Page 134 of The White King's Favorite

“Lady Cessilia! Y-Your Majesty... We brought a lot of food! As much as we could prepare for now, but there is more coming! And we have ingredients to prepare more here too!”

“Th-thank you so much,” said Cessilia, relieved. “Let’s g-get you set up as soon as p-possible.”

“...Food?”

The little voice behind could have come from anyone, but the dozens of hungry eyes riveted on the cart meant the same thing: those people were starving. Cessilia was suddenly worried. Were they going to try and force their way to the cart now? She took a deep breath and stood in front of the cart.

“Yes. The D-Dorosef Tribe brought food, b-but please, be p-patient! We will find a way t-to distribute it t-to everyone!”

A few people ignored her and suddenly rushed toward the cart. Cessilia stepped back, panicking about what to do to stop all those people, but before she could even react, an ax suddenly swung through the air, brutally slamming into the ground.

“Stop it!” roared the man from earlier. “Didn’t you hear the lady? They will distribute the food! And there’s more coming! If you rush now, how many kids will starve because of you greedy bastards?! By the Galatian Tribe, if anyone else touches that cart, I’ll slice your greedy hands myself!”

Even the young girl by his side glared around as if to dare anyone to approach. His people were clearly siding with him, and now, the crowd didn’t dare come closer, instead looking like they actually felt a bit guilty for rushing.

“...We will b-be ready soon,” Cessilia promised.

She exchanged a quick glance with Ashen, who was still standing a few steps back in front of the doors. He nodded and crossed his arms. He wouldn’t move from there, to prevent the mob from trying to force their way into the Capital. The tall man sighed and turned to Cessilia. She was tall, but that man looked like a giant compared to most people. He brushed his hair.

“Come on, young lady, you should get all this to where we can distribute it soon. Words can’t hold hungry stomachs for long, and to be honest, everyone’s been starving for a while...”

“I will. Th-thank you.”

Not hesitating anymore, Cessilia quickly moved, guiding the people from the Dorosef Tribe to meet Nana at the first inn, just like Tessandra had said. Plus, her cousin was there, and they had found a tent large and strong enough to erect outside. Quickly, they had the Dorosef people borrow the inn’s kitchen and start making more buns, while Tessandra, Sabael, and Cessilia put the tent up outside, as close to the doors as they could while staying close to the inn. The crowd was now completely disinterested in the doors, glancing with hungry eyes at the large beignets that quickly appeared in their little stall.

“Everyone, get in line!” roared Ashen. “Families with children or pregnant women first!”

The people began moving, and despite a bit of uproar, no fight was instigated, everyone too tired to really attack each other. Soon enough, a clear line of people appeared, and those who tried to get in front were loudly told to go to the back. Under Cessilia’s orders, the triplets made sure the line was kept with the priority they had determined, and they began distributing the first beignets. They could smell in the air that more were already being prepared at the inn, and soon enough, two more carts arrived, the Dorosef cousins relaying each other to bring them back and forth with ingredients. Ishira arrived shortly after, bringing with her large bags of tea leaves and more people from her family to help. They couldn’t set up the tea outside, as there was no way to keep a fire going in this flood and downpour, but a pot was prepared inside someone’s shop, and they started donating warm tea with the beignets. Cessilia was impressed with how willing everyone was to help since they had arrived. Many people ought to have been too scared by the mob, but they were now opening their doors, offering some families with babies or infants to stay in, and lending their cups, glasses, and bowls for the tea distribution. Things were calming down slightly, but while handing beignets to people, Cessilia glanced around. People who had just filled their stomachs with a bit of warmth had no choice but to go back under the downpour after a quick stop under the tent. The people whose turn it was thanked her with trembling lips, wet to their bones, and their hands shaking. They needed another solution for that too...

“Lady Cessilia!”

She turned her head and spotted Lady Bastat arriving on a slim horse, followed by a few people. She jumped down and rushed to Cessilia’s side, noticing the line of people.

“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?”

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