This rebellion will never be forgotten; it has been etched into our history. It will forever change the direction of Rhinsburg. It signifies the shift of power from King to Parliament. The position of King has many rights; the prerogative to declare war, to handle foreign affairs, to control the military during times of war. A supplementary clause was revised and added to the new act. A seventh condition.

VII. Neither the King nor his army may step foot in Parliament.

The people were still angry about what had happened. Many had died and those lives would not just be brushed aside. They had families, wives, children, friends. Thousands were dead and would not come back, thousands more were injured in ways that would never recover. The palace which symbolized our rule had become a battlefield. In memory of the battle that occurred there, graves were placed; thousands of them lined the huge field on the inside of the gates. It served as a reminder. A reminder of the tragedy, and a reminder to the monarchy. Don’t forget, you are not infallible. For too long had our dynasty ruled without concern for the people or the country. This was the last straw. The people were only willing to give up so much before they would resist. If I or any of my descendants failed from now on it would not be so easily passed off. Every time we looked out of this palace those graves would be there. Nothing could change what has happened, the only thing one could do was serve to prevent it from reoccurring. To learn from our past and continue into the future. Away from rows of graves, one laid alone. It was a lonely memorial. There was no name on it, only a date. Two days before the battle. This man had died two days before any fighting even began. He died by my hands, something that will haunt my life. He deserved not his fate. I had no knowledge of if he had a family, who he was, or what his name was. If the graves were a reminder to the monarchy, he was a reminder to me. Look what you’ve done. This man died from your dagger, from your foolishness

Johann III was now locked away in The Tower, the very place he had sent Parliament. I walked through its heavy doors with unreconcilable angst in my heart. That man was here. He had been the lord of my life. Just as he acted as an absolute monarch in government, he was a monarch in family. Power meant everything to him. To stand above others must be his greatest joy. Now, he lay locked away, alone in his cell, powerless. When he saw me, he stood up with great vigour.

“Emil! Have me released this instant!” He said.

“I will not.” I succinctly responded.

“You defy me, your father? I brought you into this world you bastard. Have you no love for your parents? Was killing your own mother not enough for you?”

His words managed to touch on nearly every feeling of resentment I had for him. He had a knack for torturing others with his words. Internally, I was seething. Yet, I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction of seeing me mad. I wouldn’t bow to him anymore.

“Johann III. You are no father. The one who abandoned mother was you. To say that I killed her when you held not an ounce of love in your heart for her is disgraceful. Don’t mention her. Unless you want to visit the dungeon; I’m sure you would have fun with the various contraptions down there.”

He flinched at these words. As a King he had been one to hand out punishments with ease. He knew best what was down there and what it could do to a man. Still, he was a stubborn man.

“What treachery! How could you treat me, the King, in such a cruel manner! This is treason!” He said.

“You have renounced your right to the Crown. Do not be mistaken; I am the King.” I said while taking my leave. I heard some shout from him, but I ignored the words. I desired no longer to speak with him.

Today I visited the royal graveyard. A new stone rest there. My mother laid below that patch of dirt. Looking back, I resented her for trying to cage me. Nevertheless, she loved me. She loved our family more than anyone else in it. Her heart was warm for us, but her mind not well. Trapped in her fear of abandonment she isolated herself from the ones she loved dearest. A tinge of sadness touched my heart as I looked down on her. I was too cold a child. Too cruel to her. In the time I prepared to save myself, I thought of no one else. I considered not her well-being. Resentment still lingered in my heart, but I forgave her. Forced into a political marriage with a man who held little love she grasped onto her child; never wanting him to leave she restricted him. Later, he abandoned her, and further he caused her death. In my heart I knew Johann III was right. I killed mother. I never have believed in filial piety, but never should someone have to suffer so much. The least I could do for her was to give her a comfortable place to rest. Johann would not get that privilege.

His fate had been decided. Johann III was to be executed, my brothers to be stripped of their titles and exiled.

At the age of 17, I was King.