42: The second war council (trial part 6)

(Nathan POV)

"That's one thing down" I said.

Me and Cecilia were walking side by side in the castle corridors.

"Yes, one down and about a hundred more to go." She rolled her eyes on my remark. "The war is upon us. Soon the attack will be coming on the capital when the main army reaches us. How do you plan to defend against it?" She expressed her worry.

"You worry to much sister. We have caught the spy. The persecutors are interrogating him as we speak. They will get something out of him at least that will make our lives easier." I said in a hopeful tone.

"Yeah. Keep dreaming." She spoke. "It's most likely that he does not even know much about the invasion and the plans. He was just sent to infiltrate and nothing more ...." She was pointing out many reasons how we were going to lose our lives during the upcoming war and trust me on this, I did not need any reminder. Arcadia survived up till now due to miracles. Kizen's rule and the internal disputes had almost caused the demise of the country.

Almost

(Damn it. None of this is making my life any easier. I need a break. I just needed to bond with my swords, nothing else and here I am, stuck inside this shitty place fighting a war that does not even concern me.)

"YOU IMBECILS" I heard a shout that pulled me out of my mind back into reality.

"CAN'T YOU DO A SINGLE THING CORRECTLY"

"What is it now." I asked

"Seems like Duchess Asheren Careas is displeased by some of the maids." Cecilia replied.

Duke and Duchess had the authority right after the prince and princess. There were a total of three Dukes in the country managing their own regions. And Duchess Asheren Careas was wed to Duke Lormen Careas. They were responsible for the region that included the capital. They presented their reports directly to the ruler and in this case to me.

(What the hell is up with the names in this country)

Duchess Asheren was the definition of a vileness in some kind of romance novel. She used to hit, punish and exile her maids and butlers on even the most trivial of matters. Since she was living in the royal castle, the maids serving her and me were mostly the same well except for the personal maids or butlers. Right now, all the maids and cooks were lined up in the back garden and the duchess was ... well ...… angry on something.

"YOU FILTHY WORMS ....." Even though I was a floor higher than her, I could still hear her unpleasant voice. The thing was that, I had, many times already solved these kinds of problems. The barons, Marquesses, Earls and the Viscounts all thought that they were some higher beings and they could do whatever they wanted to commoners. I simply loathed this ideology. I simply loathed the thought of treating a human being as an animal just due to his origin or cast. It reminded me of my past and present.

"There are no mudbloods or purebloods." I subconsciously whispered

"Did you say something?" asked Cecilia

I ignored her question and spun on my heels. "Come" I ordered and she did as was told without question.

The both of us walked to the stair way. Many of the ministers I had called for the conference tried to follow but I told them to wait in the legislative chamber. We walked down and out. I had done this, many times before and now the nobles were wary of me. The duchess did what she did because I had just returned from the city and the NEWS had yet to reach her.

"I TOLD YOU THAT THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED ...…" She was still going on about some intolerable thing but I was not interested in the least. I approached her. Her back was towards me. All the maids there saw me and they got a little hope.

"WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING AT YOU FILTHY CREATURE." She shouted at the maid who was looking at me

*SLAP*

Cecilia closed her eyes. She too was not a big fan of this stuff.

"Ahem" I cleared my throat behind her.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO DISTURB BE UNLESS THE KING WAS HERE. That brat never lets me do anything. But soon he will be dethroned. SO, TELL ME, IS HE HERE?" She said in her typical tone without turning.

(Thank you for that. I never asked)

I opened my mouth to say something but Cecilia went ahead of me.

"I am sorry to disturb you my holiness but there is an urgent matter that needs your attention." She said.

"Put it on hold I will be there." I saw her shoulders relax but she still did not turn around to see who she was talking to.

(Never thought it would be so easy to find the traitors)

"But your majesty this matter is of the most importance." Cecilia actually pleaded.

"UGH. I said that I will do it later ... Why can't y....." She turned around. The words that moments a go she was going to spit out of her mouth, got stuck in her throat. "S-S-S-S-S-SIRE. W-W-W-when d-did you arrive. I-I-I-I W-was n-never informed of your arrival. M-my m...…" The woman who, just moments a go was acting all high and mighty was now even struggling to talk. I really felt sorry for her when she did the best, she could in saying all that and Cecilia never let her finish.

