By the Sun's Side 2 - (Re:Zero, SI)

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Two days have passed since I got 'hired' in the Benedict household, and the little peace I had in learning my new little boss' tastes, attitude, and overall flaws in regard to the upcoming conflict hardly allowed me much to plan to overcome the early issues.

I wouldn't say that death was imminent, but as I was taken to the carriage ride to the Imperial Palace and then left alone with Arakiya and other individuals that were accompanying the other 'children' of the Emperor. The room was stuffed with tension between cunning spymasters, feral fighters, and other individuals neither Arakiya nor I had any business being close to.

To our relief, none approached us, but that didn't stop us from exchanging whispers on what was to come.

"Do you think... it's time?"

"Perhaps," I remarked, yet aware that the answer was actually a full positive. Drizen Volacchia was to die this day and the Imperial Ceremony Selection was soon to happen.

Differently from the Lugnican Royal Selection, the Volacchian Civil War was going to be a brutal mess. Too many dangerous people and a too militarized society for diplomacy to be as effective as it did in the main storyline - it didn't help that we had to get an ally. And I wasn't as pleased to learn that the one we would pick was a good but still overly-confident individual.

Lamia Godwin, by all means, was a good tactician when compared to Prisca. She was older, yes, but she was infamously known for her role in the Godwin Infighting and how she singlehandedly employed her 'Pruning Corps', a mercenary group, to shred the opposition and conquer the position of Countess Godwin.

Lamia had short blond hair, red eyes, and appeared to be in her early 20s despite being just 16. The circumstances behind her jaded looks were due to her rough upbringing as she had to deal with her rise to power when she was merely 9. In a political standpoint, she was the second closest to have a chance to obtain the Imperial crown, but that didn't mean it was a good thing.

While Vincent was currently going to be our foe, that didn't mean he was the least pleasant Imperial candidate when compared to Lamia. The blonde was just too cruel and too objective in her desires to give emotional value to her subject's lives - an excellent leader and military officers, she would be an atrocious nation-ruler if given the chance to govern the country.

Prisca wasn't in a better spot in that regard, but she was closer to her brother's mindset compared to her 'big sister'. And it became apparent that Prisca loathed having to claim the deal Lamia had her shake hands on as it put the little girl under her sister's control.

It was evident by the 'flat' look on Prisca's face as it broke in an angry snarl once the three of us got back to the carriage. The rant that ensued in regard to how humiliating the current situation was lasted a few hours. Arakiya tried to ease her friend's worries, but it was clear that Prisca was outright furious about the current status quo.

It didn't help that we were now without a safe base of operations. Vincent's manor was out of question due to the current rupture of the status quo, and right now there wasn't a 'Benedict Manor' to rely upon. Not when the path to it was too distant and the household too unreliable.

"..." Prisca's silence came at a most suitable time as one last question, devoid of her previous rage, came forth. "And where to go now?"

I had looked into a map a while ago. Not because I wanted to know all known settlements around, but rather to see if the 'official map' Tappei published was reliable in this situation. It was. And, as I was thinking of this question too, I couldn't help but think of a very valid idea.

"Faradar."

My simple response got both Prisca and Arakiya to look at me with surprise.

"Faradar? Where is that?" Prisca asked, clearly desperate as she was 12 and in deep waters - she wasn't stupid, but she was aware she was in a bad spot.

"South of Lupgana. It is a small settlement where the Evil Eye Tribe lives. Despite their names, their folks are reputable and neutral, but that may change due to the upcoming conflict as similar tribes had been slain for less."

I noticed Arakiya fidgeting at that, and I saw Prisca pondering on the matter.

"Are they subordinated to a noble house?"

"They are not."

She smiled. "Perfect, then I will claim them-"

"With caution, Lady Prisca."

She stiffened at my interjection, then her eyes narrowed at me. "Elaborate, servant."

I refrained from rolling my eyes at her bout of pride, but I still replied to that order.

