10. June 2025

Run away 15

Chapter 15

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Once it started in the crops, the disease spread like a plague. If this happened to the Ville Bronze region, which harvested vast quantities of grain and fruit each year, they would have to rely on imports for much of their food.

Food was the most important thing in the ceremonial state. The majority of the people worked hard to keep their stomachs full and prepared for the next year. If food supplies dwindled, prices would naturally rise and people would find it harder to survive.

More importantly, the cause was unknown. In a bad year, they could just look forward to the next year, but this was different: the crops they had grown were withering for no apparent reason, and if this continued, it would cause even more problems.

"Let's take a look around."

Theodore and Rosette climbed into the lord's carriage together and rode across the vast plains, examining their surroundings more closely.

The situation was even more grim up close: farmers out in the fields wept and prayed, cutting down what little crops they could find to salvage.

Even that would be too unprofitable to sell. Rosette felt for the families as they tried to save what they could.

As she watched, she was also puzzled by the situation.

How was it possible for a healthy crop to wither away for no reason other than the weather? She had never seen such a blackened crop in her life.

Observing the scene carefully, Rosette stopped the carriage.

"Wait! Please stop the carriage for a moment."

"Yes? What is it, Princess?"

"I need to take a look at something."

Rosette dismounted and headed off alone toward the blackened wheat field. She wanted to get a closer look. There was a large tree near the wheat field, to be precise, and Rosette walked up to it and looked up at it from under a large blackened eucalyptus.

The eucalyptus, which could grow up to 100 meters tall, was thick, but it was also very tall. The tree, even larger in scale, had colorful cloth and paper tied around it.

"This tree is over 100 years old. It's no wonder the crops are failing... it's a tree that was supposed to protect the area."

The lord of the region who had followed them spoke to Rosette.

Many people had written their wishes on the tree and tied colored paper or cloth to it, as it was supposed to protect the Ville Bronze region. It was indeed a big tree, the likes of which the kingdom of Hercia had never seen, and if it were alive, it would be worth a great deal.

Rosette reached out to touch the blackened eucalyptus tree.

"You shouldn't touch it."

"What? Why?"

"It's a diseased tree, and it might carry some unknown disease... We don't touch it either."

"That's okay, I need to see something."

The lord of the region hesitated, motioning to stop her, but Rosette's hand was quicker, and she tore off a palmful of the dried bark and began to examine its interior carefully. She circled the large tree several times, pulling off withered leaves and turning them this way and that.

Stopping, Rosette approached the area where she had peeled back the bark earlier. She placed her hands on the exposed wood and immediately closed her eyes.

Theodore, who had been watching her for some time, knew her behavior well. She'd done it with his sword the first time they'd met, and the last time she had cleansed the lake in Tristan.

Theodore began to stare at Rosette with a questioning look in his eyes.

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[Abilities]

Henry Demianne, King of the Kingdom of Hercia and father of Rosette, rubbed his forehead against the fatigue that had been creeping in since the morning. He had been dealing with the aftermath of the war with the Kaisen Empire day after day.

His daughter Rosette's sacrifice had saved the country, a blessing in disguise, but before he could recover from the grief of losing her, rumors of trouble were flooding the palace.

Henry's chamberlain politely handed him a stack of papers.

"There are many war-torn lords asking for help, Your Majesty."

"It's impossible to accommodate them all right now. Hespain and Cavallien, the hardest hit, are first. Wait, has Elvar suffered this much damage as well?"

"That's right, the Kaisen Empire has been found to have planted spies there. They had enemies within, so a military warehouse was burned down and many weapons were lost......."

Bang.

Henry's clunky fist slammed down on the desk, a small tremor of frustration. The Elvar region was a military stronghold of the Kingdom of Hercia, its main base in the south. It was a small country, far from war anyway, and it would be no match for such a lowly trick. In his time, he had made a name for himself on the battlefield, so Theodore’s despicable tactics made him shudder.

"What a cruel and cowardly man. If he were a decent man, he wouldn't have done such a thing."

