Spring, Y1
"Have you heard? Prince Barbro set fire to the northernlands' food store for winter."
"Does that make him, the Prince of Barbeques?" The cheeky merchant could not resist, but if any royal guards heard it he would be skinned alive.
"Well, with a little bit of coal ash on his face, he would be." His friend, a fellow merchant laughed with him.
The latest in a string on rumors and juicy gossip, and no less worrying to the second in line, Prince Zanac.
Conflict is the norm in the royal court, as everyone jostles for power. The recent failure though, has made Prince Barbro a lot more sensitive to such nasty chatter on the ground, and somehow, everyone's a suspect. As the path to the throne looks less clear for the first Prince, he reacts by clutching harder, and biting back wildly at anything that seems to threaten his throne.
"He doesn't believe that it's not your doing, the whole rumors thing." One of Zanac's supporters, a minor noble, Lord Farquhar. "He suspects you."
"But are the rumors true? Did he really set fire to the granaries?"
"We're still investigating. So far we have no clues, and I'm still trying to get in touch with my sources in the underworld."
Zanac wanted to ask something else, but then an armed guard burst through the door, and yelled.
"My Prince, there is a group of armed men coming here! Prince Barbro's men!"
"How many?"
"About thirty."
"Armed?"
"Full heavy armor, sir! They carry his crest, his black guards." Barbro kept a group of heavy armor as his enforcers, and somehow saw it fit to use it against another Prince.
Prince Zanac slammed the table and looked at the noble. "Farquhar, call in everyone you can find. How far are they?"
"They'll be here in about twenty minutes."
"This is the royal capital, and he dares do this?" Zanac lamented, his voice a little angry, and a bit shaky. "Farquhar, go!"
Lord Farquhar left immediately, and yelled once he was out the door.
The guard though, then asked, "Why not flee, Prince Zanac?"
"This is my palace, my house. If I flee, what kind of King will I be seen as? And he would then get confirmation that I am involved, since I fled."
The guard gulped, but inside the guard would have fled, and fought this war some other day.
"Is Marquis Raeven around? Go find him now."
The guard nodded and sprinted away.
"It's come to this huh, brother."
Outside Prince Zanac's home was a garden, and thanks to the efforts of Lord Farquhar and the other guards, a small group of fourty or so guards was hastily assembled, their equipment not perfect, but sufficient to mount a resistance should Prince Barbro's men attempt something.
Prince Zanac then went down to join his men, gathering outside for the coming scuffle.
"They should be here any time now." Lord Farquhar too was in combat armor, and next to him, another minor noble aligned to Prince Zanac, Lord Bolgar.
From the gardens they could hear the thunderous march of the thirty or so men, their heavy armor clanking at their every step. The guards in the gardens gulped, their faces a little nervous, and their grip on their spears or swords tightened.
"Prince Zanac! You are summoned by Prince Barbro to answer for your lies!" The heavy guards of the Prince, clad in their signature dark red armor bursts through the gates. Leading them was Baron Wilmsher, a rising noble beholden to Barbro.
"You do not hurl false accusations at Prince Zanac." Lord Farquhar retorted angrily.
"If you do not come with us willingly, we will take you by force!" The Baron yelled, and the armed heavy guards enter into a combat stance, and Zanac's guards reflectively reacted.
"I have no reason to go with you, especially over an unsubstantiated claim like that. Tell Prince Barbro to come himself, and tell that to me to my face, instead of sending some upstart and a crude bunch of thugs." Prince Zanac yelled, and the two forces prepared for the word to fight.
Everyone reached for their swords, or spears.
"We have evidence that you and your men spread the rumors to damage Prince Barbro's ascension to the throne. Your men were seen talking to merchants and bards about the story, and giving bribes." Baron Wilmsher stepped a bit closer, and his group of heavy guards followed closely behind. Both parties are just right out of striking distance.
"Don't you dare raise your arms against a Prince." Lord Farquhar warned. "Under the laws, it is a crime punishable by death."
"His Majesty, King Barbro will have me pardoned." Baron Wilmsher laughed, and he took a small step forward. Perhaps there was some confidence in his heavy iron armor, or perhaps he truly believed in Prince Barbro's ascendancy to the throne, or maybe it's just madness. "There certainly won't be a crime to punish betrayal, anyway."
Zanac's eyes twitched at the mention of "King Barbro". A rational part of him tried to restrain his fury, whispering thoughts of the Baron's deliberate provocation for his men to first use their arms.
