CHAPTER 880: CHAPTER 880: IT WAS CREATED WITH MAGIC

Alfredo would likely be knocking on her door in a few minutes.

When Arabella got out, their meal was already served on the table.

Ferdinand instantly perked up when the door of her inner room opened.

He rose to meet her, and Arabella squealed when he suddenly lifted her up in a lover’s carry.

"I can walk on my own," Arabella chided.

Thankfully, it was just the two of them.

Alfredo and one of her maids were outside her chambers, waiting in case they needed something.

"I know. I just wanted to carry you since I know you’re tired. It’s my fault, so I’m taking responsibility," Ferdinand grinned, still shining so brightly with pride.

’Argh! Why is this somehow irritating?’

"You are getting so cheeky," Arabella pinched at his cheek, and Ferdinand simply smiled and settled her down on her seat.

"Haha. You’re so cute even when you look at me like that."

Ferdinand was already used to her reacting like this so he knew how to respond.

"Let’s just eat," Arabella knew there was no use to questioning or debating what he found cute so she simply accepted it.

"Yes," Ferdinand seated himself.

And as usual, saying it was because he exhausted her, Ferdinand was fussy throughout the meal and treated her like a queen the whole time.

She was indeed an Empress. But he was the Emperor.

Thankfully, hidden moments like these, where their rank did not matter, were just for them to cherish.

Only those closest to them knew about it, so there was no way for someone to complain that she was treating Ferdinand like her servant.

Ah, there was one.

Alwin.

But even Alwin understood now that Ferdinand’s actions were his decisions independently and none of Arabella’s fault.

Ferdinand simply pampered her and what can Arabella do if not accept it if her beloved husband insists?

She does pamper Ferdinand too and he enjoyed it as well.

They enjoyed their meal without talking about work and only brought up the topic once they had both bathed and dressed into their working attires.

"What was the urgent thing you had to take care of last night?" Arabella finally inquired when they were in her study.

"Your assistant is truly excellent!" Ferdinand grinned at her.

"Oh, did Ivan find something about the disease?!" Arabella perked up.

"Yes. While having his own experiments, Ivan noticed something was wrong with the plant disease pathogens," Ferdinand began.

Arabella already had an inkling on what Ferdinand might say but she listened with full attention since she did not know all the details in her previous life.

Ferdinand explained that Ivan said no matter how he tried to study the plant disease pathogens repeatedly, there was something he could not isolate and identify for further study.

Ivan felt it might be the key to further understanding the disease which was why he asked for more research equipment from Arabella and Ferdinand.

Ivan also asked permission to research on his own which was why he was able to focus and had his findings.

Ivan informed Ferdinand about his findings and asked if it was alright to let the other researchers know.

Ferdinand agreed and allowed Ivan to study it with the others.

When Ivan pointed it out to the other researchers, they tried looking into it as well and their findings were the same with Ivan.

No matter what they did, they could not identify or isolate what Ivan had marked.

It was not present in other plant diseases they had researched so far. Thus, they all concluded it must be unique to this particular disease only.

What did not make sense was why they could not isolate and study it when they usually could with all the research equipment and technology they currently had.

"Out of curiosity, Ivan asked Zion to check it with magic and isolate it if possible. And that’s when Zion realized the researchers could not identify and isolate it since it was protected by a magic spell. The new disease was a product of magic experiments. It was intentionally created," Ferdinand revealed.

Arabella gulped. This was indeed the disease that caused a lot of problems in her past life.

Alwin was the one Ivan was supposed to ask to check it. And Alwin would discover that it was a result of magic experiments.

However, since Alwin was unconscious, it was Zion who was there with Ivan and noticed it.

"That’s possible?! How did they do it?!" Arabella pretended to be shocked and inquired to satisfy her curiosity.

She also wanted to understand this disease that caused famine in a vast part of the empire in her past life.

"Yes. Based on Ivan and the researcher’s findings, the creator of it used an existing disease as the basis. The creator made a new disease out of it by intentionally hastening the evolution and growth of the pathogens and further mutating them to have their desired effects," Ferdinand explained.

"So whoever created it intentionally spread it in the Empire?!" Arabella once again pretended to be alarmed and only reached this conclusion now.

"Yes. Whoever they are, we will look into this further. It’s clear they intended to create a food shortage in Valeria. For now, at least we know what to work on."

"Whoever made this is so terrible! How could they spread something like this intentionally?!" Arabella sighed. "It is indeed great that we finally have a lead to follow."

After all, it had been a while since they began burning affected flora in the affected locations.

The nobles and common people alike were getting frustrated with the lack of explanation about what was truly going on.

With this major development, they could finally at least announce the disease since from what Arabella knew of the past; Alwin, Ivan, and the other researchers would be able to create a way to completely eradicate this disease soon.

"Zion and the others are not well-versed in agriculture and plant diseases but at least they had removed the magic spell so Ivan and the others could do further research."