《The Crown of Rhinsburg》 Prologue Family. One should love their family, they should get along with them. Your parents, brothers, sisters, these people should come before all else. Constantly those ideals are repeatedly told to one, almost to the point of indoctrination from childhood to adulthood. As a young child the seeds of doubt in such a beautiful thing were sown into me. I watched as my Father, the king, would disappear from my sight for days, weeks, and months. Having little clue where he went, I simply felt an ember of hate constantly being roused as the years went on. Why should I love this man as a father? What gives him the right to be a father? What gives him the right to even be alive? My mother, the Queen, always looked so pitiful, I couldn¡¯t leave her alone. When father returned, all the occurred was constant yelling and fighting between him and mother. I felt infuriated, but never did anything. How could I? Mother always kept me close, she did everything with me, and didn¡¯t let me stray from her, let alone do anything on my own. I thought of such things as normal, but as the years went on I noticed my lack of freedom wasn¡¯t normal. I grew disillusioned by her constant venting on me about father. As much as I hated the man, I felt more suffocated by the cage I was being stuffed in for my whole life. If I attempted to break away she would break down crying, asking me why I hated her, why was I abandoning her? The burden grew too much, and eventually I stopped loving her as a mother. I couldn¡¯t sympathize with her anymore; I was done being her replacement for the failure of her marriage. In this repulsion that I called my family, I was the youngest of three. I regarded my oldest brother who was eight years older than me, the crown prince, with indifference. Me and him never talked, and even at the age of 15 I can barely recall anything about him. We might have not even been family at that point, but that was the most comfortable family for me. He left me alone and I did the same, I could not ask for more in life. Alas my second brother had too much of a different view. His dissatisfaction with life became mine. He controlled me, dictated what I did, and kept me under his grasp. His attitude was much like father¡¯s, in where you can¡¯t tell what will set him off. One wrong action, word, or even a simple motion would cause him to lash out. I secluded myself in my room in the Palace to avoid these people who I was tied to by blood, but he wouldn¡¯t let me have the only thing I desired, to be alone. If he did something, I had to do it with him. He loved me as a brother, truly. But his love isn¡¯t what one would consider sane. His love was something much darker, much more twisted. Everything had to be controlled. He can¡¯t live without things fitting under his definition. If he believed white was black, disagreement was not allowed. Anything that strays from his definition of the world was wrong. He couldn¡¯t accept that I didn¡¯t want to do things with him. How could I, his younger brother, not want to do everything with him? Impossible. When I tried to fight back, rebel, or whatever one would call it, he wouldn¡¯t allow it. I simply was too weak compared to him to win a fight, and nothing came from complaining to mother or father, since he could skillfully twist the words to completely shut me off as the one in the wrong. Mother and father both simply said,This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Get along, you are brothers.¡± Brothers? So what? Why does that matter? Why will we get along because we came from the same womb? I detest this thing we call family. I can¡¯t comprehend what my brother is thinking. Does he want a brother, or a puppet? This whole family is wrong. Why can¡¯t everyone just leave me alone? Why must I be a servant to my brother? Why must mother make me live this pitiful life, locked in this cold, empty palace? I wish they would all die. This one thought has lingered in my mind since as long as I could remember. I would endlessly imagine the various ways I could stab my brother to death, or be done with father, but I couldn¡¯t do much more than just that, imagining. Third son of King Johann III of Rhinsburg, Emil, a prince born with everything. A prince who had nothing. Oh, woe me, the poor soul who cries of suffering as others starve. While I live in lavishness, my fellow humans die in poverty. Even so, my heart aches. It aches not for them, but in selfishness. The only reason I despair is because I have the privilege to do so. Peasants have not that option; every day is a struggle, a fight to just barely be able to survive. This knowledge never brought me peace. I still hurt, I still felt empty. How narcissistic it must be, but I couldn¡¯t change it. At the Royal School, I held one friend. We have known each other for as long as memory serves me. A commoner by the name of Hedrick. Speaking to him was my greatest respite. I grew to know this boy when he was chosen for a new program forced through by parliament. A meritocratic program where exceptionally talented children could be enrolled in education, something reserved only for the high class. Normally, father would¡¯ve ignored such blasphemy. His educators had done a well job of instilling into his mind two words: divine right. He was the King, a representative of God by birth. His word was God¡¯s and thus infallible. To me it seemed like indoctrination, but to him it was Law. The idea of parliament was a question of his power, a question he would not stand to let rise. My father and his father and every previous King thought so and I¡¯m sure my elder brothers believe it with no doubt as well. Nevertheless, the previous King, my grandfather, suffered deeply from this belief. He resisted and ignored parliament for much of his reign. Aggravated by his continual dismissal of them, they forced his abdication. Now, my father begrudgingly goes along with their demands as representatives of the people, although I doubt he will continue forever. His temper is short and his pride immeasurable; I find it hard to believe he won¡¯t eventually snap. Nevertheless, in this meritocratic program, one child was brought to be taught alongside the youngest prince, an exceptionally intelligent child from among the low class. It was to be a symbol of the closing divide between the classes. Schools for commoners were founded and the Royal School, once only occupied by noble children, was opened to only the most exceptional of them. He, of course was one. I respected his knowledge immensely and trusted him more than any other. Chapter 1 After classes me and Hedrick would talk, we¡¯d have lengthy discussions on different topics. Some of political interest, some of random passing thoughts. It felt normal. It was the one aspect of my life that was comfortable. I love speaking to him. Status mattered not; to me he was more human than any noble. Something about our conversations felt so visceral, so meaningful. He loved life. He was blessed with a loving family, great intelligence, and luck. Never was I jealous, though. I understood that my position was much better. I had wealth, backing, and power. I could do what I want. He could not. While my path was paved, his was forged. In a school where he was looked down upon for his birth, he proudly erected his back, never wavering in his pride. It is said that those who believe themselves to be smart are the greatest fools. This is something I believe to be true. He was a rare breed of man: one who was confident in his intelligence, not out of idiocrasy but reason. He didn¡¯t view himself superior but was glad to acknowledge his strengths. Even in school he had managed to befriend a group of nobles. His charisma was infectious to those around him. He was not humble nor arrogant. It was a charisma not of reach, but of substance. Many disliked his attitude, but a portion gravitated to it. He surrounded himself with other like-minded individuals. When I say the words ¡®like-minded¡¯ I mean not of similar thoughts, but of disposition. Those who question, who think for themselves and learn from each other. Many times, I interacted with this group. I considered them not my friends, but I knew them to be good. I was not fond of others. I didn¡¯t enjoy the company of people as others did. It wasn¡¯t that I hated being in another person¡¯s presence. If asked whether I considered myself sociable or unsociable, I might just say neither. If forced to be clearer, one might say that I had a slight preference for being alone. Even with Hedrick, I wouldn¡¯t always want to speak. Sometimes I would return home to read in isolation or pass time meaninglessly. Only he could be so accepting of my brash attitude when it came to how fickle I was. If he came up to me after class during one of these moments, our conversation would follow such a track, ¡°Hey, Emil! I just heard something interesting from Thomas. Come with me, its quite the story.