Page 127 of The White King's Favorite

“...It should be fine,” muttered Naptunie. “The Capital is on a mountain anyway, so even if the streets are flooded a bit, the water will only fall far below, by the river. ...I’m more worried about people at the entrances of the bridges, on the shores of the Soura... but there are evacuation systems, so it should be alright. I think.”

For a second, Cessilia was confused about why people on the other sides of the bridges would have an issue, since they were on the same level as Aestara, and the Soura far below, until she remembered the wall. If the walls meant to protect the city were keeping the water from draining properly, then the areas near the Capital could get flooded.

“...How long d-do you think it c-could hold?”

Nana’s hands stopped moving, and she frowned, obviously doing the calculations in her head.

“If it keeps going like this, then... it could start accumulating in a few hours. ...By midday, if it hasn’t stopped or slowed down, the water will start being retained...”

Cessilia frowned. A few hours was a really short time, and acting too late could become really problematic. Although her experience there the previous time hadn’t been the best, she could still remember the many, many people outside of those walls, waiting for a chance to get in. She couldn’t even imagine anyone outside in this weather. It was cold, humid, and only a proper roof could shelter them, but many were homeless, even within the Capital. And they hadn’t seen many examples of people helping each other out...

She suddenly stood up, and walked to the wardrobe, opening it wide.

“...Cessi?”

“D-do I have something that c-could protect me from the rain?” she asked Nupia, who had been standing by the door this whole time.

“Yes, two of your coats are made of water-proof material, but... Princess, I’m not sure you should go out in this weather.”

“C-call your siblings, we’re g-going out,” Cessilia retorted. “It’s t-time you three p-prove your worth. Nana, c-can you ask your family t-to help us out?”

“We’re going to the bridges?” exclaimed Nana, running up to her. “To help out?”

“Yes. I c-can’t stand here knowing those p-people are in danger.”

“But... maybe the rain will stop soon!”

“No, Cessi is right,” said Tessa, staring outside. “This is going to last for a while.”

Naptunie glanced out the window, baffled, but she was incapable of seeing whatever Tessandra was staring at. She hesitated for a few seconds, fidgeting, but as Tessandra sighed and got up, she stood up too.

“...How do you know?” she finally asked, while Tessandra put on the other coat.

“Our eyes,” said Tessa, pointing at her dark irises. “We can see much better and farther than normal people, to be able to ride our dragons. And with how far I can see this rain, I can tell you, it’s not going to stop before tonight at the very best...”

Naptunie went a bit white. She didn’t doubt the two young women a single second, and if Tessandra said it was going to rain until the evening, she fully believed it.

“Oh no,” she muttered. “What are we going to do? All those poor people...!”

“Nana, d-do you have a raincoat?” asked Cessilia, putting on another pair of shoes while preparing to leave.

“Yes, it’s upstairs in Uncle’s apartment...”

“G-go get it. Then, I will need to b-buy some buns from your family, d-do you think they can p-prepare large quantities of b-buns like the ones you s-sold us?”

Nana’s chest inflated, as if her family’s pride was on the line.

“Of course! We can have them made at the storehouse near the bridges, in the west part of the Capital! We may not have much fresh fish left, but we have a lot of stored food, and vegetables too! We can even fill them with sweet potatoes!”

“G-great.” Cessilia smiled. “C-can you ask your family to p-prepare them to d-distribute? If you c-can do as much as p-possible, I promise I will cover the c-costs.”

“I’m sure my family will refuse to let you pay, Lady Cessilia, it’s our people after all! But I will be going now!”

“Thank you, Nana. We will c-catch up with you later.”

While Nana ran out ahead, very determined and happy to help, Cessilia and Tessandra left right after her.

“What about us?” asked Tessandra.

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