The Princess' Harem
Chapter 143: Eyes and Ears

Chapter 143: Eyes and Ears

Viana woke that morning, sunlight piercing through the curtains of her room. The scent of roses from the palace garden wafted in, offering a sensation different from her time in the forest.

She could perceive every pulse of life around her, a much more complex noise than what existed in the forest.

All the activity on the palace’s ground floor, the hurrying servants in the corridors, the chatter in the kitchen, even the sounds made by the horses in the stables. She could even feel the sleepiness of a guard who had just finished his night watch, the fear of a servant who had just broken a plate.

Everything felt very chaotic, not peaceful like in the calm, harmonious forest. She rose, then, and sat on the edge of her bed.

She closed her eyes again, focusing her mind, to try and reach the palace rats. They were everywhere, scurrying quickly beneath the floors, or in unseen cracks.

Waves of feelings, and information about these rats, came simultaneously, one after another, making Viana’s head throb. This was much harder than she had imagined.

She took a deep breath, then began to focus again. She expanded her range of awareness, and, just like yesterday, followed the roots leading to Lazarus’s dwelling.

Finally, she managed to find the rats within the castle, and succeeded in asking them to become her eyes and ears. Nimbly, the rats made their way to where Lazarus was, and by chance, Dexter was there too.

She could only faintly grasp their conversation, but she still managed to tell that the two of them were discussing her, about her return from the Elven Kingdom.

Slightly breathless, she pulled her awareness back, and slowly opened her eyes. Sweat streamed down her forehead, and her back.

This ability was very useful, but also incredibly exhausting. But she had succeeded, and this would be very useful for her.

’But how will I explain it later, if I find something important, but cannot explain the source?’ she asked herself.

Information like this, if she delivered it directly to Joel or Reyes, they might only half-believe it. They might consider her information source suspicious.

She needed to keep practicing, so she could get more detailed information, for everyone’s benefit in the future. Viana was sure, Lazarus would plan something bad for Elysia again.

She then rose, and stood, as Sina entered, preparing her to face the ’reports’ that were already waiting for her.

Sina had finished dressing her, putting on a soft green dress, like the color of her eyes. She then stepped out, feeling everything around her.

When she arrived in her study, Joel, Reyes, and Arden were already there, along with several other important Elysian officials. Their faces looked serious, parchment scrolls, and maps were scattered a bit messily on her long table.

"Good morning, Your Royal Highness," Joel greeted, when he saw her coming, grinning slightly as usual, but his tone remained polite.

Viana smiled faintly and nodded at him, and at everyone else in the room who paid her respects.

She could feel everything from the men before her, including Joel, and Reyes. Viana immediately shut down her awareness, not wanting to hear, and feel what these two men felt, and thought.

The meeting began, and one by one, the officials presented their respective reports. First, Sir Arthur, the royal treasurer who now looked thin, and exhausted.

"Your Royal Highness, your efforts with the Desert’s Embrace, and Moonpetal Flower, have had an extraordinary impact," he said, his voice hoarse, but enthusiastic.

"The wheat harvest in the eastern provinces, too, is better than we expected. The trade route to Valendale has been reopened, and merchants are now brave enough, to make trading journeys, to that Empire again."

Viana listened, and also caught a sense of relief, but there was something he was hiding. "What about the internal market?" she asked, looking at him with an inquiring gaze. "Are food prices stable? Are there shortages in certain areas?"

Sir Arthur answered with a slight hesitation. "Prices are gradually stabilizing, Your Royal Highness. But... there are reports of several small groups of merchants trying to hoard supplies, in the black market, especially in the districts, on the outskirts of the city. And... we are investigating it..."

Viana remembered earlier that morning, when she expanded her awareness, about the rats in an area in the southern district; they had a feeling of panic, and distress there. Instantly, she could feel that something was amiss, with Sir Arthur’s report.

"Sir Arthur, make sure that investigation is expedited," Viana said, with a sharp tone. "Check the warehouses, in the southern district, especially."

Sir Arthur was slightly surprised, that the princess could accurately pinpoint, which district was problematic, but he nodded, swallowing. "Immediately, Your Royal Highness."

Joel’s turn arrived, and he reported on the military condition, of the Elysia Kingdom. "Troop morale, is very high. The victory against Arin, has raised their spirits, so we are starting a new training program, and border guard units have been strengthened. We have also begun repairing damage, to the city walls, and fortresses, destroyed by the war."

Viana smiled hearing this news, but she still asked Joel with a serious tone. "Are there reports of unusual activity, near the border? Or within the city, that feels... out of place?"

Hearing Viana’s question, Joel furrowed his brow. "No, Your Royal Highness. A few minor theft cases occurred within the city, but that is normal."

Then, a report came from an official, in charge of health matters, concerning the remaining impact of the blight, and how healing efforts were still ongoing, in some remote areas.

And finally, Arden reported, on the political atmosphere among the nobility, after the officials, besides Joel and Reyes, had left the room. "Some nobles are still questioning your legitimacy, as the interim ruler, representing the legitimate King, and Queen, considering your age, Your Royal Highness. There are some rumors about the nobles holding an election, for a companion for you, and they intend to seek a husband, from among the senior nobility," Arden reported with annoyance.

A slight weariness washed over her; political intrigues like this, would continue as long as she was a crown princess. Or more precisely, her status as a noble, and a royal family member too.

But she answered Arden calmly. "Thank you for the information. Just keep an eye on them, I will deal with this legitimacy issue in due time. Now, we must focus on the stability, and security of the kingdom."

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.