Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 934: Announcing the Situation

Chapter 934: Chapter 934: Announcing the Situation

After a long day, Arabella rewarded herself with her favorite snacks while waiting for dinner.

***

The following day, Arabella and Ferdinand went to the Court Session together.

"His and Her Imperial Majesty have arrived!"

The courtier announced their arrival, and just from it, various murmurs and thoughts filled the throne room.

[His Majesty is here?!]

[Is the situation in the locked-down territories resolved?!]

[I haven’t heard news that there had been any changes about the territories...]

[We must have been summoned here today for a reason!]

[Are they finally telling us what’s going on?!]

Their thoughts flooded Arabella’s head as she walked with Ferdinand to the throne.

Representatives from all ruling households were summoned today for the announcement, so they were once again gathered.

They all figured it might be about the situation in the locked-down territories, so they were all present.

Everyone was excited and on edge to finally know the truth.

However, the announcement was saved for last.

The Court Session was conducted as usual before it was finally time to make the announcement.

"Are there any other issues you would like to discuss?" Raymond asked, and no one raised their hand.

"None, Your Eminence," they said in unison after glancing around.

"Then let’s proceed to our next agenda. You were all summoned here today because the time has come to inform you all about the situation," Raymond said, and everyone took a deep breath, preparing themselves for whatever the announcement would be.

[Finally!]

[I knew it. They will finally tell us.]

[I’m glad I came in person even if I had to postpone some work.]

It was time for Ferdinand’s speech. He was the one who had been hands-on in Sibruh and they were trying to show he was working as well so he would make the announcement himself.

"...As you have already figured, several territories had been locked down. This was due to widespread pest infestations that reached even storage houses, and a new plant disease that affected all crops and other flora," Ferdinand revealed.

"To all the locked-down territories?!!"

"Even storage houses?!!"

"Not just specific crops were affected?!!"

A lot of people gasped as they realized the gravity of the situation.

Even a single part of a territory’s farmlands becoming afflicted with plant disease or pests could already cause a food shortage.

Several territories at once, and it meant much worse consequences.

[This is bad! The harvest is not over yet in some of our farms!]

[My territory is just beside one of the locked-down areas. What if it had also spread to our land?!]

[Is this why some knights also searched around in our county?!]

[I knew it! The rumors were true! They had been burning farmlands for a reason!]

[We should quickly harvest all the remaining crops and store them somewhere safe!]

[Why are they telling us about this only now?!!]

The rulers who shared borders or were near the locked-down territories were the most alarmed.

The rulers thought of stopping exports to neighboring territories to ensure they had ample supply of food in case the plant disease and pests infestation also reached their territory.

They finally understood why a lockdown was necessary.

They realized that the trades which had been stopped were a lesser worry compared to possibly losing all their food supply.

Not-so-silent murmurs filled the throne room.

Ferdinand gestured for them to be silent so they finally quieted down even when they clearly wanted to say a lot.

"...To prevent panic and hoarding of resources, information had been withheld as we dealt with the situation as swiftly and as efficiently as possible.

There is no shortage of food supply in Valeria.

We have an ample supply stored safely for the years to come, so there’s no need to take further extreme measures.

All the locked-down territories were the ones that were affected.

No other territory had shown signs, but if you have noticed problems in your territory related to this, you may say it here and now," Ferdinand said and waited in case someone had noticed something in their territory.

Everyone glanced around as well, nervously hoping no one close to their territory would raise their hand.

Thankfully, no one had encountered problems in their territory since all those who had the possibility of being afflicted were included in the lockdown.

"All territories that have been affected by the pest infestation and plant disease will receive food supply until they can plant and harvest again.

The pests had been successfully eliminated with the joint effort of the knights and magicians working together with minimal rest.

As for the plant disease, all the burning we had been doing in those territories was to prevent it from spreading further.

They will not be allowed to plant next year until we are sure the disease will not spread again.

As we speak, researchers are also doing their best to find ways to control it.

They have made a major development recently so we are looking forward to a less drastic way of controlling it aside from burning.

The lockdown will continue until the plant disease is controlled."

The rulers sighed in relief when they realized they did not need to panic with the pests already eliminated and the plant disease already being researched.

Knowing that the lockdown will continue until the disease was controlled, also meant they did not need to fear their territories would end up affected like the others.

However, it did not erase the fear of the possibility.

Thus, most of the ruling households who were closest to the locked-down territories planned to send letters home to ensure their food supply and storage houses were safe.

Everyone had a lot of questions, and it was Raymond who entertained them this time.

When it came to the questions about the research, the Head of the Research Bureau was the one who satisfied everyone’s curiosity with what they were allowed to divulge right now.

Arabella was rather pleased when the Head of the Research Bureau did not forget to mention Ivan’s contribution.

Count Cordelia who was also in attendance was rather proud as a father would be to his son’s achievements.