The people of Aetreon often talk about the beauty of the inside of the king's castle. It's often got a legendary status as not many commoners have been able to see the inside but the outside is just as beautiful too.

The drawbridge is the main eye catcher with its golden frame and the flowerbed that rests besides it. The water beneath it is a clear blue-green color with several exotic marine animals swimming in it. There were 50 foot trees that extended throughout the perimeter of this luscious landscape and tons of majestic flowers that accompanied them.

-But all of these beautiful features were being obstructed by an obscene site.

Hundreds of people were crowding the pathway leading to the castle. About a dozen guards were trying to hold them back but no avail as they were being slowly pushed back. Pastrami and caesar watched from behind a guard tower, several meters away. Caesar observed that these were not ordinary dismayed common folk but they seemed to be more affluent as they were wearing well woven small clothes and bicorne's.

Pastrami: These aren't commoners are they?

Caesar: No, they appear to be merchants and craftsmen.

Caesar scoffed.

Caesar: That being said….

Caesar: Why the hell did you call me out here? You couldn't handle this yourself?

Knight: Um well sir….

Guard: My king!

A guard came from the crowd.

Caesar: What the hell is going on here and why did you disturb me?

Guard: I-I am so sorry milord! It's just…. These people, No … Brutes! Forced my hand!

Caesar: What on earth are you talking about!

Guard: They broke into the parliamentary building and took the high commissioner hostage! Then they came up to the castle and demanded an audience with you!

He exclaimed!

Caesar: *Sigh*

Caesar rolled his eyes.

Caesar: Pastrami may I have a word with you?

Pastrami: Y-Yes.

Pastrami and Caesar walked several feet over, out of sight and mind of the knight and guard.

Pastrami: What will you do milord? I could go as your representative.

Caesar: No…. Judging by the size of this crowd, You going in my stead would just make them angrier.

Caesar crossed his arms and stared at the crowd.

Caesar: If my witless brother taught me anything it is that people love an involved king.

Pastrami: So you will confront them yourself, milord?

Pastrami confirmed.

Caesar: I suppose I have no choice. Afterall, Another guard dying on my watch would be terrifying for the tinnish consultant.

Pastrami: I suppose so. I'll be right behind you sir, watching out for anything!

Pastrami exclaimed dutifully!

Caesar: Right.

Caesar smirked and slowly walked 3 meters towards the crowd. A few of them noticed him coming but did not say anything, preferring to stay quiet.

He was escorted by a dozen guards including pastrami who surrounded him by all sides. As he approached everyone gasped. The crowd was amazed by his presence as they had not expected him to come.

Caesar: Good evening you all. I take it that you're well?

Caesar exclaimed coyly.

Everyone in the crowd was shocked but nonetheless still angry. One of the merchants shoved a person forward. It was the hostage taken guard who was bound in chains and gagged with feathers.

Caesar: Heh, I see you've taken quite a liking to my guard.

Crowd: …..

Caesar tried to put on his charm with humor but to no avail, Everyone was still seething.

Caesar: Ahahaha…. I can see that you're all angry and I think I have an idea why.

Caesar: Therefore, I declare that you all speak to me with impunity. No holds barred! I am the king of the common man!

Caesar bowed to the crowd in the matter that a servant would bow to their master. The wind blew through his hair and the sun shined over his head. In a way nature itself was sarcastically presenting caesar to this crowd.

Caesar: So I ask of you all to be open minded and to be of a godly nature when you speak to your king!

The crowd looked at caesar with dull glaring eyes. These were not people who admired their king, they were indeed people who detested him.

?: Sir Caesar!

Caesar: (Sir…? How disrespectful.)

He thought.

Man: What is this nonsense!

The man took out a piece of paper from his back coat.
It was a large poster that read "Royal decree of the 8th month: 150% Tariff hike on all imported goods except those from Tinland."

Man: These tariffs are insane! That's a 3 times mark up on nearly all imported goods!

Caesar: Ah yes that…..

Caesar nervously scratched his head. In truth, He had no idea that decree had even passed. He mostly left economic issues up to his advisors and signed whatever decree/law they presented in front of him. He was truly clueless about this law.

Caesar: Well, Uhm…

Man: This law will kill our Mercantile class!

Woman: Our farms won't be able to import grain seeds!

Other man: Our port navigation revenue will go down!

The crowd voiced its displeasure with their king both vocally and physically. Caesar felt overwhelmed and struggled to get his words together.

Caesar: *Ahem*

He cleared his throat.

Caesar: I hear all of your grievances with this new decree. It was with a heavy heart that I signed it.

Caesar: -But you must understand that war is expensive and that no matter the result, everyone has to pay.

Caesar: The war took a toll on our treasury, so I had to raise tariffs and taxes.

Caesar shook his head.

Caesar: It's a burden we all must share, I'm afraid.

Man: A burden on all of us? You've lowered taxes on the lords and upper class.

Caesar: Well…..

Caesar struggled to respond to that statement.

Other Man: Another thing, Why are there tinnish soldiers in our cities…?

Crowd: Yeah!

Caesar: For security-

Third man: Wait, If there are tinnish soldiers occupying our cities, doesn't that mean we've lost the war!?

Caesar: No-

Woman: We have, haven't we? It's all a lie!

Caesar could barely get a word in before the ground started to get aggravated. People started to shout and throw around insults/conspiracy theories. In a matter of seconds everything seemed to escalate. Caesar Afraid, Took a couple of steps back. He had never encountered such a scenario before, it was hard for him to relate to such people.

Woman: We have no Sugar! We have no bread! Everything is anarchy!

Man: First our cities then our ports! The tinnish will soon be everywhere!

Man: Anarchy is here! Burn everything.

Caesar: (I think it's time I make my exit.

Caesar: Knights!

Caesar signaled to pastrami, who nodded back at him. Pastrami and a dozen of other knights came forward with swords and shields and attempted to encircle the rowdy bunch. Caesar meanwhile retreated behind his knights.

Pastrami: Get back to the moat, Your majesty!

Caesar: Right!

Caesar watched as a full blown brawl engaged between the knights and the common man. The knights brutally swung their swords and bashed their shields against the merchants. A river of blood spewed in front of the castle and leaked out into the moat as the knights slaughtered and killed dozens of citizens in the crowd. In his mind, Caesar wondered how things escalated so quickly as he now literally had blood on his hands.