Patience.
There was a moment of silence, even as both sides seem a sliver away from hacking away at their opponent.
Zanac gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist, wanting to raise his arms.
The air seemed dry, and the Baron relished it, eagerly waiting for the Prince's men to attack. That would be enough evidence of crime, in their eyes. The Baron could almost see it, the garden's leaves all covered in blood, the grass filled with the bodies of Prince Zanac's guards.
"He's not King yet."
A familiar voice spoke from behind the Baron's men.
Marquis Raeven and Captain Gazef appeared behind the guards. Baron Wilmshers' men was now between Prince Zanac's guards, waiting outside the Prince's home, and Captain Gazef's warrior troops outside the gates. They carried the royal flags, signifying their orders came from the King himself.
Baron Wilmsher winced, his face contorted at the joy of fighting that was robbed from him. He'd love to get his hands on some blood today.
"And Prince Zanac, his majesty King Lamposa summons. You are expected in the Royal Hall in two hours, gather your men and make haste." Marquis Raeven commanded, in his hand a scroll with a royal seal. Somehow Marquis Raevan managed to conjure such a document in such a short time.
He then looked at the heavy guards and the Baron.
"Baron, take your men home. Prince Barbro too has been summoned for an audience with the King. Any of Prince Barbro's accusations will be addressed then."
Baron Wilmsher winced, and he glared at Marquis Raevan with hate and boiling anger.
"Please?" Marquis Raeven smiled innocently, as if the glare never happened.
"Ughh!" The Baron grumbled, and then signalled for his men to move out. They marched out of the gates, pass Gazef and his warrior troops.
"Get ready, Prince Zanac." Marquis Raevan smiled. "It's not going to be pleasant later."
Zanac somehow understood the hint, and quickly called both Lord Farquhar and Bolgar, and a few of Zanac's close confidantes. Their faces paled a little when they heard what he said, and they swiftly ran off to do their assigned tasks
"Thanks for your help, Gazef." Marquis Raeven nodded. "You best return to his majesty's side."
"I have Brain on the lookout, but you are right."
Gazef and the warrior troops rushed back to the palace, whilst Raeven and his band of retired adventurers followed behind.
King Lamposa attended the meeting in full royal regalia, and he sat on his throne, with Gazef at his side. Gazef too was clad in full armor, but not the five treasures of the Kingdom. The royal guards and the warrior troops were at the perimeter of the hall, watching over them, and there were about 20 of them guards.
Brain, although Gazef would've loved to have him by his side, is not formally a member of the guards and so Gazef asked him to stay outside the palace compounds.
It was rare for the King to be dressed this way, as it represented there was a ceremony or matter of tradition that is being carried out, but somehow, he saw it fit to wear this. Perhaps it was some kind of instinct that this was going to be a big day, and maybe, the day who will become King gets decided.
Prince Barbro and Prince Zanac both were in the hall, both in their best suits of armor, as though they too understood the gravity of today's meeting.
Behind them were their supporters and the people they have gathered to support their case. Each side brought about thirty or so men and women.
"My two sons, what is this strange story of some brotherly fighting I have heard?"
"Father, he arranged for bards and merchants to spread lies that I set fire to the granaries." Barbro started, and then gestured an old man that he brought along to speak.
"Yes your majesty. I saw his men speaking to some merchants and bards about the rumors, and even gave them some money."
"That's a lie." Zanac shot back.
"I saw Prince Zanac himself talk to some merchants in the capital. And handed them small pouches of coin."
"I'm asking them about who started this rumor."
"Then why did you give them money? You've been seen paying a lot of people."
"It's to help make them talk. No one shares information so freely."
Prince Zanac sighed, wondering how did the conversation start with such an accusatory angle.
King Lamposa intervened. "So, what did you find out?"
Barbro twitched uncomfortably.
"Most merchants get stories for other people, and they mostly passed it along. I'm still investigating…"
"You're not investigating. You are fanning the rumors to keep it going!" Barbro shouted from his side of the hall.
"Why are you so defensive, brother? It's not even proven. We'll get to the bottom of this." Zanac tried to defuse the tension, and lessen the hostilities.
"Apologies for the delay, your majesty. I have something to add as well."
The door bursts open, Marquis Raeven emerged with two beaten up looking thugs. "These men admitted to receiving money from Baron Wilmsher to burn a few granaries. I believe Baron Wilmsher serves Prince Barbro, so, perhaps Baron Wilmsher can explain himself?"
