32 A Glutonous Girl (1/2)
As she got closer, she found out the stand where all the numerous utensils were put down. Grabbing all she needed, she stayed a little bit behind the group of five in front of her. Besides the mute shorty and grumpy, Leodagan was visibly deeply annoyed by the situation. However, as everyone served themselves, it was easy to see that the two low profile students were obviously following the son of the Magus Alexander. They were bearing the same arrogance that him and were probably the children of some high-ranked mages. When she managed to put her hand on one gigantic apple, she couldn't help but be deeply impressed by it.
If it wasn't at the level of Chief Lucio or even some of the best farmers of the Demonic Empire, this very fruit was enhanced by magic. Whoever did this manage to conserve the taste of the fruit and at the same time improved its output. Taking a small bit before she even sat, she found out that it was really well made. She definitely had to find the place where those numerous treasures came. For a normal human, eating only that stuff will make him naturally stronger, have his reserve of mana getting bigger and even sometimes helped to concentrate.
It was clear that to feed everyone here, a huge number of crops would be solely focused on that type of yield. However, for those to become like that, only a magician could do it. And from what she knew, the Massalia Kingdom had a huge shortage of those because of its location and its war with the surrounding nations. Well, whatever was the truth, she will find it soon enough. But as she pondered about that, Ronald was no better. Unlike the four others, he was just a commoner and everything he saw was new to him. Without managing to contain his curiosity, he finally asked to Istuienn.
”Those fruits are incredible, how is it possible to create such a huge apple?” Before the young princess managed to say a single sentence, a mocking laugh resonated behind her. This time, even shorty was smiling proudly. Anyone from the nobility will be taught that information because it was the very reason their kingdom was still standing.
”Of course, a commoner like you wouldn't know about this. I guess you don't even know about the long-lasting alliance between our kingdom and the Kingdom of Genablum?” The puzzled look of the previous peasant indicated his answer. This doesn't stop the laugh to keep going and even some older students shooked their head in disappointment. Even if he was a commoner, it was still an important knowledge that was known nearly everywhere. To be so ignorant was almost a crime at this point.
”As expected, but I have to say I am also sad about that. To be so dumb at this age, you didn't have any parents to teach you the most basic things? Even if you were an orphan, only by never listening to the ones in charge of it would you be able to not know this.” This time, Ronald was extremely angered by the worlds of the smug Leodagan. He had no rights to insult his parents or his background. As he began to march toward the son of the magus, Istuienn stood between the two. She was also disappointed, but not by the lack of knowledge of Ronald but by the behavior of the other part.
”Enough Leodagan. No one should be discriminated by their birthplace in this place, especially by you. Let's go, Ronald.” She grabbed the arm of the handsome red-haired boy and quickly distanced herself from the three others. This shocked shorty and grumpy but totally devastated Leodagan. He didn't think that by doing this, Istuienn would react like that. He only planned that by seeing the ignorance of the other boy, she would be disgusted by it. No matter what happened, he could not let her go like that. Not only because she was beautiful, but because his father planned to gain the trust of the future Archmage. He couldn't fail, no matter what was the cost.
None of them noticed the short Leilade that bypassed them. She only was baffled by the complete ignorance of that group. She knew right away that Ronald was now the only real friends of the princess and therefore unless he disappeared in a legit situation, she would always defend her. What she still didn't know was how this behavior was possible from the sister of Muirnë. Comparing the two, she found absolutely no resemblance besides their gorgeous appearance. One was capable of battling without fear against an old cultist with decades of experience, managed to not faint under the terrible pain that Leilade put her under.
If Leilade was conquering this place with the Demonic Army, she would immediately recruit Muirnë without any hesitation, but for the dumb and innocent Istuienn, she would feed her to her subordinates. She was still filled with more mana than the rest of those fools, meaning that the meal would be great. But to fall under the influence of a man that fast and without even noticing or resisting, she was literally worthless. She was at the same level as a captive falling in love with someone that tortured her. She was absolutely certain that if Muirnë was captured and tortured for months, the very moment an opportunity arrived, she would slaughter everyone. The fact that right now, even a step was a painful torture made the terrifying girl smiled a bit.
She caught up with the couple and heard the kind explications of the princess. That made Leilade raised her eyes in disbelief, but she still listened intensely.
”You see, a long time ago, our kingdom and Genablum were in a war. We managed to capture half of their territory until we realized that all the farms and granaries were totally empty. And the war was expanding our food resources to a point that even holding the foreign land was impossible. As for the numerous towns and cities that we captured, their inhabitants played the passive stance at first. To the point that we forgot about them and that's when we noticed the numerous traps that were laid at our feet. Poisoned wells, Rats eating all our food. They only focused on the fact that as a human, everyone had to eat and drink.”
She sighed while trying to remember all the information.
”In less than a month, the king of that time realized that it will be impossible to continue the war. The troops were hungry and the numerous secret stashes filled with food by the local populace were defended or simply destroyed. We had to lower our head and flee. It was then that Genablum offered something that no one would have thought. They only had two direct neighbors, if you don't count the small impractical path between Pankow and them. Us and the barbarians at the South. They could defend against one enemy, but against two would be too costly. So they offered a deal, that is still ongoing. They will supply us with food, like this one, and we will defend them from that side.”
”So, you are saying that in exchange of food, you just offer protection? But if they are that weak, why not try to conquer it once more?”