Humble braziers attached to one side of each of the six alabaster columns light up the lower levels of the throne hall and cover the hall in warm oranges and dancing shadows. The countless gems on the layered ceiling dance in the flickering light while gargoyles and sculptures look down upon the wooden floor of this majestic hall.A ruby rug splits the entire room in half from the doors to the throne while rectangular banners with burnished tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs cover parts of the walls. Between each banner sits a shrine-like ornament covered in candles, all but a few have been lit and in turn illuminate the paintings of war heroes below them.
Extensive, stained gla.s.s windows of intricate mosaics are enclosed by curtains colored the same ruby as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with fancy ta.s.sels and gold leaves.
An elegant throne of porcelain sits beneath an almost entirely close baldachin (canopy) and is adjoined by two equally impressive seats for those closest to the royal highness.
The throne is covered in byzantine designs and fixed on each of the slim ears is an elegant trident. The broad pillows are a light ruby and these too have been adorned with ornate fringes.
Those seeking the wisdom of their royal highness can do so on the plethora of opulent, albeit uncomfortable alder benches, all of which are lined up perfectly symmetrical. Those of higher standing can instead take a seat in the extravagant balconies facing the throne.
On the throne Gael who was now wearing King Hedor"s face sitting on it and facing the few ministers.
"Your Highness we are doing everything we can do to find the culprits who attempted this a.s.sa.s.sination " A tall clean-shaven man in full plate armor said while kneeling before Gael.
Seeing the man Gael couldn"t help but notice a tinge of hatred towards him from the man.
"You should have prevented the attempt in the first place General Hozai" suddenly a plump fat man stood up from his seat and yelled at the man.
However, the General didn"t answer the fat man but looked at Gael
"Your Highness please let us know your schedule like before so we can do our duty and protect you" Hearing General, Gael made sure that the original King Hedor had indeed become more secretive after some sort of incident like Joel said.
"You know you are right General Hoka" (clearing his throat) "General Hozai" Gael said as he tried his best to mimic KIng Hedor"s voice.
"Your Highness are you alright? You sound different Shall I call the healers?" Gael wanted to strangle the fat man when he found out the difference in voice.
"Its nothing but a side effect of that spell I used before" Just like Don said Gael called out the guards and told them a story of Leo with some people attempted a.s.sa.s.sination on his life which he heroically survived by using a powerful fire spell on the attackers.
"But General Hozai, why do I have soldiers when I the king has to defend himself?" General Hozai had a bad feeling when he heard the king.
"I need to punish those who couldn"t do their duty right ?" as Gael said he looked at the fat minister because he knew the fatty would back him up just by noticing his eagerness to please the King.
"Yes your highness they must be punished" the fatty said with an ear to ear grin.
"How about cutting the salary of the soldiers by half? That should teach them a lesson"
General Hozai knew about the cruel nature of this gentle-looking man on the throne so he expected something bad still he never imagined the salary cut by half but before he could say anything the King continued
"Also let them starve in nights and mornings for the next three months, minister you should make sure they don"t eat anything not even a rise grain"
First Salary cut and now taking the soldier"s meals away, General Hozai got pretty furious but he knew he couldn"t do anything.
The ministers sitting before Gael looked at him with a slightly opened mouth. They knew from King"s previous actions he is a cruel person but they also knew he treated his army well because of his l.u.s.t for expanding the kingdom but now they have heard him punishing the soldiers to this extent.
"Yes Yes your highness I will make sure that none of them get any food not even a sc.r.a.p" even the fatty minister was shocked but he quickly regained his senses and said.
"Your Highness if you do this the morale and the strength of our army will hit rock bottom" General Hozai said.
"I don"t care they made a mistake so they need to be punished this is my word and my word is the order" Gael"s voice echoed through the hall as General Hozai realized there is nothing he can do now.
"That"s it for today " as he said Gael started to walk towards his chamber to call it a day.
"My lord I did as you told"
After having a delicious dinner Gael reported everything that happened today to Don through the Khal.
"Now proceed to the next phase good luck" Gael heard Knight"s voice in his head.
*********************
(Day 2 as King Hedor)
"I saw our treasury running low on funds don"t you think?" Gael said looking at a man in gold robes next to the fatty.
"What!!" the man almost screamed when he heard the King. After plundering and conquering many smaller kingdoms including their recent conquest of Bracidia, Emir had nothing but wealth.
"Your Highness please forgive me if I am wrong " the man in a golden robe stood up from his seat
"The way I see it we don"t lack in wealth Your Highness, we can even run the kingdom without imposing taxes on our citizens for a couple of years" Gael could see the other ministers nodding in approval to the man.
"Are you saying that I"m stupid minister?" Gael said and stared at the man.
The man trembled when he heard the King as he shook his head and knelt before him in a flash
"No I don"t dare Your Highness I don"t dare please forgive me " the man started to kowtow and beg Gael
"Is our treasury running low on funds or not?" Gael calmly asked the man again.
"Yes yes your highness you are correct" the man didn"t dare to disagree with him
"So why didn"t you raise the tax?"
"Its that it"s your highness" the man started to blabber without knowing what to tell the king before the King interrupted him
"Raise the tax by eighty percent, no one should be exempt from this not even you ministers" the ministers almost coughed up blood when they heard the King.
Until now they taxed forty percent of someone"s wage, even that number was considered too high by the peasants and nearby kingdoms but now the King has raised the tax by double and hearing that not even the ministers could be spared from this made everyone sweat just by thinking about the tax.
"Guards!" Just when everyone was sweating and swallowing a mouthful of saliva Gael called out the guards.
"Your Highness" two guards with spears in their arms walked towards Gael from nearby and knelt before him.
"Take our Minister to the dungeon and whip him a hundred times, during the hundred whips make sure he is repeating the words I"m stupid if not whip him till he says it clearly"
"Yes...Yes your highness" the guards were shocked to hear such punishment and on the other side the minister started to cry and kowtow till his head turned red.
"No no, your highness please" the minister"s screams echoed through the hall as he was dragged by the guards.
"Your Highness" seeing his colleague getting dragged away the fatty stepped forward carrying a pigeon while shivering in fear.
"Huh?" Gael could see the fatty"s legs shaking and the sweat on his face
"Korrinth princess sent this pigeon with a message this morning" the fatty said.
"Oh what"s the message says?"
"It"s that your highness she wants us to call back the soldiers we sent to camp near her kingdom"s borders"
Unlike Emir, Gael heard something about the Korrinth kingdom that they love peace and not wage war on their nearby kingdoms.
However, when he saw the fat pigeon a funny idea appeared in Gael"s mind that could even anger the peace-loving princess.
Just as he tries to hold his grin Gael stood up from his throne and walked towards the fatty.
"Hmm this pigeon looks very well-fed minister" Gael grabbed the pigeon from fatty and weighed it in his hand then gave it back to fatty
Seeing the smile from his King"s face fatty knew something bad is about to happen
"Ask the cook to fry this fat birdy and tell him to add more b.u.t.ter I"m in a mood for a fried pigeon"
"WHAT!!!"
Fatty"s mind voice screamed at him when he heard the King but he couldn"t do anything but nod his head to save his skin unlike his colleague before.