Herscherik, curious of Grim’s reaction, gave Kuro a look. With an understanding smile and elegant bow, he spoke with the leader of the royal guards. They sent the carriage with the prince’s belongings and half of the knights aboard to the annex, followed by the other half of the knights. Then, Kuro put Herscherik and Meria on the other carriage and borrowed one of the knight’s horses. Kuro’s riding style was just as elegant as everything else he did, causing some murmurs among Grim’s servants for a different reason than Herscherik did. Of course, the female servants were the only ones who were stirred by Kuro.
Once the carriage started on its way, Herscherik began seeing houses and fields outside of the window but less foot traffic than he had expected. The fields were mostly barren, too, despite it being mid-autumn.
“Did they already harvest these fields, Meria?” Herscherik asked his nanny, as familiar as he had always been, although Meria had been acting awkwardly around the prince since the kidnapping incident.
Meria jerked her shoulders at the question before timidly looking up at the window to observe the scenery. She slowly shook her head. “No... There would usually be more crops like wheat in the field. My parents told me that the weather was particularly harsh this year, limiting their yield.”
In short, they had already harvested anything they could. Herscherik further learned that a storm had flooded the river and farms in early summer, and there was a long drought in mid-summer. Proper irrigation would have drastically mitigated this damage. Herscherik could easily assume that Grim could not be bothered to do even that. Their soil was not rich to begin with by any means, and their yield was always lacking compared to neighboring lands. When they neglected maintenance on top of that, these results could have been expected.
Herscherik recalled the documents he had read on this land back at the castle. Because of their historically poor yield, they had been receiving financial aid to make up for the lack of tax revenue. Seeing how extravagant Grim’s personal spending seemed to be, Herscherik couldn’t imagine that aid was being used for its intended purpose. Moreover, the lord of the land was supposed to have a reserve of savings to deal with things like the occasional poor yield. Financial aid was supposed to be reserved for regions affected by a catastrophe too devastating for even their lord’s savings to cover.
“Prince Herscherik?” Meria timidly called to Herscherik, whose expression had grown sterner with every thought.
The prince rushed to give Meria a reassuring smile.
Meria’s family acted as the leader of their neighboring farmsteads. While not as extravagant as the lord’s manor, their house was a good bit larger than most others. News seemed to precede Herscherik’s arrival, as Meria’s parents were already standing outside the front door by the time the carriage arrived. Just as Meria had said, her parents seemed emaciated, in stark contrast to the count.
As soon as Herscherik stepped off of the carriage, with barely any introductions, they bowed so sharply in apology that Herscherik thought they might snap in half. “Your Highness, we beg your forgiveness for the despicable actions of our daughter and family members.” They already seemed to know the events that had transpired and believed that the prince was responsible for their daughter making it home alive after what she had done. Herscherik rushed to look around him after the sudden apology, but Kuro had sent the royal guards to patrol the surroundings before the apology came out, preventing them from hearing that part of it.
Herscherik turned back to Meria’s parents, relieved. “Um... It’s chilly out here. May I come in?” He added a dramatic shiver.
It was against etiquette for Herscherik, the guest, to ask without being offered, but he was concerned for the health of Meria’s parents. He was worried that they would go to extreme lengths to apologize for their daughter.
The group settled into the living room with a fireplace, where Herscherik asked Meria’s parents to tell their story. Accordingly, Meria’s cousins had told Meria’s parents about what they did, what they intended to do, and what kind of person Herscherik was, as soon as they’d made it out of the capital. The cousins apologized to her parents.
“Your Highness, if anyone must be punished, all responsibilities for their actions fall on me as their patriarch. I beg you, please forgive those young ones,” Meria’s father said, bowing deeply again.
Meria’s parents seemed to think that Herscherik had come all this way to pass judgment and mete out punishment.