¡± He would go on. ¡°No, sorry.¡± I would respond. ¡°Ah, do you have some engagement, my bad.¡± Hedrick might add out of concern, or not. I felt no need to lie to him though, and would truthfully tell, ¡°There is no such engagement, I just feel like being alone today.¡± He¡¯d laugh my words off carelessly and leave to do some other activity. My heart felt warm at these actions. He understood me better than even my family. Others would ask if I was okay if I spoke in such a way, but I knew he understood. When I said I wanted to be alone, it wasn¡¯t a statement of sadness. It was the truth and he had no issue with it.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. My fortune in life was having such a friend. He put on no pretense. There was no need between us. Due to my formative years I realized that the idea of family was false. Blood mattered not in determining human relations. It was an irrelevant factor that chained together abuser and abused. I had no issue with loving families, I respected them deeply. But children from dysfunctional families are forced to live with those who hurt them. Family is the only thing you can trust. You must stick together. Never abandon family. Bullshit. Should I worship my father because he fucked my mother? No. To gain respect it must be earned, even from children. To me, family is not defined by heredity, but by merit. People must earn your love. That is why Hedrick is more of a brother than my elder ones. Hedrick is more of my family than anyone else. Heretical I may be in thought, but I am true. I am right. He¡¯s my brother; no one else holds that title in my heart. At sixteen, I was still attending school as per usual. Nothing in my life had changed across a year. That is, until my father called for me. A butler told me to go, it was urgent. This alone left me deeply suspicious. I had a deep sense of foreboding; he never talked to me for any normal matter. I arrived at the throne room where he sat. I stood a small distance from him as he began his long-winded prologue. ¡°It has come to my attention, that a negative influence has been cast upon you for many years. It deeply tears my heart to see someone of my kin being corrupted by such vile things.¡± ¡°What may those things be, my dear father.¡± I asked with a slight tremble in my voice. ¡°That common boy. It is unbefitting a Royal to associate with such low-class peoples. If only that damn parliament hadn¡¯t forced their foolish policies through.¡± The anger in his voice was palpable when speaking. My gaze shifted down as I tried to understand the situation. What was he going to do with Hedrick? ¡°With that said, my dear son, I have failed as a King and a parent by letting such a thing happen. Fear not, for I will rectify it from now on. I have arranged that boy to be sent to the Farlands. His family exiled with him for l¨¨se-majest¨¦. He has tainted Royalty and shall not be forgiven.¡± My mind was boiling at his words. He dared to call me his son when he did such things. He cared not for me but for the purity of his foolish Royal line. ¡°Father! I beg you to reconsider!¡± I blurted in a burst of madness. At my minor act of rebellion, his eyes turned cold. He couldn¡¯t comprehend how I would be questioning him. He was saving me from beasts. It enraged him that I dared to do such a thing. ¡°You dare to insult my decisions!? I am your father and your blood! You have become deluded. Question me more and I will have you sent to an institution.¡± His words chilled my skin. I realized my mistake and my mind went empty as I fell to my knees and asked for forgiveness. There was no chance of reconsideration to begin with. It was already done. Kings were tyrants, he was just in every action and untouchable in status. My opinion mattered not. Chapter 2 After my audience with father, I rushed away to Hedrick¡¯s home. He stayed at the school dorms and was close by. When I reached the school, I saw a carriage outside with him by it. He was packing his stuff to leave. ¡°Hedrick!¡± I called. Seeing me, he waved as if nothing happened. When I reached him we hugged. ¡°I won¡¯t apologize for this, Hedrick. I won¡¯t apologize to you.¡± I said. He knew the meaning of those words. No explanation was necessary. I would not take blame for something that was not my fault, nor would he blame me for it. ¡°I know, that I know. You were never one to be considerate even in bad times.¡± He jokingly said as we released each other from our hug. ¡°You do know me well then, it seems.¡± Our words were the same as always. There were no tears, no sadness. We needed it not. That wasn¡¯t the point. ¡°Hedrick. Never forget, you are my brother. I love you as so and I know you do too. My words are not needed, but don¡¯t let anyone look down on you for who you are. If I am royalty, so are you.¡± He smiled and said, ¡°Of course. Those words were truly unneeded. I would never let someone demean me.¡± I chuckled before shaking his hand. ¡°You will make it anywhere you go. Whether it be here or the depths of hell, I¡¯m certain you could make it work.¡± I said as my final parting words. The Farlands was a new continent discovered two centuries ago. We had large colonies along the coast, although the mainland interfered with them little. From what I¡¯ve heard, over there anyone could make it. Hedrick was smart, and I knew he could adapt. I couldn¡¯t say I didn¡¯t worry, but I trusted. He would become someone great, this I knew. Nothing could stop him. ¡°SEND THEM AWAY!¡± King Johann III screamed incorrigibly towards the men who came to officiate between him and parliament. He had begun to consolidate his power and shut down parliament completely. When tried to be reasoned with he denounced parliament and refused their messengers. He desired to reign as a despot, not willing to share his absolute power with anyone. I watched as the dignitaries stomped out of the hall in frustration. He was writing his own will at this current rate. Sure, he could enforce his tyranny now, but it wouldn¡¯t last. Resentment was building and the people were losing trust in our dynasty¡¯s rule. How long could we last I began to wonder. When would we reach the breaking point? I began to fear. Would they only put my father¡¯s head to the block? Would they even keep our line in place? I realized that I was in danger, that I needed to work to save my life or else. I wished for Hedrick to be here. I could consult with him; he¡¯d know what I need to do.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. No. He was away, I needed to think. I would live no matter what. Even if everyone else around me falls, I shall live. My life has been meaningless for the most part, but all the more reason why I must find it: a purpose for this shallow existence. There was no reason to miss him now, I¡¯d just have to think on my own. The question I first needed to ask was if they wanted to remove our dynasty. I can only hope they still wish to preserve the order in our nation. Eliminating the dynasty which had lasted for centuries would cause a chasm of power and internal struggle. If they thought so as well, I could live. There was no knowing, but it was my only hope. If they desired eradication, my chance might only be to escape. Still, it seemed safe to assume that they did not seek such a thing. First, the dynasty while being held under a lens of suspicion was still generally supported by the populous. Secondly, they were still trying to amicably communicate with the King, even through his unreasonableness. And finally, they had kept the dynasty once before. My grandfather had only been forced to abdicate. My father will surely be executed, but if I convey willingness to compromise, they might be lenient on me. Besides, I¡¯ve never cared for that old fool. His death would be a boon to my life if anything. Setting off with a newly instilled determination, I began to write letters. Each one of utmost secrecy; if father discovered them, I would be slain for high treason, son or not. The thought made me shudder, but inaction would be far worse. Tensions were rising and father was only being more unreasonable by the day. The first set of letters were meant for the members of parliament.
