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nThree months had passed since the Lockdown had been initiated.

nMany changes occurred during this period and Yvonne was also unaware of these developments.

nThe Royal Medical Association had managed to look into the plague and figured out how the disease progressed.

nThe infected patient would first develop rashes over their forearms and stomach which was consistent with the symptoms of someone who had come in contact with a commonly found plant named 'Nasda Ivy'.

nYvonne would have recognized that plant as poison ivy which was also common in her previous world.

nIn the beginning, people assumed that the growth of these mildly poisonous plants had caused the rashes and had ignored their severity after washing them.

nHowever, the physicians sent to research the symptoms realized that the rashes were only the first symptom.

nThe rashes would then blister and the liquid that oozed from them was surprisingly sweet-smelling.

nThough this was not the end as next came severe dehydration due to the high fever that the patients suffered from next.

nTheir immune system would be sent into overdrive trying to fight the fever which accelerated the blisters and the dehydration too.

nThus, the patient, within three-six weeks of contracting the disease, would begin to lose all vitality and health.

nAt the end of those numerous weeks, a lifeless and lean patient with blisters all over their body was what remained before they breathed their last.

nThe entire Royal Medical Association was both fascinated by this disease and also in a rush to figure out its cure now that they had gathered everything they knew about it.

nThe King had sent his knights to assist and protect the physicians who would be working with those infected with the disease.

nPrecautions were being taken to not let any more get infected but that would be a tough task to accomplish.

nTherefore, the Royal Medical Association began working in full swing and utilizing all of its resources in finding a cure for this sickness which had already taken too many lives since it had first emerged around four months ago.

nThe monsoons had now arrived but thankfully, traveling for these men would not be a problem as the King had sanctioned for the construction of sturdy and straightened roads well in advance which had now come in handy.

nThe high heat which was the cause of the sickness to spread rapidly had now dulled which also resulted in a decrease in the spread of the disease.

nHowever, there were still new cases popping up every day with no cure to heal them as of yet.

nAll that the physicians of the Royal Hospitals could do in the meantime was to try and strengthen their immune system while lessening the pain caused by the blisters all over their bodies.

nThe plague was said to spread by coming in contact with the liquid oozing from the blisters so the physicians made it a point to wear protective gloves before attending to the patients.

nThe increase in the number of Royal Hospitals and their staff had also been a great help as they were well prepared to face such a crisis where a multitude of patients had arrived all at once.

nThere was no one who was denied treatment due to lack of space in the hospital which became a boon for those suffering from this plague.

nNow that they were all focused on finding a cure, they had the confidence to create something useful soon.

nThe quest to find the cure had began and it was only a matter of time before they would be able to get rid of this deadly disease.

nWhile the physicians in the Royal Hospitals and those working in the Royal Medical Association were doing their best to deal with this situation, the Royal family was also doing the same.

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nThe atmosphere inside the Throne Room was stifling as everyone stood before the man seated on the Royal Throne.

nThe Head of the Royal Medical Association had just sent him a letter that had caused this stifling aura to permeate throughout the room.

nOnly a few of the Ministers were still in the Capital when the plague had broken out and hence right now, those few men were seen here.

nAlong with those Ministers, Duke Maldock Brodie, the King's steward, and the two Princes of this Kingdom were also seen inside the Throne Room.

nThe letter from the Head of the Royal Medical Association had disclosed to them that after three months, there were no more resources left in the fiefs that had been infected with the plague.

nSince people were infected and sick, there was a shortage of people working and hence the production of necessities like food grains and vegetables had been decreasing over time.

nJudging by the situation right now, there wouldn't be enough to feed even the sick patients in the hospitals if something wasn't done to remedy this shortage.

nThree major hospitals, in the fiefs of Vamos, Wescott, and Carter were working continuously as these fiefs and their surrounding ones had reported the largest number of cases of the plague.

nWhile the Hospitals in Brodie and Amarthea were not treating any of these patients and were left for the others who had common illnesses other than the plague.

nThis left the hospital in the Mikren fief which also had no reported cases of the plague yet it was being used as a sanctuary to treat the plague victims.

nMikren was close to the Tanner, Valente, and the St. Claire fief but thankfully, the closed borders of these fiefs did not let the sickness spread any further.

nSo right now, these four fiefs where the hospitals were situated, and also the remaining affected fiefs were facing a shortage of basic necessities which was the current reason for the gathering of these men.

nGlancing at the King, Duke Brodie bowed his head while proposing his idea.

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"Your Majesty, you have done so much for us already. Now it is our turn to lend our support in this time of calamity.

" He announced, garnering admirable glances from the other Ministers around him.

nKing Ophire raised his brow, indicating that his old friend needed to elaborate the meaning of his suggestion.

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"The fiefs affected by the plague could not function properly and hence had faced a shortage of food but the rest of the fiefs were doing fine all along.

" Maldock explained what his words meant.

nIf these fiefs could lend their support by contributing a small share of their produce then the crisis of starvation in the hospitals and the infected fiefs might be overcome.

nPrince Fritzen and Prince Draco both nodded their heads as this was an excellent decision.

nHowever, the King had other thoughts in his mind as he knew very well how greedy and cruel most of the Fief Lords were.

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"Will they be willing to contribute is the question, Maldock.

" King Ophire voiced out his thoughts which made the other Ministers who were also Fief Lords choke at this statement.

nWhile they could not deny that lending their resources to the other fiefs would be detrimental to their own citizens, it would be inhuman not to help in such a precarious situation.

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"They will aid us without hesitation.

" Maldock grinned mysteriously which intrigued the King.

nLooking at this smile, King Ophire could comprehend that his friend had something in mind and hence waited for him to speak up.

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"My King, why don't you promise recognition to the Fief Lords who lend their support to this good cause?

" He suggested that those wily men would do anything for the sake of more fame and glory.

nThey might not help because of the goodness in their hearts but would certainly do so if they were promised benefits in return.

nThey already had wealth so bribing them with money in exchange for their support would not work but who would not want to be named in the records of the Royal family?

nThose who lend a hand now would be promised that their family's name would be etched into the annals maintained by the Royal family which was a grand honor for anyone to receive.

nThe previous Kings had often used this method in times of war for those who gave monetary funds to strengthen the army and purchase its equipment.

nThough there wasn't a war at present but a battle needed to be won against the plague and its associated problems.

nTherefore, King Ophire nodded in acceptance of the suggestion given by his trusted friend and wrote a letter concerning the same.

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