"As things are right now, you have a finite supply of money, no safe space to hold your ground, and a limited amount of loyal folks in your camp - you will need to concede to some 'kindness' for the sake of ingratiating the village to you and allow you to take charge of them."

A ferocious growl came from her.

"So, I should act cutesy around those simpletons?"

"Nay, I am asking you to be the same as you are, just blunt on your 'concessions' regarding what they want to hear - they don't need a cute girl to lead them, they need someone that can grant them protective rights, concessions on the land, and perhaps the promise of house-related investments to expand their settlement."

My words struck through as Prisca's eyes widened in surprise and intrigue. Before I could add more, the little lady stabbed back with a question.

"For a former owner of a food stall, you sure have knowledge on the matter not many of your ilk should have... Bukharin."

I blinked, then frowned. "I admit that I was a learned man before deciding to pick a most safe path to economic stability, but there is also the matter of my non-royal upbringing as it helps me know what the people as of now seeks from their leader."

"If that's the case, then how come others have not done the same?" The blonde challenged, but also sounded inquisitive enough to want an answer about for her own growing knowledge on the topic.

"In Volacchia, the supply of murder-happy warriors is quite aplenty. The issue is that there is still the basis of economic support most have and you don't. However there's also a matter of noble ignorance on the matter - you are all taught that nobility is where the money reside, but they don't tell you that there can't be any of that without a solid base of economic exploitation guaranteed by a large amount of 'peasants' and 'farmhands'."

"So, if there's more peasants that are happy, then Prisca will become richer?"

"A rather simplified way to put it, but yes. Happiness in this case can be split in two factors: the capacity of one to be able to make a profit between income and expenses, and the ability of one to feel a degree of rights that guarantee them freedom. An example of this last bit is if one wishes to make a joke about their ruler. Some may feel upset about being joked upon, but if the jokes are harmless and there is no repression about it, then there is no feeling of oppression regarding one's ability to express themselves. Freedom of speech implies also a freedom of creativity- new ideas help create a better society with proper regulations."

I half-expected Prisca to stop me at times, but after a brief one where she relayed the order to the charioteer to take us to Faradar, the little noble had one thing to say.

"Go on."

And she said that many times. It was that distracted tone, coupled with her attentive gaze (a reaction mimicked by Arakiya) that told me how those two were truly engrossed on what I was saying. I was keen to realize I was saying a lot of things that the blonde found logical and yet she hardly had those taught to her when she was sheltered in Lupgana.

After a lengthy ride to the south which lasted several hours, I found myself glad that we could stop at a nearby clearing to rest. Prisca was lying on her side of the carriage's seat, while Arakiya was drooling over my lap as she enjoyed a very unplanned lap pillow experience.

I was the only one awake as the charioteer had gone to sleep too, with my mind unwilling to concede to the slumber for a while longer after the others did. I was worried about Faradar for a few reasons, with my plans hanging on the notion of having an easy time getting a hold of the village's interest to gear up for war out of fear of being destroyed. Alas, I also wanted to get two individuals on board to join Prisca's camp for the war, both of which were semi-canon by all means.

But I needed them. I needed Melty and Salum Pristis on board for Prisca to win this damn civil war.

AN

So, while some may call foul on relying on 'semi-canon' characters, there is also the fact that Tappei admitted they were actually canon beyond their game appearance, with both Melty and Salum meant to appear a bit later on the story.

Still, writing Prisca can be a bit rough for a simple reason: she is very 'sharp' as a child, but she is still a sheltered child. Even at 12, she did a lot of fuck-ups that ultimately led to some of her earlier failures in her bids to power. First in Volacchia and then in Lugnica.

At this point, I would say that Prisca is still a cocky brat, but nonetheless a girl that wants to learn how to not mess things up and actually stand on her good feet without ever worrying of tripping on herself and make a huge mess in the process.

Next time, in fact, it will see Prisca's POV as she addresses her 'Takeover' of Faradar, and the views she harbors about her servant/tutor.