Chapter 95: Black Death: Storm Rises Again [VIP]
The crimson Rosa Marie has a peak bloom period of nearly a month.
Therefore, for the next whole month, every corner of Winter Castle was filled with Rosamary's unique fragrance.
Food and supplies from all over the empire flowed into Dalavia along the "Road of the Gods", helping the northern heartland of the empire to recover.
In contrast, the volunteers left one after another.
These most ordinary people responded to the temple's call with the most sincere kindness, arrived in the disaster area when the Black Death was at its worst, and worked tirelessly to help everyone in need. When they left, they refused all the material gratitude prepared by the Dalavians, and only took away a heartfelt "thank you".
"Our country has such good people, why is our emperor..."
At the highest point of Winter Castle, watching the volunteer team walking further and further away in the drizzle and the Dalavians who were seeing them off along the way, Adlon once again raised a soul-searching question.
"perhaps……"
He didn't dare to think further.
However, Rosa Marie's fragrance, along with the humid steam, continued to invade his nostrils, forcing him to—
"Harrah, it seems like there's been a bit too much rain this year."
Dalavia is located in the northern border of the empire and has never had abundant rainfall. Even during the short rainy season, it rarely rains for more than three days in a row.
What's more, it is not the rainy season now, but the drizzle has lasted for five days.
"Perhaps the gods took pity on Dalavia's misfortune and sent extra rain to compensate for the delay in planting winter wheat due to the Black Death."
Halas said cautiously: "Normally at this time, farmers would have already started preparing their winter wheat for the winter."
"If there hadn't been the Black Death, the Dalavians would have planted wheat in December and Thirteen each year, and prepared the wheat seedlings for winter in Fourteenth. But now... perhaps, as you said, this drizzle that shouldn't have appeared in Fourteenth is the gods' compensation to the Dalavians who had finally survived the Black Death..."
"The latest group of agricultural experts arriving from Gaura to support us in Dharavia includes several experts. They have brought new agricultural tools and more scientific farming methods, all of which they have generously shared with the Dharavia people. With their help, Dharavia will have a bumper harvest next year."
"A great harvest..."
Adlon's voice choked slightly. "Why is there such a noble person as Lucien in the world... Why couldn't such a noble soul be born into the direct line of the Yula royal family..."
"Sir, I personally think that given the current situation of the Yula royal family—"
"I know what you want to say."
Adlon sighed. "For years, I've refused to go to the capital in the name of love, and publicly targeted Yaris and attacked the Holy Family many times. But in truth... I don't love Grand Duchess Anna as much as I claim. I just don't want others to see that I'm losing faith in the Yula Royal Family..."
"May the gods bless the empire..."
Haras whispered, drawing a blessing rune on his chest.
…
…
"Lord Lucien——"
When the servants entered the room, Xiao Yun had already woken up.
Although according to the daily habits of the royal nobles, he should not get up until around noon.
The servants were already accustomed to this. After entering the room, they skillfully tidied the bedroom while asking, "My lord, did you rest well last night? Was the heavy rain disturbing your sleep?"
"I slept well last night."
"Do you need water, juice, or mead?"
"Give me a glass of water."
"OK."
During the conversation, the servant opened the curtains.
Xiao Yun, who was sitting on the bed, turned his head and saw silver raindrops hitting the window continuously.
In the garden opposite the window, the deep red Rosa Marie flowers that had been in full bloom had all fallen from the branches after being ravaged by a whole night of heavy rain, revealing the dark green leaves underneath, which had been covered by the rich and gorgeous petals for a long time and had slightly red edges.
"It's just one night... Although Rosamarie's bloom is almost over..."
Xiao Yun couldn't help but sigh involuntarily.
The attendant brought clean water and helped him wash his face and hands, then announced, "Minister Lias requests to have lunch with you."
"Lias?"
Xiao Yun pondered for a long time before finally finding the corresponding face in the depths of his memory: "Prime Minister Ulysses's adopted brother? A hereditary earl, whose father was the late emperor's Minister of the Interior?"
"Yes, Earl Lias arrived in Teide City yesterday afternoon on His Majesty's orders. Besides visiting the people of Dalavia on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor and overseeing the distribution of disaster relief supplies, he also has a more important mission—delivering a letter of commendation personally written by His Majesty to you."
"Edmund actually wrote me a personal letter?"
Xiao Yun sneered.
Upon hearing this, the attendants were in a state of confusion. They could not and should not openly ridicule the emperor, but as a Dalavian who had just survived the Black Death, he had a good impression of Edmond III.
"...Okay, inform Lias that I will have lunch according to court etiquette."
"Yes, sir."
…
Lias's appearance is completely different from that of Ulysses, the Prime Minister's adopted brother.
With a physique prone to obesity, he not only has a chest and waist circumference that are equal, but also has a circle of fat on his chin and neck. His golden hair also appears too sparse because it almost overflows his cheeks.
Fortunately, he has clear stupid blue eyes.
Therefore, despite being extremely obese, Lias gives people a very cute feeling, with a chubby and chubby sense of intimacy.
(——Does a happy heart make you fat?)
Xiao Yun thought secretly and walked into the reception room.
"Sorry for the wait, Minister Lias—"
"Master Lucien!"
Lias, who was sitting on the sofa, quickly stood up and saluted Xiao Yun.
"It's an honor to meet you!"
"I'm glad to see you again, too."
Xiao Yun nodded and motioned Lias to return to his seat.
"Thanks."
Lias said respectfully, sitting below Xiao Yun.
"that……"
"Something?"
"Yes."
Lias stood up again, looking a little reserved: "I'm sorry - I must apologize to Lord Lucien and His Highness Jarris, I..."
