to you!”
“Indeed. If there’s any inconvenience, say so at once. The rchant quarter is Astra’s lifeblood.”
rchants clasped their hands, awed.
Erilot smiled warmly, then noticed one of them—a flower-seller’s young apprentice. The boy blinked.
‘Why is he staring like that...?’
“Are you Sein?”
“Ah... yes, milady.”
How could soone of my rank know him? He was a humble commoner with a tiny flower stall.
“I hear you have an extraordinary gift for plants.”
“? I... it’s just my work.”
“To have your own shop here at fifteen is remarkable.”
“Oh, that was thanks to a noble who commissioned a rare bloom—it was very difficult to cultivate.”
“Splendid. I’d like to recruit you.”
R-recruit him? The rchants gasped and stared. Sein’s mouth fell open.
‘? By the Duke’s daughter?!’
Erilot nodded.
“It will be a challenge. I wish to cultivate Tricolor Blossoms.”
The Tricolor Blossom rivals crumatus in difficulty. Too much or too little light kills it; the slightest poor soil or breeze topples it. Han Jihyeok calls it the “sunfish of plants.”
Erilot’s expression turned serious.
“I would make an entire mountain a field of Tricolor Blossoms. Can you—?”
“That... uh....”
Sein hesitated. Erilot and Han Jihyeok exchanged looks.
‘As expected, it’s difficult.’
‘They say raising Tricolors is harder than raising a child.’
Sein stamred:
“Is that all you need?”
“...Yes?”
“I an, it’s odd you’d recruit for an easy task....”
Han Jihyeok interjected:
“Easy...?”
“Yes. I’ve grown Tricolor as a hobby. I still have several fields now.”
“...?!”
“...!!”
The boy smoothed his shirt, looking as if he’d made a mistake. Then Erilot seized his hand.
“Wonderful. You’re exactly the talent I need.”
“Ah....”
The boy’s face blazed. He’d never seen such a beautiful woman—her hair glimred honey-gold, her eyes cherry-red. ‘And she slls divine....’
Erilot spoke softly.
“I will buy every Tricolor you grow. Twice—no, three tis the market price.”
“T-That much?”
Yes—so you won’t sell elsewhere. Soon, Tricolor prices will skyrocket, far above triple their value. ‘It’s the only cure for this contagion!’
Inside the Power Hall. I sat enthralled, palms pressed together.
“Oh, these precious Tricolors....”
In childhood I snapped up every sight of them. Now two warehouses brim with dried, preserved blossoms. Han Jihyeok shook his head.
“I never understood your obsession with gathering Tricolor until now—you plan to use them.”
“Tricolor is suprely purifying—against monsters’ toxins and this plague.”
Especially this plague. ‘Perhaps the Emperor’s illness is madok.’ If Tricolor could purify madok, perhaps Cainrod’s uncle’s infection—.
Just then a servant approached.
“Milady!”
“What is it?”
“A ssage from the palace.”
“Please see to Father.”
We had barely arrived in the capital before the contagion struck, and our family retreated to the estate. ‘So much to do—damn.’
This life’s plague moves far faster than before—likely because Dalia intervened.
“They seek you, not Lord Diamond.”
“His Majesty grows anxious, it seems.”
“What shall we do?”
“Take the ssage.”
Han Jihyeok and I entered the grand assembly hall. Courtiers filled the benches, and a Communication Stone stood at the table’s center. I approached my grandfather’s seat and bowed to the screen.
“Glory to the Crown. I greet You, Your Majesty.”
The courtiers around him bristled.
“How dare you hoard the cure while the people suffer!”
“Lady Erilot Astra must co to the capital at once!”
They sounded urgent. His face was ashen. ‘Perhaps his family has been infected.’
The Emperor fixed with his gaze.
“The ban on your travel is lifted. Co to the capital and lead the Health Bureau.”
I smiled.
“I accept Your command.”
“What?! You refuse the decree?”
“Speak, Duke Astra.”
My grandfather’s brows twitched. ‘Even in urgency, must they pry so?’
He was no man of principle—if others insulted the family, war followed. I glared at the courtier who’d spoken.
“Do you truly an this?”
The courtier flinched. He must fear —if I, the only one who can solve this, took offense and refused communication...?
“My haste led astray,” he babbled, then fell silent.
The Emperor then called to .
“Erilot Astra.”
I lowered my head in mock sorrow.
“Your Majesty, on the day I visited the dical tent, I intended to offer all the herbs I’d gathered in my life.”
“What...!”
“Knowing crumatus’s danger, I petitioned you—”
The Emperor swallowed.
I looked up with wide eyes.
“But you told no one needed , and to remain hidden.”
He was speechless.
“I pained at being seen as protecting my family’s wealth over the people’s welfare.”
He still said nothing. The courtiers cleared their throats.
“You’ve had your tantrum, haven’t you? Lady Erilot Astra, co to the capital.”
“ntal anguish matters less than the people’s suffering!”
Tsk. Still uncomprehending?
‘You’re the ones ruining everything by clinging to pride while people suffer.’
They had criticized for stepping forward in the first place. When the ban was first declared, they sneered at my presumptuousness. Now they clamor for my help.
‘There is still ti.’
No one has died yet. Thankfully, this is not an ordinary plague—Despair spores keep the host alive until maturity. As long as we deploy Tricolor before maturity, we can stop it.
“Which of you offered your wealth to aid the people?”
“W-What?”
“Knowing the people’s plight, who funded hospital relief?”
“That—!”
“This is a different situation, you say—!”
“I used my personal funds to send supplies to suffering people, even outside our manor. Did Count Motidus not accept my aid?”
Count Motidus fell silent. ‘They expect help but never act themselves.’
The courtiers, unable to reply, erupted.
“Regardless, one must not defy the throne! Lady Erilot Astra, co at once!”
“If this continues, the empire falls...!!”
Then—
“Shut your mouths?!”
“Please, be silent!”
Courtiers who had begged now clasped their hands in prayer.
“Please co. My daughter’s been unconscious two days.”
“Help us save my aged mother.”
“Please...!”
“My lady...!!”
Eyes closed tight, the Emperor spoke:
“I admit my mistake.”
“...”
“Be the true Saint and save our land...!”
Our retainers broke into delighted smiles. Father and Grandfather both stifled laughter.
Father said, “Erilot.”
I returned his gentle smile.
“Your Majesty, hear . I never refused to share the cure—I only said I would not co.”
“...”
“A convoy loaded with dicine is already en route to the capital.”
“My lady....”
“Lady Astra...!”
The Emperor gaped at , courtiers awed.
“I have sent soone to oversee the empire’s Health Bureau in my stead.”
“Soone in your place?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. His na is Alexis.”
I t the Emperor’s gaze steadily.
“He shall be the savior of this land.”
...It is he who will beco the next Emperor.
Your hidden son, that villain of the third generation.
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