Prince Barbro glared at Raeven and the two thugs.
"That's not true at all. That's a lie! Marquis Raeven, you are plotting against me!" He roared.
"KILL THEM ALL! KILL ALL OF THEM."
And the men that Barbro brought along suddenly all pulled out their weapons and charged at everyone else in the room. One muscular, large bald man, revealed himself from his cloak, leaped high into the sky towards King Lamposa, and attempted to land a punch at the King with his tattoo-covered arms.
Despite his muscular size and large body, his movement was swift.
"Your time has come, old King." The attacker said.
And Gazef blocked the punch with his plain metal shield, and the shield shook with a loud twang and shattered.
[Fourfold Slash of Light]
Gazef slashed at lightspeed, yet the muscular man managed to parry some of them with his reinforced armband.
"Ahhh, the legendary Gazef." The man taunted. "I've always wanted to fight you, to see who truly is strongest in the Kingdom."
He closed in, and launched a few punches, and Gazef parried with his sword. "And you are?"
"I am Zero, of the Six Arms."
Gazef dodged a punch and attempted a slash at Zero's waist.
[Iron Skin] The slash hit, but somehow rather than cause a huge wound, only managed a small scratch. Zero didn't even flinch from the strike.
"Eh, if only I have Razors Edge…"
Zero took the chance, at the slightly surprised Gazef to land a punch at his chest, hitting squarely on his armor, and it impacted with a loud bang. Gazef probably knew he made the right choice of wearing high quality armor that day, as the armor dented a little, but he was still largely unharmed.
"That's a good punch." Gazef jumped back, trying to keep Zero away from the King, who's a little shocked from the sudden escalation into combat.
"Barbro, stop this right now!" The King yelled.
"Too late, father."
Barbro had commissioned the Eight Fingers to do his dirty laundry, and brought assassins and security forces from them to protect him and attempt to kill the King.
Gazef sized up his large, bald opponent and prepared to attack.
Zero and Gazef exchanged stares. They both weighed their options for their next strike.
But it's a trap, as it is not Zero alone that is Gazef's opponent. All of Barbro's men were aiming for the King.
"AGHHH!" The King screamed, as Malmvist, another of the Six Arms member, lunged a rapier past the other royal guards and stabbed the King in his thigh. The poison laced rapier twisted, and as it twisted, blood poured out of the stab wound.
"Your majesty!" Gazef sprinted in and lunged against the assailant, and attempted a few slashs at him, and forced him to back away from the King.
But the King is already bleeding, and the poison spread throughout his body.
"This rapier is laced with various strong poisons. Your King will not last much longer." Malmvist spoke, and smiled wickedly.
"Ugh!" The King called out in pain.
Gazef looked at King Lamposa, and realised his face was starting to lose color.
The hall was now a bloody mess, as the Six Arms were too strong for the royal guards, killing many of the guards, and more importantly, all the witnesses that Prince Zanac and Marquis Raeven brought along. Marquis Raeven's personal bodyguards managed to kept both of them unharmed, but still were outmatched and so they were slowly retreating.
"Brother! You've gone too far!" Zanac yelled, as the fighting went on, and his men tried their best to fend off the attack from Barbro's men.
"All of you were in my way." Barbro smiled. "It's a matter of time, Zanac."
The hall's walls was covered in splatters of blood, as the Six Arms ruthlessly killed anyone in their way. Royal guard after royal guard were slaughtered, their arms chopped off by the flying scimitars and the dark magic of the Six Arms.
Marquis Raeven too realised the disadvantage they were in. The few former adventurers he brought struggled to fend off the attacks from the Six Arms and the other assassins.
The King, despite the pain and bleeding, struggled and attempted to leave by the rear door and yelled. "Barbro! You do not deserve to be King!"
"You have no say, father. You have been King for long enough." Barbro smiled, his face revealing a wickedness King Lamposa had never seen. "And you're about to die."
"You... stupid... " King Lamposa scolded, but the he coughed out a little bit of blood onto his palm.
King Lamposa turned to Gazef, realising his time has come. His bleeding leg giving way, and the poison making him feel dizzy. "Gazef, go! You've served me well..." The King coughed out a little bit of blood again. "Gazef, run! The Kingdom needs you more than me.."
The King coughed out a lot of blood that splattered onto the hall floor.
