Chapter 359: Protests (1)

"What? The town of Virella?" Alvaron and Anastasia were stunned by the news.

They exchanged glances, their expressions clearly showing their surprise.

Virella was a remote town that had long been neglected. Of course,

"neglected"

didn’t mean completely abandoned—it simply hadn’t had a leader for decades.

Alvaron knew the town well. After all, he was the one who had been sending food aid to its people every month.

Many might wonder why he didn’t just take control of the town or appoint someone else to manage it.

He had actually tried, but no one was willing to take responsibility. Even after offering a generous reward, the noble families still refused.

Each had their own reasons. Some thought the town was too remote and uncomfortable to live in, while others were wary of its location—too close to the Calvorn Forest.

Calvorn was an ancient forest that had existed since the founding of the Empire.

It was said that many powerful monsters dwelled there, making the area around Virella unsafe for long-term settlement.

And now, Elina had been granted control over the Virella region, leaving both of them speechless.

Alvaron took a deep breath and looked seriously at his daughter.

"Do you know how remote that town is? Why did Her Highness Elina receive a territory there? Was it His Majesty’s decision?" Alvaron asked.

"I don’t know," Rafine sighed softly, shaking her head. "But Elina once said she couldn’t choose where she would live. So, well... it must have been His Majesty’s decision."

Her words made Alvaron and Anastasia fall silent for a moment.

"This must be a test from His Majesty," Anastasia said, glancing at her husband. "Perhaps he wants to see Princess Elina’s ability to govern and manage a territory. If she succeeds, she’ll surely gain recognition from the palace. You understand what I mean, don’t you, my husband?"

"Yes, you’re right," Alvaron nodded. "I know His Majesty well enough—it’s likely just as you said. But it’s also possible he deliberately sent the princess away so the princes would compete more fiercely. Prince Zarak’s death is strong evidence of that."

Don’t be fooled by Ragan’s calm and easygoing demeanor. In truth, he’s far more ruthless and secretive than anyone else in the Empire.

After all, the one who won the battle for the throne was the strongest of them all.

"All right," Alvaron said, his gaze fixed on his daughter. "Do you think we should lend a hand to Her Highness, Princess Elina?"

Rafine wasn’t surprised by the question. Since being named the heir to the Austin family, her father often sought her opinion on important matters.

Of course, that didn’t mean he was incapable—he simply wanted to train her to become a wise leader.

Rafine took a moment of silence, sipping her tea before replying casually, "Not yet. Elina is stubborn and unyielding. Let her handle the chaos in Virella on her own. I’m sure she can manage it. Still, we should place a few spies to keep an eye on her. At least, when she’s truly cornered, we can step in to help."

During her time with the twins, Rafine had come to understand their personalities quite well.

Nolan was lazy, careless, and irritating. Yet when he got serious, his mind was sharp and perceptive—comparable to Cedric’s.

Elina, on the other hand, was firm, strong, and determined. Her personality was much like Rafine’s, which was why the two had grown close so quickly.

"Your answer is the same as mine," Alvaron said with a pleased smile. "Let’s see how Her Highness Princess Elina handles the situation. I hope she succeeds."

Being a leader was never easy. Only those with true leadership qualities could solve every problem—even the ones that seemed impossible.

And Alvaron was certain Elina was one of those people.

...

In the town hall, Elina stood watching two hundred people eat heartily.

One percent of the warehouse stock had been distributed—enough to feed them all.

Still, one percent was no small amount. The population of Virella reached eighty thousand, and the remaining supplies would only last until winter.

It wasn’t hard to imagine how thin their reserves would be after that one percent was given out.

"Your Highness," Rick called from behind.

Elina turned to him. "What is it?"

Rick looked uneasy as he spoke in a low voice. "Many people are protesting your decision. They believe releasing the winter stockpile isn’t a wise move."

Of course, the reality was worse than he made it sound. Many were displeased with Elina’s decision.

To them, sacrificing two hundred people was insignificant. In fact, they believed it was the right thing to do—otherwise, even more would die of starvation in the coming winter.

Elina, however, stayed calm. She had expected this reaction.

"Take me to see them," she said flatly.

"Should we bring soldiers? I’m afraid—" Rick began, but Elina cut him off.

"No need. If I bring soldiers, they’ll think I’m a coward who can’t face their problems head-on," she replied firmly.

Virella had been without a leader for a long time, so it was natural for its people to feel uneasy about her arrival.

Many of them also believed she had no real intention of changing the town’s condition.

That was understandable, given that they had lost hope decades ago.

For that reason, arriving without an escort was the best choice.

As for the possibility of them turning violent—well, Elina wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

She could fight and wield a sword, and her skill was far above average. There was nothing to worry about.

After hearing Elina’s decision, Rick no longer had the right to argue.

He simply nodded and said quietly, "All right, I understand..."

***

Many people had gathered in the courtyard of the mansion where Elina lived.

There were twenty men and fifteen women. Their clothes were plain, and their tanned skin was marked with dirt in several places.

Poverty in the town of Virella had reached a critical point. If not for the aid from Ostravia, many of them would have died long ago.

"I heard our new leader is a princess. Is that true?" a middle-aged woman asked weakly.

"Yeah, she’s from the royal family," a man replied with a long sigh. "I don’t know what those high-ranking officials are thinking. They’ve ignored us for years, and now they send us a girl who isn’t even twenty. Do they think this is a joke?"

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Some were angry and resentful, while others stayed calm and chose to wait.

After all, they hadn’t met their new leader yet, so no one knew what her attitude toward Virella would be.

As they were lost in conversation, the sound of footsteps approached from the side, followed by a soft, gentle voice.

"Are you looking for me?"