Enchantra arrived at the conference hall with a heavy heart. He saw the other dukes waiting outside. They greeted each other cordially, but the underlying tensions were palpable.
The first duke to enter was the Duke of the North, Nebula's father. He was a tall man with broad shoulders, and his stern demeanor commanded respect from those present. He stepped forward with a sense of confidence, his tall stature towering over the room. He cleared his throat and began his report.
„Your majesty, the North remains calm. The rebels have made no attempts to penetrate our territory and we have successfully maintained peace," he announced, his voice echoing through the room.
The next to enter the room was Magmala, Enchantra's brother. He was the Duke of the East, and he was a proud man, always eager to boast about his achievements. „Your Majesties," he said. „I bring news from the east. The rebels have been causing trouble, but we have been able to keep them in check. I have sent spies to infiltrate their ranks, and we have gained valuable intelligence of their plans and movements."
There was a murmur of approval from the assembled nobles, and the king leaned forward, his eyes alight with interest. „Go on," he prompted.
„We have discovered that the rebels are planning a major offensive in the coming weeks, and we are working hard to hinder their plans at every turn. Our forces are ready and waiting, and I am confident that we will be successful in defeating the rebels and restoring peace to our kingdom."
The king nodded. „Thank you, Magmala. Your efforts are appreciated. Please, take your seat."
Next, it was Duke Thundera of the South's turn to speak. He stepped forward, his regal bearing befitting his position as the brother of the former king. „Your Majesties, my fellow dukes," he began. „I, too, have news of our progress against the rebels. My forces have been working tirelessly to root out their presence in the south, and I am pleased to report that we have been successful in neutralizing several of their key leaders."
The king nodded in approval, his brow furrowed in thought. „Very well," he said. „What about the territory of the West? Duke Enchantra, please begin your report."
„My apologies, your majesty. The situation in the west has not improved as much as we had hoped. We have managed to gather some intelligence on the rebels, but they still pose a significant threat."
„And what efforts have you made to stop their activities?"
„We have increased patrols and set up checkpoints, but the rebels continue to evade capture. It is a difficult task, your majesty, as they have many sympathizers within the population."
„I see. And what about the informant you mentioned in your last report? Have they provided any useful information?"
„Unfortunately, the informant has gone silent. We are doing everything we can to re-establish contact and find out what happened."
I understand. You have my full support in this matter, Duke Enchantra. However, I must say I am a bit disappointed with your lack of progress. The other dukes have all been able to successfully infiltrate or eliminate several key leaders."
Enchantra feels a burning anger rise in his chest. His report was not as successful as the others, and the king was not pleased with his efforts. However, this was not the only reason for his anger. The king's change in behavior towards him was also a contributing factor. Despite his frustration, Enchantra remained composed and did not show any signs of anger towards the king. „I understand, your majesty. I will not let you down."
…
After the reports from each territory were presented, the conference room was filled with silence as the leaders pondered over the information that had just been shared. The king was the first to break the silence, „We have heard from each of our territories about the situation with the rebels. It is clear that we must act quickly to quell this uprising before it becomes more widespread."
The king then turned towards the Duke of the East „Your successful infiltration is commendable, what is your proposal for the next step?"
„I propose that we launch a full-scale attack on the rebels and crush them once and for all," replied the Duke of the East.
The Duke of the South nodded in agreement, „I have already taken out several key figures within the rebel ranks. A full-scale attack would be the quickest and most efficient solution."
However, Duke Enchantra was not so quick to agree, „Your Highness, I understand the urgency of the situation, but a direct confrontation may not be the best solution. The people of the kingdom are already dissatisfied, and a violent approach will only escalate the situation. I propose that we seek a diplomatic solution that will not only eliminate the rebels, but also address the underlying grievances that are fueling their resistance."
The king furrowed his brows and leaned back in his chair. „Duke Enchantra, I appreciate your concern, but the rebels have already demonstrated their willingness to use violence to achieve their aims. We cannot afford to wait for a diplomatic solution that may never come."
Enchantra's anger started to boil within him, but he kept his composure. He had a feeling that the king was deliberately trying to undermine his efforts in the West. He had been working tirelessly to maintain peace and stability, yet it seemed like his efforts were going unnoticed.
„I understand your concerns, your majesty, but I firmly believe that a peaceful solution is possible. We have the support of the people, and if we can address their grievances, I am confident that we can turn them against the rebels," Enchantra replied, his voice firm but respectful.
The Duke of the North spoke up, „I tend to agree with Duke Enchantra. A peaceful solution that takes into consideration the feelings of the people would be more advisable.
The king nodded, but he was clearly not satisfied with their proposal.
…
The conference room was filled with tension as the dukes and the king discussed their next steps in dealing with the rebels. The Duke of the East and the Duke of the South both argued for a direct confrontation, while Duke Enchantra and the Duke of the North favored a more peaceful approach.
As the discussion progressed, the king spoke up, „I understand the concerns of the dukes, but I believe that a direct confrontation is the only way to deal with the rebels. They have caused too much trouble and it's time to put an end to it."
However, his words did not sit well with the people in the room. The Duke of the North spoke up, „Your majesty, I understand your point, but the people will not be satisfied with a direct confrontation. We risk losing their support, and it will only make the situation worse."
