Chapter 123
The Second Prince’s Struggle
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Once we saw Nacht and the others off, we moved Marx inside .
Two knights supported him on both sides as I followed them with luggage entrusted to me by Nacht .
A structure built out of wood and straw came into view once we crossed the stone gate .
The knights carried Marx into the main house in the front .
As soon as we entered, a horrible smell made my eyebrows wrinkle . I was surprised by what jumped into my sight: men rolling in what seemed to be rags poorly laid out on the floor .
Their uniforms told me they were all knights, and their faces were all red with a high fever . I knew at first glance that it was the disease .
“This is awful…”
Not only is this place cramped, but there’s also a problem with the general hygiene . Just smelling the odour from the mixture of sweat and dust in the air made my head spin .
I quickly entered and pushed open a window . The refreshing wind flew in and swept away the stagnant air in the room . I felt like I could finally breathe again .
“Whether it be supplies or pair of hands, there’s just not enough to go around . ”
One of the knights lamented as he laid Marx down on a bed .
As I had suspected, no additional supplies were ever sent in .
“I wish to draw some water . May I know where the well is?”
“I’ll help you . ”
Accompanied by a knight, I headed to the well .
The village was eerily quiet . We rarely came across the populace, and the people we did see often looked exhausted and lifeless .
The seldom groans that can be heard dropped the temperature down a notch further .
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When we reached the well, the knight threw a roped bucket into it . A strange woman rushed up to us as I was drawing the bucket .
“Hey, you . I’ve never seen you before . Are you from outside!?”
The knight quickly intercepted her and pushed the woman away from me .
But the woman wasn’t deterred and tried to reach out for me with her hands .
“Medicine? Did you bring any medicine with you? My little boy is suffering . Please, please help me!”
“…I understand . I’ll be right there . ”
I handed the rope over to the knight and returned to fetch my luggage .
I grabbed the medicine bag and hastily made my way over to the woman’s house .
A boy about five or six was resting in a simple bed . The boy had a beet-red face and his limp body laid in the bed with his thin limbs thrown about . It felt like any of his small breaths could be his last .
“…”
The appearance of a dying child weighed more on my conscience than I had imagined . I scolded myself for being frightened in that one moment, before taking a knee beside the child’s bed . I began wiping the sweat away from his forehead with a cloth .
It was burning hot . I dipped the cloth in cold water before wringing it and replaced it on his forehead to cool him down .
“Son! My son…!”
On the other side, his mother called out to him, causing his eyelashes to tremble . His eyelids were slowly pushed open, revealing light brown pupils that couldn’t seem to focus on anything .
“…?”
“Can you drink water?”
When his eyes caught my figure, they twinkled in confusion . I asked him with a smile and he lightly nodded in return .
I supported his back as he drank . I wanted him to at least take something, but him only being a child, I was afraid that anything that goes in would come straight back out .
Handing over the medicine, I switched roles with the mother .
“Let him drink plenty of water so that he won’t be dehydrated . Warm water is a must, and a little mix of salt is even better . If he vomits, make him lay on his side and rub his back so that nothing will clog up his throat . ”
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“Th-Thank you very much!”
It was a bittersweet moment .
These methods simply alleviate the symptoms and by no means were they a cure . But right now, I won’t say anything, because their will to live would be extinguished if their sliver of hope was crushed .
When I opened the doors to return to where the knights were, many people were already waiting outside .
“Um! I heard that there is medicine here!”
“Give me a bit too, would ya?”
“Is there no food anywhere!?”
I pushed my way out ahead and held up my hand .
Everyone’s eyes were bloodshot . They were all desperate, for themselves and their loved ones, to live .
“Please calm down! A child is sleeping!”
The noise subsided a little when I announced so . It seemed like the instinct to protect children still remained . I managed to calm them down and told them to come back to the house where all the knights were later .
With the help of the knights, we distributed medicine and food to the villagers .