Instead, Herscherik shook his head. “I didn’t come here to punish you or anyone involved in the incident. They asked for help, so I came to fulfill my duty as a member of the royal family... Things must have been tough since Ruseria’s passing.” Herscherik showed them the antique silver pocket watch. Upon seeing the watch, Meria’s parents gasped, their eyes tearing up. Herscherik could tell how much Ruseria had meant to the people of this land from that reaction alone. “I’m sorry you’ve had to endure so much. I’m here to make this better. I promise.” Herscherik smiled.
Meria’s parents nodded over and over again, unable to form any words. The sight of them holding back tears with quivering shoulders reminded Herscherik of the towns he had visited on the trip here.
For consideration of Herscherik’s status and health, they had spent the night in towns along the travel road whenever possible. In fact, Herscherik was worn out by the welcome he received at each stop. Moreover, he was distressed by the eyes of the people that welcomed him. Herscherik had seen fear and disdain in their cold eyes amidst the superficially warm welcome. The looks given to him seemed like the people’s evaluation of the royalty and the nation as a whole.
At this rate, we’re doomed, Herscherik thought.
Meria, her parents, and every single one of those people who had given him those looks along his journey deserved to be protected by their government. Every single one of their cries for help were intercepted by someone before they reached the castle. The interceptor could be a lord, a government official, a noble... anyone under the thumb of the marquis Barbosse. They were cunning at concealing crime and protecting the contents of their pockets. There was no country without its people. Nations that protected their people prospered, and nations that neglected their people only fell. Rebuilding the people’s trust in Gracis might take more trials and tribulations than Herscherik could imagine. That realization had weighed heavy on the prince’s chest. Even so, Herscherik had renewed resolve to change his nation. He gripped his fists tighter.
The “humble” feast Grim had prepared turned out to be an extremely exorbitant affair by the standards of any of its invitees. Dishes made from expensive foods filled the table before them, in massive quantities. There were three different appetizers and entrées mostly made of meat: stew, a white roasted bird, something that resembled roast beef, and sausage platters. Various breads were prepared by the basketful, and desserts ranged from bowls of fruit to pies and cakes. Herscherik could not even finish his share of the mountain of food that filled the dining table, which was not small by any means. At any other time, he might have decently enjoyed a dinner like this. But after being rocked by a carriage for two weeks straight for the first time in his life, his exhaustion crushed his appetite. Even worse, watching Grim guzzling his food down as he chewed with his mouth open completely killed what little appetite Herscherik had left. Herscherik was very thankful for being seated on the other end of the dining table from Grim. Herscherik had sampled a few dishes, after Kuro had tasted them for poison, but his stomach revolted at the greasy food, so he quickly gave up on the meal.
After dinner, Herscherik and his party headed to the three-story annex that was prepared for them. Herscherik’s room was the most extravagant one on the third floor. The royal guards would sleep on the first and second floors, leaving the third floor reserved for Herscherik and his butler. The guards had set up a night watch schedule.
It was almost too cold to be mid-autumn, but the pre-lit fireplace was keeping the room warm. Herscherik checked his watch to see that it was past eleven o’clock. He could see the lord’s manor from the window, most of its windows darkened. Seeing that, Herscherik leaped from the sofa in front of the fireplace.
“I’m headed out,” Herscherik declared as he nonchalantly threw on his coat.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Kuro demanded without a pause.
“Huh? To gather evidence...?” Herscherik crooked his neck, trying his best to look adorable.
Kuro couldn’t help but gaze up at the ceiling. Why would the prince ever even think of taking on the task himself when Kuro was standing right there? Kuro would have demanded his master for some answers, if he could have.
“What do you think I’m here for?” Kuro pointed. “Just stay here and stay out of trouble.”
“Aww...” Herscherik groaned, obviously disappointed. Kuro didn’t ask why but only patted Herscherik’s head and then squeezed down.
“Owow ow ow ow ow ow!”
“Do not leave this room. Under any circumstances. Just go to bed,” Kuro stated, emphasizing one word at a time.
Once Kuro released him, Herscherik clasped his head as he crouched to the ground. “I thought I was your boss.” He looked up at his butler, tears in his eyes.
With a mocking grin, Kuro gave an immaculate bow and left the room. Neither his steps nor him closing the door made the slightest sound.