159 FIRST DECREE

"I- I thought you were only at the Gates and received the reports, your Highness! I was not aware that you were inside the village!" 

Queen Rose blurted out with anxiety clearly seen in her countenance. 

"Please take care of your health, your Highness!"

One of the royal council uttered and fell to his knees.

All of them did the same. "Please take care of your health, your Highness!"

Raigon couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and expressed his heart out.

"You were so concerned about my health? I am alive and well! But those who are in the provinces are dying! Why not extend the same compassion to them?!"

"We are also worried about them. However, you are our ruler, your Highness! Our ruler must live well so he could govern us now and for the years to come, your Highness."

"Govern us now and for the years to come, your Highness!"

Everyone in the council bowed down to Raigon.

"What is the use of sitting on the throne when your citizens are already dead?!"

The royal council's mouth dropped open at the Crowned Prince horrendous remarks.

Raigon's fuse was already lit up. Time is ticking. It's now or never!

"We are still alive, your Highness! You still have us, your Highness!"

"But you don't have me with you!" 

Raigon exclaimed adding to the bewilderment of the shocked elders.

Queen Rose, who was standing up at the heat of the meeting, fell back on her throne.

Her servants immediately went to her side and fanned on her so she could get a quick breath of fresh air.

Seeing the state of the Queen and the elders in front of him cleared up his fuming mind.

He cleared his throat and made a bow to everyone of them.

"You don't have me with you because I am with all the citizens of Terra."

He stated, emphasizing the word 'all'.

"I know I still don't have your trust in making big decisions for our country. And I understand that you are more experienced and wiser than me. But being the next King of this land, I could not allow a single citizen of Terra to suffer because of this."

The Royal Council stood silent as they listened to the Crowned Prince's speech. Some of them agreed and others were still hesitating.

"The Crowned Prince has a point. If we have been so cautious in preventing human intruders from coming into Terra, we should also do our best to eradicate this invisible intruder that is killing us all." 

Queen Rose responded, hoping she too could persuade the Council. 

She agreed with her son, but the royal council's approval is also needed before they could issue a decree. 

It has been their tradition ever since.

The Royal Council murmured to each other, expressing their opinions about what has been stated.

"Should we really sacrifice the healthy ones to save the few?"

"If only there is another way to treat the people." 

Raigon spoke up in the middle of their debate.

"You could continue discussing this all day if you want. But I will go back and do my best to save my people."

Raigon stood up, turned his back and was about to walk away. But the Royal Council reacted in anxiety again.

"Your Highness!"

Raigon's eyes crinkled at the corners. He pivoted and faced the Royal Council. "Or you would send physicians and volunteers to the provinces and apply the same intervention."

"Everyone fell on their knees again and agreed to his instruction. If the Crowned Prince's health was compromised, it would be devastating for the land of Terra. And it seemed that the Prince could not be deterred from his decision. 

"Your generosity is immeasurable, your Highness."

He then went to the Royal Secretary and checked on his decrees as he wrote them on the scroll.

Raigon nodded his head and personally brought them to the Queen so she could put her seal on them.

Then he gave them back to the Royal Secretary.

The Royal Secretary stood up and read the Crowned Prince's orders as approved by the Queen and the Royal Council.

"The royal physicians must go back to their respective provinces and administer the same treatments that were done on Xianghai Province."

The head of the royal physicians who was there stood up and received the royal order.

"We will obey your command, your Highness!"

"A public notice should be posted calling people who were physically healthy to help in treating the diseased and will receive a bountiful reward as compensation."

Raigon nodded. The head of communication dissemination stood up and received the command.

"We will do this immediately, your Highness."

"Salt, drinking water and sugar or honey will be generously supplied to every province with at least 5 known cases. Those who will hoard will be punished accordingly."

The head of the business sector stood up and received the royal command.

All the royal council stood up and bowed to Raigon.

"We are at your service, your Highness."

Raigon bowed back to them. "I appreciate your loyalty to our land, Royal Council of Terra. Let's call it a day for now and focus on this emergency at once."

As they walked towards their designated tasks, they uttered differing opinions regarding his actions.

"It is my first time to see the Crowned Prince make a statement. I thought he was incompetent. But he was bold and dauntless when he made up his mind."

"But it is also rash and inconsiderate. The people have already escaped death. Why would we send them back there again? If this doesn't work, their families will lose their trust in us and eventually rebel against us."

"I wish King Artair was here so we could be certain of what to do."

Fortunately for Raigon, he wasn't around anymore to hear that. 

He was already galloping back towards Xianghai Province. 

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Strong people stand up for themselves.

But stronger people stand up for others.