Stench of Plague
At the behest of Mia, Ludwig hurriedly arranges for soldiers to escort them. Since it was sudden, only four people were gathered, but all of them were highly-skilled soldiers. This wouldn’t have been enough in the battlefield, but since they are technically still inside the Imperial City, there should be no problem.
I would have preferred to have at least ten more soldiers. But given the rushed circumstances, it can’t be helped.
Ludwig sighed. After all, it is the daughter of the Emperor is going out into the city. They can never be too careful.
“By the way, Your Highness, does His Majesty know about your plans today?”
“Huh? You mean Father?” asked Mia with a curious tilt of her head. “It’s okay. I’ll tell him later.”
Ludwig was a little worried about Mia, who just casually wave off the issue.
They did not need any sign to know that they were already in the Newmoon District. With just one step, the atmosphere was clearly different from the other districts.
“It smells terrible.”
One of the soldiers remarked while holding his nose.
The whole city seemed to be dominated by the smell of rottenness, the smell of sweat, and just an overall filthy smell. Not to mention the soldiers, Anne and Ludwig were grimacing at the pungency that they have never smelt in the castle and other high-class residential areas.
But…
“Is that so? I don’t find it bothersome…”
…Mia was calm. For Mia, who had been imprisoned in the dungeon for two years, this place was actually better because it is in the open so there is wind and fresh air.
“It must be difficult for people here even to bathe. Spend three days without cleaning your body and anyone will start smelling. It’s not much different from travellers who come from afar.”
After declaring so easily…
“Well, let us proceed then.”
…Mia started walking. The soldiers around him could only gape at such a bold princess.
Dirty roads, dim back alleys, crumbling houses…
From those shadows, suspicious looks was wary of the out-of-place party. Regardless of such things, Mia continued walking totally unconcerned…
“Where are we headed, Your Highness?” The lead soldier asked.
“Hmm, that’s right, I haven’t decided in particular… what’s that?”
Mia suddenly ran off and approached a child curled up at the side of the road. It was a boy dressed in tattered cloth that can hardly even be called clothes. He seems to be younger than Mia, about five or six years old. Mia, gently touched his bony shoulders.
“Wait! Your Highness!”
“Hello, are you okay?”
The boy raised his face slowly. He did not look surprised when he saw Mia. His eyes are cloudy and devoid of any spark of childhood.
“Are you feeling sick?”
“…………”
The dry lips move slightly, but no voice came out from them. Instead, the answer came from Ludwig behind them.
“It looks like he is starving, not sick. It’s a common occurrence here.”
“I see. Hunger is no small suffering.”
Mia instructed Anne to give some of her sweets to the boy. Then Mia looked back at Ludwig.
“Ludwig, I have something to ask.”
“What is it Your Highness?”
“If I want to prevent a plague from happening here in the future, what should I do?”
“Plague? That is…”
Mia’s words shocked Ludwig. It was like a hit in the head as he hadn’t even thought about that possibility. He knew that the empire’s finances would definitely go bankrupt in a few years. So he thought that he had to do something about it by reducing spending and increasing tax revenues. And to be honest, he was quite proud of what he has done so far.
However, once a plague occurs, all his efforts would become meaningless. So the little Princess in front of her pointed out this very danger.
“To prevent a plague, huh?”
“Mia-sama, this child, I think it’s better to let him rest somewhere. There seems to be a church nearby, why don’t we go there?”
Anne’s words, interrupted Ludwig’s thoughts,
“We should. I had hoped to see various things here, so this works out perfectly.”
Ludwig gazed at Mia’s smiling face, feeling like he finally understood why she brought him here.
Comments