Duke Enchantra nodded in agreement, „I agree with the Duke of the North. We must find a solution that will not only deal with the rebels, but also addresses the root of the problem. The rebels are only a symptom of a larger issue in our kingdom."
As the conversation continued, the king made another statement that was not well received by Enchantra. He couldn't hold back his emotions any longer and stood up, drawing the attention of the room towards him.
„Your Highness," Enchantra said, addressing the king. „What about all the beggars? Millions of people in our kingdom are living in poverty, and they are the ones who are most affected by the rebels. If they turn against us, we will have a much bigger problem on our hands. This is a failure on our part, and especially on yours, Your Highness. We must address this issue and find a solution before it's too late."
The king sat on his throne, his face darkened as he listened to Enchantra's words. He knew the Duke was not wrong, but he also knew that it would not be easy to address such a complex issue. He would have to consider his options carefully.
…
As the conference room was filled with silence, a sudden interruption came in the form of a small figure entering the room. The door creaked open and a young boy, no more than six years old, stepped inside. His clothes were dirty and disheveled, a stark contrast to the formal attire of the dukes and royalty present. The boy looked around the room, taking in the sight of the powerful figures assembled before him, and the already silent room became more heated. All eyes were now on the young boy, who had unexpectedly entered the conference room.
Enchantra, who had been still simmering with anger from the previous discussion, was taken aback when he saw the small figure before him. He was about to ask who this child was, when the queen spoke up for the first time. „Your majesty," she addressed the king, „I would like to introduce Prince Watson."
Enchantra's eyes widened as he heard the name. It was well known in the magic world that the names of geniuses were bestowed upon by the elements themselves and had a direct connection with their specialities. But this time, Watson, didn't have such a ring to it.
He watched in shock as he takes in the sight of the young prince, who is dressed in dirty and tattered royal clothes. He can't help but feel a mix of anger and frustration at the sight of the prince, who seems to have no grace or bearing befitting of a member of the royal family.
Enchantra stood up, facing the queen with a stern look. „Your Highness, I cannot help but observe that the boy, Prince Watson, does not seem to possess notable talent or connection to the elements. Is it not a concern that our royal lineage will be weakened by such a lack of magical ability?"
The queen hesitated for a moment before responding, „Duke Enchantra, I understand your concerns, but Prince Watson is still young. He may yet develop his abilities in the future."
„I understand you optimism, Your Highness," Enchantra replied, his tone sharp, „but as someone who has devoted my life to the study of magic, I cannot help but worry about the future of our kingdom. If the next generation does not possess the necessary abilities to lead, then our entire society may be at risk."
Enchantra then turned to the king. „Your Majesty, with the presence of a commoner such as Charmica, the royal bloodline is ruined. It is quite clear that there will be no more geniuses born in this family."
The queen spoke up. „Duke Enchantra, I must object to your statement. My blood may be common, but that does not make me any less of a queen. And I will not sit here and listen to you insult my bloodline."
Enchantra exploded in anger. „Insult? Your Higness, it is not an insult. It is the truth. The royal bloodline is being ruined and no more geniuses will be born.It is a fact. The magic world is changing and we must adapt or be left behind. And I cannot help but think that the cause of all of this is the presence of someone like you. I implore you, for the sake of the royal family, to leave."
The queen, who was now livid, shot back. „I will not be spoken to in this manner, Duke Enchantra. I am the queen and I will not be told what to do by someone like you. You have overstepped your bounds."
Enchantra who was beyond angry, replied. „Overstepped my bounds? Your Higness, I am only speaking the truth. The future generations are at stake and we cannot afford to let them be ruined by some disgusting commoner like you."
„Enchantra, your words wound me deeply. I have worked tirelessly to prove myself worthy of my title and position, and yet, you still insist on belittling me.
„I apologize, Your Majesty, but I cannot ignore the facts. You have ruined the royal bloodline and there will be no more geniuses born under your reign."
The King intervened. „That is enough, Enchantra. Your opinions are not welcomed here. Charmica is my wife and the mother of our children. She is the Queen of this kingdom, and you will show her the respect that she deserves."
„Your majesty, I understand that. But I must say that I have given birth to four children in recent years, each one a genius in their own way. That was one of the reasons I came to the royal city, to see if I could arrange a marriage between one of my children and a prince."
„Is that so? Are you doubting your decision now?"
„It's just that, with the current state of the royal bloodline, I fear that my child's potential may be hindered and wasted on a prince without any exceptional abilities."
„Enchantra, I understand your concern, but let's focus on the matter at hand. The situation with the rebels must be dealt with first. Perhaps we should discuss this matter further at the banquet tonight. We have a lot to discuss and I wouldn't want to waste precious time."
„Very well, I will wait until the banquet to bring this up again. But I want to make it clear that I believe this is a matter of utmost importance and should not be neglected."
The conference comes to a close, but the tension in the room still hangs heavy. The issue with the rebels is not fully resolved, but the discussion on how to handle the situation will continue at the banquet. The prince's unexpected appearance has shifted the focus of the conference, but the pressing matter of the rebellion still looms in the minds of the attendees. Despite the conflicts and disagreements, they all know that they must come together to find a solution that will ensure the safety and stability of the kingdom.
…