Nicholas I slowly opened his eyes as the sun that had long risen in the sky shone through the window of the royal chamber. The day is nearing noon but he didn't feel any need to rush. It is pretty common for nobles to wake up late in the day.
In spite of that, Nicholas I feel that as he grows older, he tends to sleep a lot longer. He glances beside him and his wife, Queen Catherina Caberia is still sleeping peacefully. He slowly wakes up and walks out of the royal chamber.
The servant is already long awake. Their lifestyle is different from the nobles. The commoner needs to maximize the sunlight to finish as many tasks as possible. They couldn't afford or think about wasting money to buy candles. In this era, light sources aren't cheap and candles are rarely used by the commoner.
Following his usual routine, he changes his clothes and has his breakfast or perhaps it should be called brunch. Afterwards, he slowly moves to his office. The office is what someone would expect from a king. It is full of expensive furniture, its ceiling is decorated with a gold ornament with an exquisite pattern.
Despite all of that, he sighed as he saw a mountain of paperwork that required his attention. There are documents, complaint letters, banquet invitations and many more.
However, there is one letter that attracts his attention the most. It is a letter from Baron Csorvar. Nicholas I opened the letter with great curiosity. He wants to know which side Baron Csorvar is standing with. After all, Marchioness Josephine is his daughter.
After a brief silence, the office soon echoed with Nicholas' laughter. He continues to laugh as he keeps reading the letter. "This guy just decided to abandon his own blood for the sake of power. Why am I not surprised."
Nicholas I quickly sat down. He laughs so hard that he barely has the energy to keep standing. It is too hilarious for him to watch these nobles cut ties and throat with each other for the sake of power and status.
"The nobles really didn't disappoint me. They keep entertaining me at every chance they have."
Not long after he sat down in his chair, his butler informed him that the prime minister was searching for him.
"Tell him to come here". Nicholas I said while wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes.
A few minutes later, Wendall walked into his office and bowed in front of him. "Your Majesty..."
"What is it, Wendall? Do you have something to report to me?", Nicholas I asked.
'Your Majesty, I have come to inform you that the soldiers have begun to gather here. The first one to arrive is from Vofors County with 5,000 men"
"Just 5,000 men? Isn't it too little?"
"According to Count Vofors, he will station another 5,000 men north of Vofors County to prevent Count Caushilbo from attacking our back", Wendall replied.
He continues his report. "As for Count Naharog, he is on his way and is estimated to arrive in two days with 9,800 men. Including the royal soldiers of 11,000 men, we will have a total force of 25,800 men gathered here in the capital. I have settled them in the open area outside the city wall."
Nicholas I nodded as Wendall gave him an update on the progress "Leave 5,000 men on our northern border to guard against the Tetherswest. Compared to Caushilbo, they are far harder to deal with."
"As you wish"
"What about Duke Baroks? He hasn't arrived yet?"
"About this...Duke Baroks sent a letter to me that he was going to lead his 10,000 men to attack the Ryntum from the south."
Nicholas frowned, "This is not what we have discussed before." He stays silent for a moment. They initially plan to gather at the capital first but since Baroks Duchy is just south of Ryntum March, it's kinda a waste of time to let him take a detour.
"Well, I'm okay with it. We can make a slight adjustment to our plan. Just make sure that we can coordinate well with him."
"Rest assured, Your Majesty"
"Any news about Michael?"
Wendall said, "He is probably waiting outside. We meet each other just as I enter the palace".
"Is that so? Hurry up and call him in"
Michael entered the office and bowed to the king, "Your Majesty"
Nicholas I asked right away, "Did they accept my offer?"
Michael begins his report. "Both Baron Newbigle and Baron Coreton have agreed to accept your order and they promise that they will complete your order."
"They will be a fool if they reject it." Wendall commented. He couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, are you sure you want to promote their rank? I personally think it is too much to promote their noble rank just by doing a simple task".
Nicholas I wave his hand, "I don't mind at all. It is just a title to me as long as they do their job right. Anything else?"
"I think that is it", replied Wendall.
Michael shook his head. He has reported everything to the king.
"Alright, you two can go now. Tell the butler to call the first prince to my office immediately."
Wendall and Michael bow to Nicholas I before leaving the office. Once outside, they passed the king's message to the butler.
Later, someone knocks on the office's door.
"Come in", Nicholas I replied.
The first prince, Niall Napuna Bagyarosia entered the office. He sees his father's eyes still focus on the paper in his hand. He stands across Nicholas I and patiently waits for him.
Nicholas I put down the document in his hand. His looked up and see his son, Niall standing in front of him.
"Sit down", Nicholas I said.
Following his father's order, Niall promptly sits down on the couch located in the corner of the office.
Nicholas I stood up from his chair and walked toward the couch and sat across from Niall. Nicholas stares at his son's blue eyes which are inherited from him. His silver hair which he gets from the queen was unkempt.
He doesn't look like a prince at all with his dishevelled appearance.
Nicholas sighs. In his eyes, Niall is way inferior to the second prince.
"Why are you calling me?", Niall yawned. He slept very late last night. The moment he woke up, his father called him here.
"I want you to lead the army to attack the Bideford".
"Why don't you just send some general and deal with them?", he complained as he was too lazy to go to war.
"Did you forget that you are the first prince!!?", Nicholas yelled. Nicholas has enough of Niall's lack of concern toward kingdom affairs. He dictates, "You need to start acting like an heir or I can't give a throne to you!!"
"What!!? I am the firstborn. The throne naturally belongs to me!!". He gritted his teeth. He was annoyed by his little brother, Niel. He is smarter, more athletic and has better interpersonal skills than him.
Niel surpasses him in every aspect.
Truth be told, Niall is not that bad by average standards. However, no matter how hard he tries, he is unable to surpass his brother. When he was put side by side with the second prince, he looked like a fool which became his source of anger.
Whenever someone is whispering or snickering near him, he is prone to get angry. He feels they are talking about him.
The only advantage he has is being a firstborn but now that advantage might be useless as well.
Many nobles especially a high-ranking one were very close to his brother. He often saw them talking to each other in the banquets.
Even the servant in the palace has dared to talk about how his brother is most likely to succeed to the throne.
He suspects that his father has most probably decided to give a throne to Niel. However, there is something that both he nor his brother haven't achieved yet.
They don't have any military achievements.
"I don't care!! I am giving you a chance to participate in this easy war. If you don't want it I will give it to your brother."
Thinking that this might be his only chance, he agreed to his father's request. "Fine. I will do it". He then walked away from the office.
Nicholas I watched his son exit the office. he didn't tell Niall that his brother, Niel will also participate in this war. He would not give a chance for Niall to have an advantage.
After all, he didn't believe that Niall would become a decent king.
He then heard cries outside of his office. He promptly searches for its source. He caught Niall kicking the unlucky maids in the stomach repeatedly until they vomited blood.
"What the hell are you doing!!?", Nicholas I asked with a stern voice.
"Venting my anger", Niall gives a short reply. He keeps kicking her while looking directly at Nicholas.
After feeling his anger dissipate, he left as if he has done nothing wrong.