It was a new day. The sun shone high in the sky, and the skies were a clear blue with a gentle breeze wafting through the streets of the capital city of the Re-estize kingdom.
The street vendors, hawkers, and street salesmen seemed to be working with a renewed vigour, and the common folk, the housewives, the drunkards, and children walked with a slight pep in their step.
"Did you hear? Someone was able to take down multiple members of eight fingers"
"I heard it was the swordless swordsman, he killed two high ranking member and captured two other"
Such whispers and talk could be heard as everyone in the streets talked about it.
The common folk were first hit with the news of the swordless swordsman, the man who saved E-Rantel from an undead horde, had defeated and managed to kill 2 higher ranking members of Eight fingers and captured another two.
Such news brought shock and awe to the faces of the masses, the average individual new very well just how much of scourge the Eight fingers had been within the community, if your daughter goes missing, eight fingers probably took her, if you son is partaking in gang activities and drug he's been corrupted by eight, if you are in debt that you cannot pay eight fingers is why you can't pay.
These were the known facts about the organisation and the people of the Re-estize kingdom could do nothing about it and worse of all the very people that they thought would protect them from eight fingers did not and the criminal organisation seemed like an invincible presence that would forever exist to exploit and abuse them.
However with the news of 4 high ranking members being taken down, a new sense of relief overcame the peasants, now eight fingers didn't seem so invincible and it seemed like it would only be a matter of time until that organisation was dealt with.
Arthur's reputation rose to new heights and masses only admired him further, not only that but the fact Princess Renner had worked together with him and was the one who plan everything made the peasants hold those two individuals in extremely
The peasants began to believe that their country was slowly moving towards a better and better future, although there was never a female ruler in the kingdom's history many began to think perhaps for the first time it was warranted and the golden princess had prospects of being a great ruler.
"did you head the princess got engaged"
"Yes I heard, but it's to some nobody called Baron Pendragon, never even heard of him"
"You fool, don't you know? Baron Pendragon is the swordless swordsman he ascended to nobility a week ago"
News of Renner and Arthur's engagement hit the streets, and thousands of men seethed in jealousy however that didn't last long as many had realised that this matching was the best case scenario.
The two had worked together to challenge eight fingers, and with their union, they would continue to change the kingdom for the better, this was good news
Of course there were naysayers and doubters, others who vehemently opposed this due to Arthur's unknown origins however the majority cared not because to them the future of the Re-estize kingdom was looking bright and that was caused for celebration.
Of course, like in all places where there's people in power, when the peasants are happy, those in power are not.
"That cunning little…"
Prince Zanac halted his words. Despite his slight displeasure, she was still his sister, and using such language to refer to her would not fly.
"your highness, perhaps you should sit down…. Hmm, well, actually, this is good exercise for you, so continue"
Marquis Raeven informed the young prince who seemed to be pacing around the room, Zanac could only give him a glance before going back to his thoughts.
"DAMMIT! I hadn't expected her to aim for the throne, but I thought it was fine since I could have a possible ally against my brother"
Zanac stated, her chances were low, sure she had a following and if she continued to rack up accomplishments she would have managed to enter the conversation of who gets the throne, her accomplishment with Eight fingers would have guaranteed her that.
However despite his initial panic at the news about her wanting the throne there was still another obstacles for her and that would be the inherent bias in the noble court, no woman has ever been queen, even if she had gained favour of nobles he was certain they would find a way to have a man on the throne rather than a woman
Zanac had hoped to be able to use this to have her as an ally with fake promises of helping her fight against the bias but at the same time he hoped to separate her from Arthur as he was the main reason she was gaining accomplishments and unfortunately that didn't happen and now the two of them were engaged.
