Chapter 11: The Crown

I stared at my crown wrapped in my hands..

It had been a few months after the King and Queen’s death at the hands of the Empire’s knights. Reports have said that Empire forces retreated after the declared deaths of the monarchs. Some even declared that a mysterious knight had come in and beat back many of the Empire’s forces, single handedly saving many civilians. The knight wasn’t seen from again.

What was the most prominent news around the attack though was the discovery that most of the attackers, if not all, were WIllfuls and were using their Wills to their leisure.

The castle was in turmoil afterwards, many advisors argued with themselves over what should happen next. During all of that, my birthday came and went, only a retired Kalli came to celebrate with my 14th. Unfortunately, that meant I was of age and the crown defaulted to me and I was left to deal with everything myself.

“Meryl, has Kalli truly left?” I asked again, still thinking of thoughts that really had no importance.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” My new handmaid replied tersely.

I barely heard her, I could only hear the roaring thoughts that threatened to drown me. My dad in my previous life often bragged about how he ran his company efficiently without a chance of sabotage, now I had to do the same with the castle. Already I’ve heard whispers as I trudged through the halls, a small hint that I might become a puppet king, beholden to my supposed advisors.

While I had goofed around not even months ago, that was merely my inner child letting loose. I sighed internally as the self that had been conditioned by my parents took its righteous place. The crown rolled around and up and down my fingertips. It was heavy, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I put it on and let the cold metal rest atop my head.

What’s first? My dad would mention that he prioritized outliers and outsources because they’re often not as monitored as much as the inner workings of the company. What’s a Kingdom equivalent of outsourcing?

“Meryl, can you please inform Lord Gellert that I wish to depart for the Empire-Kingdom border and visit the villages in between. I will speak to the carriage driver myself.” I stood up and shook out my black hair which had started to get long. I then moved to where my coat hung and proceeded to put it on myself, seeing as my handmaid was too busy being shocked.

“Your Majesty?

“I believe I said what I said. I wish to depart. Lord Gellert will be able to manage things while I’m gone, but he best believes that I will take the throne when I return.” I marched out of my room and saw a few other maids scurrying out of sight. Ignoring them, I turned and walked towards the stables.

What else needs to happen afterwards? My dad always said he was proud of his communication network as it allowed for smoothness and allowed for fewer mistakes. As I didn’t have any ideas on how that'd work, I put that on the backburner so to speak.

Afterwards, my dad made sure that all the executives who had power were put decisively in their roles and must be kept busy at all times. This allows for maximum efficiency within the system, for both subordinates and leadership, as well as denies time to think about a company coup. This one I’ll have to work on when I get back, but perhaps I should be able to start the process before I leave though. Make sure they wouldn’t be able to set something up for when I returned.

What else? Favoribility. There was a motto that my dad had hung up in his office, ‘it’s better to be loved than to be feared.’ Funnily enough, he never brought that home, but the theory applied here as well. If I can make myself a good option for the people without them feeling like they’re being oppressed, then respect will go in my favor.

I pondered on how I'd be able to implement these things when I finally reached the stables. I announced my presence without too much fanfare but the stablehand still nearly died from shock.

“Your Majesty! Wha…what can I do for you?” The boy must’ve been around my age, but there was sorrow in his eyes.

“I would like to ride through the countryside. Do you think you’ll be able to procure me a carriage and two sturdy horses?” I asked politely with a smile to make the stablehand feel at ease. “Take your time though I would prefer if I were able to leave today.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, right away, Your Majesty.” The boy bowed deeply before half running half tripping to a double set of doors. From the way he then struggled opening it, I took my leave only after I told him to look for me when the carriage was ready. “Yes, Your Majesty!”

I walked back into the castle proper and followed the hallways that would lead to the kitchen. I would need to think about supplies and while purchasing them on the road causes less stress for the horses, I would still like supplies that I could rely on. However, before I could round the corner to the door that entered the kitchen, I saw Lord Gellert marching towards me out of the corner of my eye.

I turned around and gave him a big smile, but it wasn’t the smile of a child. “Lord Gellert, what seems to be the problem?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” He breathed in and out in a very deliberate manner, but it did not help at all with his fury red complexion. “What possesses you to venture out to the Empire-Kingdom border? We were just attacked by them, it is dangerous, Your Majesty!”

