Phase II
On a late Autumn's eve, the Duke sat idly in an eloquent chair at his residence in Weselton as he relaxed in meditation. Over a year has transpired since the revolutionary events of the Southern Isles. The newly created Southern Isles Parliament had finally ratified its new constitution, the first of its kind in either realm, granting Southern Islanders liberal freedoms as well as political representation. Hans sat fixated in the throne with a newfound arrogance, but was always forced to curb his ever-demanding personal ambitions for the sake of stability. The Southern Isles' aristocracy had also experienced a great reduction in influence as the constitution dispersed power among the people. Breathing heavily, the Duke contemplated the constitution's implications.
Despite the breakdown of central authority in the Southern Isles brought about by last year's revolution, power did not quite reside with the Southern Isles populace. They now exert their natural rights and joyfully experience political representation in government, but one cannot survive off rights and liberties. The Revolution decimated the Southern Isles economy; merchants had fled the city, farmers abandoned their crops due to regime uncertainty, and anarchic fear for the future of markets brought the Southern Isles stock market to a paralyzing collapse. Hans' enthusiastic signing of the Duke's trade embargo treaty against Arendelle assured Weselton that the post-revolutionary Southern Isles would have no alternative but to rely entirely on Weselton trade outlets. Whether or not Southern Islanders received their daily bread depended entirely on the Duke's willingness to supply. The Duke grinned at the thought of complete control.
As the Duke pondered the world to be, he heard a forceful knocking at his door. His servants had been dismissed by this hour, and the Duke knew that bureaucratic affairs were addressed during daylight, leaving only one logical implication as to whom stood on the other side of the Duke's impressive doorway. Rising from his chair, the Duke made his way across his lavishly carpeted floor to his home's main entrance. Reaching for a stepstool nearby, the diminutive man climbed atop to gaze out of the peep-hole more easily accessible for a man of average height. The Duke would have probably ordered custom doors with eyeholes closer to the ground had he not been enlightened enough to know that heightened stature does not reflect heighted authority. As the Duke glared through the glass, he found himself staring directly into two bulk torsos. The Duke knew the outward appearance of his henchmen like he knew the streets of his city, thus he hastily opened the door anxious to hear whatever news they possess.
"Come, come" he spoke as he motioned them inside. The Duke had dispatched his two henchmen to Arendelle some several months previously to keep a detailed account of current events in the isolated kingdom. The trio made its way into the living quarters with the Duke leading, and also being the first to be seated as usual.
"Let's get straight to business, shall we?" The Duke spoke as he initiated the meeting. "What news of Arendelle?"
Each of the henchmen let slip a sinister grin as one of them responded: "The situation there is grave, My Lord. The trade embargo has had the desired effect: Having no one to trade with, the price of Arendelle's ice reserves plummet, causing an increase in price of all other goods and services which now have to be domestically produced to ensure the kingdom can survive."
The other henchman chimed in, "The time is perfect to begin the final phase of your plan."
The Duke stroked his mustache and pondered the implications of his henchmen's report. If Arendelle's economy is weak, it would offer the perfect environment to commence a hostile takeover, but given that Weselton alone lacks sufficient strength to overcome Elsa's ice powers and that the Southern Isles' loyalty to Weselton is defined by legal obligation as opposed to moral duty, the Duke would need to employ cunning if he intended to realize his dream.
"I know what I have to do," declared the Duke triumphantly. Looking at his henchmen, he gave them instruction. "Return to your homes for now and then reconvene here tomorrow. By that time I'll have composed a letter to King Hans instructing him to fulfill his commitment to us regarding military allegiance. You two will deliver this message to him personally and await my arrival with our fleet in three days time. Thence our forces will combine and we can finally extract revenge on that miserable sorceress. The time to move on Arendelle has come; go now and make haste. Don't delay!"
The Duke by this time had risen from his chair in excitement as he paced the floor uttering commands. His henchmen had also risen as dictated by rules of etiquette. As they made their way out of the Duke's mansion, the Duke bellowed after them, "Remember, boys, three days time!"
The next morning, the Duke rose before dawn. There was simply too much excitement bellowed up inside of him for rest to occur. If he could follow his plan to its conclusion, all he desired would be granted to him.
"Servants!" He yelled. "Wake up! Wake up at once!" The Duke's voice filled the mansion's halls as sleepy and yawning servants lumbered into the Duke's chamber. "Have my attire, breakfast, and carriage ready for me within a few moments. I need to depart immediately for city hall as soon as daylight allows."
The servants turned and made their way to their respective stations, rolling their eyes as they did so. They still had their night gowns on at the time of the Duke's absurd summoning, but the life of a servant could guarantee that such occasions would arise every once in a while, especially when one's master is the Duke of Weselton.
The Duke dressed in his usual garb making sure that all his medals and pins were properly arranged. He bustled down to the kitchen where the servants, still in their night gowns, had just completed preparing his breakfast. The Duke quickly devoured it and before darting out the front door where his carriage would be awaiting him, he penned a personal letter to King Hans requesting he fulfill the Southern Isles' commitment to Weselton. Giving the letter to his most entrusted servant, the Duke instructed him to hand it off to the two henchmen when they arrived. With that accomplished, the Duke trotted out of his home to his carriage.