Dear honorable parliamentarians, It is with the utmost concern that I am writing this to the respected members. My father, King Johann III has greatly disgraced our long-held tradition of coexistence. I deeply regret the present state of affairs and offer my deepest sympathies for your terrible plight. My elder brothers have become deluded by the Kings false beliefs, but if it appeases your minds even a fraction, I¡¯ll let my affiliation be known. I stand with the dutiful members of parliament who fight to keep the balance of governance we once had. I hope that my sincerity is well understood, and my regret in being unable to communicate this in person can¡¯t be described. Rather, I am sure my probity may be shown through the actions I have taken. This one has taken a mortal risk in even writing this. If caught one can only imagine the severity of my punishment. Sincerely your deepest ally, Prince Emil Johann Renauld
I stared at the second set of letters with doubt. Addressed to foreign leaders they were requests for asylum. It was insurance. I began to doubt, though. If I sent these and they were discovered, it would antagonize both sides. Parliament would think I had backed down on my promise and father would think I was trying to undermine him. Taking the candle lit on my desk, I held the letters above it. There was no going back. If parliament refused me this palace would be my grave. I must not provoke them. There was nothing else to do but wait. Chapter 3 I watched as another pair of dignitaries were rudely sent away. Taking the opportunity, I slipped a letter towards one of the men. He turned to me in anger at being assaulted randomly, before he saw my appearance. He recognized me and held his tongue. He glanced at the letter before deftly hiding it away on his person. I trusted that he would make it reach the members of parliament. That was all I could do. I anxiously waited as the days passed. I knew not how they would reach me back, but they must. My doubts grew as more suns rose and fell and still no response was brought. After two weeks, a butler knocked on my door and handed me a letter. It seemed they had more connections in the palace than initially understood. Even the loyal butlers had begun to conspire. The members of Parliament expressed gratitude at my condolences. After further discussion, they reached a consensus that if possible, they sook to maintain the dynastic succession as long as their conditions were met. A formal paper with a series of stipulations was attached to the letter, and under each one was a line for me to sign.
To King Emil, our Most Excellent Majesty. Sovereign Lord, Spiritual and Temporal, we of Parliament assemble to petition our Majesty for a series of rights to correct the err of proper rule and governance.
King Emil. This was not a document that had any legal binding; I was not King and held no power. By calling me by this title, they are affirming their support for my reign. They are saying that if I sign this document it will become legal. I will become King. Below this they declared the injustices of the previous King.
He has denied Parliament the right to convene. He has disrupted the division of power and denied the People and Parliament their due rights. His actions have undermined the sanctity of our Nation. Through this, He has renounced his right to the Crown.
They demanded for a series of rights and restrictions.
I. The King may not levy taxes without Parliamentary consent II. Laws would be created and passed by Parliament III. Freedom to elect members of Parliament and freedom of speech within Parliament IV. Freedom from unjust arrest and punishmentA case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. V. The right to petition to the King VI. Inability for the King to raise army during times of peace
Under these six sections many more clauses were clarified, but nevertheless it revoked much power from the King. Taking my pen, I signed each and every legislation with care. Whether I was a puppet or what, it was unimportant to me. Carefully resealing the letter, I stamped it and had that butler send it back. I could only be thankful for these events. Parliament had taken an even greater risk than I imagined. This shows their seriousness. To bring such a document right under the nose of the King, something that could only be answered with death, was quite surprising to me. It cast away all my doubts about how long it took; this was clearly deliberated over daily and heavily planned. They must have amassed more force than initially expected to be so bold. Maybe they¡¯ve already got this palace surrounded. It was heavily guarded, but if they have rallied enough support from the surrounding commoners, they could storm it any second. My sense of impending danger seemed to be more correct than I suspected. Without that piece of paper with my name on it I would have been in the same boat as my father and brothers. They¡¯ve lost their minds, the lot of my lineage. So deluded by their power they forgot who gave it to them. It was not God nor was it tradition; it was the population who they ruled. I would not lose sight of this. Slumping in my chair, I breathed a sigh of relief. Father¡¯s head would roll, and I would live. A fine sacrifice. His actions would never be forgiven. A poor father and King alike, he has harmed his people and those he called family. Father. No, this word wasn¡¯t fit for him. Johann, you¡¯ve sinned. More than one could imagine. I take not blame for what happens. You will become my Lamb. As my mind drifted, I thought of Hedrick. How was he; were the Farlands treating him well? Where he was, I knew not. I couldn¡¯t send a letter nor would I. Not now at least. I needed Johann to trust me for a short while. What were those lands like, across the sea- thousands of miles apart? Were they free there? They practiced self-governance even though they were out colony; no King had enforced their power over the colonies yet. Their freedom was not mine to have. I was born with a duty; power that robs one of liberty. Yes, it would be possible to escape to another nation. I could live without obligation being supported by a foreign dynasty wishing to preserve me to be able to restore our rule. I wouldn¡¯t be free, but I¡¯d have freedoms. Nevertheless, I refuse. I must right the wrong which my predecessors have repeatedly made. This nation was not ready to abolish the monarchy. Parliament and I agreed on this. Too much had we become ingrained with this system. How much blood would have to be shed before the way was found? This was better. A few would die for the many. It should be no other way. Parliament composed of the House of Commons and House of Lords would decide. I just need to be there. Chapter 4 In the morning when I awoke, I heard a large commotion among the staff. This was quite an odd event; they were well trained and would react to almost nothing. It must have been something of tremendous happenings for such a reaction. This couldn¡¯t be good. ¡°What is the issue?¡± I inquired a nearby maid. ¡°His Majesty! He was enraged when he heard that parliament had convened without him. He stormed the Parliamentary house and detained every member with his personal troops!¡± My face contorted in shock. Fuck. Father was never the brightest, but that enabled him to make decisions with reckless abandon. Had he found out about our correspondence? No, think! I wouldn¡¯t be here right now if he was aware of my connection. I still have time. What do I do? How can I avoid the worst case; should I escape? The idea of doing that sickened me. First, I needed to calm down. I couldn¡¯t think properly right now. Closing my eyes, I clung my hands together as I tried to free my mind of thought. Resetting myself, I decided on my initial step: find that butler who gave me the letter. Looking around, I saw another servant who had been near when the butler was leaving after delivering me the letter. ¡°You there! Do you remember the butler who came to my room yesterday? Who is he?¡± ¡°Yes, Prince Emil, he is named Fredrick and should be in the butler¡¯s room on break.¡± The servant succinctly replied. Off I went with haste. There was no time to dally. Slamming the door open to the room, I scanned it for Fredrick. Others on break reacted with shock at the sudden intrusion. I wasted no time and grabbed him by the cuff. ¡°Come with me, immediately.¡± I said dragging him out of the room. In an unpopulated hall, I continued. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of what happened. Tell me more in depth what you have heard from the other staff. Where are they being held?¡± Fredrick regained his composure quickly and began explaining. ¡°His Majesty has had them locked in The Tower. From what I¡¯ve heard he plans to have every single one put to death.