When all was over, it was already the middle of the night .
I dragged out my tired body and leaned on the entrance wall .
As my mouth let out a sigh, a cup was thrust into my vision . I turned to look and found that it was a knight that had offered . I think his name was Herman .
“Thank you for your hard work . ”
“Thanks . ”
Receiving the cup, I gently blew on it . The steam shook and the fragrance drifted .
I took a sip and felt the warm liquid pass through my oesophagus before falling further down to the stomach . My shoulders relaxed, followed by another deep sigh .
“We all regained a little bit of our spirits back thanks to you . Thank you, Master Johan . ”
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Indeed, the look on their faces when their hands were full of food and medicine was slightly more content .
But this was only temporary . The supplies I’ve brought here today will only last for so long .
“…I’m afraid my efforts here won’t be of much good . It is by no means a lasting solution . ”
I muttered bitterly while taking a sip of the tea .
All is well today, but what about tomorrow? What about the coming weeks?
We couldn’t hope for any relief from Grenze either . All the supplies that we possess have been gathered in this very room . I have to hold on somehow until Nacht comes back, but I have no sure-fire plan to achieve this .
“Speaking of which, does Sir Heinz know about this?”
“…”
My question was faced with Herman’s silent reply and a head hung down .
The answer came, however, from a different direction .
“Sir Heinz probably knew nothing of this . ”
Marx, who I thought had been resting until now, responded .
“Commander, you’re awake . Do you want some water?”
“Thanks . ”
Marx sat up and gulped down the water that Herman gave him . After he had had his fill, Marx heaved a relieved sigh and expressed his gratitude .
“What do you mean about Sir Heinz not knowing anything?”
“Sir Heinz experienced a heart attack about a year ago, causing him to be bedridden . Since then, his son, Philipp, has taken over the reins instead . ”
So Sir Heinz’s illness wasn’t a mere hoax after all .
But there’s still a part I’m not convinced . If he is in fact still alive, there is no way he would forgive quarantining the diseased .
“Master Philipp was desperate to fill in Sir Heinz’s shoes . He was very devoted to getting Grenze back on the map . We all tried to support him, but instead, we were driven away . Perhaps he had always had his reservations with us in secret, back when we all served beside Sir Heinz . ”
The relationship and trust shared between Sir Heinz and his men cannot be taken lightly . It’s the kind of bond that couldn’t be beaten by even blood relatives .
How cruel and humiliating it must be for Philipp, his very own son .
“Even without us, Master Philipp declared that he would make Grenze prosper by his own hands . In fact, Grenze was beginning to shine as a cornerstone of the trading market . But as the town was starting to grow, the disease appeared . ”
“So that’s why he was frantically trying to cover it up . ”
Marx showed a wry smile at my cold tone .
Silence fell upon us . Only the burning sound of the lit old lamp could be heard .
“It wasn’t like that in the beginning . We thought it was only a regular high fever and administered medicine, at the cost of drawing the denizens’ attention . But instead of subsiding, the disease spread even further . ”
If rumours like these start to circulate to other countries, no one would be willing to visit Grenze .
Philipp, sensing an unprecedented crisis, chose to isolate the sick .
In the city, new rumours began to circulate that a village hidden deep in the mountains were the source of the horrible disease . After the diseased were moved to the forest, he decided to shut them out and appointed Marx and the others as guards .
He was trying to get rid of the people that were in his way in one big swoop .
“…I see . ”
I drank the remaining contents of the cup and turned towards the ceiling .
My splitting head was met with the back wall, but it wasn’t the wall that caused my headache .
“I understand that the situation is worse than I had first imagined . ”
Never mind waiting for help . We were being intentionally disposed of .
“Worst-case scenario, in fact . ”
I grumbled to myself .
At about the same time, someone knocked on the door . Soon, the knocking turned into violent slams . I looked at everyone before placing my hand on the doorknob .