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Title: A Castle Between Two Clashing Waves
Inspired by: Chapter 10 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime
Characters: Izana Wistalia, Zen Wistalia, OCs
Wordcount: 1367
Rating: General
Five Years Ago
When I celebrated my seventeenth birthday, I asked for a castle of my own.
Not just any castle to be built on some random area of the vast territory Clarines has, but in a particular place that caught my attention: the craggy mountain cliff overlooking a great sea that sits right between the province of Rid and Sui.
I had heard great things about this place. Rid was known for good grapes and wine, while Sui provided some of the best seafood in the region. The climate in this area was good and suitable for someone like me who preferred a good change of scenery every now and then for the hobbies I liked: hunting, swimming, and horseback riding.
Her Majesty, Haruto Wistalia, was busy at Wilant Castle. She gave me the task of settling the unhealthy competition of power brewing between the two ruling families of Rid and Sui. I knew I could not afford to mishandle this task. For generations, these two families had supported our causes, but both of the current heirs were idiots- spoiled men who had nothing to offer for the onwards progress of the Kingdom.
My approach was simple: be subtle and play the simpleton. I needed to set the stage and wait for the key players to participate. I barely gave details to my aides and retainers about my plans, instead letting them speculate and create hype on my interest in the area.
Most of them were surprised by my request for a fortress, though a few who were quick in mind realized the significance of the location. Lord Haruka even questioned what I intended to do if I didn't plan on mediating between the two families.
"A future King must have different residences to choose from, am I right, Lord Haruka?" I smoothed the small wrinkles marring the immaculate white pants I wore when I sat down on the button-backed chair.
"Very well, Your Highness. We shall see about putting the palace architects in drawing up the plans. Shall I go and send the necessary messages of greetings to the Lords of Sui and Rid?"
"Of course, Lord Haruka. Please do."
The rocky foundations were barely in place when the first of a series of messengers began to arrive at Wistal Castle and requested a private audience with me. The moment I entered the room and saw the oak-chests filled with money and goods, I knew my plan was working.
Both lords were trying to expand their influence by sending me bribery gifts of jewels, money, food and household goods. I accepted the items with a smile, knowing full well that this exercise would continue.
The second year into the construction of the fortress, I received an urgent request to meet with secret envoys of the two Lords. It turned out that the envoys were lower-ranking relatives, who pleaded for my intervention.
Sir Desmond Ruiz from the Rid province was the first to arrive. He looked stressed from the long journey; weather-beaten might even be the correct term. Although he was young, only a few years older than I, his face looked as if he has aged during his journey to seek an audience before me. He travelled without armed guards, bringing only his valet to attend to him. Such was his desperation that he took matters into his own hands and completed his trip from Rid to Clarines in record time.
"My Lord. Your Highness, please. I am begging you. The citizens of Rid are suffering for the increasing taxes. The harvests are not good due to the drought. A lot of the vineyards suffered. My Uncle plans to send more bribery gifts in the hopes that you would allow him to buy the contested emerald mines between Rid and Sui at a fraction of the price." Sir Desmond's hair was caked with dust and sweat. He kneeled before me in supplication.
I could feel my anger towards the two lords growing. I expected this to happen. And yet, I felt a little helpless at the moment. In order to commit to the plans I put in place, I could not lift a finger to alleviate the people's suffering. Yet.
I could feel the resentment and accusation in Sir Desmond's eyes when I let out a sigh.
"Go ask your Lord not to push through with the taxes."
"My Lord! He will not listen to me. Please. Have mercy! "
I shook my head when the young, gallant man was led away.
The same occurrence happened with the secret envoy from Sui. He had the exact same look and countenance of Sir Desmond that for a moment, I was tempted to put a stop to all of this and march the two Lords to prison myself. Sir Albrecht's handsome face was tanned from the riding he did for a week, exhausting his horse to reach me. He looked pathetically beseeching as he kneeled in front of me.
Again, I shook my head in denial and asked the bewildered man when would be the best time to visit Sui.
When he was led away into the guest house to refresh himself and be on his way, my brother Zen hovered outside the door to the sitting room where I received Sir Albrecht earlier, a look of determination crossing his young face.
"You looked displeased, my brother." I beckoned him to come closer.
My brother, almost twelve and growing steadily to be a fine young man. Yet, he still looked a little like a runt, face sweaty and flushed from running around outdoors and giving the palace tutors a hard time disciplining him. Still, he was my responsibility. Our mother placed him under my care. I enjoyed taking care of him, making him suffer a little by increasing his lessons bit by bit. He always liked to grouse about the number of lessons he needed to finish weekly on top of the sword training I gave him three times a week.
And today, he looked a little solemn, his expression a bit disappointed.
"Brother Izana. I've heard that the retainer from Rid was exiled from the land by his Lord."
A little concerned to where this conversation was coming to, I shrugged carelessly and sat down on the sofa, patting the space beside me. "Sit, Zen."
"B-but-"
Apparently, my brother, once his mind was made up, would continue to pursue with his questions unless he got his answers or I silenced him with a no. At a very early stage, Zen was quite stubborn when he was disturbed by issues surrounding my person.
I gave a sigh and took the book I was perusing earlier before I was interrupted by the envoy from Sui.
"Our guest from Sui would be exiled too, I guess. It would only be a matter of days before it happens."
"You guess?" Zen looked positively outraged by my remarks.
I grinned. He could be both so cute and annoying at the same time. I resisted the urge to pinch his ruddy cheeks.
"Forget about them, Zen. I'm thinking about us going on a trip. We can take a look at the castle I am building. It will be finished soon, so I am anxious to take a look. I will let the tutors know you are going with me."
He dropped his mouth in disbelief at my carefree attitude. I knew his opinion of the situation; when he heard about the two aides from Rid and Sui, it bothered him. I suspected he'd been listening to a lot of rumors circulating around the palace: how I denied the requests of the envoys despite their desperate pleas for intervention.
My brother was a sentimental type. At this point of time, he cared what other people thought, and he was affected about the negative rumors on my rotten personality. Zen Wistalia looked up at me as his personal role model, and to hear other people whispering behind my back probably prompted him to make a sudden visit to my private apartments without waiting for my summons.