¡± Father, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if you were trying to die? Their death would be his; the people would not put up with such an injustice. Parliament is their representative, to kill them would be to disenfranchise every citizen. None would take this sitting down. More importantly, if he went through with this it would bury me as well. The entire royal family would be massacred in revenge. The issue was where they were being held. The Tower was less of a tower than a fort. A compact four-story building with a tower on each corner holding watchmen. Getting them out through forceful means would be impossible. It must be heavily guarded by now. An idea came to my mind; it was risky, but it would be extremely effective if it could work. Its simplicity allowed for it to be possible. I told Fredrick to arrange as many carriages as possible, enough to carry every member of parliament, and fast. He looked confused at my words, but I had no time to explain. Taking large steps, I made my way towards the inner palace rooms. Knowing my father, he was gloating in the throne room about his grand victory. Taking the opportunity, I made my way towards his private chambers. The guard there stopped me.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Prince Emil. What do you need here?¡± Not even his children were just permitted to enter. That wouldn¡¯t stop me though. ¡°You block me?! Father requires an item in here urgently and I must get it for him.¡± The guard looked fearful for a second at disobeying but stayed steadfast. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I require direct permission from His Majesty.¡± Damn. He was too well trained. Nevertheless, I needed to enter there. Looking around me I checked for other people. There was no one. I had to do it; no time for thinking. I felt a tremble in my hands, but I steadied them. If I was to do this, it had to be quick and deliberate. A single mistake would be too costly. ¡°Look, I have it right here! A letter of approval from my father.¡± I said while looking through my coat with one hand. With his attention was on that, I subtly reached under the backside of my coat. I looked into the man¡¯s eyes while I fumbled around my pockets. His pupils were still focused on my left hand. With the right, I burst out with a sudden moment of aggression. Held in my grasp was a dagger. Wrenching it in between his shoulder and neck, I gave him no chance to react. He yelped in shock before collapsing in his own blood which flowed out viscously. I stepped over his corpse, not giving myself the time to be disgusted with myself. I rummaged through the drawers of his chamber in a frenzy, leaving a path of destruction in my wake. Finally, I found it. The Royal stamp. Taking the letter set on his night table, I frantically wrote. Finishing the document, I signed with my father¡¯s name and stamped. Rushing out of the room, I tripped over the guard¡¯s limp body. Blood soaked into my coat, I checked to see if it reached the underlayer. Thankfully it hadn¡¯t yet. Taking off the coat, I continued towards the palace exit. Once outside my chauffeur noticed me and said he would arrange the carriage. I told him to not bother and began to sprint. His expression must have been something at the sight of the third Prince running like a maniac, but I had no time to look back. Urging the men at the gate to open it, I slipped through the partially opened exit. My breath was ragged as I ran like my life depended on it. My life did depend on it. Every step felt heavier, but I kept going. Eventually, I reached the corner where I would turn and see the entrance to The Tower. This was it. Chapter 5 Regaining my breath, I rested for a moment trying to appear composed. I turned the corner and saw the front of The Tower. I walked at a deliberate pace, not wanting to appear stressed to the people up front. They recognized me and bowed. ¡°Prince, what is your honorable presence doing here, in such a retched place?¡± The guard on the left questioned. ¡°His Majesty, Johann III, has tasked me to personally deliver this.¡± I said handing over the parchment I had falsified. I glanced behind me at the sound of many horse carriages stomping their way down the street. I must reward Fredrick for his contributions. The guard read the paper with evident dismay. ¡°He has ordered for their release?¡± He questioned. ¡°Yes, His Majesty realized the error in his hasty judgement and in his wisdom ordered the wrong to be righted.¡± The guard holding the letter hastily entered The Tower to report this to his superior. After the lengthiest thirty minutes of my life, I finally saw people being released from the doors. Hundreds of confused parliamentarians exited. I needed to rally them. They all knew of my affiliation, so I shouted. ¡°Men, it is I, Prince Emil Johann Renault. Under the King¡¯s mercy you have been freed. Come with me by the carriage¡¯s I have arranged. It is the least we could do for the cruel treatment towards you Honorable fellows. We will ride to another location where I can further explain the circumstance.¡± I hoped they had enough reason to understand the true meaning of my words. The King would never do such a thing. I heard whispers across the group before they seemed to come to a consensus and individual members began to step into carriages. Exiting one of said carriages, Fredrick came towards me. ¡°Thank you, Fredrick. I am sorry but I must ask more of you. Gather as many sympathizers as you know and spread what has happened among the commoners. Don¡¯t go to the news, they most likely have been censored already by Johann III. Say, ¡®Prince Emil stands with Parliament.¡¯ I further whispered to him where we were going and told him to tell others to gather there.¡± He nodded vigorously and rushed off to his new task. Once again, I thanked him in my mind before directing the carriages.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Go to Ravenswick Castle.¡± With that I hopped in an empty carriage and set off with the convoy. It was a four-hour trip, but the confusion from what had happened should make it hard for Johann III to get clear information on the escape. Besides, Ravenswick was the perfect location to consolidate a force. It was a fortress that had been left unmanned due to its decreasing necessity and would act as an ideal base of operation. Mustering an army of professional troops was not easy. The personal Royal guard, while strong were small. To relocate all the men dispersed through the nation would take weeks; we would strike with a large peasant force before this could be allowed. Once the rumors I had told Fredrick to spread reached the King¡¯s ears, he would act. Currently, he was most likely still celebrating having imprisoned Parliament. When he realized they had escaped he would order their recapture. It would be too late then. It was dark as we arrived the castle. Leaving my carriage, I explained. ¡°Gentlemen, I thank you for your patience. As I am sure you¡¯re aware, it was not the King¡¯s prerogative to have you freed. I have done this against his will.¡± A commotion spread around the members as I finally confirmed their suspicions. Someone called back. ¡°Well, what will we do?! Why have you brought us here?¡± ¡°I shall explain. This fort will become our base of operations. I have arranged for the spread of our location here. By the morning a storm will have accumulated here. As quickly as we can organize the fine people who will come to support our noble cause, we will set off. There is no time to let Johann III arrange his troops!¡± Voices of agreement spread across the members. I told everyone to rest, even though I knew it would be difficult at best. There were quarters for troops, after all it was a fortress, but it had been unmanned for many years. Furnishings were gone and dust had built up. I sat against the hard cobble wall of my room which usually was held by the fort¡¯s general. Thoughts of this day flowed back into my consciousness. Never had I been so close to my mortality; so aware of how every action could lead to my demise. I killed a man. He had not done evil. He had loved ones, friends. It was not such an insignificant act that I could ignore it. It would be easy to justify if it was in self-defense or to avenge something, but it was not. If put in the same situation, I would repeat my actions every time, yet there is still a pain in my heart for that man. Saying my final apologies in my mind, I pushed those thoughts away. More blood would spill. Many more soldiers and peasants would die in the struggle against tyranny. I resolved myself to accept these consequences. No matter the costs, I would have Johann III¡¯s head. Looking out the iron-barred windows of my room on the third floor, I grinned. The sun was up, and thousands of peasants were funneling into the central field of the fort. People carried kitchen knives, axes, swords, and other miscellaneous tools they had gathered in a hurry. The quality of arms was not well, but quantity was the more immediate factor. The Royal Guard which should be fully mustered by now would be 5,000 strong. This crowd was double that. Still, with our current equipment we would be crushed by cannon and musket fire. The palace itself was a poor point of defense. Its gate would be easy to break down. There was never an expectation of conflict during its design. Chapter 6 In the distance I saw wagons of food arrived. Hearing my stomach growling, I realized my error. Fredrick must have arranged this. If not for him our force would have lost due to provisions. Those wagons would be enough to sustain a few days if rationed properly. More than enough. This fort had a capacity of 12,000, so it should be possible for everyone to have space to sleep, although it would be uncomfortable at best. I now had first-hand experience with this reality. Hard rock made one question whether it was possible to sleep. Still, these people had traveled for a full day to arrive here and would be exhausted. The key to a campaign was food and sleep. Exiting onto the balcony, I called to the crowd. ¡°Good people! I thank you for your knightly determination in coming here! You are tired, and you are hungry. Justice cannot be fought for on an empty stomach and a muddled mind. Eat your fill and sleep. It will not be easy, but we must do so. On the morrow of next day, we will set off!