"Your majesty!" Gazef parried a few attacks from Malmvist and Zero, realising that he was being losing in a 2-v-1 fight. Against Zero he was confident he could beat him, but with them two attacking together, and their goal of killing the King, he truly felt his abilities were at their limit.
[Fourfold Slash of Light]
The slashes opened up a little room for the King to walk behind Gazef, but the King knew he would not make it.
Zanac and Raeven were now forced outside the royal hall, and together with their men, they gradually retreated from the attacking thugs,
"Should we chase after them?" One Six Arms assassin asked, inside the hall where Gazef is still trying to protect the dying king, and the remaining royal guards were getting slaughtered.
"No. We have the throne." Barbro smiled. "We will say they assassinated the King. All we need to do now, is to kill Gazef."
King Lamposa collapsed, his face now blue from the poison in his blood. As his body hit the marbled floor of the Royal hall, blood gushed out of his mouth.
"Your Majesty!"
Gazef attempted to carry the King, but as the rest of Zanac's men left, and the royal guards either killed or fled, the rest of the Six Arms now looked to him, and he alone would not be able to match the twenty or so men that now wanted his head.
Within Gazef, he felt truly conflicted. His King is dead, and he failed to protect him. There was a part of him that wanted to die here, together with his King.
Zero the bald muscular warrior monk, Malmvist the rapier wielder, and Pesylian the heavy armored swordsman approached Gazef.
"Your turn to die, Gazef."
Zero, Malmvist and Pesylian all launched their attacks at the same time.
But Gazef found his spirit amidst the chaos. The King has fallen, but the Kingdom has not.
"Not today, and not to you criminals!" Gazef roared, and he parried their attacks with [Sixfold Slash of Light], his already damaged sword shattering into a few dozen pieces, as it slammed into Malmvist's rapier and Pesylian's heavy sword.
The three Six Arms took a few steps back, as the shrapnel from the broken sword flew everywhere and blocked it from hitting their face.
Gazef took the small window of opportunity, and jumped through the rear window, out into the royal courtyard, and ran.
Gazef, warrior captain. Personal bodyguard of the King.
He had never ran, and swore to never run from his duty to serve the King. He watched his King die before him today.
And he ran. And left his King dying on the hall floor.
He ran as fast as he could, and if anything, he needed to live. He wanted to live. His mind now consumed by rage, he would not let his King die in vain to the hands of criminals.
The hall is now bloodied red, the King Lamposa, his skin bluish from the poison, and blood flowing slowly out of his mouth. Dozens of bodies lie scattered across the royal hall, bodies of the royal guards, Zanac's men, and some of Barbro's men too.
All of those who opposed Barbro in the hall has fled.
Though he had not gotten to kill Zanac or Raeven, he could now crown himself King. Prince Barbro now controlled the royal palace, and believed the nobles will fall in line to serve under his throne. Zanac may resist and rebel against his rule, but he will fail. Barbro has counted the odds.
Barbro walked over and kneeled before King Lamposa's body. "You should've appointed me King years ago, and you would still live today, father." The King, barely conscious, winced. And Barbro stabbed a knife through the King's heart.
Barbro took the crown on his father's corpse, and placed it on himself, even as it had blood splattered all over it.
He smiled, the crown sat awkwardly on his head.
The remaining supporters and thugs all called out. "Long live King Barbro!"
Zero and the rest of the Six Arms then looked at the Prince, now King. "I believe we will receive our payment, your majesty?"
"You will get your money and your women, when I take control of this country as King." Barbro smiled, but the war is not yet over. Now to win over the rest of the nobles and crush Zanac and Raeven.
"The slave trade will return, as agreed?"
"Yes, that too."
"How about Princess Renner?" one sadistic looking assassin smiled. "The slave division would love to have their way with her…"
"I've got plans for that sister of mine." Barbro laughed.
"Princess! We must leave! Now!" Climb screamed, and pulled the Princess's hand.
"Yes I've heard." Princess Renner followed, and they both ran down the stairs and out into the hallway. "I've been waiting for you to get me."
A few horses was waiting with some of the other guards loyal to Renner. "Let's go we don't have much time."
They rode out quickly, out towards the highway. Right now, the capital is a dangerous place for nobles and royalty, as Barbro has quickly stationed his supporters at the key locations, and published decrees proclaiming King Lamposa's death, and Prince Barbro taking over as the new King Barbosa I. Prince Zanac and Marquis Raeven too, was singled out in the royal pronouncements, proclaiming them as guilty for assassinating the King.
