“How can I help?” she immediately asked.
“Lady B-Bastat, do you think you c-could help us prepare more t-tents?” Cessilia asked right away. “The rain will last a f-few more hours, and we c-can’t keep these p-people in this d-downpour like this for s-so long, everyone will g-get sick!”
Bastat looked around and nodded. “I’ll see what I can do! I’ll get my people to sew fabrics together and bring them here! Do you need anything else?”
“C-cups and b-bowls, and t-tea or food, if you c-can.”
Bastat looked around at the massive crowd and nodded again, but right as she turned around, a silhouette appeared behind her.
“We can help with that.”
Cessilia recognized the woman from the Council who had supported her. She hadn’t realized it was her before because of the large coat she was wearing, but she was now standing right in front of her, with a little smile.
“Let the Yonchaa Tribe help, Princess. The Dorosef might be fishing for the people, but farming is our speciality!”
She left with a big smile without waiting for an answer, leaving Cessilia and Bastat completely stunned. The latter turned to Cessilia and nodded quickly.
“I’ll be going then.”
She left quickly on her horse, and meanwhile, next to her, Tessandra chuckled, leaning toward her cousin.
“...Is it me or... is this a fourth family supporting you already?”
“...M-maybe?”
“Maybe? You barely said a thing and the Yonchaa Tribe is now lending a hand! And she talked to you, of all people! You’re making your mark around here!”
“I wouldn’t say that t-too fast,” sighed Cessilia. “You d-didn’t see all the g-glares I got at the c-council earlier. I was not p-popular with everyone...”
“Four out of seven is already pretty good!”
Cessilia nodded, but she didn’t want to think too much about that for now. In her head, the Yonchaa Tribe Leader had agreed to help her own people and her King. This may not have much to do with Cessilia at all. She kept serving the food to a few more people, but after a while, she felt someone staring at her. It wouldn’t have been too surprising given the situation, but her instincts were telling her to be cautious... She raised her head, and after a glance around, she found her. A woman with the dots and line tattoos she had noticed earlier was leaning against a wall. She wasn’t in line, and Cessilia was pretty sure she hadn’t received food or tea yet. Who was she? She was wearing a raincoat and half of her face was hidden under her hood, making Cessilia a bit curious to see her fully.
Someone coughing loudly in the line brought her back to the current situation. People were definitely falling sick. Cessilia glared at the water, still up to their ankles. That downpour was too much...
“T-Tessa, Sabael, I will be back.”
She ran through the rain until she found Ashen, still in front of the doors. He was actually helping one of the Dorosef Tribe’s carts that seemed stuck in the mud. Cessilia rushed to help them out, and after a few minutes, the cart was free to go. She turned to Ashen.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, b-but we need to d-do more. Ashen, p-people are getting sick. We n-need more water t-to go away. We need t-to tear the wall down.”
“...No. We can’t.”
“Ashen, we d-don’t have a choice! If we don’t d-do something–”
“I can’t!” He shook his head. “Cessilia, I can’t take down this wall! Do you realize how long it took to make the Capital secure? If we tear it down, people will be in danger! Raiders, thieves, criminals, they will all rush in! You don’t understand what it’s like, I just can’t! I don’t have a dragon to establish peace like your family does!”
Cessilia suddenly pushed him away from her furiously.
“You don’t need a dragon!” she shouted back. “What do you want a dragon for, look around you! Your people are already in danger! They don’t need a dragon, Ashen! Your people need their King!”
It was as if she had slapped him. He remained stunned for a few seconds, staring at her with a speechless expression.
Cessilia was really mad, glaring at him with her pouty lips and rosy cheeks. She hadn’t stuttered to shout at him, as if her anger had kept the stutter away, but it seemed like she had been too mad to notice it herself. She was drenched, her lips a bit blue and her wet hair stuck against her face, but that clear, bright light in her eyes seemed to wake the King up.
After a long while, Ashen sighed. He combed his white, wet hair back again, looking around as if he was seeing this crowd for the first time. It was more accurate to say he was seeing it with new eyes. There were many people still waiting in line, trying to catch a glimpse of the small tent and the warm food and tea waiting for them. Some children were crying continuously, having not been fed yet, and people were starting to cough and sneeze more and more. Most barely had anything decent to cover them and keep them warm at all. After gazing around for a short while, his eyes fell back on Cessilia.
The young Princess looked just the same as before. Soaked to the bone and mad at him. Despite her serious and furious expression, he found her adorable. He broke into a nervous chuckle, suddenly feeling much better.
“Ashen, it’s n-no laughing matter!”
“...I know,” he muttered. “I’m sorry.”
Before she could protest, he grabbed her cheek gently and put a quick kiss on her wet lips.
“You’re right,” he said. “I don’t need a dragon... I only need you.”
Despite still being a bit angry, those words melted her anger quite effectively. She glanced to the side, a bit embarrassed, notably because there was still a large crowd behind them.
“W-what are you d-doing... Th-there’s still a lot of p-people...”
“We basically announced our relationship already.”
“N-not to these p-people! And it’s n-not the moment, either...”
“Sorry, you were too cute, I couldn’t help it. You were right, Cessilia. Thank you for reminding me.”