¡± Applause erupted from the mass. It was of such a scale that the ground shook from their calls. ¡°To Prince Emil!¡± Parliamentarians helped to direct and organize the flow of people. Food was handed out and people entered the large barracks to try to get what rest they could. A select group of the members of parliament came to my room to strategize. ¡°Welcome, Lord Drex, Lord Alans, MP Whitten, and MP Goddings.¡± Two members from both Houses had been selected for this meeting as representatives of parliament entirely. It was not common procedure, but too many opinions would make a military plan hard to agree on. Looking at a map of the city, they planned the best route for a large militia to reach the palace. When discussing the assault, Emil chimed in. ¡°I understand your great desire to directly defeat our enemy, but such haste might chase us towards a wall of cannons. May I recommend a detour?¡± Not waiting for their response, I continued, ¡°I believe we are in a critical lack of supplies. The palace will have armaments and outfitted soldiers with weapons. In my knowledge of Johann III, he is a paranoid man. Most of his forces should be concentrated near the palace. His generals might advise otherwise, but I am sure the fine members of Parliament know best his disposition towards the distrust of outside opinions. Our best chance is to strike the royal arsenal ten miles to the east and go from there.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Through this, it would enable us to gain access to the level of firepower the royal guard has. There was nothing to be done about organization, these men had no training, but with numbers it would be possible to overwhelm. The greatest challenge will be getting through the palace gates and crossing the field to get into the palace itself; once inside it would not be spacious enough for the royal guard to make use of their superior skill. There was nothing stopping a mass of people going down a narrow hall. The casualties of the initial assault will not be miniscule. Charging against direct fire would lead to major loses in the front line. Fortunately, the palace gates were just that, gates. They were feeble to direct attacks and would break fast. The gate fence was not possible to be manned or hold cannons. This meant they would either be placed on the outside to prevent entrance or the inside to massacre those coming in. They had not the ability to shoot down from the walls like a fort such as this one could; that would be our saving grace. Past those concerns, there was no further discussion. In depth strategy could only be formulated with a well-trained army. The less control you had over them, the simpler the plan must be for success. Besides, if the peasants had one thing, it was morale. They were a powder keg lit from the oppression of Johann III, and they were ready to explode. Anguish welled in me at the thought of tomorrow. I hated this all. It was rubbish. Never have I sought such a thing, to fight and to command. Really, I was scared. Who was I to decide how to spend the lives of so many? King? Did a title enable me to discard remorse for my actions? Would I be forgiven for what I did to that guard? These questions plagued my person, yet I must push. Push and keep pushing; I had already walked down this path. To turn would be death. Death had become my motivation; it made my feet continue to walk as I tread this blood soaken road. To show confidence in front of others was a bravado, a sham. I was a wreck inside. Every decision weighed me down more. I felt the burden bearing down as I lied to myself and others. Would our attack work? I was sending men to dive headfirst into a battle I had no surety about. This alone made me sick. Sick of myself and sick of this world. My gut had been filled with dread ever since Johann III arrested parliament. The best I could do was put on a fa?ade. The mask of a leader. I was a Prince, a born ruler. Someone who knew what was best, what I needed to do. I repeated it in my head, this mantra. There would be no time for such thoughts tomorrow. I must be able to react to change and act on it. Chapter 7 We had been marching since morning. The distance from the fort to the palace was 40 miles. After taking into consideration exhaustion, we took a short break around the halfway mark to rest. As we marched down the city streets, more people amassed into the group. The original ten thousand strong had gained a few thousand more. Every extra body would help. Following our plans, we went eastward towards the arsenal. Down the street, men marched further than the eye could see. It was an unstoppable mass. Battle cries rang among the formations as the arsenal came in sight. The marching pace turned to a sprint as the thousands of people on the front charged the building. From eye it appeared there were a measly one thousand guards dispersed around the premises of the building. Our arrival had been announced hours in advance with how slow our march was, but surprise was of no concern. Brute force was what we would use. Cannons had been prepared and lined. Huge blasts erupted as they shot straight into the crowd. Even from the backline I could feel my eardrums rupturing. Dozens of people fell, only to be trampled by those behind them. The confusion that ensued from the firing had only spurred people forward. In a fury they breached straight towards the building, clashing with the guards who had formed a line. Flintlocks went off to no affect. The spot of those who fell to the musket fire were quickly refilled. The guardsmen hurried to reload their weapons until they saw the closing distance. There was not enough time. Some turned to flee, while others pulled out their sabers. No matter the decision, the horde had rapidly approached and now trampled them mercilessly. The guards were obliterated in one swift act of brutality. Just like that it had ended. People funneled into the building, ready to finish off the remainders. Only a small portion could enter, leaving people outside to disperse and take a rest. What was revealed was carnage. Blood splattered across the streets aimlessly; limbs lay strewn. Corpses of civilians with gaping holes in their chest and of soldiers who had been mutilated coated the roads. It was hell on earth. Some were bragging to their companions about how they had gotten one or began looting the bodies for souvenirs. It was all so¡­ inhuman. In the arsenal we were able to retrieve a few thousand flintlocks. Departing, we marched towards our final destination, the palace. By the time we reached it, darkness was setting in the sky. The people were tired, and it would be hard to siege at night when the enemy was alert. Inside the gates dozens of cannons were lined up front. The royal army had tents lined along the miles of land in front of the palace and cannons were set up by the dozens surrounding the buildings perimeter. To allow our men to rest, we quartered them in the buildings surrounding the palace. A few thousand were kept on night watch to keep the palace in check, all else were sent to sleep. Food was plentiful as homes were gladly providing for their fellow peasants.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Looking at the palace I had resided in since only a few days ago, mixed feelings entered my heart as I thought of all those who would die from an assault. The people in this mass were too frenzied, too crazed to spare a soul. Johann III was ordered to be specifically caught alive, but it would be hard to even guarantee that. If we prolonged this, it would be possible to starve them out. They had no means to retrieve food and would be forced to give up. This would be the best case, but it was impossible. Mobs relied on emotion. If we delayed an attack dissent and desertion would appear among the group. In the morning, as preparations were completing, thousands of royal guardsmen watched in anticipation. They would begin firing once we were in range. They had lined along the fence and would stick their flintlocks through the gate gaps and fire the second we got too close. A retreat line of dozens of cannons had been established along the midway point of the field for once we would begin to overtake the gate. The guards were formed into columns that would allow the front to move back after firing, allowing for efficient reload. This wouldn¡¯t be the same as the arsenal. Even if we broke open the gate, concentrated cannon fire would decimate those entering. It was a choke point that would limit our entrance speed and maximize deaths. I was truly glad I wouldn¡¯t be a part of this suicide march. I watched as our men began to line from my impromptu headquarters along with some other members of Parliament. ¡°What a terrible sight.