Chapter 82 - CONVINCE THE VILLAGERS

The next day, Jieun wakes up in the morning in a normal state even though she still remembers last night's incident that happened between her and Eun-Woo. But, to her less expectation, Eun-Woo seems to be affected by the event more than her at last night, he seems to sleep quite far from her not as always even they are on the same bed.

Jieun thought it just one time things as probably they both shocked each other, but this morning Eun-Woo seems not to want to cross eyes with her. Talk, yes. But only the necessary. Also, he seemed to keep his distance with her. When they stand or sit its seem like there's some distant that he try to maintain.

Jieun make a little sigh because of that. But she didn't want to confront Eun-Woo on this because there's something more important that they need to do first. Anything personal, she let it slide first.

After made up her mind, she make a check on Ben mother. The woman can already get up even though he body is still weak. She also can already speak though not really clear as her ulcer getting better fast making Jieun feel so satisfied by that. She also just found out the woman's name at the time as she told her, Beth.

Jieun make a porridge for Beth to eat now to regain strength. No more IV provided as she can eat by herself. After Beth finishes eating and Jieun give her medicine to take. Later, Jieun ask her if she can talk to her about something. And she allow it.

"Can I know how you suddenly get this disease?" Jieun started.

Slowly the woman replied,

"I'm actually a gardener. Every day I would go to the garden to grow vegetables and manage what should be done there. One day I saw the vegetables that I planted were all dead. On top of each vegetable there was as if there was sand there. Feeling down, I uprooted all the vegetables with the intention of planting new seeds, but, the next day my whole body became itchy. Red spots everywhere. Because all the villagers also suffered from the same disease I felt I might be infected by them. So I met the shaman. He gave me something like a cream to put on my skin. At first its working, but at one point its getting worse until I can't eat anymore. Then I went to shaman again and he said I already was cursed as the medicine that he provided is no longer effective and want me to do the ritual. After paying a very expensive money I did the ritual, but sadly after that I started to see things. Like a ghost of something. I thought I would be death by now. All people thought that I will be death. "

Jieun smiles a little feeling thankful that the women want to share her story.

"Actually, this disease is because of that sand that you found in your vegetable. It creates and allergy to you and all of the villagers. We already went there and it seems like all parts of the village is covered by that sand thing."

"Are you implying that someone tries to sabotage our village?" The woman seem said like she dissatisfied with that statement.

"I tell you this as I need your help." Jieun show her their royal insignia now to get the full trust from the woman.

Beth gasp a little there. "Oh my God! Your Highness. Forgive me if I said something wrong."

"No, no, its fine. We are here because your son, Ben reported to the royal about th problem that arise in the village. We found out that the shaman actually not the person that everyone should look up to."

"What do you mean?"

"We found a document that states the he, actually a criminal who is on the run. He actually needed in other lands due to scam and murder crimes. Also, we found that he made a deal with some rich people to took over the village to make benefit from it. " Jieun tell it all to the woman now.

Beth gasped for a moment. She cant believe what she heard now. But the royal is here to help and she is getting better. No way the royal will lie to the villagers.

After thinking for a while, Beth make a decision.

"I get it. What can I do for you, Your Highness?" Beth is now asking.

Jieun smiles again there, feeling relieved by the woman agreeing and told her to help convince all of the villagers later today. To get treatment.

After that, Jieun came out of the room, closed the door slowly so that the woman could relax and walk into the living room where they were all gathered. Jieun nodded to Ray, telling in silence about Beth's decision, while sitting close to Mia. Deliberately she chose to sit there because she saw Eun-Woo who seemed uncomfortable being around her before. Just not wanting too make it too awkward. 

"Okay, today," Ray began his planning after Jieun was there.

"Jieun, Eun-Woo, Ethan will go to the lab to analyze the brown particle and go straight to the village afterwards to convince the villagers to get treatment. Haru will watch the movement of the official that conspired with the shaman and Leo will watch the shaman residence to see any kind of movement there. While I and Syaoran will make sure nothing is out of ordinary in their base on the mountain. Mia will guard Ben's mother and take her to the village later. If anyone notices our actions this time, it's okay because we're on attack mode now. " Ray explained.

After everyone nodded, they all did their work before leaving. Jieun also gets ready, put all the medicine items in a special pouch to take along. If the villager is ready to be treated, then she will continue to do so. Without delaying any further. 

After that, Jieun, Eun-Woo and Ethan continued to go to the lab located at a nearby treatment center. After showing their royal insignia as always, they were allowed to use the lab but no one was able to guard them as the chief of the lab is away right now. So, in force, Jieun had to do that all by herself. 

Although she was a bit clumsy, as she tries to make her familiar with the surroundings and the machine there, Jieun quickly tried to analyze. Turn out, it's not as easy as it seems but as Ethan is there, she relies on his knowledge a lot. While Eun-Woo just being him, keep silent and watch the process.

"Find it?" Ethan asked. "It seems like a combination of plants and trees, corpses ashes, some poison. Like a bunch of bacteria gathered in one place." Jieun explaining.

"Also found some drug here, but not too much probably included here by mistake or else, which I highly doubt that is the cause of the hallucination. They are drug like hallucinogens that can cause hallucination if inhaled too much. Ben, mother said she start to see things after the ritual. Usually ritual involves candles and incense and I think that cause all of this. "

Jieun then take the report that she done, organize it and look at Ethan and Eun-Woo now.

"Let's go convince the villagers." She said at the end.

_______________

::Solitude Village::

With Ben's help they are now assembling all the villagers in the open space there and confronting them all.

"No! The shaman already said that no one should set foot here, even its the royal!" One of the villagers said his opinion.

It seems like things are not going too well now. Even they show them their royal insignia, the villagers seem too stubborn to believe this.

"Yes! The devil will be enraged. No! The devil is enrage now as they are here. We need to make another ritual now. Fast."  The old woman that confronted them before said it loud.

"Mia is on the way, right?" Eun-Woo finally asks something to her now. Make Jieun starled a little there.

She looked at him, but he didn't look at her at all. So she needs to speak to tell.

"Yes. I already told her to come by now." Jieun whispering. Ben is now standing out front to try to calm all of his neighbors, his village family.

"This is your fault. You are the one that send a report to the royal. You should be punished." One of the villagers there speaks his anger to Ben now and other villagers also seem to agree with that statement.

"Please calm down! Let's just try this method. We already spent a lot of money given for treatment with the shaman but a lot of our relatives have died and no one is healed. Do you still believe in that ritual?" Ben tried to wake them up.

"I believe in shaman also before and almost losing my mother, Beth. But after royal Highness come, I want to make a change, I cut the praying paper and now she is getting better." Ben said making everyone in the village look at each other while whispers now.

"We still have people in our house that are suffering and we lock them there with that praying paper. Leave them to die while we have other options to try now. We... kills them unconsciously. And I don't want that anymore. I don't want to lose anyone else anymore."

Gasp now being heard here and there now. Jieun finally smiles there. Know that they can be persuaded.

"We will never believe as long as we don't see with our own eyes. Show us the proof. Where is Beth now?" The villager said.

"Yes, where is she?" All of the others also repeated the question.

"I'm here." Suddenly one voice interrupting them now. Making the hectic state become silent for a while. Mia finally arrives there while pushing Beth using a wheelchair there. 

"Mother?!" Ben now ran towards his mother who had not been seen for a long time. He inspects her here and there and finds that her mother is indeed recovering. Her skin that got wound is also now dry and getting better.. She also can speak! He then sighed in relief there.