Late November.
The capital city of Torkan Principality, Celsar, was in the midst of preparations for the ‘Festival of Stars’ to be held in December. The Festival of Stars, held for 15 days from the second week of December, was a festival to healthily pass through the chilly season and pray for prosperity in the coming new year.
Located in the southwest of the continent, Torkan was warm enough that even in midwinter, snow didn’t fall and a thin coat was sufficient. However, for the people of Torkan who, taking after their ruler’s character, loved to play, holding festivals was a very important matter.
Originally, at this time, even the Grand Ducal Palace would reduce work and begin preparations for festivals and parties, but this year, circumstances were not so favorable. Deep concern was etched on the faces of the ministers, knights commanders, and Floyd gathered in the conference room.
“There have been victims even in nearby villages.”
The Minister of Security, Marquis Conrado Vietren, said in a heavy voice.
“Despite warnings not to go near water, it seems four children suffered a tragedy while playing by a stream without their parents’ knowledge. The parents who carried the collapsed children home also fell ill due to water getting on their bodies.”
Floyd, who had been looking down at the table with dark eyes, asked.
“Are the children alive?”
“…They reportedly died shortly after being brought home. The collapsed parents haven’t regained consciousness yet, so they don’t know this fact.”
A month ago, they received reports of people suffering from rashes and high fevers due to an unknown illness, then dying while vomiting blood and pus. At first, thinking it was an epidemic, they set up corresponding measures and sent investigation teams, but the returning teams said it seemed to be caused by ‘water’.
−”Although it’s not certain due to the few survivors, the common point is that they had contact with water just before collapsing, such as drinking water or immersing themselves in streams.”
It seemed nonsensical. Water was so closely related to life that it would be hard to find someone who didn’t come into contact with water even for a single day.
−”Moreover, nearby flora and fauna are also dying with similar symptoms. Plants around the river have turned black, and we’ve found collapsed animals that seemed to have been affected while coming to drink water.”
At that point, water was the cause.
The river crossing Torkan was so wide and deep that this couldn’t happen from just a little poison being mixed in, so this time Floyd went out to investigate personally. And he sensed the presence of a magical beast in the forest near the village where this happened.
The magical beast seemed to be clever, as it didn’t show itself before Floyd. Though they searched the entire area with knights, they could only sense its presence but couldn’t find it, so they had no choice but to return with just a bucket of river water.
The researchers who examined the water said that magic had undoubtedly seeped into the river.
−”The one fortunate thing is that because the river is wide and deep, and it’s near where several streams converge, the magical energy isn’t very dense. If the magical energy had been dense, all life in that area would have perished.”
Not everyone who touched the water was affected. There were some lucky ones who were unharmed, but as the magical beast survived and continued to spread magical energy, the river was steadily polluted, and now its effects were starting to reach the capital near where the river meets the sea.
Arsen opened his mouth.
“The knights continue to search, but only traces remain, and they can’t find the body of the magical beast. One knight reportedly caught a glimpse of the magical beast fleeing between trees just once, but it was so small and fast that it couldn’t be caught.”
“This is unbelievable. A magical beast that flees at the sight of humans……”
Adrian muttered in a frivolous tone, but Floyd didn’t reproach him. Floyd felt exactly the same way.
While magical beasts varied in intelligence depending on the individual, with some being smarter and others more stupid, he had never encountered a magical beast that fled to avoid humans. Since magical beasts spread contamination just by existing, if there were many magical beasts scurrying around like rats, the damage would be severe.
“It’s a clever one. It knows that contaminating water will trouble humans. You can see that from how it’s concentrating on polluting the river.”
At Hexten’s words, Floyd nodded and looked at the Prime Minister, Marquis Liam Brown. Liam let out a deep sigh before speaking.
“We’ve been diligently collecting drinking water as instructed, but the water gathered in each household will barely last a week. We’ve separately stored water in reservoirs too, but it’s not enough to distribute to everyone in this city. You need to make a decision.”
Floyd rubbed his face with his heated hands.
“The last place it was discovered was the forest, right? Arsen, haven’t you found a way to lure it out?”
“No, no matter how much we provoke it, it won’t show itself.”
“I see, then it seems best to burn down the entire forest after all.”
At those words, everyone’s expressions darkened.
People who had settled in the forest were sustaining their lives with the animals and plants from there. If Floyd used his power to burn down the forest, they might be able to catch the magical beast, but the lives of people living off the forest’s bounty would become extremely difficult.
