I looked around me, and I was devastated when I saw the result of the landslide. The village can be found at the foot of the mountain. That's why when the landslide happened, many died. They didn't expect something happened, and the landslide was so sudden they didn't have much time to get away from it.
"I'm definitely sure many people have died here." I heard Brother Pascal sigh. "An infectious disease, a hurricane, and now a landslide? What is happening to the Vrawyth Kingdom?"
I look at Brother Pascal. What will be his reaction if he knows that those things happened because of me?
I was about to reply to him when I heard someone call my name. I look back and find Leander smiling widely at me.
"Dame Csille, I didn't expect I would see you here." He then looks at Brother Pascal and bows his head a little. "Doctor Pascal, you're here too? Are you here to help the people?"
I nod my head. "Yes, the moment I heard about the news, I immediately rushed here with my employees. Senior, how about you? Are you here because his majesty sends you? Does he have already have a place for the people to stay in?"
Leander looks at those villagers on the corner. He then scratches his nape. "Yes, I was instructed by his majesty to come here and see the situation. And about your question, apologies Dame Csille but I don't know about that one. You can just talk to his highness. He is also here to check on the situation."
I raised my eyebrow when I heard what Leander said. Prince Fraser is here too?
I felt Brother Pascal's body tense up when he heard the name of his highness. He probably still couldn't forget what happened in the western region.
Leander didn't stay long because someone called his name. It seems like many people are in need of medical attention.
I look at Brother Pascal and see him looking at those villagers sitting on the side. He probably wants to check on them, but he doesn't want to leave me because he was worried that I might get disrespected by Prince Fraser again.
I tap Brother Pascal's shoulder. "Brother, go ahead and check them. I'll be looking around and ask how severe the casualties here."
Brother Pascal didn't make a move. He just looks at me hesitantly. I smile at his actions. I know he is just worried about me. But there's really nothing to be worried about. I don't think Prince Fraser will make the same mistake again.
"Brother, I thought you agreed to come with me because you want to help? How can you help if you will stay beside me? I can take care of myself now, so please don't worry about me. It makes me feel guilty knowing you're here taking care of me instead of the people."
Brother Pascal sighed, then he gently caressed my head. "Okay. If you need anything, just call me, okay?"
I nod my head and smile reassuringly at him. After a few more convincing, he hesitantly leaves and checks those injured people.
I look around me and sigh when I see the devastating result of the landslide. I am the reason why this happened. I am the reason why many people died.
"Dame Csille? Are you here to help the people?"
I look back and find Princess Paislee standing a few meters from me. Lo and behold, the female lead of the story.
What does she want from me again? I just want to do my job and help the people. Why can't they let me off just this once?
"Sir Farren." I heave a sigh. "Yes, I immediately went here the moment I heard about the news. I heard from Doctor Leander that his highness is here too." I look at her back. Pretending to look for Prince Fraser, although I really don't want to see him right now. "But it seems like he is not with you. Where is he?"
Princess Paisee looks in a certain direction. I follow where she is looking, and I find Prince Fraser talking to a villager who looks traumatized by what happened.
"He's currently busy talking to the villagers. Most of them got traumatized with the landslide, and he is trying to calm them down."
I nod my head. That's good. It only means he will be busy for the whole day and won't have time to talk to me.
I look in the opposite direction where Prince Fraser is. I want to be as far as I can from him. "If you'll excuse me, Sir Farren. I think I should start working also."
I didn't wait for her to reply and immediately walked away from her.
Don't talk to me, please. Every time I talk to the two of you, it always ends up as a disaster. So, can you please not talk to me today? Can't you see that I am trying to fix what happened here?
Not today. Not today, Princess Paislee.
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"Dame Csille, thank you for rushing here to help us. What they said is true. You are not just pretty, but you also have a good heart."
I just smiled humbly at the older woman who said those words. Although deep inside, I want to make a face already. Csille having a good heart? I don't know if she can still say that in the future.
"Thank you for the compliments, but I don't think I am deserving for that. I am only doing what I think I should be doing. I build the Foundation so people can have a place they can run to the moment they need help."
The old woman shakes her head. "No, Dame Csille. You deserve all the compliments. We have heard what you did for the Vrawyth Kingdom, and it's the first time we heard a noble do that. Most of the time, only the monarchy extends their help to us. But we also know that his majesty needs to allocate the funds to other things too. So, we are really grateful for you, Dame Csille, because things wouldn't be like this if not because of you. The northern region wouldn't be able to cope up with the infectious disease, or the western region wouldn't be able to beat the poverty there if you didn't step up. You don't know how much you help the Vrawyth Kingdom, Dame Csille."
Will they feel heartbroken if they know that I only did that because I feel guilty for what will happen in the future?