It was painful to go to sleep every night knowing that his daughter was in such a man's clutches. Queen Isis, too, cried every night as she worried about Rosette. King Henry's brow furrowed again as he realized what had happened.

"See to it that the imperial budget is cut to the bare minimum, and we will need the help of the nobility... as well. I want you to contact the Duke of Dominique and the Duke of Carden."

"Yes, sire."

"And Julian’s subjugation team?”

"Yes, the monsters have been located and destroyed, and the men are on their way back to the capital. They should be here within the day......."

Before the chamberlain could finish speaking, someone kicked in the door of the study. It was disrespectful to enter the King's study without permission, no matter how close they were. Henry's eyes widened in surprise as he realized the man's identity: Julian Helberon, whom he had heard had recently returned from a monster slaying spree.

"Julian. How did you get back so quickly......."

"Sire, is it true that princess Rosette... has left for the Kaisen Empire?"

He was breathing raggedly, panting from how far he had traveled without stopping. His hair was drenched in sweat as if it had been raining, and his cheeks were flushed. His pupils glowed as if they could see right through Henry.

When Henry closed his eyes and shook his head slightly, as if in resignation, Julian asked again, urgently.

"I asked if it was true. Do you really want her to be with that demonic bastard......."

"It's Rosette's decision."

"But... you should have stopped her, Your Majesty. How could a child, barely of age, travel alone to a strange land......."

"The child is stubborn, and you know better."

"If it were me, I would have tied her arms and legs and locked her up."

"It was not easy for me to let her go either. The Queen hasn’t been eating since Rosette left. But there was no way... no way. Julian."

Julian’s father, Count Helberon, was in the same knightly order as King Henry, and they were practically brothers. Born in the same year, Julian and Rosette were naturally drawn to each other as children, and his attraction to her eventually led him to envision a future with her.

"You know very well why I volunteered for... this subjugation?”

What Julian lacked was status and honor. He knew his father's influence as a Count didn't carry much weight, so he'd trained day and night to improve. He worked tirelessly to become a man more worthy of Rosette, but when things went wrong, they went wrong hard.

Julian’s resentment was directed at him because he had grown up calling King Henry his uncle.

It was also a reminder that Henry had been pretending not to notice Julian’s feelings for Rosette and had sometimes, as now, used Julian to his advantage.

"I'm sorry, but this is the way to save us all. It's also what Rosette wants."

"Then I'll... I'll go to the Kaisen Empire and bring Rosette back."

"Forget it. Julian. Rosette said you would understand."

"Do you really think Rosette went because she wanted to? She's the kind of girl who would gladly sacrifice herself for the people she loves, don't you realize that?"

"Go back."

"I can convince her. If there's no way, Sire, I'll find another way no matter what, so please......."

Even without Julian’s further contribution, the day was a struggle. Henry ran a hand through his hair and summoned his aide.

"Harrison."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Now summon Walter Bradley, the head of the First Order of Knights."

The First Order of Knights, the Dragon Knights, were hailed as the most skilled in the kingdom. Walter, the leader of the Dragon Knights, was also Julian’s most hated enemy and rival.

Henry’s face hardened even more as he ordered Walter to be summoned. He had treated Julian as a nephew, but he would not tolerate any more disrespect.

At this point, Walter entered and bowed before him. Something was not quite right with the situation. Henry sternly commanded Walter, who was bowing down.

"Walter Bradley, you are to keep an eye on Julian Helberon. If he tries to pull any stunts, you may use force."

"Yes, sire, as you command."

"Uncle, no... Your Majesty, this is ridiculous. Even at this hour, Rosette......"

"Julian. Do not test my patience. I don't want to be the one to order you locked up."

Henry, who had been flipping through the papers with a stony face, spoke coldly. He was looking rather tired today, and his face was even more haggard than before.

Beside him, Walter Bradley gave Julian a small, disapproving look.

Sensing that his words would have no effect, Julian stalked out of Henry's study with an angry face, his balled fists exuding an unusual energy.