Unusually, quite a few of Barbro's supporters are known Eight Fingers operatives, and Climb felt a little uncomfortable as he passed them.
It's late at night, and most of the common folk are sleeping. The city guards are oblivious to the massacre at the Royal hall in the afternoon, and all they see are large groups of nobles leaving the capital abruptly.
"Re-Lobell." Princess Renner said. "We should head there. It's nearest large city to Necropolis, and given the recent chaos there, I don't think Barbro will try anything. It's also the domain of Marquis Pespea, and he's not too fond of Prince Barbro too. Eight Fingers are a little bit weaker there as well, since they do seem to be involved in this..."
Climb nodded, and wondered what Prince Zanac is up to. The second prince leads a collection of small towns and E-Libera. a major city not far from the capitol. But it is in a vulnerable position from E-Puspel, where Prince Barbro's domain mostly lies, and the war that they all wanted to avoid is now here.
Zanac and Raeven would not take to being accused assassins lightly, and they would fight to defend themselves.
"How's Marquis Boullope?"
"He's still withdrawn in his domain, and it seems none of his men were involved in this… incident."
"What else did you hear?"
"Zanac and Raeven and retreating back to their own respective towns, and it seems they are gearing for war."
"Who else was there, with the King?"
"Zanac, Barbro, Raevan, Gazef. There's also Zanac's supporters and Barbro's supporters."
"How did the King die?"
"Not sure, but what I hear from the few fleeing guards was that Gazef was fighting one of the thugs, when another thug stabbed the King. After that the King's face started to turn blue."
"Hmm…" Princess Renner knew Gazef would be more than able to take on a few thugs, so whoever assassinated the King had to be close to Gazef in terms of combat ability.
"The ride will take about 2 days at least, Princess. Hope this isn't too uncomfortable for you." Climb apologised, snapping the Princess out of her thoughts.
"Can I get a piggyback ride when I'm uncomfortable?" She playfully teased, touching Climb's face with her fingers.
"Anything you say, princess." Climb blushed a little.
In Princess Renner's mind, she never saw Zanac as the one capable of assassinating the King, though she couldn't rule it out if it's orchestrated by someone in his camp. However, given that Barbro is the one taking over as King, it is much more likely that Barbro, given his previous links to the underworld, to be the culprit. If truly Zanac was the one who assassinated the King, Raeven would not have stood at his side, given her understanding of Raeven's character as a true loyalist to the crown.
Barbro was most likely to take some time to consolidate his power from his new seat in the capital, summoning the nobles and the generals to swear loyalty to them. He's a paranoid character, especially since the recent failures of his campaign, and will probably push for a widespread culling of those against him.
So civil war is pretty much inevitable, and if her own information sources from the North are true, the Kingdom will fracture into at least three sides.
Those aligned with Barbro, holding territories stretching from the capital, to E-Puspel, and those of Count Lytton and Marquis Blumlash. Marquis Urovana may very well decide to align himself with the new King, so that would put 3 of the nobles behind him.
Zanac and Marquis Raeven would be another camp, holding the lands of E-Libera and the northeastern territories. Marquis Raeven's considerable military might and strength of his domain would mean Zanac has a decent fighting chance. They would likely not accept Barbro's ascension to the throne, as their lives would be lost if they did.
Marquis Pespea has ambitions of being King of his own, and may very well take the opportunity to split from the Kingdom. Marquis Pespea and Barbro's relationship has been hot and cold, he may stay out of this, but he isn't too fond of Zanac either. He may choose to wait till the last minute before choosing which faction to support.
It is Marquis Boullope's role that is uncertain, given his recent change in character, preferring to devote himself to the fulfillment of the Kingdom's responsibilities to Necropolis as part of the peace treaty. He holds the largest standing army of all the six nobles, and has the best trained force overall. Whoever he chooses to support will very well be secure as King, and Barbro would probably try to sway him to his side.
If Barbro really did use the Eight Fingers in taking the throne, it is likely he would commission them to assassinate Raeven, Zanac and Pespea, and they would need to hire equally skilled men for protection.
"Eh, Climb… what happened to Gazef?" If anyone could go toe-to-toe with the infamous Six Arms, it would be Gazef.
"No one saw what happened to him. He was at the King's side till the very end, but no one knew what happened after that..."
"Where are we headed?"
"Necropolis."