¡± One remarked. I found myself agreeing to these words. What a truly terrible sight. Standing up, I began my address, the last one many of these people would hear. ¡°Men of valor! Today is the day! Within those gates lies our enemy. His reign of terror will be no more! Be brave! Be strong!¡± Raising my right arm, I shouted. My voice echoed across the crowd who became mad with resolve. A jumble of cries arose from the crowd as they began to march forward. Steadily they moved forward. Four hundred yards, three hundred yards. The distance closed incrementally. The masses clamors continued while the royal guards watched in diligent patience. Two hundred yards. Right as people on the front line touched a hundred yards in distance, a rain of musket balls burst out towards them. Held in the hands of those charging were similar muskets looted from the arsenal. Each person came with only one shot. That was all that was needed. Still, even at the distance where the guards had begun to pick off into the crowd, killing hundreds per wave of fire, they held off on shooting. The muskets were grabbed from the corpses of those who had fallen. The distance from one hundred yards to fifty seemed forever. The incessant line of musket fire slowed the marches pace greatly. Nevertheless, they trudged on. No matter whether hundreds or thousands died, they would enter that building. Chapter 8 Finally, the army of peasants were within 50 yards of the gates. For the first time, the disorganized mass did something. A series of throaty throaty shouts resounded from the front to back. ¡°STOP!¡± ¡°STAND STILL!¡± ¡°HALT!¡± Miraculously, the jumbled together army of civilians who had never been trained all stopped and stood in place. The people on the front lines held their muskets straight and returned fire. Their individual aim was subpar at best, but a good amount of their shots managed to place a target. This was because they had made up for this by closing the distance to half of the weapons effective shooting range; besides, they were aiming at a wall of soldiers, not a single target. The row behind came up and began to shoot while the others reloaded. It was the same strategy that the royal guard were using. They took over double the time per shot due to only having received rudimentary training in it, but this strategy proved to be correct. In a straight up shoot off, one thing mattered: numbers. Like during their charge, those who fell were replaced quickly. While it would be possible to push forward and reach the gate without such a stratagem, it was the best for our side. The more of those soldiers who fell back once we reached the gate, the more who would be there to support the cannons on our second, much more lethal push. The longer the royal guard held and refused to retreat, the more of an edge we gained. This rally continued over an hour. By that time half the enemies five thousand had been wounded. There was no way to know exactly but our troops had taken over double their loses. This result seemed poor, but we still stood over nine thousand strong while they had a little over two and a half thousand. At last, the royal guards began to retreat. Noticing this, a call to push was raised. ¡°Forward!¡± The gate was made quick work of, and our men began to squeeze through. I cringed as I watched, knowing this portion to be the truest test of our men¡¯s resolve. That same ear bursting explosion began to erupt as it had in the assault on the arsenal. Cannons pounded away at the narrow entrance that people desperately tried to funnel through. People tripped on the pile of bodies that had begun to build. The palace was a mere 40 yards away from the gate entrance, yet this would be the most arduous struggle of the entire battle. I watched as lives were thrown away like that of flies, it was a wretched thing. They continued to make their way through the gates as if they had no concept of death. Their valiance would never be forgotten. The distance between each individual person had widened as the full brunt of our force made its way in. This reduced the effectiveness of cannon fire, but as muskets began to remix into the fray once the royal guard had reorganized, it began to look grim. Another two thousand had been wounded during the first ten-yard push. Now that everyone had made it past that gate, the causulties had become reduced, but they were nothing to scoff it. The original marching pace had turned into a sprint as the worry of ruining the formation had become non-existent; whatever semblance of a formation we previously had was gone. The mad run continued, and hundreds fell by the minute. The musket fire had become more accurate as the mass got closer. But we were gaining. We were so close.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Seeing the first row of people contacting the enemy, I knew we had won. The guards¡¯ muskets had long been replaced with sabers and the peasants wielded their myriad of weapons. We had been whittled down to five thousand, a horrifyingly low remainder of our original force which was over thirteen thousand by the time we had reached the palace. Still, we outnumbered them by double and there was no way to make up for this gap in close combat. I began to walk towards the bloodbath. Stepping over the wall of carcasses that had formed at the gate, I walked towards the battle which had begun to favor us. By now, the survivors of this would only accept one result: annihilation. The royal guard where fiercely massacred with a savageness I hadn¡¯t seen even in the previous battle at the arsenal. After another hour of combat, the fighting had begun to die down. The royal guard was nearly eliminated, and men rushed into the palace to apprehend everyone inside. I could only hope they still had a minute amount of mercy in them to spare the unarmed staff. Walking through the field of corpses, my heart sank. I had caused this; I had created this result. It was an inescapable reality. These people had laid their bodies for a better future; one they would never witness. They had followed through with the ultimate sacrifice. I would never amount to an inch of what these men had done. Rest in peace fine men, be assured; what you fought for was not naught. I will make sure. ¡°This is treason! I¡¯ll have the lot of you killed!¡± Johann III screamed furiously. His voice was overpowered by the jeers at the fallen King who was being dragged out of his palace. My mother was carried out by two people. She remained motionless, having collapsed during the arrest. Maybe it was all too much for her, but the beat of her heart had ceased in that moment. She was declared dead. My brothers similarly struggled alongside Johann in vain. They had not committed his sins, but they were caught up in his foolish beliefs. They believed themselves to be divine inheritors and were complicit in his reckless tyranny, never once questioning him. A silver lining was that the people found enough heart in themselves to spare those who didn¡¯t resist within the palace. Walking up to the steps of the palace door, I pulled out a sheet of paper. Loudly my voice echoed across the large courtyard. Silence began to permeate as everyone began to understand his words. ¡°My dear subjects; I sorrowfully address you today. Today we have become stained in blood. The previous King has neglected his duty to you. My brothers have failed to correct him. He has reigned not as a King of Rhinsburg, but a Tyrant. His predecessor similarly failed the Nation. The people have cried for reason, for justice. The age-old institution of Parliament was neglected, abused, and ignored. They attempted to reason with an irreconcilable dictator. MP¡¯s petitioned for rights, and for balance. To the cry of the people, of our nation, I answer ¨C For Justice!¡± Cheers resounded across the streets as it concluded. ¡°Long live King Emil!¡± For the next month I resided in a noble¡¯s estate while the palace underwent restoration. Parliament began its first official convention and my declaration as well as the new Act limiting my rights spread across the nation. Somehow, I had managed to avoid a full-on revolution. This could only be considered one of the best results. Chapter 9 This rebellion will never be forgotten; it has been etched into our history. It will forever change the direction of Rhinsburg. It signifies the shift of power from King to Parliament. The position of King has many rights; the prerogative to declare war, to handle foreign affairs, to control the military during times of war. A supplementary clause was revised and added to the new act. A seventh condition.