"What do you want to say?"
"Everyone knows that my father was the late emperor's Minister of the Interior and Minister of Finance, and my adopted brother is His Majesty's Prime Minister... Although I myself have little ability and have always been an insignificant marginal figure in His Majesty's court, my background dictates that I must stand by His Majesty's side... When I learned that His Highness Jaris and Prince Lucien had actually... I, I felt intense anger and even developed a deep hostility towards you and His Highness... Until..."
Lias lowered his head in shame. "It wasn't until I arrived in Ted City as His Majesty's envoy and saw everything here that I suddenly had a bold idea - these are things that His Majesty cannot do! Master Lucien, you not only possess a noble soul, but also extraordinary ability to handle government affairs... Judging from your abilities alone, you are indeed... a..."
"What are you talking about?"
"I, I'm just speaking my mind."
Lias said bitterly, "I'm a dull person, so I'm very grateful to my father for bringing Ulysses home. By training Ulysses, our family didn't fall into decline due to my incompetence... My father's actions also made me understand a simple truth from a very young age: things should be handed over to those who are capable of doing them."
"Lias——"
"Perhaps, it is precisely because of this that His Highness Yaris feels that he should not hand over the country to Your Majesty."
Lias whispered something that shocked Xiao Yun.
"You, you actually—"
"Yes, everyone thinks I'm His Majesty's errand boy, a lackey with no ideas of my own. But in truth, I'm just too aware of my own abilities and know the position I need to avoid making mistakes. I'm not a capable man like Ulysses, who became Prime Minister of the Empire at a young age. I can't be as flattering as others, abandoning my moral compass to please His Majesty... I'm a vulgar, fat man whose only ambition is to protect my family's title, my wife, and my children..."
Lias looked up, his chubby cheeks forced into an innocent smile. "I won't join you, nor do I intend to oppose you. I just hope that when the fateful day comes, my family and I will be safe."
(Lias's thoughts clearly reflected the thoughts of most ordinary nobles and lower-middle-class civilians in the empire... They sensed that civil war was about to break out and simply wanted to sit on the sidelines...)
Xiao Yun didn't want to blame these people.
He pretended to be casual and said, "I don't know what you are talking about."
"I, I... I just wanted to express my personal affirmation of your abilities to Master Lucien..."
Lias's eyes darted around as if trying to escape.
Xiao Yun smiled and motioned Lias to sit down. "The lunch dishes are all local specialties of Dalavia. Can you get used to it?"
"Well...I..."
"After lunch, I will take you to see Duke Adlon. Maybe we can also meet Yaris, who has returned to Maga, through the crystal mirror. He said he missed you a little."
"Yeah?"
Lias stuttered a little.
"You don't have to be afraid. No one here will force you."
"Uh...but..."
Lias looked away, not daring to look at Xiao Yun.
"Please don't act distracted while having lunch with me!"
Xiao Yun's attitude suddenly became tough.
Lias lowered his head in fear: "Sir, I, I... I will give you the emperor's personal letter now!"
"Don't worry, I want to read Edmund's handwritten letter with Yaris."
Xiao Yun raised his glass: "Come on, let's toast to the future of the empire!"
"cheers--"
Lias's hands were shaking so badly that most of the liquid in the glass spilled out.
"Lias, you look weird?"
“I, I—”
Lias's head suddenly tilted and he fell on the table, unconscious.
At the same time, Xiao Yun suddenly felt something hot on his waist. He reached out to touch it and found that the golden gem formed by the crystallization of the third eye of "Three-Eyed" Godalu had become fiery and scorching hot.
"Call the doctor! Now!"
While giving the order, Xiao Yun took out the golden gem, held it in his hand, and looked at it carefully.
(What's going on here? Why are the gems—)
The third eye of the "Three-Eyed Tribe" is the source of their power, possessing the dual abilities of creating illusions and splitting through illusions.
System Wang Dong responded.
(Creating illusions? Splitting illusions?)
(Um?)
Xiao Yun's heart moved.
Seeing that the doctor had not arrived yet, he walked to Lias with the golden gem in his hand. Under the golden light, Xiao Yun clearly saw a white mist-like creature about the length of a little finger wriggling on the inside of Lias's shoulder and neck spine.
(What is this!)
[Unable to determine, suspected to be a demonic creation.]
(Is this worm-like thing directly related to Lias's sudden fainting?)
[Unable to determine.]
(……All right.)
Xiao Yun stopped asking questions and called his servants to come forward and help him help Lias up.
Lias slowly woke up at this time, raised his head, and blinked blankly several times. Finally, he remembered who he was and where he was. He said to Xiao Yun with an apologetic look: "Please forgive me, I seem to have been... "
"Does something like this happen often?"
"Yes."
Lias explained sheepishly, "As the saying goes, 'the gods give as well as take away.' Although I'm often mocked by His Majesty and the ladies of the court as an incompetent, fat man and a clown, I have a beautiful and kind wife and three innocent and lovely children... I received happiness I didn't deserve, so the gods took my health... For two months now, I've been inexplicably fainting, and even when awake, I feel like I'm sleepwalking... My memory is confused... Fortunately, Ulysses and the others are helping me..."
"What did the doctor say?"
"All the doctors said they had never seen such a condition and suspected it was a demonic curse. Ulysses went to the Demonic Guild and asked the Grand Master to examine me... The result..."
"Have you found the reason?"
"The Grand Master suspects that I've been struck by an unheard-of dark curse... Of course, up to this point, everything is just suspicion and speculation."
(So that white worm in the shoulder and cervical spine...)
Xiao Yun felt a chill on his back.
At this time, the doctor finally arrived.
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