CHAPTER 883: CHAPTER 883: SUGGESTIONS FROM HER ASSISTANTS

Her assistants cheered and sighed in relief.

"We will soon reveal the truth about the plant disease after more detailed discussions. However, another pressing problem has occurred in the locked-down territories," Arabella revealed and intentionally paused to gauge their reaction.

"There’s more?!"

Her assistants were wide-eyed and pondered what else could be happening.

"Yes. Due to the lockdown and the burning that had been going on incessantly, the people had grown frustrated and fearful..."

Arabella then informed them of the concerns Ivan pointed out in his letter.

She let them process the situation before she added, "For these concerns, we need both short-term and long-term solutions. For instance, I plan to pay them a short visit and get their attention away from the knights’ activities even for a short time."

"Your Majesty will head there?!"

Her assistants gawked at her before they recalled it was rude and stopped it.

"Yes. I want to see the situation for myself. His Majesty had been the one taking care of the situation there, but I want to join there as well now that the war with Crux is over," Arabella explained.

[Ah, right. Her Majesty is one to involve herself indeed. She had visited our territories too, just because we became her assistants.]

[Her Majesty was also there for Safiro, and everyone from my tribe is very much grateful and honored for her presence and help.]

[Her Majesty greatly helped my family and Prudencia. I’m sure she will do the same for the locked-down territories.]

Her assistants calmed down when they realized she had already gone to various territories.

"My visit to the territory could only serve as a distraction for at least a day or two, or several days at a maximum. Thus, we need more. What activities can you suggest be conducted as a short-term solution to help ease their frustration and fear? Anything that could distract them is welcome."

Arabella decided to ask them since they were from leading houses who had been well-educated as possible heirs.

She had some ideas from her activities as a princess in Lobelius and her past life, but it was better to get input from the Valerians themselves.

After all, Arabella was not that involved with the local people in her past life, so her assistants would have more ideas suited to Valerians.

[Her Majesty’s visit could distract them for weeks, even months. But with the dire situation, some would still remain pessimistic indeed.]

[Hmm, a distraction...]

"May I suggest something, Your Majesty?"

Narcissa was the first to raise her hand.

"Of course. What is it?"

"Since they are not in the best moods, giving them some fun might help. What about theatrical plays, Your Majesty? I know a lot of producers we may contact," Narcissa suggested.

"But aren’t they in a dire situation and highly worried about their future finances to even spare any for plays?" Denzel contradicted.

"Then, we can make it for free. If I speak with my parents, I’m sure they can sponsor the cost," Narcissa countered.

"Hmm," Arabella thought about it.

"As a short-term solution, theatrical plays would indeed be a good distraction since those whose work had been most affected had nothing else to do, which was why they were getting more and more frustrated as days passed by," Arabella concurred.

She glanced at Eunice, who noted Narcissa’s suggestion.

"See? I told you," Narcissa proudly said in a low voice to Denzel.

"There’s no need to worry about the budget either. The palace will take care of it, so feel free to suggest," Arabella added.

If the budget were not approved, she could also use her own personal allowance.

Arabella receives a monthly personal allowance as the Empress, and she has been barely using it.

Since she had no use for it anyway, she could allocate it to whatever she wanted.

She still had a lot of gifts to her stocked in storage rooms as well. She could always sell some in case she needed more money.

"Well done, Narcissa. Anyone else?" Arabella said, and Denzel raised his hand. "Yes, Denzel."

"Theatrical plays are usually for adults. The children are likely to get bored if they tag along to watch it. Then we can have a storytelling caravan for them instead. I know a famous group who roams around various territories telling stories for various ages. They happen to be in Riva now. We can ask them to do a storytelling caravan on the locked-down territories for children," Denzel suggested.

[Is he trying to say I only considered the adults?! Children can also watch theatrical plays if they want to. Hmmp! Isn’t he basing on my suggestion?]

Narcissa gave Denzel a side-eye.

However, Denzel’s point was valid.

"That’s also a good suggestion. The parents might be unable to focus and enjoy if their children were with them. Thus, having the kids in a separate event more suited for them is indeed a good idea," Arabella agreed.

"Hehe," Denzel smiled proudly, and sneered at Narcissa who glared at him.

Eunice also noted Denzel’s suggestion.

"Anything else?" Arabella asked, and Odette raised her hand. "Yes, Odette."

"Since we have theatrical plays for the adults and storytelling caravan for the children, what about hygiene and puberty lessons for the teens. We can also add basic etiquette and the like. Of course, it can be scheduled after the theatrical play and storytelling caravan, so they can still join either of the two for fun before having lessons," Odette suggested.

Arabella learned from Dimo in her past life that hiring teachers, even for the most basic things, could be too expensive for commoners and the less affluent.

It was exactly why Dimo was self-taught in the past since he could not afford a teacher as someone who had been kicked out of his home.

Thus, receiving any lessons for free would indeed pique the interest of young learners.

With lessons they originally could not afford suddenly available for free, they might just rush in.

Some adults might even join if a topic they found useful was included.

They may even join simply out of curiosity or simply for the sake of maximizing a free lesson.