“Well? Is there anything in that letter that might suggest what we can do about this? We have a crown prince without the power to even go so far as to befriend his sister but still believes he holds all the cards and a king who’s so unpopular and uncharismatic that he leads his people to ruin.” That was about two percent of what I wanted to say.
Lord Itsuki—who was certainly more reserved than I—was evidently restraining himself as he spoke. “There we have it, Ash is at it again. I don’t feel like stopping him.”
“I am head of the Disaster Response Office. I have the lives of 12,017 people in my hands. I simply do not have the time or will to deal with a petty prince who cares for nothing except the throne.” My stomach hurt to the point I could vomit blood. I could not have these common colds worsen—we needed the crown’s help to prevent their deaths. I could do without this childish petty game the crown prince is playing.
“You’re right. That was imprudent of me,” Lord Itsuki said as he bowed his head and passed me the letter. “His Excellency is summoning you to the royal capital.”
“Still working me like a draft horse.” Field work is usually Maika’s department, I thought to myself as I looked down at the letter.
“I guess we’re kinda stuck for time?” Lord Itsuki asked.
“Yeah, we are...” However, as I scanned the letter, it was sure enough written that I needed to go to the royal capital. I let out a chuckle and a sigh. “I suppose now would be the best time for me to go with the refugee situation calming down somewhat.” With more refugees likely coming in spring, I was unsure when I would next be able to leave Sacula. As a result, I would have to suck it up and go now. Plus, I would get to meet with Princess Alicia, and it would no doubt be fun to spend time with her. “Maika, I am going to meet with Alicia. Is there anything you would like me to pass on?” I asked. Maika was leaning on me, reading the contents of the letter over my shoulder. Once she had a good read of the letter, she faced me with a serious expression.
“I don’t really have anything for Alicia but...there is something I want to say to you.”
“To me?” Maika was staring at me with an expression similar to the time at the Royal Sword Fighting Tournament when she told me she had something important to tell me.
“Don’t forget what I said that day. I’m your fiancée, we’re gonna get married, and I want kids...” Maika said as she looked at me with carnivorous eyes, lightly hitting my chest. “But it’s all right for you to do what you want to do. Don’t worry about me. I’ll always be by your side.” She was telling me to go ahead and do what I needed to do. It reminded me of something Princess Alicia would say, however, I found it a little strange.
His Excellency Count Gentoh had summoned me to the royal capital to attend a royal council meeting with His Majesty the King and explain the situation from Sacula’s perspective. I was curious as to what purpose it would serve, since the nobles and crown prince didn’t seem to have a grasp of the circumstances in the first place. But the count had gone out of his way to organize this, so there must have been a good reason for it—he hated having to sit still and pay attention.
Before setting out for the royal capital, I spent a week or so handing over my tasks to others while thinking about what might happen. On the way, I planned out what I would say—including memorizing all the facts and figures—to those in the capital who were taking this all too lightly. I had no idea where to begin. Should I mention the number of refugees? Or the number of tents? How much food we had? Should I talk about the arguments? The looting? The illnesses? The failing sanitation?
I wanted to get there quickly, so I was traveling alone this time. Lord Itsuki and Maika seemed to have been quite worried for me, however with the refugee crisis within Sacula at the moment and bandits roaming the lands, it was actually a lot easier and safer to travel alone. It would have been difficult to assign knights for protection too. Believe in Ash, the phoenix. I was not lying when I said that I had leveled up and my mysterious power had gotten a lot stronger. Halfway to our destination, I got off the horse and tried to race it, and I really was able to run faster than a horse. Humans really are the best long-distance runners in the animal kingdom. Even I am surprised. After resting at an inn (and organizing documents), I traveled at the speed of a horse all day and all night until I was only two days away from the royal capital. I had about a week until the imperial council meeting, so figured I had enough time to stay at an inn that night and finalize my documents for the meeting. The documents were ninety percent completed, but just as I was looking to finish them off, I heard a deep voice outside causing quite the commotion.
“Pardon my rudeness! Please forgive the disturbance! It’s an emergency!” I had heard that voice before. I looked out of the window and headed for the door.
“I’m looking for someone! Is Sir Fenix here? Sir Fenix, the knight from Sacula?” I opened the door just as he had called my name. The owner of the loud voice looked right at me.
“Oh, Sir Fenix! What luck!” The large burly knight raised his hands in surprise and relief—it was Seus Argos of House Nepton. He was dripping with sweat as he grabbed my hands, and he smiled broadly.
“Long time no see, Sir Argos. I am glad you are doing well.”
“You too, Sir Fenix! It is a pleasure to see you again!” He smiled as we exchanged greetings, but the expression of the knight—who was well known for being so upbeat—soon clouded.
“Aah, there is much I could tell you about, like what happened with my son and how I broke a bone, but there’s no time.”
“I can see that.” If there was, he would not have been shouting outside. Sir Argos had a large stature and a loud voice, but he was not the kind of person to act so out of turn for no good reason.