VII. Neither the King nor his army may step foot in Parliament.
The people were still angry about what had happened. Many had died and those lives would not just be brushed aside. They had families, wives, children, friends. Thousands were dead and would not come back, thousands more were injured in ways that would never recover. The palace which symbolized our rule had become a battlefield. In memory of the battle that occurred there, graves were placed; thousands of them lined the huge field on the inside of the gates. It served as a reminder. A reminder of the tragedy, and a reminder to the monarchy. Don¡¯t forget, you are not infallible. For too long had our dynasty ruled without concern for the people or the country. This was the last straw. The people were only willing to give up so much before they would resist. If I or any of my descendants failed from now on it would not be so easily passed off. Every time we looked out of this palace those graves would be there. Nothing could change what has happened, the only thing one could do was serve to prevent it from reoccurring. To learn from our past and continue into the future. Away from rows of graves, one laid alone. It was a lonely memorial. There was no name on it, only a date. Two days before the battle. This man had died two days before any fighting even began. He died by my hands, something that will haunt my life. He deserved not his fate. I had no knowledge of if he had a family, who he was, or what his name was. If the graves were a reminder to the monarchy, he was a reminder to me. Look what you¡¯ve done. This man died from your dagger, from your foolishness Johann III was now locked away in The Tower, the very place he had sent Parliament. I walked through its heavy doors with unreconcilable angst in my heart. That man was here. He had been the lord of my life. Just as he acted as an absolute monarch in government, he was a monarch in family. Power meant everything to him. To stand above others must be his greatest joy. Now, he lay locked away, alone in his cell, powerless. When he saw me, he stood up with great vigour.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Emil! Have me released this instant!¡± He said. ¡°I will not.¡± I succinctly responded. ¡°You defy me, your father? I brought you into this world you bastard. Have you no love for your parents? Was killing your own mother not enough for you?¡± His words managed to touch on nearly every feeling of resentment I had for him. He had a knack for torturing others with his words. Internally, I was seething. Yet, I wouldn¡¯t give him that satisfaction of seeing me mad. I wouldn¡¯t bow to him anymore. ¡°Johann III. You are no father. The one who abandoned mother was you. To say that I killed her when you held not an ounce of love in your heart for her is disgraceful. Don¡¯t mention her. Unless you want to visit the dungeon; I¡¯m sure you would have fun with the various contraptions down there.¡± He flinched at these words. As a King he had been one to hand out punishments with ease. He knew best what was down there and what it could do to a man. Still, he was a stubborn man. ¡°What treachery! How could you treat me, the King, in such a cruel manner! This is treason!¡± He said. ¡°You have renounced your right to the Crown. Do not be mistaken; I am the King.¡± I said while taking my leave. I heard some shout from him, but I ignored the words. I desired no longer to speak with him. Today I visited the royal graveyard. A new stone rest there. My mother laid below that patch of dirt. Looking back, I resented her for trying to cage me. Nevertheless, she loved me. She loved our family more than anyone else in it. Her heart was warm for us, but her mind not well. Trapped in her fear of abandonment she isolated herself from the ones she loved dearest. A tinge of sadness touched my heart as I looked down on her. I was too cold a child. Too cruel to her. In the time I prepared to save myself, I thought of no one else. I considered not her well-being. Resentment still lingered in my heart, but I forgave her. Forced into a political marriage with a man who held little love she grasped onto her child; never wanting him to leave she restricted him. Later, he abandoned her, and further he caused her death. In my heart I knew Johann III was right. I killed mother. I never have believed in filial piety, but never should someone have to suffer so much. The least I could do for her was to give her a comfortable place to rest. Johann would not get that privilege. His fate had been decided. Johann III was to be executed, my brothers to be stripped of their titles and exiled. At the age of 17, I was King. Chapter 10 I sat upon the chair provided for me. Across, a short distance were the gallows. Many people surrounded the elevated platform screaming in indignation. Atop it, a man with a large axe stood by a block which fit a man¡¯s head. Up the stairs a cuffed man was dragged. Johann refused to even give his last moments dignity it seemed. Everyone laughed as they watched him be forcefully brought towards his death. It all seemed quite morbid to me, and I watched with disinterest. People in crowds were no longer people, they were a mob. Morals become greyed and it is almost as if the individuals form together into one single entity. It was a truly fearsome sight to witness, how barbaric man could be. Another man announced, ¡°For your crimes of treason against the Country and People. You are hereby sentenced to death.¡± His head was pushed down into the block, and his body held down. I watched intently as the executioner¡¯s axe rose above his head, then down. The crowd grew louder as his head dismembered from his body. It rolled a slight distance before the executioner picked it up. Raising it for everyone to see, he held it by the scruff of its hair. I looked into the still open eyes of Johann. I wondered if it was true, that he could witness his last moments without a body. Is he seeing me? Could he view the mass of people who had come to denounce him? I must admit, the sight was gruesome at best. I did not enjoy the spectacle, although I felt no sorrow for that man. He had his just deserts. Standing up, I walked away. The palace had finally been fully restored, and I was moved to it. I resided in the same room which Johann and my mother did as well as every prior ruler. Life was not much different. I was used to being attended to by butlers and servants. Whenever my mind would drift, as it often did, I would look out into the field. Right now, a keeper was maintaining the many graves. He diligently cleaned each and every grave as he systematically went through the field. I would think about it often; the rebellion. It had shaped me and would continue to. Taking my eyes away from that field, I got ready for bed. Tomorrow was a big day. It was the morning of my coronation. Before the event I was fitted into a long, red silk robe which dragged many feet behind me as I walked. Two people had to carry it behind me as I gaited down the long hall towards the throne. Chorus chanted and bugles blared. The clergy and parliament lined the sides of the hall. Reaching the stairs, I slowly climbed the steps to the throne. I took a knee before the archbishop, putting my hand on the bible and swore my oath.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Will you swear to govern the people of Rhinsburg and the Farlands territories with respect to the Law and order?¡± ¡°I sincerely promise.¡± ¡°Will you act in the interest of Law and Justice to bring Mercy in all of your judgements?¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Will you uphold the Will of God and act to preserve the Clergy, their churches, and all rights of them?¡± ¡°I promise to this and all which has been before promised, so help me God.¡± Rising, I moved towards the throne, and took my seat. The choir loudly sang in praise until all went silent. Taking the Crown, the archbishop said a prayer before resting it on my head. It was heavy. So much heavier than one could imagine. Its weight unbearable. The weight of a Monarch. This ceremony was etched in tradition. Tradition made of centuries of monarchs who had come before me. Now, the mantle was mine to take, the Crown atop my head. What the future held was uncertain, and how Rhinsburg would be involved was even less. Would my reign be looked back on positively? Only time will tell. All I can do is try to lead in the way I see best fit. To do what I think is in my people¡¯s interest and listen to them if I misstep. Chanting continued and the procession neared its end. I stood from the throne and walked down the path. My deliberate steps lead me back towards the doors I entered through. I looked forward as I kept my pace. Crossing through the exit, Fredrick slowly closed the doors behind me. He was my personal butler now. He was a good man, one who acted well on orders and who was filled with intelligence. There is no mistaking that he played a pivotal role in the revolution. If he had not carried out my orders successfully at any moment during the events our rebellion would have collapsed. How could I lead a nation if I didn¡¯t reward those who¡¯ve done well? A King must be attentive to his subjects if he is to keep touch with his humanity. It was easy to lose yourself in the position. Authority turned men into beasts, shadows of their former selves. Salvation is distant from those who amass excess wealth and power. We are a corruptible thing, us humans. A man given an inch will take a mile; our thirst for more was endless. Chapter 11 I received a letter from Hedrick. How long had it been? If my coronation was five months ago then it must have been around six since he left. During the empty time of my life, he would rise back into my mind. When everything had been happening, I was too focused on current events, but now that it had calmed, he came up more and more. I dearly missed my friend, my brother. ¡°I¡¯ve been in the Farlands for a bit now, it is unlike any other land you¡¯ve seen. Towns are small and spread apart. Mother nature dominates this continent. It is not an easy place. The living is hard, but free. The formalities of Rhinsburg have been largely discarded; people are much more open to new ideas and are constantly innovating. I am doing well here. I have begun to reside in the north. The people here value education, a sentiment I deeply respect. Every child is sent to compulsory school, what a novel concept.