Floyd’s flames were different from ordinary fire, and new life didn’t easily return to land burned by those flames. Previously, when Floyd had burned an area while catching a magical beast, they had tried planting trees and spreading fertilizer for a long time, but nothing grew for three years.
“There are many villages that have settled in the forest. If we burn the forest, there will be many displaced people.”
At the words of the Minister of Forestry, Count Sometro Marken, Floyd frowned deeply.
“Whatever happens, it’s better than dying from magical energy. If funds are lacking, I can hunt more magical beasts and sell the byproducts. Prepare to accept the displaced people in the capital.”
“Shall we announce it right away?”
“The magical beast might move if people move, so let’s deal with it first. For now, tell each village to prepare to leave their homes. Give people some time to get things in order and we’ll set out for subjugation in three days. Those accompanying me, make sure to wear fireproof clothing.”
After the meeting that continued at length afterwards, the ministers rose first and left the conference room. As Floyd glared at the table with a heavy expression, the head servant Jenail whispered quietly in his ear.
“Your Highness. The work of decorating the Lily Palace with Adelia flowers is complete.”
“Ah, is that so? I should go take a look.”
As Floyd left the conference room with Jenail, Adrian propped his elbows on the table and muttered.
“I really don’t know what our lord is thinking. From what I hear, that woman has recovered enough to walk around the garden now, shouldn’t we be sending her away soon?”
Arsen nodded.
“Indeed.”
“Everyone in the Grand Ducal Palace knows now that that woman has a slave’s brand. Even the Lily Palace employees seem to have big complaints, I’m worried it’ll cause problems inside and out.”
“It will cause problems. No matter how much we try to keep the employees quiet, it’ll eventually leak outside the palace and reach Lucas’s ears.”
“Ah, I really don’t like this. It looks like our lord picked up the woman Lucas abandoned. Anyone who doesn’t know the situation might think our lord has feelings for that woman. Hah, I can almost hear Lucas laughing at our lord from here.”
The knight commanders who had watched Floyd most closely never even imagined that he might harbor different feelings for Roxiana. It seemed he was taking care of Roxiana for some other reason, but they couldn’t figure out what that reason was.
Adrian turned to look at Kirshan.
“Shan, why don’t you try talking to him? His Lordship listens well to you, after all.”
“He dislikes it as soon as I bring it up.”
“Then Cain, why don’t you carefully bring it up while having a drink with His Lordship……”
“Now, that’s going too far!”
Hexten, who had been sitting with both legs on the table since Floyd left, shouted angrily.
“Aren’t you all being too harsh on a mere 20-year-old girl? She just lost her family not long ago, and you’re all thinking about chasing her out. It’s too much!”
“A mere 20-year-old girl, you say. She’s already 20. At 20, one could be married and have a child or two.”
As Adrian rebutted, Cain, who had been wearing a sullen expression since Roxiana was mentioned, said,
“You’re 25 and not married with no children.”
“I haven’t, not because I couldn’t, but because I chose not to, little brother. It’s hard to choose just one woman. Can’t you see the difference?”
“I can’t. From what I hear the ladies say, they might date you but would never marry you.”
“Why, you little…”
While Adrian and Cain bickered, threatening to draw swords, Kirshan stood up and walked towards the window. Adrian’s words were right, and so were Hexten’s.
However, he couldn’t tell if taking in Roxiana, who had asked why she wasn’t left to die despite being saved, was worth worsening relations with the Kingdom of Gania.
+++
The Hwhinasel region in the southwest of the continent where Torkan was located was originally famous for its good weather. Even though several weeks had passed since Roxiana started staying here, she could count on one hand the number of times she had seen bad weather.
Today too, the sky was piercingly clear, and the voices of children ringing by the pond were refreshing. Roxiana sat on a bench by the pond, watching the children.
Since their first encounter at the Lily Palace, the children came to play in the garden almost every day. Sometimes they picked flowers for her, and other times they shared the packed lunches their mothers had prepared.
Every time Roxiana saw the children, her heart ached with an indescribable longing. Even while feeling a pain as if being torn apart, she couldn’t understand why she found herself coming out to the garden whenever she heard the children’s voices.
“It’s gotten quite chilly now. You’ll catch a cold if you come out dressed like that.”
A low voice came from right behind her, but Roxiana didn’t turn around. Only after feeling something heavy and soft draped over her shoulders did she slightly turn her head in response.
Just as Roxiana confirmed that what was draped over her shoulders was a thick blanket, the children shouted in unison,
“My Lord!”
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