"To City Hall, my good man," the Duke expressed gleefully to the driver as he climbed aboard. As the carriage departed the Duke's mansion, sunrise made its first appearance on the eastern horizon.
Within a few moments the Duke had arrived at Weselton City Hall. The capitol building boasted an impressive structure, complete with marble floors, giant stone pillars, and statues of Weselton's finest leaders from ages past. Soon they will erect statues in my own honor, thought the Duke as he dismounted his carriage and climbed the stairs leading to the building's entrance. The Duke navigated the interior of the building as he made his way to the Commerce Chamber. Upon finding it, he entered the room expecting to discover Weselton's leading merchants entrenched in debate regarding the city's economic outlook, but to the Duke's surprise, he found himself to be the only inhabitant of the chamber. Lazy good-for-nothings, thought the Duke as he inwardly reflected at how through their absence Weselton's leading merchants were slacking. No matter, continued the Duke in his head, When they arrive all will be set in motion.
Sitting at the head of the table, the Duke patiently awaited the arrival of the merchants. One by one they trickled in as the hour of their daily meeting approached. Last to enter was the head merchant, astonished that such a prestigious figure as the Duke would be present during the meeting. Typically, the Duke would only attend meetings of the utmost importance, so whatever brought him here today must surely bear great significance. Without raising a complaint at the Duke for having taken his customary seat at the head of the table, Weselton's head merchant took another seat, anxiously awaiting the Duke the call the meeting to order.
"Gentlemen," began the Duke, "Today is not a day for mincing words, so I will get straight to the point. I come before you today with a heavy heart...I have recently learned from a verifiable source that Queen Elsa of Arendelle, in response to our joint embargo in conjunction with the Southern Isles, has taken to coercing her citizens into forced labor in order to ensure Arendelle's Gross Domestic Product remains at pre-embargo levels. She threatens her people with her ice witchcraft, and severely punishes all whom resist her. The people are powerless and cry out for help. Gentlemen..." The Duke took a deep breath to add a dramatic element to his fabrication, "We must assemble our fleet and liberate the people of Arendelle. We must depose Queen Elsa. Without her, trade operations with Arendelle can resume, and its people can prosper once again. I assert that military action be considered."
Each and every one of Weselton's leading merchants, and therefore most powerful citizens, sat in silence and in awe of the Duke's brief speech. His claim seemingly came from nowhere, and his urging for military action seemed unprecedented. If the people of Arendelle are suppressed, how is it that word of atrocities have taken this long to reach Weselton? And how is it that the Duke alone possesses this knowledge? Questioning the Duke's claims, the merchants around the table began clamoring among themselves. Breaking this trend, the head merchant addressed the Duke directly.
"But Your Grace," he spoke, "there's no proof. And even if there were proof we would not have probable cause. Not to mention the question of validity regarding your claim. Arendelle has been under embargo for over a year now and no such rumors have come to light as those of which you speak."
The Duke responded to the head merchant as the others grew silent. "It's true that there is no proof for us to interpret, but it was King Hans himself who brought this concern to my attention. In a letter he wrote to me less than a fortnight ago, he spoke of how Aredelle refugees have been migrating to his island kingdom in search of sanctuary. He claims that their numbers grow by the day, and that each one bears heart-breaking stories of the horrors Queen Elsa is unleashing upon her people." The Duke continued spinning his web of lies. "King Hans has already mobilized his forces, and will officially ask for assistance within a few days. I propose we preemptively accept his request and mobilize ourselves. We will unite our forces and descend upon Arendelle, liberating its people."
The Duke knew that his henchmen would be arriving in the Southern Isels within a day or so. King Hans will receive the Duke's letter and will have no choice but to fulfill his obligations to Weselton and dispatch military aid. By the time word circulates back to Weselton, it will be true that the Southern Isles have mobilized, but for reasons different than those currently offered by the Duke.
One of the other merchant leaders present weighed in: "What you're proposing, Your Grace, will certainly alter the course of things for decades to come. Our trade vessels will have to be refitted for battle, leaving fewer vessels with which to maintain our exports. Our profits will decline, as will that of Weselton in general."
The Duke made a quick retort, "True, very true," he conceded, "but once this campaign is over and Arendelle is free, we can renew trade with her, making up for any losses you bear while your ships are committed to battle. Your sacrifices today will be repaid ten-fold in the future, I assure you."
The Duke expressed a grin of satisfaction as he concluded his argument. The merchants took comfort in his confidence, and resumed their gossiping. Each dreamed aloud of the future returns on this investment. With free trade to Arendelle unobstructed by Elsa's totalitarian regime, any economic feat could be possible. The noise grew louder as merchants began laughing and patting each other on the back, making jokes of how rich they will all soon be. Before their behavior slipped out of control, the head member spoke above the crowd.
"I propose putting this matter to a vote." He said. "All in favor?"
Each merchant present raised his hand in agreement. The decision was unanimous. Weselton would mobilize its trade fleet to conduct military operations against Arendelle.
Looking at the Duke, the head merchant nodded his head as he spoke. "Very well, Your Grace, you have your fleet."
"Excellent," replied the Duke as he rose from his chair and left without another word. Without a second thought he would make his way to the docks and commandeer every vessel he could find in the name of Arendelle's freedom. Once assembled, all that remained was to sail to the Southern Isles and rendezvous with King Hans, the henchmen, and the Southern Isles armada.