“Exactly why I should go, Lord Gellert. As I am now king, I speak for the people, but how can I speak for the people when I don’t even know what the people look or feel like? The villages that stretch from the Empire to here must be devastated and if not devastated, at least some condition that has worsened their day to day. I wish to go to the border to understand my people. Will you forbid me from doing my duty?”

“But…Your Majesty…” Gellert made some angry noises and paced around, throwing his head every which way before he finally took a calming breath and looked at me again. “Your Majesty, the Kingdom needs you right now. You are needed in order to keep stability here in the capital. If we can’t help the capital, then we can’t help the outer villages.”

“I am not needed, Lord Gellert. Do not play me for a fool. You and other advisors wish to make me a puppet, but I will not take that lying down. You’ll be in charge while I’m gone and maybe that’ll help you fulfill your fantasies of being a ruler, but when I’m back? I expect my throne to be returned.” I smiled as a thought struck me. “Lord Gellert, like you said, the capital is in need of help. Perhaps you’ll be the good samaritan I know you to be and help the capital yourself. It’ll do wonders for the public image. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get some supplies.”

A few moments later, I sat in the back of the carriage, accompanied only by an escort knight and a personal guard in the carriage itself, and the carriage driver. Underneath the carriage, in the storage ledge sat rations capable of lasting us for a week.

The rumbling began as we started down the hill to the city down below. It was exciting because I had never been outside the walls, but I had no wish to appear basic in front of the people who were there to protect me.

As we passed by the main square where all sorts of markets had been set up as well as town criers gathering crowds, one voice stuck out to me more than the rest. A middle aged man calling for action against the Willfuls and their witchcraft. What surprised me even more was the resounding cry of agreement from the gathered crowd.

I spared a look at my personal guard as words from my dad floated to me. ‘It’s best to know the people you’ll be working with or working under you. It allows for familiarity but it will also give you a sense of what motivates them.’

“What’s your name?” I asked simply. Even under the visor, I could tell that the question had caught him off guard.

“Jurn Targonfy, Your Majesty.” His voice was a pleasant gravel.

“Tell me Jurn, what do you think of Willfuls? They were the ones who supposedly attacked us.” My voice was diplomatic, my face an impenetrable mask.

“It’s not my place to say, Your Majesty.”

“And yet it is because I asked for your opinion. What do you think of Willfuls, Jurn.” The question came out more forcefully than I wanted, but I couldn’t take it back now.

“Well, Your Majesty, if I had to say, I don’t really like them. Not particularly because they were the ones who attacked us, but more because they’re more gifted than us. See, I train hard every day to get enough strength in order to swing my sword with enough power and precision to protect and defend with upright zeal. To a Willful, my strength is pitiful.” Jurn sighed a little. “To be honest, Your Majesty, I don’t think the Willfuls really had much to do with this. It’s like an instrument, see, you have the player, but the instrument is the one that’s making the sound.”

“So you’re saying that someone manipulated the Willfuls into attacking us?”

“That’s how I see it, Your Majesty. Believe it or not, Your Majesty, I come from a Willful family myself. My distaste comes from my own lack of ability, not of anything major, but because I know of Willfuls personally, I know that they are people just like every other person. I may be overstepping my bounds here, Your Majesty, but since you asked, to condemn a people who are no different than you or me, just simply have more capabilities, is asking for trouble and will only cause harm in the long run.”

“In the long run.” I ran what he said in my head. It made sense, it made a lot of sense, but I wasn’t ruling any other possibility out. “Thank you Jurn, your insight was most appreciated, and no, you didn’t overstep your bounds.”

“Ah, thank you, Your Majesty.” His voice echoed a simple happiness that I envied him for. If I may, Your Majesty.”

“Please, unless I say otherwise or look to be doing something of import, do assume that you have permission to speak.”

“You are too kind, Your Majesty.” Jurn coughed a little before continuing. “I was wondering where You Majesty ultimately wanted to go. I was a well versed traveller before I enlisted, so maybe I could be of help, that is of course, if Your Majesty deems my skills worthy.”

“We are headed to Borden, Jurn.”

“Ah, Borden! What a fine town, or, at least, it used to be a fine town.” The knight fell silent as he visibly thought of something. “Might I suggest we take the path alongside the bay, it does take longer but then on the way back, we will be following a newer trail. I believe that this’ll fit the ideal outcome Your Majesty seeks.”

“I like the way you think, Jurn. Tell the driver the new path, if you will.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”