"Wait what?!" Brain yelled, as he rode alongside Gazef.
"If I want to avenge the King's murder, I believe only Ainz Ooal Gown-sama will be in the position to help me."
"You are asking an undead to help you avenge the King's death."
"..." Gazef was at a loss for words. Perhaps the sudden assassination of his King shocked him so.
Brain still kept riding alongside Gazef. "But hey, I trust your instincts. Let's see what Ainz has to say about this. He may very well ask us to bugger off and sort out our own business."
Brain looked at the bloodied Gazef, his armor and clothes still soaked in the blood of the many royal guards that fell alongside him. The stench of death that surrounds him lingers like a persistent admirer, and perhaps Gazef wanted to that way.
Brain sympathised. He's really taking it badly for failing to protect his King. What good is being the strongest in the Kingdom, if he fails to protect his King when it matters.
A while ago, Brain was resting in the Gazef's home when he heard screams in the air and the loud noises of a fleeing band of nobles. He saw Prince Zanac and Marquis Raeven, all fleeing via horseback with their men, all covered in the usual signs of combat, with blood splats across their clothes and cuts all over. There was distinctive, familiar smell of fresh blood as well.
He then headed towards the palace, and saw Gazef running. It's strange to see him run, but Gazef then called to him.
"The King has been killed."
Those words coming from Gazef was surreal, and sudden. But Gazef never joked about such things.
"We need to get out, now."
"Okay…" Brain wasn't sure how to react, but he's going to roll with it.
"The King is killed by Prince Barbro's hired assassins. He's working with the Eight Fingers."
It's tough on Gazef's personality to fail his beloved king, and truly if he could avenge him, he would. To ask for help from Ainz reflected how powerless he felt.
"Hopefully he'll see us then." Brain lamented, but still riding alongside his slightly hurt friend.
Within a week, the news spread across the entirety of Re-Estize, and the boundaries of power redrawn.
"How's everything, Renner?"
"It's fine, Marquis Pespea."
Renner's placed in a small spare room for guests in the mansion that Marquis Pespea calls home. Marquis Pespea had earlier married Renner's elder sister and was quite fond of King Lamposa.
It's a simple room, but in times of chaos, it's more than she could ask for. It's a temporary escape, and Renner foresees herself having to move soon, if the flames of war starts to spread closer.
"Prince Barbro's sent a few envoys over today."
Princess Renner listened intently.
"He wants me to acknowledge him as King, and also hand over Princess Renner."
"Have you agreed?"
"Still weighing my options."
Climb looked worried, and he reached for his weapon.
"But no need to worry, Princess Renner. I will let you leave, rather than hand you over."
"Thank you." Renner understood that Marquis Pespea may allow them to "escape".
"Your other brother, Zanac has started raising an army to march against the capitol, together with Raeven. It's quite unlike Raeven to march against any King…"
"Are you asking for my views, Marquis?" Princess Renner abruptly interrupted the Marquis.
The Marquis Pespea stopped and laughed. "Yes, yes I am. I hear from your sister that you are quite smart. Quite a waste, since you are nowhere near the line of succession…"
"And my efforts are wasted with Barbro being King, as he will soon unwind all of my policies."
Climb looked out of the window, and took a look at the sea. Here, winters are mild and life generally still goes on normally. Now that spring is here, the farmers and foragers are out in full force to start their planting cycle. There is peace here, as their distance from the capital affords it some buffer from the intricacies of court struggles.
To the ordinary peasant on the farm, the man on the throne has never really mattered. The life on the field is always tough, and the kings and nobles take whatever they want. It is how the world has always worked to them.
Climb looked at the Princess and her brother-in-law, Marquis Pespea, still discussing the news and changes in the political landscape.
Marquis Pespea inherited his position after his father passed away, and somehow managed to gain the hand of Princess Renner's elder sister in marriage, elevating his kin in status, to that of relatives of the royal family. As such, in disputes he has traditionally took the side of the royals.
"Climb, we should go soon."
"Huh?" Climb got knocked out of his little daydream. "Yes, Princess." Saying yes to the Princess is almost second nature, instinct even, and he rose up to assist the Princess.
"Take good care of her. My wife will be sad if anything happens to her."
"Yes sir, I stake my life on it." Climb responded, but he wondered how is Princess Renner's sister like. Do they really have a sister-like relationship, given how complicated royal families seem to be?