"Duchess Asheren Careas ....." She spoke with a tone colder then the highest peak of the coldest tundra. "You are under arrest for plotting and acting against the kingdom. The allegations against you are those of treason and embezzlement of illegal money. You shall be held in the dungeons till your hearing. The witnesses will be myself and king Kizen. Do you have any objections?" She spoke fluently in a robotic tone.

"Your highness, I did not know what you are talking about, I-I-I was ju....." she literally tried to deny what the both of us had just heard. So now it was my turn to quench some anger. I was disturbed when I looked at the condition the maids were in. The had several wounds and signs of violence on their bodies.

"You shall not say a single word or else you will not get a hearing but instead an immediate execution. Do you understand duchess ..... or should I say traitor Asheren Careas." I ended the discussion. "You there" I pointed at the maid who was hit by her before we had arrived. "Take another one with you and drag this traitor to the prosecution room. We will get some more information out of her. You are allowed to use any means you please." She tried to hide it but still I saw a smile appear on her face as she bowed to me.

(Tit for tat)

I turned towards the maids. "Countless times have I not told you before that you will report to me or Cecilia if you are being ..." I could not find the word "being...…. Treated ... like this. Next time you shall be punished if I am not reported."

"SIRE PLEASE LISTEN TO MEEEEE" The former duchess was whaling like a mad dog.

"And please plug her mouth. My head hurts." I voiced. "Let's go Cecilia, we have got a meeting to attend to." I Spun on my heels and walked away.

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(Cecilia POV)

I knew that Kizen had changed a lot due to some reason but the biggest change in him was that he could not bear oppression. Anyone who treated their maids or workers or commoners like objects and with violence, he would treat harshly. I did not know why he did what he did but one thing was for sure, the maids, butlers and the cooks were all becoming his fans. His popularity among the commoners was increasing. All the staff in the castle considered him to be some kind of savior. This was a change that I never expected to see at least in him but nonetheless I was with him. Not even father did this kind of thing. I clearly saw many maids bowing down to him as we moved towards the legislative chamber. I mean this was a must but the difference was the way they bowed. Humbly, thankfully and happily. This was kind of heartwarming. Inside the chamber, no servants were allowed. There was a round table placed in the center of the room and the room was lit by lamps. There were no windows and no decorations. This room was primarily used only in extreme situations. Wars, Rebellion, Famine etc. Many secret tunnels ran below the castle and they had many entrances. This room also had one in case of an emergency. All the ministers were in their respective positions.

"Now, let us begin the meeting" Kizen spoke immediately as we entered. "What is our situation. Be honest." He pointed towards the commander.

"The situation is very dire. The main army of the enemy is approaching and we do not have the resources to even defend against them. They are conquering every fort in their way. Any who falls back is captured and killed."

"Hmmmm ..... so, how long do we have till they reach us."

"About ten to twelve days till they reach fort Miraas if they travel continuously, if not then fifteen to seventeen days. From there its only half a day to the capital. If I say, even after delaying as much as possible, they will be here in ten days. No more" said the commander and Kizen went into deep thought.

"We are doomed. There is nothing we can do. I say that we should run away." Said one of the ministers

"Yes, I am with you. We will take our wealth with us and run to some other kingdom." Spoke another

"The commoners will be used to delay the enemy and it will give us even more time to escape." Such were the thoughts that were on every one's mind.

"Hey Cecilia" I heard Kizen call me. He was oblivious to everything that was going around and was deep in thought.

"What is this" He pointed at the map. I looked at what he was asking

"It's the river mogicio. What have you been doing in all your classes if you do not even know that." I was surprised.

"No it's not that. I was just asking that why is it called that."

"Because of its properties."

"Have you ever seen how it really works."

"Yes I have"

"When will it happen"

"Are you really interested in something like this at this time"

"just tell me"

"That would be fifteen days from now"

A smile appeared on his face.

"SILENCE" He shouted and the chamber fell silent.

"We WILL NOT RUN AWAY. ANY WHO DARES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE A SINGLE PENNY AND WILL FOREVER BE TREATED AS A TRAITOR. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" He asked in a cold voice. None replied. One tried

"B-but sire"

"No buts. We will fight and we will win this war. No excuses. Now listen to me well. Our final stand will be at Miraas." He closed the doors to any retaliation. As he started to explain his plan, the hair on the back of my neck started to rise up. His plan was simply mind-blowing, nothing like any had ever seen or done. We could not comprehend how he even though of such a thing and when he finished, we all had only a single question on our minds.

"Sire .... Is this even possible." His reply to this was

"We will make it possible."