Chapter 48: Village of Möjorhn (III).

Chapter 48: Village of Möjorhn (III).

Elizabeth's POV

We didn't make any other stops, telling Sir Tobias and Scholar Misha to head over to the lord's estate.

"Thank you all for escorting me." I thank the elite guards and Victoria. "Seeing the condition of my people today, I'm glad you were all here to accompany me."

I said nothing more and took a last glance at the village before getting inside the carriage.

"To the lord's estate." I instructed and everyone went to grab their horses, riding them and off we went to the lord of this province's estate.

"Hyah! Go on." The carriage went off and I decided to ask more about the current condition of the kingdom from Misha.

I know he's mostly living in the castle but often he comes back to his own hometown- I want to ask him if his home condition is the same as Victoria's.

"Scholar Misha, tell me is your home in the same condition as this?" I asked him and he looked at me confused, holding the paper scroll I gave to him.

"To answer your highness, I would say this is every village now." (Scholar Misha) didn't bother sugarcoating the truth. "You know the demon-human war that has been started by your father. The funds at first were pretty good but not until he suddenly took so many losses. Many abandoned their posts, the cost of the military, the harsh winter damaging the crops back then- and the death tolls was just too much."

"Your father had a lot of debt to the other allied kingdoms. It doesn't help but he established a new law that women are not allowed to work."

"Hmph." I crossed my arms and grit my teeth. I know what he'll be doing with that problem. "So he started a war without much of a back up plan financially- now my people suffer under his rule. Sooner or later he'll use me as a way of paying those debts."

"Indeed, your highness. You're already at that age where young ladies such as yourself are old enough to be engaged- but let's be honest. The arranged marriage system here has no limit on age." (Scholar Misha) reminded me of how this medieval magic world works.

Running on such an old way of thinking, it could break and hurt many people- getting in a loveless non consensual marriage is someone no one has to experience.

Anyone can get engaged at any age, whether it be an infant to an old man. The reason is because their parents have already decided that path for them.

"Remind me when I'm empress- or as soon as possible-! I need to abolish that bill. Make it illegal to arrange your child's future to be binded in marriage without much of their consent." I tell him and the scholar smiles agreeing with my proposed bill.

"It won't be easy with how the nobility works, your highness but if you're that determined I shall lend you a hand on everything I know."

I thanked him for his server and loyalty to me, Scholar Misha is a good trustworthy ally as well as friend. "Thank you, see to that if you have any concerns as well I will lend an aid- I want to help your home too from the situation now it just hurts me seeing everything like this."

I look outside the carriage eyeing the city, looking happy yet so empty at the same time.

"You... are certainly not like them. It was worth giving you my service, your highness." (Scholar Misha) laughs, clapping. I tilt my head in confusion hearing that same phrase from the baker.

"Weird you're not the only one who said that today." I held my chin, were they telling me how I'm not like the other nobles around here. "I suppose if you think about it, I am."

"You're too understanding of us commoners, it's refreshing to see. I really thought you were like the other noble kids I taught before- rude and demanding." He sticks out in disgust, not having a good memory with other noble children. "Glad I took up on this job offer when given the opportunity."

"You say I am understanding of commoners, in my defense- I am just understanding of people in general. I see what people want, if they respect me then I will respect them back it is as easy as that." I answered and his eyes widened in surprise hearing it.

"I'm glad you did take my uncle's offer. I gained a friend and a really awesome scholar to teach me magic." I laughed softly, having a good time talking to the scholar as always.

"A friend- I am happy to be her highness' friend!"

...

We arrived on the lord of this province's estate and they let us in quickly after seeing the royal sigil on my carriage.

"Hmm." I hummed curiously of how well off the young lord of this place is, compared to the outside where the commoners roamed.

"Your highness the crown princess-! Has arrived! Bring out the red carpet!" A servant had to run and yell it out loud. Victoria snickered holding out the carriage door for me- I felt a little awkward seeing the servants scurry about the place just to give me a grand entrance.

Victoria helped me down and teased me.

"How fancy, a red carpet for the lovely crown princess." she whispers and I stick out my tongue at her for a second focusing at the moment at hand.

