Chapter 6 Painful History

🍵Head Butler Brutus🍵

“The slave traders are here.”

The high queen was seated on her icy throne to address the group of Mountaineer nobles who had amassed in the throne room. Colored in mostly red and yellow garbs, it was clear just about every person appeared to be from the Mountaineer Kingdom. The group of Lords were very upset upon hearing of her decree that any forms of slavery were to be outlawed in five years.

“Your Majesty, we can see no purpose to this decree as anything other than a direct attack on the Republic’s way of life! Our society cannot sustain itself without mandatory servitude in its current state. We need at least ten years to start changing the foundation of our infrastructure. Five is too short!”

“Ten years is too long a time; in fact, that is longer than it takes an average crafter to reach a mentoring skill level.”

The nobles gathered grew agitated, before they voiced their complaints all at once. The throne room sounded like a chaotic auction gallery with shouts and yelling coming from all throughout the crowd. The queen leaned against her arm rest portraying a look of annoyance at the ruckus. Brutus stepped forward taking a large breath.

“Cease this behavior at once! You disrespect the dignity of her majesty with your incessant chattering! Compose yourselves or you will be escorted out!” Brutus roared over the bickering mob, quickly causing them to settle down before the queen continued

“As I was saying, I understand you will lose a considerable amount of revenue implementing these changes. Which is why for the first tax year you will be able too-“

“We will not be placated by short term incentives!” The nobles once again erupted in rowdiness, shouting, and moving closer to the Queen’s Throne causing all the guards in the room to move forward into formation, creating a line between them and her.

“Keep order or you will be met with force!” The Royal Knight Commander demanded. As they continued shouting

“Our economy will plummet! Our major houses will lose their livelihoods! Do you want to put us on the streets?!” The Republic’s representative shouted, the nobles echoing him. High Queen Deamonia stood up with a face of anger and a tone of aggravation.

“Mountaineer Warden Isabella has already given me enough proof of your country’s humanitarian abuses. You profit off the livelihoods and suffering of others. There's a disconnect between fair business and common decency in your kingdom. Slaves and even mandated servants in the Mountaineer Kingdom receive no rights and work twice the number of hours as people with true professions. All while being paid next to nothing. It is a complete disregard for human life, a remnant of the era of war and above all else, it is disgusting. I will not rescind my decree. A five year grace period is more than generous and is what you will get.” She affirmed, her presence as immovable as a mountain and yet as unstoppable as an avalanche. “You are dismissed; five years is all that you will get.”

They were “escorted” out.

Brutus re-appeared beside the throne, having left unnoticed just before the end of the discussions, and handed her a cup of hot lemon tea.

“What will we do about this, your majesty? My people are telling me that their armies are being put on heightened alert.” He asked, hiding his concern well.

“The Mountaineer Kingdom isn’t like the elves, they don’t give a damn about their values as long as they have money. So, if money is what they love most, let's make sure we have plenty of it.”

“Shall I set up the meeting with those three vestige Lords then?”

“Looks like we don’t have a choice, go on.”

“I shall send word at once.” Brutus proceeded past the line of guards, with tray in hand. As he was making his exit, the slow sliding of metal was heard as a teaspoon clanged against the floor. Brutus looked at it in surprise. He has never once dropped a utensil in his life, an ominous feeling was felt as he looked back towards the queen. Who spared him a similar look.

The uneasiness revealed itself when Brutus’ eyes shifted to the left corner of the room just behind the throne.

“Assassin!”

A man appeared from the back corner of the room and rushed toward the queen with a dagger held high in the air.

“Assassin, stop him!” Brutus yelled again; the guards were already on their way to try and intercept, but they had all been positioned forward to deal with the crowd. The queen looked at the man with a questionative eyebrow while he charged at her.

Just before the man reached the throne steps, a mirage manifested directly in front of him, engulfing the assassin causing him to freeze and flicker in and out of existence. The assassin yelled as he was turned upside down and slammed against the floor, his arm was bended upwards into the air while his face was pressed against the ground. The mirage dissipated revealing a special looking guard that was holding him by the neck and forearm. The special guardsman had black uniform with a large lotus insignia on his chestplate.

“You got a death wish or something? Another step closer and you would have skewered by a dozen ice spikes to the face.” The secret guardsman questioned the assassin, who looked no more than a peasant.

The failed killer glanced at the icy throne steps after hearing those words. The throne appeared to be alive, the ice on each step subtly shifting back and forth in a predatory nature. His eyes rose up to look at the queen, who had descended the throne steps.

“Thank you, Arthur.” She nodded toward her Shadow.

“Just doing my duty, your majesty.”

Thanks given, the queen looked down at the man who had made the laughable attempt on her life.

“You are no assassin. Who are you?”

“Burn in hell.” The man spat at the ground in front of her.

Arthur twisted his arm further in response to the disrespect.

“You come into my house, attempt to assassinate me, and this is your response? You will answer!” The air turned frigid as her demand echoed throughout the room.

The man locked eyes with her, before his face twisted into a sarcastic smirk.

“I wanted you to know how it feels. Coming into someone's home, murdering them, and leaving their family to fend for themselves. That’s right; Reyna never forgot!”

The frost queen stared at him in silence before a Regalian alarm bell started ringing outside. The man started to laugh as the sound of the bells echoed throughout the capital. The queen frowned as a suspicion formed in her mind.

“Where are my children?” She asked while staring at the man, but the question was directed at Brutus who was by her side once more.

“Lussuria and Lilly are still in the castle, but Gravis and Snow departed for the market not one hour ago.”

“Go get them, immediately.”