¡± His letter contained trivial details and events occurring around him, yet it warmed my heart greatly. From what he had written, not all was good in the colonies. There were many difficulties there that could not be so easily rectified: harsh conditions, Indians, and other various nuisances. Nevertheless, he seemed happy. He was doing well and would help to contribute to solving the issues of the Farlands. The letter was postmarked to three months ago. He surely had heard of the usurpation, yet nothing mentioned it. He was an odd fellow in that way. He didn¡¯t congratulate, rebuke, or anything in relation to those bloody events. Instead he focused on the minor things, the things others would regard as unimportant. He cared not about my position or status, he was my friend and he wouldn¡¯t change that. His steadfastness in his actions always was what I admired most about him. He was filled with a surety that I lacked: a confidence, not born of falsification like mine, but of himself. I feared a life of boredom. The idea of being bored was worse than death. It was a slow, torturous blade; it stabbed deeper and deeper, leaving a gaping wound in your body that bled and became infected. Reading was enjoyable but evanescent. When enraptured in a good piece of literature, it would evoke great joy, yet afterwards there was only void. It was a temporary escape; there was only so long one could run away before they were brought back to the world and its plaguing issues. I sat up reading with a lanterns light. I was fond of the nighttime, it calmed me to be covered with its darkness. One privilege of being King was this chair. This should be my throne rather than that bulky, hard thing I was forced to sit on during important events. My interest left the book on the table as I basked in the tranquility of the night sky peering in through the window. I turned off my lantern and closed my eyes in a moment of tranquility and contentment.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. I was awoke from a knock on my door. It appeared that I had dozed off in my chair. It was time for the ball. Getting up, let the servants dress me and went to the event in the Royal Carriage. The ball had truly started half an hour ago, but the monarch is supposed to arrive late. Everyone closely watched my entrance as I made sure to present myself with grace and dignity. What a troublesome lifestyle. Many foreign dignitaries were at this event and came to appraise and greet the new King of Rhinsburg. Nobles had sent their daughters to entice me and everyone was there to watch me. It was exhausting. After the slew of people finished greeting me, I took my seat of honor and watched as nobles danced together. Gazing around the crowd, I looked at individuals in boredom as I tried to pass the time. Eventually, I noticed one person. I beckoned Fredrick and inquired of him. ¡°Who is she? The one with crimson eyes.¡± I asked. ¡°Your Majesty. She is the daughter of the diplomat from the nation of Goti.¡± Goti. That was a minor nation in a frigid, mountainous region on the north of the mainland. They were not prosperous nor well-known. Our nations have good relations. I was aware of their unique characteristics, but I did not expect them to be so distinct. I had never seen such vibrant eyes; they complimented her raven black hair. Only people from Goti had red eyes, and it rarely passed on to the children of a mixed couple. Combine this with their general isolation from the outside world and it made their red eyes even more rare. ¡°What is your impression of her?¡± I asked. ¡°She seems strong of will, Your Majesty. Her eyes are filled with a spirit of tenacity and certainty.¡± Fredrick praised. His words reassured my first impression of her and deepened my interest in her character. Chapter 12 Arising from my seat, I moved towards her. I could see people gaze with interest as I approached, but I minded them not. Every action or inaction of mine will be criticized, all I can do is ignore and dismiss. The closer I got, I noticed how light her skin was, a trait held by people in the cold northern regions. She wore a dark blue dress that flowed down to her feet. Noticing my approach, she curtsied, holding the edges of her dress up. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± She said with a modulated voice that I found greatly pleasant to the ear. ¡°Are you enjoying the ball so far?¡± I asked as a conversation starter. ¡°It is enjoyable, I like the atmosphere. Although, if I must admit, such events are not my preference.¡± I slightly grinned at her words. ¡°I enjoy your frankness. In truth, it is mine neither. This is something I hope you could keep secret, of course. Pardon me, it seems to have slipped my mind; may I inquire your name?¡± She returned an enticing smile to me. ¡°It is Ayla. I am honored to be in your presence.¡± ¡°I wonder if that is really true.¡± I said with joking sarcasm. ¡°Without a doubt. You have made great efforts to preserve the order of your fine nation. You have been forced to make unpleasant decisions, but you still endeavored for your people.¡± I was surprised at her willingness to broach such a delicate topic. I admired her confidence and was not put off by her directness. In fact, I found it quite intriguing. Her straightforwardness reminded me of my far away friend. ¡°I¡¯m not so noble. I have done nothing but act out of a desire of self-preservation. It is those who fought to reach this point that deserve the praise.¡± I truly believed these words. I had not been concerned with others during that time. I just wanted to live and keep the peace. I won¡¯t deny that I had feelings of duty towards the people who had been betrayed, but to claim my actions were so honorable was not my belief. ¡°The desire to live is noble itself. Still, if you were so focused on living would you not have simply escaped? I¡¯m sure many countries would be willing to host you. That is why I honor you so. While you claim it was just self-preservation, your actions show that you took great risks to protect Rhinsburg with what you had.¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. While I didn¡¯t fully agree with her words, I desired not to make a mountain out of a molehill and argue over it. Her manner of speech was quite delightful. Her words were bright and intelligent. She knew how to argue and would stick by her statement if she meant it. I was sure that I could converse with her for an endless deal of time. ¡°Then I¡¯ll gladly take your praise.¡± I said, ¡°I would love to talk to you more, how much longer will you be in Rhinsburg?¡± The ball was reaching its end and as much as I craved to continue, I dared not to overstay my welcome. Unless I took my leave, no one would. ¡°I return to Goti in five days.¡± ¡°Would it interest you to meet again perchance?¡± ¡°I would love to do so.¡± She said as she bid me farewell. My mind was stuck on her since that night. I was entranced by her. I was unable to remove myself from the beauty of her eyes. It was a chasm that pulled me deeper the more I looked. Like rubies they shone with something that made me feel almost jealous. She had something I could never attain: an aura that exuded peace. She surely was loved and nurtured as a child. Her parents must have strived to give her a care and warmth throughout her life. It reminded me of the one time I had visited Hedrick¡¯s house. Rarely was I permitted to exit the palace unattended; mother would worry too much. Yet, just this once I managed to sneak away. Hedrick did not tell his parents of my status nor did I mention it. His home was quaint and small. Hundreds could fit in the palace which I lived. Even so, it felt calm. It was so much different from the air of importance and seriousness that encompassed the palace. Though I lived much more extravagantly, much better, their lives felt better. It felt safe; a feeling I never would feel in that cold palace. It wasn¡¯t the difference in building that made such a drastic change, it was the people in them. In the palace there was no love, no warmth. I wondered if it was possible to be happy when one had so much power and responsibility. It disabled the ability for a normal family to exist. There was too much greed, too much desire for any normalcy to blossom. In Hedrick¡¯s home they worried not of such grand matters. They cherished each other and lived harmoniously. I understood that not all common families where as such, but I knew it was something that could only be found among those not caught in the struggle of politics fueled by avarice. Royalty were less of family than potential rulers. Everyone recklessly grasped for dominance with no thought of what reason they needed such authority for. It disassembled the fundamental unit of life, a family, and turned them into a close group of strangers. Thinking back, I recall little of any of my relatives. I spoke little with Johann III, isolated myself from mother, and avoided my brothers like the plague. The words we all exchanged were so few I could remember the individual moments. Dinner was eaten apart or in silence, there was not the cross-table banter that I witnessed in Hedrick¡¯s home. There was no small talk. My own father had to summon me for us to just speak. When I arrived at the palace after visiting Hedrick¡¯s home, I cried. There were no words to describe the feeling in my heart.