"it is not as if she can't be an ally now, although our opportunity to have Arthur separated from Renner has closed, the princess can still be an ally"
"No she can't, at this moment in time, Renner has two nobles backing her now, Viscount Aindra and Baron Pendragon both with notable reputations, plus there's rumours that Viscount Aindra has been form relationships with some low ranking nobles, this means that at this moment my sister has formed her own third faction"
Zanac stated, he could only imagine how proud of herself Renner must be. He was initially happy about the decision to make Arthur a Baron because it meant at least for the most part that all nobles could go after him to get his support bribe him, if he had become a knight officially all that would have been considered uncouth, after all trying to bribe a knight who's already chosen a lord shows that you have no respect for their loyalty and for their lord.
He could still be close to Renner and choose to support her, but they could always keep trying until they get him on their side. How with the engaged now recognized if asking someone not to support his wife is just as uncouth as asking a knight to betray his lord and thus Renner has now created a third faction that will help her get the throne.
"Arthur has left our grasp, so what do we do?"
"it's simple, your highness. You just need an accomplishment under your name"
Marquis Raeven suggested, and the prince halted his steps and looked at the marquis.
"Not a bad idea, Marquis, what do you have in mind?"
"It's nothing fancy your highness, unlike Renner who had Arthur we can't accomplish a spectacle however you do have sway when it comes to tax collections, perhaps a reduction of tax reduction?"
Raeven informed, he was certain that the masses would appreciate a tax reduction but he also knew that the nobles would not be happy about that, the suggestion was merely something he was throwing in the air trying to bounce ideas with the prince.
"the nobles will not be happy about that plus, the country is not quit fit for a tax reduction but I like where your head is going Marquis, I'm sure between the two of us we can think of something"
.....
Barbro could not help but feel that for the longest time now, he has only felt nothing but anger, and his anger issues started when that commoner arrived in the castle. Yes, commoner, the prince was unwilling to address Arthur by his proper title.
"Everyone in this castle are absolute buffoons. How could they allow a commoner to ascend to nobility? Don't they know what being a noble means? It's a birth not so easily given"
Barbro spoke as he gripped a glass of white wine. There was slight intoxication on his cheeks, but he was otherwise still lucid.
"your highness I understand your frustration however, drinking is not the best way to go we need to formulate strategies to deal with a possible third faction"
The ever present Bulloupe stated, with Renner forming a third faction and officially entering the succession war things have become more dangerous and the Marquis could not help but dread the idea regardless of who gets the throne between the two princes if it's not Renner that person will be removed with violence.
Renner, beside her, had a verifiable monster that Marquis Bulloupe believed could take the throne should he want. The fact that hasn't happened yet is purely because Arthur doesn't feel like it.
This was a terrifying thought, many times, he had thought to flee the kingdom, however this was his home. Running home would be cowardly however at the same time, what can he do? It's a miracle that no one has yet to figure out that the prince sent a hit on Arthur, and should it be found out, he imagines Arthur will react accordingly
"shut up Marquis, you've been useless this entire time, you just stand talking about nothing, tell me something fucking useful for at least"
Barbro said as he held in the urge to throw the glass in his hand, if he was drunk he would have thrown it.
"very well you Majesty, I do have a suggestion"
"then tell me"
"as you are aware, Arthur is more powerful than anyone else in the country, at present, no one can stop him, and consequently, Renner can not be stopped since the two are now officially engaged"
Bulloupe explained, there are many ways to prevent a faction from growing or being formed. Plus, Renner is a popular figure, and she's smart, so she knows how to utilise things well.
"okay what is your point"
"My point is rather than wait for the king to give you the crown. Why not ask for assistance to make the king give you the crown"
"Oh I see what you're getting at Marquis"
Barbro smiled as he heard the Marquis's question; however, Bulloupe could not; he hoped the emperor they're going to ask for might help them better deal with Arthur should he be an obstacle
Arthur had said that the Marquis Bulloupe not a mage when he arrived here and now the Marquis hoped the rumoured 6th tier mage might help the kingdom get rid of this monster, although he does wonder what price will he pay for that to happen.
.....
A/N: thoughts on the chapter? Did you feel there was anything rushed or done poorly, please tell me.
Think of this as my apology for last chapter.