Hugo frowned, unable to maintain his composure anymore.
'Is this their aim?' Hugo thought.
"That'll be impossible! Who in their right mind would accept such terms?" Hugo exclaid.
"I don't know. Maybe you?" Riz shrugged. "Anyway, I've given you an option. The rest is up to you."
Hugo trembled in anger. They asked for land. The idea was absurd.
Whose land are they going to take?
Taking a deep breath, Hugo forced himself to address the issue logically. "If I may ask... how much land are we talking about to make up the shortfall in compensation?"
Riz paused, pretending to think. His eyes then slowly shift toward Hugo.
"Hmm... An area around the size of Hagen Island should be enough."
"That's preposterous! I'll not agree to this." Hugo instantly burst out.
His eyes widened in disbelief. Hagen Island?! That was his territory. His stronghold. The cornerstone of his family's wealth and influence.
Once he loses that, his family will fall from grace.
Hugo continues, "Your majesty, is this your way of doing things? Once the word spreads that Ryntum is bullying—"
Riz send a sharp gaze to Hugo. His tone is no longer as kind as before.
"Bully? We don't even touch you. We don't even care about you. Blande is the one that 'joins the fun' uninvited. Don't twist the story or your head will get twisted. I'll hear your decision next week."
Riz send an ultimatum and chases Hugo out.
Hugo stepped out of the king's office with disappointnt on his face.
The sad expression is visible to all. Everyone who saw him imdiately understood that his eting had not gone well.
As he made his way out, he was thinking about his next step.
"What to do..."
The one-week deadline given isn't enough ti to reach a favourable conclusion.
Knowing his friend, Hugo was sure they'd not give in to the demand.
They would argue among themselves until the ti ran out. And then...
Suddenly, Hugo's eyes widened. He had forgotten that he wasn't in Blande. If he had told them about today's discussion, those so-called friends would have agreed to sacrifice him.
He can't let it happen. It's better to keep quiet and make decisions on his own.
An idea erged in his mind.
Ryntum only demands land of a size equivalent to Hagen Island. The king never explicitly asked for the island itself.
A glimr of hope sparked in his heart.
If Hugo can offer the king another land as a replacent...
His sadness disappeared. A sly smile appears.
"I hope no one blas for this. After all, I was granted full authority to handle this negotiation as I see fit."
Whose territory should he sacrifice?
A question that has answers but tough choices to make.
Hugo needs to get it right or his beloved island will be chosen.
....
Back in Riz's office, his first eting ended unpleasantly. Fortunately, the next person walking past the door was Audrey, whom he had not seen for a long ti.
"Welco back, Audrey. Did you enjoy your long vacation?" Riz jokingly said.
Audrey naturally understands the underlying aning of those words.
She defends herself, "Your Majesty, it's not my choice to stay there for months. The Cerduaxians are at fault. They keep dragging the issue on every chance they had."
"But you handled it well, right?"
"Of course! In the end, we got what we wanted."
Riz nodded. "I read your report. Mr. Ashenheart seems to be a great help."
"He was. I must say, Your Majesty, you should pay more attention to him. In my opinion, he is a loyal man."
Riz doesn't take Audrey's words seriously. In fact, the old man slightly annoyed him by his unnecessary interference.
Because of Reginald Ashenheart, he had to put his plan for Cerdeauxia aside.
"To be honest, I was hoping Cerdeauxia to refuse."
"Why?" Audrey was puzzled. It seems like there's sothing she's unaware of.
"Because now my soldier no longer has reason to enter Cerdeauxia."
Audrey was shocked. She never thought she was pulled into sothing big.
"Is Your Majesty using this as a pretext to...?"
Before Audrey finished her sentence, Riz replied. "Yes!"
He continues, "But don't get wrong. It's not like I expect you to fail. I simply place my hope on their stubbornness.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm not sad. Since your plan fails, what's next?"
"I want to use this criminal you brought back to set an example for the rest of the governors."
Audrey tilted her head. She didn't get what Riz's an.
"Public execution."
The words hit Audrey like a stone. As far as she knows, the king never publicizes when punishing people.
"The forr governor betrayed the crown. His actions destabilized an entire region. It's only fitting that he pays for his cris. Since he likes receiving attention, let's end his life spectacularly."
"Your Majesty," Audrey said carefully, "I understand the need for justice, but won't this spark unrest?"
"That's precisely the point. Fear is a necessary tool. I need the governors and the civil servants to understand that betrayal will not be tolerated."
This is the first ti Ryntum will perform public execution.
Compared to the neighbouring countries, they're a bit lagging in this area.
However, it is never too late to start.
As the kingdom becos more prosperous, more people start to have crooked ideas.
If he doesn't curb it at the early stage, it'll beco a cancer that slowly kill the kingdom in the future.
At that ti, he might not be around anymore. And there's no guarantee his descendants will take this issue seriously.
Let him set an example for the future generations.
Public execution will be a perfect chance to warn and remind them of his authority.
"What do you need to do?" Since the king disclosed the topic to her, Audrey thought she might have a task to do.
"None. Organizing this event is not within your job scope. Just go get so rest."
User Comments
0 comments from readers