The other villagers agree with the old woman. They start to compliment me non-stop while I just stand there and smile politely at them.
However, they immediately stop when they suddenly see Prince Fraser walking in our direction. I want to walk away from where I standing, but it would be an issue if the people see me walking away from Prince Fraser. So, I just stand there and watch Prince Fraser inch closer to me.
He stops a few inches away from me and faces the people. "I hope you all feel better now. Don't worry. We will take care of everything from here. To those who lose their loved ones, we will make sure to have a proper burial for them. And for those who have loved ones that were injured, don't worry about them. They are currently being taken care of by the Doctors. But for now, can I borrow my fiancée for a moment? I just have something to talk to her."
The people look at each other for a couple of seconds before a few say their agreements. But I can see that there are people, especially women, who are still hesitating to let me talk to Prince Fraser.
I look at Prince Fraser. I know he only referred me as his fiancée because we are in front of the public. He was just trying to prove to everyone that he was not treating me badly.
I heave a deep sigh. After ensuring I was far away from him for hours, I still ended up talking to him? Why is this always happened to me?
After getting permission from the people, Prince Fraser drags me to one of the tents that they set up. They set up temporary tents so people could have shelter from the sun. There are also beds that they can sleep on if the villagers feel tired.
We also have tents for food and for Doctors who are checking the conditions of those patients who are injured. There's also a tent for those who died because of the landslide.
I look around the tent and realize that it is Prince Fraser's tent. What am I doing in his tent? What does he want from me?
I look at the entrance of the tent. What will Princess Paislee think if she sees me walk inside Prince Fraser's tent? I think it's the best choice to run away from here.
"Don't act like you were scared being alone with me. You know I wouldn't do anything to you."
I immediately look at Prince Fraser and frown. What is this guy saying? I am only worried about how this can affect his future relationships with Princess Paislee. How come he thinks I have thoughts like that?
"Your highness, let me remind you, you're the one who drags me here, and now you are insulting me? If you don't have anything good to say, then can you please excuse me? I still have things to do."
This guy! Why does he always think the world revolves around him? Does he really think so highly of himself? If not because of me, does he think he can exist right now?
I was about to walk out, but I stopped when I heard what he said.
"Did I say you can leave already? You know it's rude to leave without a royalty's permission."
I grit my teeth to stop myself from snapping at him. I cannot go against him because that's against the storyline. Aside from that, it will indeed cause a commotion once the people hear we are arguing again.
I take a deep breath and face him. I didn't say anything, and I just stood there while looking at him.
What does he want this time? I am already avoiding him, but he's the one who wants to talk.
Prince Fraser sat casually on his seat, and he even got the guts to take his time drinking his tea that is probably cold already.
This guy! Is he really irritating me? Can't he see that I'm trying so hard here just so we won't have another issue? But if he continues to do what he is doing, I'm afraid I cannot stop myself and snap at him. My patience is already at its limit.
A moment after, Prince Fraser puts down the teacup and looks at me. "Don't you want to sit?"
Sit your face. All I want is to leave and stay away from you.
I just shake my head. "Thank you, but I'm okay. Can you just be straightforward, your highness? As you can see, all of us still have a lot of work to do. So, can you please tell me what you want to say?"
Prince Fraser looks at me intently for a couple of seconds before he sighs. "I call you here to talk about your plans for the people. Father sent me here to help the people, but the monarchy doesn't have enough money to fund everything. So, I want to offer a joint project with you."
I sighed in relief when I heard what he wanted to talk about. I thought he would question me again. If this is the conversation he wants to have, I wouldn't mind talking to him for hours.
I sit on the chair in front of him. "What project are you talking about? I haven't made a concrete plan, but I already ask my employees to find me a temporary shelter for all of them."
Prince Fraser nods his head. "Father said he would prohibit them from returning to their lands. Instead, he plans to give a portion of land to them. In return, they would work for the monarchy as farmers. Don't worry. The monarchy will pay them for that. You know that we always buy crops from other Kingdoms and Father is planning to start a farmer's village so we can solve our shortage of crops. But the problem is we don't have enough budget to build them houses. You probably know how much money Father has allotted for the weapons."
I nod my head. I think I already know what is this project he is talking about. "Are you asking the Hope Foundation to fund the housing? Is that what you want to say, your highness?"
Prince Fraser nods his head. "Yes. As much as we want to do it on our own, but we're lacking funds already. If we continue to use the remaining funds, it will be a dangerous situation for the whole Kingdom. So, we don't have much choice but to ask for help from your Foundation. Don't worry.. Once the farmer's village starts to profit, the Foundation can get a small portion of the profit. So, are you willing to help, Dame Csille?