I Reincarnated as a Prince Who Revolutionized the Kingdom-Chapter 144: The Disaster

​In the weeks following the inauguration of the Central Railway Station, the Kingdom of Elysea basked in a sense of progress and unity. The new railway facilitated trade, travel, and communication between the capital and distant provinces, fostering economic growth and cultural exchange. King Bruno and Queen Amelie, along with their infant son, Prince Louis, often reflected on this achievement with pride, believing it marked the dawn of a prosperous era for their realm.​

However, beneath this veneer of advancement, an insidious threat began to take root. Unbeknownst to the royal family and their court, whispers of a mysterious illness emerged from the kingdom's outskirts. Initially dismissed as isolated incidents, reports of severe, watery diarrhea and rapid dehydration surfaced among the rural communities. Local healers and physicians, unfamiliar with the disease, were ill-equipped to manage its swift progression, leading to a mounting death toll.​

The railway, while a symbol of progress, inadvertently became a conduit for the disease's spread. Infected individuals traveled to the capital seeking medical aid or visiting relatives, unknowingly carrying the pathogen with them. The bustling marketplaces, teeming with citizens and merchants from various regions, became hotspots for transmission. Street vendors, utilizing water from contaminated sources, unknowingly facilitated the disease's proliferation through the sale of tainted food and beverages.​

Within the palace walls, life proceeded with customary grandeur. King Bruno remained engrossed in matters of state, addressing diplomatic correspondences and overseeing infrastructural projects. Queen Amelie dedicated her days to nurturing Prince Louis and engaging in charitable endeavors. The royal family remained insulated from the burgeoning crisis, their awareness limited to the sanitized reports presented by their advisors.​

It was during a routine council meeting that the gravity of the situation began to pierce the royal bubble. Lord Chamberlain Alistair, a seasoned advisor with a penchant for meticulous detail, presented a report that deviated from the usual agenda of trade figures and diplomatic overtures.​

"Your Majesty," Alistair began, his tone measured yet tinged with urgency, "there have been unsettling accounts from the northern provinces. A malady of unknown origin is afflicting the populace, characterized by severe diarrhea and rapid dehydration. The mortality rate is alarmingly high."

King Bruno furrowed his brow, the weight of leadership pressing heavily upon him. "Why am I only hearing of this now? How widespread is this affliction?"​

Alistair hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "The initial reports were sporadic and lacked coherence. It was only upon further investigation that the extent of the outbreak became apparent. Moreover, there are indications that the illness has reached the capital."​

A palpable silence enveloped the chamber. Queen Amelie, who had been observing the proceedings with growing concern, interjected. "What measures have been implemented to contain this?"​

Alistair exchanged uneasy glances with his fellow council members. "Local authorities have been instructed to isolate the afflicted and improve sanitation. However, our understanding of the disease is limited, and resources are stretched thin."​

Determined to grasp the reality of the situation, King Bruno resolved to visit the affected districts within the capital. Despite protests from his advisors citing safety concerns, the king's resolve remained unshaken. Accompanied by a contingent of royal guards and physicians, he ventured into the heart of the crisis.​

The scenes that greeted him were harrowing. Makeshift infirmaries overflowed with the sick and dying. The air was thick with the acrid scent of illness and despair. Families huddled together, their faces etched with fear and grief. Physicians, overwhelmed and understaffed, moved frantically from patient to patient, administering what limited aid they could.​

In one such infirmary, Bruno approached a weary-looking physician who was tending to a young girl writhing in pain.​

"Doctor, what can you tell me of this illness?" the king inquired, his voice steady despite the turmoil around him.

The physician, momentarily startled by the royal presence, bowed hastily before responding.​

"Your Majesty, the affliction strikes swiftly. Patients present with profuse diarrhea and vomiting, leading to severe dehydration. Without prompt intervention, many succumb within hours."

Bruno's jaw tightened. "What is the source? How does it spread?"​

The physician wiped his brow, smearing it with a mixture of sweat and grime.​

"We suspect contaminated water sources, sire. Many of the afflicted reside in areas with poor sanitation and rely on communal wells."

The king nodded solemnly, the pieces of the puzzle coalescing in his mind. The rapid urbanization and the influx of travelers via the new railway had strained the city's infrastructure, leading to compromised sanitation.​

Upon returning to the palace, Bruno convened an emergency council meeting.​

"We can no longer afford complacency," he asserted, his gaze sweeping across his assembled advisors. "We must act decisively to stem this tide."

Lord Alistair stepped forward again, a stack of fresh reports clutched in his hands. "Sire, I recommend immediate mobilization of all city physicians. We should designate quarantine zones in the hardest-hit districts and restrict travel in and out of those areas. Furthermore, public access to wells must be halted until water sources can be tested and secured."

"Done," Bruno said without hesitation. "Issue the proclamations today. I also want printed notices posted in every market, inn, and church—something the common folk can read or hear aloud. They must know what signs to watch for and what to avoid."

Queen Amelie, seated nearby with Louis in her arms, glanced at the chamber's map of the capital pinned on the wall. "What of the outer villages and towns? If the reports only now reach us, surely the countryside suffers in silence."

Alistair nodded grimly. "You're correct, Your Majesty. We've dispatched riders, but more will be needed."

"Then send them," Bruno ordered. "Couriers, physicians, priests—anyone with the knowledge to instruct and assist. I want one dispatched to every province before nightfall."

The council dispersed quickly, their task clear. Bruno remained in the chamber a moment longer, staring at the map as if trying to will the plague into submission.

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Amelie joined him quietly. "This is our test," she said gently. "We face it together."

Bruno took her hand, and for a moment, amid the storm, he felt anchored.

"We will not fail them."