The red carpet rolled, I looked down on it and saw the young lord of the place having a woman by his arm- walking on the same red carpet they rolled out for me.

The young lord was well fed- his wife on the other hand were pale.

"Hmph." This act of rude manners could only mean one thing- these people think just because they own a province means we're on equal footing. I could already see their eyes being filled by greed-

"Your highness! Welcome! I am so glad you could visit my humble home. I have prepared a few rooms for your stay." He tells me smiling widely with his wife- I think.

"My name is Count Leo Chaubert and this is my wife." (Count Chaubert) turns to his wife who didn't introduce herself but just smiled at my direction. "Apologies- I was afraid that she might do something stupid so I forbade her to talk in your presence- after all, this is why the emperor did a good job proving a new law of act!"

My eyes turned dark hearing those words.

I was no longer in a good mood, and I imagined the red carpet burning along with him. The wife looks away looking ashamed and hurt from her husband's but still pulled on a brave front nodding with a smile-

"...!"

She... didn't have to agree and go that far for him.

Now my blood boiled.

I smile towards them both- mostly specifically to the wife before replying, "You have a lovely home and province. I will be staying for two weeks in this area- but in your estate I only need a day."

"A day? Oh-! Your highness you can stay here longer-" He persuades me, even using forms of flattery- pretty words just to get me to stay at his place a bit longer.

To brag I bet.

"A day is all I need. I give you my thanks for the wonderful hospitality." I answered and walked past the couple coldly. All my companions follow, reading the room.

I did not like them, so I need not to give them my time of day.

A servant led us to our rooms- my things were carried and placed into a lavish guest room. It was half the size of my chambers, cotton sheets and feather pillows. Many decorations and accessories of the room.

They didn't dare offend the princess with a horrible guest room, I hope they gave my companions a decent room to stay in.

"Let's go in your highness, we'll need to rest up first." (Victoria) tells me and I follow. She was the only one who was allowed to room with me. I went in and dismissed the estate's servants thanking them for their service.

They all gave me a curtsy and left.

I sighed in relief and settled into my temporary room. My body ached, sore from sitting down in the carriage and seeing a soft bed made me forget all my problems but first- I had to do business first.

"I suppose this young lord is just like any other corrupt ruler." I scratch my nails, changing into my white robe and looking over at my room window, seeing quite the view.

"It's not even night time yet I have time to make a formal letter of visit to the orphanage so we can visit them tomorrow morning." I headed to my table and started writing my letter- feeling the deafening silence.

Taking out my paper, ink and quill- I started writing in peace.

Once I finished and melted some wax for the letter placing my seal, I gave it to my guard and the instructions for it.

"I will have this delivered this afternoon, your highness. It is not far and I shall be quick." He lowers his head quickly, excusing himself to deliver the letter by horse. I yawned, feeling tired and saw Victoria sitting not too far away.

"Victoria, are you doing okay over there?" I called out and she nodded in a trance, as if it was an automated response. I've never seen her so out of it, it worried me.

"Yes... just a bit shaken up being back home and seeing so many things have changed the past years I've been gone. A new lord, everyone not being able to afford clothes unlike before- and some shops have been closed- boarded up by wood."

I actually didn't notice that last part- some shops were closed and had been boarded up? No wonder she's been quiet- seeing her home changing for the worst like this must be tearing her inside!

"What if the orphanage is the same?" (Victoria) turned to me and I choked. I didn't know whether to answer her what I really think or give her something to hope on.

Quick brain think!

Uh-!

"We could- um... Oh! We could sneak around the village and ask for ourselves! I know we can't make our way there unless we send a formal letter of visit because it's rude so- why not ask around?" I proposed the idea and she seemed hesitant.

"I know this is to ease your worries, besides I can wear my disguise- act like a commoner girl for a day. No one will know I'm a princess because of a wig- and I brought commoner clothing for this mission."

After that stealth mission with my father, I found it oddly relaxing to hide your true self and forget being a princess at times. Right now I'm not going to be a spy but a normal commoner girl just shopping in the city.

"Alright... we can go to the village- but we'll be back before the sun goes down." She gave me a condition that I could live with so I took my commoner disguise on and dragged her out of that stuffy estate!