Ever since king Alexandra died, Caesar has made multiple renovations and added new rooms to the royal castle. One of the rooms he added was personal quarters right in the west wing of the castle. It was a small little room with two air ducts, a desk and a statue model of an old centurion. This was caesar's haven and no one could tell him otherwise.

After the massacre, Caesar retreated here like a wolf to its den.

Caesar: Oh lord…. What have I done….

He wondered.

The images of blood,guts and gore flashed throughout his head as he relived the horrific events of today. What started out as a simple one to one talk with his people quickly turned into bloodshed.

Caesar: A dozen people dead, Literal blood at my heels….

Caesar: -All because I wanted to show off and be a 'people's king.'

Caesar lamented.

Caesar: (In my quest to be kingly, I've only made things worse.)

Caesar: I bet my brother is laughing from beyond the grave….

Caesar sank in his chair. His eyes turned to stone as he looked for the silver lining in this situation. He couldn't find one, at least a dozen people were dead and his honor was stained. Not to mention the fact that blood was shed on castle grounds, which was considered sacred.

Everything was slow and quiet in this indecent room until a hard knock at the door happened.

*Knock Knock Knock*

?: Permission to enter, Lord Caesar?

Caesar: Granted.

The door opened and in came Commander Munoz. Munoz was a towering individual, Over 6 feet tall and counting. He had light brown hair, Clear crystal and a little snub of hair that could be called a beard. Munoz wore a bright yellow armor that stood out among all of the rest of the knights. He was recently promoted to this role because of nepotism and a bit of brown-nosing.

He stepped into the office and bowed to his king.

Munoz: Good Afternoon, My liege! How are you doing?

Caesar: Terrible.

Munoz: Erm, I'm sorry to hear that…..

Caesar: I'd rather skip the pleasantries, Commander. Tell me the damage.

Munoz: Right.

Munoz: There were ten deaths. 9 Men and 1 woman. Ages were as young as 25 to as old as 64.

Caesar: *Sigh*

Caesar facepalmed.

Caesar: Do you have any other "Good news"?

Munoz: Ahaha.

Munoz laughed nervously.

Munoz: *Ahem* Riots have broken out in the southern end of the capital.

Caesar: … Isn't that area 90% peasantry?

Munoz: Yes.

Caesar: So let me get this straight, 10 somewhat wealthy merchants die and somehow the peasantry are the ones upset?

Munoz: Ummm….

Caesar: God, What a stupid country….

Caesar slumped down in his chair.

Caesar: Munoz, Can I spill my heart out to you?

Munoz: Uh, Sure. I am your servant, Milord.

He sighed.

Caesar: You know when I took the throne of this great country, I expected so much. I wanted peace with tinland, I wanted an end to our feudal hierarchy and I wanted to lower taxes on lords and I wanted to rebuild the border towns destroyed by this war.

Caesar: -But in order to do this, I need the hearts and minds of the people. I've only ever wanted that to be in their hearts and minds like a true king. And yet…..

Caesar paused.

Caesar: The truth is ever since i've taken the throne, I've felt a great animosity towards me and my rule from the people.

Caesar: I might be paranoid because I never interact with them that much but I still feel it. I feel the disgusting looks whenever I ride my carriage through the capital, I feel it from the people's envoys who come here every week and I feel it from the way they talk about in their weekly bulletins.

Caesar: So my question to you munoz is: What is a ruler to do when his subjects do not respect him?

Munoz: …

The commander paused.

Munoz: Well sir, I only have a platoon of men to command and I don't run a nation like you do.

Munoz: -But, If I were in your position I'd try to instill obedience into the population. I do the same thing with my men.

Caesar: Instill obedience? How?

Munoz: Remind the people of Aetreon that you are the one in charge.

Munoz: Rule through your power, The power that was given to you by your lineage and by the gods themselves. You are the nation's king. Show it with your might.

Caesar: Hmmmm…

Caesar stood up and walked over to his personal shelf. He grabbed a red book from it and began to read.

Caesar: *Sigh* I don't want to rule through fear, Commander munoz. That sort of thing is exactly what I took power against.

He exclaimed.

Munoz: I fear you don't have a choice, milord. We've been having skirmishes with the rebels in the woods now for three months.

Caesar: Aye. Don't remind me.

Caesar sighed.

Caesar: They're only a couple hundred idiots though. I don't believe they are representative of the population.

Munoz: Clearly.

Caesar: I'm not really sure I can take your advice to heart commander.

Munoz: Well, I don't mean to sound condescending but….

Munoz: The thing is in this world we are all just snowflakes in this world of lava. If we don't fight like the ones we hate we'll be buried in molten rock.

Caesar: I see….

Caesar: Well General, I certainly will take your advice into account.

Munoz: Thank you milord. Is there anything you need?

Caesar: I need nothing else. Just get the southern end of our capital under control.

Munoz: Right. Long live the king.

Munoz saluted caesar and left his quarters. Caesar sighed and sat down at his desk. He opened the cabinet and pulled out a piece and parchment and began to write furiously on it. Reading aloud as he did.

Caesar: "The life of those whom rule is one of torture,ruin and irredscence. If anyone is to say something to them, it must be a soliloquy of pity."

The words he spoke slipped eloquently out of his mouth. Caesar always felt himself to be a poet and reading this made him feel like the befallen heroes in his favorite epic stories. Nevertheless caesar did have a legitimate dilemma in his hands. A country in disarray, a criminal princess and an occupation by the tinnish.

Caesar: What is a man to do when his best foot forward gets stomped on?

Caesar: Is using fear a legitimate way to rule?

Caesar: …. How should I deal with alexia? Banishment? Execution….

Caesar: So many questions befuddle my mind. I wish I had my mother here. She always knew what to do.

Caesar: Her beauty was unmatched by any woman in this god-forsaken country. She was wise,kind and voluptuous. Everything that that pig petunia and her whore daughter isn't.

Caesar shook his head.

Caesar: God, I wish she were here…

He sighed and fantasized about his long deceased mother. Her long silken brown hair, green eyes and lucky smile that could pierce the heavens. Caesar remembered all the times she would stroke his head and call him her 'little prince'. His bond with his deceased mother was much more than matriarchal love, it was an obsession for caesar. He sighed and bemoaned the death of his gorgeous mother. Everything seemed to slow down as caesar sat back down in his chair. His mind wandered to a simpler time before all of this happened.

*Knock knock knock*

Caesar heard a harsh knock on his door. His lucid fantasy was interrupted by a desperate call at his door. Caesar yelled 'Enter!' angrily and the door came flying open.

Knight: Y-Your majesty!

A knight came rushing into his quarters. He looked desperate

Caesar: Goddammit, What is it now?

Knight: Alexia has escaped!

End of Act 3 - Allies & Enemies.

Author: Yeah I know this isn't the ideal spot to end the act but I think it is appropriate given the tone of the story is going to drastically change in the next act. Anyway, I want to apologize for all the time it took for this act to come out. I'm dealing with some personal issues and it delayed the development of this story. Please forgive me.