The small entourage prepared themselves to leave ReLobell, and head to a smaller village nearer to Necropolis, where the presence of skeletal dragons would naturally scare away a fair bit of Prince Barbro's men from looking too hard for them. The lower amount of merchant traffic and adventurers too would help prevent themselves from being spotted and captured.
"Get out."
"This is King Barbro's orders, sir."
"Get. Out."
"But Marquis…"
Boullope reached over to grab the messenger by his neck. The messenger and Boullope exchanged glances, and the messenger saw madness and insanity in those eyes. It's been slightly over a week since Barbro took the throne, and he wanted the nobles on his side.
"King Barbro will not take this lightly…" The messenger threatened.
"I have stared into the eyes of the death god. I fear no mortal king... or pretender."
Marquis Boullope stared, and the messenger felt a cold sweat run down his cheek.
"So, get out before I have your head sent back on a wheatbag."
The messenger gulped, and once the Marquis loosened his grip he ran out, as fast as he could. In the room with the Marquis, the other advisors gulped as well.
"Boullope…" One advisor wanted to share his thoughts.
"If you agree with that bratty prince, get out."
The advisors were silent. They have seen a massive change in their lord since his Necropolis expedition. Their proud, loud, arrogant liege transformed into a quieter, brooding but more frightening lord.
"My lord… they will wage war on us."
"I know."
"But he will not stop there."
The advisors were silent. This was a new part of their lord, a more careful, forward looking side that they had not seen before the expedition. The Boullope that used to just stuck to his ways, now transformed into someone that explored a few steps ahead.
In fact, the number of advisors around him increased twofold, as he demanded for more plans, more organisation structures.
"Barbro's ego will lead him to eventually attack Necropolis. He will not let a failed expedition go, and will try to 'correct' it."
Boullope seemed to shiver when he mentioned that 'N' word.
"And our peace treaty will be broken."
The advisors now saw why Boullope rejected Barbro's command to acknowledge him as King. Preservation of the peace treaty with Necropolis seems to be Boullope's new entire purpose, and he organised the advisors along the requirements of the treaty. Even if the entire Kingdom fell into civil war, Boullope's domain will continue to hold up its end of the bargain for the Kingdom.
Its a sin that Boullope determined himself as responsible for.
"Get fifty thousand men ready for war. Do not draft anyone working on the mines, the smiths, the farms or the horse husbandries. Also, do not move anyone from the border patrols."
The advisors all bowed in acceptance.
"Yes sir."
Boullope then walked out of the room, into the training yard where his sons are practicing combat by sparring with their combat instructors, using heavy metal rods.
Two of them, in the mid teens plump from a life of excess, spending their father's wealth. Historically, Boullope has led them do whatever they wanted.
But now, they were harshly beaten. The instructors were explicitly requested to give no quarter, and be ruthless.
And so their body now, covered in bruises all over, with a priest keeping watch to heal them, so they could continue with the training even after the injuries.
"Father! Stop this already!" One of the sons called, as they saw their father approaching. "This is a joke, right?"
"Stop." Boullope ordered, and the instructor obeyed.
The son smiled, happy to have the punishment stopped… Or not.
Boullope grabbed the rod from the instructor.
"I will be your instructor." Boullope swings the rod at the son, and the son struggled to parry. The force at which Boullope swings the rod still pushes the son to lose balance and he trips. "Where did you get the idea this was a joke." Boullope smacks the rod into the son's upper arm, and hitting him.
"Father! Why!" The son looked bewildered, and in pain.
"I will have you sent to Necropolis as offerings if you do not learn to at least fight properly." Boullope swings the rod at the fallen son, and the son struggles to block the overhead strike.
The two rods vibrated on impact.
The other son, who watched Boullope smack his brother, ran over and attempted to swing his rod at Boullope's head.
"Weak." Boullope grabbed the other son's neck before he could complete the swing, and slammed him into the ground. The other son screamed in pain.
The advisors and instructors could only look, a little bewildered at how Boullope behaved now.
"When did I have two such pathetic sons?"
The two sons cried. After a life of luxury, they were unprepared for such harsh training and torture.
"In this world, the strong will always oppress the weak." To those who don't know better, it seems as if Boullope is implying he is strong. But Boullope said it, because he knew he was the weak, the oppressed.
The sons still cried.
"Instructor, continue the lesson."
He would not let his children be as weak as he is.
Another chapter without the Supreme Beings.
The next chapter is on the battles of the fractured Kingdom :)