After losing both major business firm that provided most of the daily necessities of the citizens as well as nobles and the adventurers who brought rare and valuable monster materials to the city, the amount of damage the economy of the Rapidclaw kingdom had to go through was phenomenal.
War and small rebellions which were happening in the kingdom were major causes of why these things happened including Velian's attack.
"How's father doing? Is he okay?" Worried about his father's health condition, Julius asked the doctor of the royal family.
"His highness has been so much stressed over these past few incidents, it seems like he had developed a lot of illness because of this," He had a difficult face seeing their leader slowly going insane by all these things.
"Can't we do anything about it? Any medicine or magic skills to bring him back to his old state?" He knew this wasn't anything good as the king had to stay strong in front of his subjects.
"This isn't anything to be cured by medicine or magic, Prince Julius," He knew what he was talking about but still he had a difficult face.
"You may leave, I'm going to see him, tell the guard outside not to let anyone inside until I give my orders," Bowing his head at Julius' words, he left the room.
Julius opened the big door which led to a luxurious bedroom. There were several decorations, statues as well as armour in this room showing how wealthy the owner of this room is.
"Father, are you okay?" Seeing their proud king lying on the bed like this, he felt hopelessness and despair in this situation.
"Julius, What happened to adventurers? Did all of them leave our capital?" He didn't even greet him as he started to question Julius about several things.
"Yes father, most of them left after hearing our decision,"
*Tsk
"That damn guild! Where is the contract and promises they gave us? What happened to our mutual friendship?" Remembering how his father was so proud of this contract, Finrod couldn't help but feel angry.
He thought having this contract with the guild was something to brag about since the guild is a powerful organization in the four kingdoms. Even though they didn't have the administration power like the leaders of the kingdom, their monster materials, and skilful adventures were huge assets for everyone.
"Did any message come from other kingdoms?" Expecting at least one good answer, he kept questioning Julius only to be disappointed more.
"Damn it, what's taking them so long to send reinforcement and why are they delaying this? Are they doing it purposely?" If he was in his right mind he would have understood that his anger and reasoning were wrong.
Julius didn't know what to do as the crown prince. He was loyal and had the talent to be a great substitute for Finrod but he feared that if he propose it right now, his father would get angry.
"Father, should I meet the adventurers guild for one last time to ask for help?" Unable to think of another solution, Julius thought about meeting the guild for a one last time to ask for their demands and why they abandoned the contract which of course left a black mark on their name.
Finrod looked at Julius for a few minutes before suddenly nodding his head furiously,
"Yes, yes we should do that, they are entitled to help us, they can't abandon us like this. If we talk with they might even help us," He felt like a new hope was budding inside his mind listening to these words.
While they were talking about these things suddenly the door of the king's bedroom opened with a loud noise.
"Princess wait! You can't," One of the guards stationed near the door shouted.
"Crown Prince told us not to let anyone inside, don't go, princess," They were conflicted as they couldn't touch a royal.
It's illegal for male guards to touch anyone from high-level noble families both male and female. For this mistake only, they might even get the death penalty according to the place they touched.
"Julie, why did you come outside all alone?" Seeing his sister playing havoc like this, Julius felt a little angry but he quickly hid it as he didn't want to make a scene in front of their father.
"Brother, I want to see father, how's he?" A girl with beautiful blond hair and a gorgeous face talked in her music-like voice. She had an identical face to Julius but was more feminine and beautiful.
"Is it you Julie?" Hearing her voice, Finrod reacted quickly.
"Father! I missed you, *Sob, Why did this happen to you?" She had a rather sad face seeing his strong father like this.
"Don't worry Julie, the father will make everything alright, we won't lose to anyone," His voice wasn't confident at all but it had parental love mixed in it.
After his wife who he loved more than anything passed away from a disease, Finrod was so shaken that he actually got sick for a few days that is until Julie started to fill that space and memories.
He loved both Julius and Julie but in the end, he mostly loved his daughter. Julius didn't feel envious of her or anything as he also felt the same toward her but he disliked how she got spoiled by her father making her weak compared to a princess.
Julius was engaged to a girl from a Duke family who was trained and ad iced to become the next queen of the kingdom. Even though they rarely knew each other both of them agreed with it as it is their job.
Julius didn't envy how everyone loved Julie but he didn't feel good when she get to choose the path in her life while he didn't even get to decline or accept his partner.
Looking at them with a conflicted look, Julius left the room leaving them to talk with each other.
"I hope at least this will help him, I better go and meet Ivan, without someone's help we are almost like a sheep waiting to be hunted by wolves," Thinking about different things, he got ready to meet them while asking a few knight's to follow him.
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