Ace of Spades

7: Full House

Katsuki and his guards walked through the forest to get to the city beyond the castle's perimeter to meet with a few of the Dukes on any major report. Maybe a few Barons and Baronesses as well for typical gossip or rumors to uncover. Anything to kill Katsukis free time that didn't involve needing to constantly lay hands on Camie off anyones accord but his. He gets that he needs to get the girl pregnant as soon as possible, but he himself needs some mind stimulation to get his dick up and running. It seems that Camie's bodily charms just aren't enough for him, no matter what he tries.

One thing leads to another, he makes an excuse to leave the castle.

"How long before you think the plague will reach our own borders, Majesty?" One of the guards questions, and Katsuki doesn't give them a glance when they start conversing with one another as they continue their ride.

"Not long, I assume. Todoroki and Yayorouzus came here only a week apart."

"I'm more surprised that the gates haven't closed yet. Not even roads have been blocked." A scoff.

"That's because this isn't infecting people. It's affecting the soils and water-"

"And even when ingested we were completely fine! What kind of Plague even is this?" One exclaimed with a tone that provoked annoyance. There was silence after that. The reason was unknown as the conversation didn't seem to hit anywhere near interesting enough for it to come to a halt, but at least the bustling of bells and shouts at a distance told them that they were getting close to the city. But, it's news for katsuki that ingesting an infected food or source of water doesn't harm the body but tests are to be made to be certain.

Katsuki made his horse go to a trot, the others automatically following behind, until they had finally exited the tree lines of the forest and on to open fields. Fruits, vegetables and grains of the winter end season and first spring grew on each side of them as they walked high above it all along the narrow path. The first houses they encountered were smaller, consisting of people coming in and out of their homes with farming supplies. Some even dismissed Katsuki and his guards and simply walked past in a rush.

Katsuki assumed that they were too busy to see the symbol that represented him as a royal accompanied by his guards of the same. He wasn't in a marked carriege so people of the high rise most likely came to and fro from the castle all the time to go back to their own estate. Others, however, yelled in excitement as they called their husbands and kids to come pay their respects with a heavy bow. Katsuki only looked onto all of the heads, never once being able to see their faces, until he decided to trot a little faster to where the building grew in size. The properties started to increase in size and value, made of harder material to support the homes, and each got bigger and bigger until Katsuki was no longer walking on hard dirt, but stone paths of the busy streets of the Empires inner-city.

Katsuki is a little surprised at seeing so many people out and about. Ever since the plague had started, the only time he was allowed out was when he'd gone hunting. Sure, he's seen nobles in varying ranks scrambling all about in the castle, discussing or making demands to the Emperor about higher costs, but he always knew that they were better protected than everyone else. They had better security and had people who were loyal to them to bid their deeds, unlawfully most of the time, and didn't risk getting sick. But, seeing life bustling about in the streets assured katsuki that the plague really wasn't contagious amongst people. Only on the soil crops grew from and water. Given, the water was surely more contaminated with the dying fish then the crops, but still not a contagious plague by air.