His first day, he did not even believe that it was his first one. More just believing that it was some elaborate dream. He had spent his time in amazement and disbelief as he explored this new world he thought he imagined. Taking lightly the things that were told to him by servants. Big things, things that a ordinary man like him could never really believe.
But when Ben, or now Alexander woke up in that same room, in that same body, in the same world where he woke up yesterday reality was starting to set in. Sartinca. A colony of the Shoton empire. It was a tropical island and one of the largest money makers of Shoton as they sold Valium. Some kind of food that was necessary to make another product.
The Shoton empire had conquered this island 50 years ago, and since then it had been a jewel of the empire. It was also a shithole.
Alexander held his head in annoyance, a slight headache was beginning to set in, but how could he not have one.
Sartinca was going to collapse, and as lord regent he had a responsibility to save it.
Also memories flashed in his mind, places, locations, people came in without warning. He also felt emotions, hate of those Alexander considered lesser, love of those he admired.
These new emotions didn't overpower his old ones though. He now just was aware of them.
There was knocking on the door, "You can enter." Alex said.
A tall man, with pale skin and short blond hair walked in, on his lips a thin moustache and his eyes calm but serious.
The horns on his head where white, stubby and short. Yes horns.
About 45 percent of Shoton inhabitants were demons. Though Alex wasn't sure if they were the biblical kind from hell.
He touched his own horns, those were the things he stared at most yesterday. They were about a finger tall, thin, pointy and firm on his head. They were a dark shade of purple.
Sal, the tall man, walked towards the bed with with a plate in his hand. His Blue eyes glided over Alexander, "You are awfully pale my lord, are you also feeling sick?"
"No, Sal, no I'm just…" He wasn't just going to say that he had a horrible time coping with his new life situation. Or wait he could, "I'm just worried about father and also about my new responsibilities."
Sal's expression softened, "Your father will recover and your regency. You can depend on the royal council for that."
Sal put the plate on Alexander's lap, "Eat my lord, tomorrow the council will hold their weekly meeting, you can visit them if you want."
Like his father did, let the council govern this place while he went out and spent all of the money.
"I've been hearing rumors." Alex started, "Of the peasants starting a revolt, same with the slaves. That the Tonton almost managed to kill a lower lord in the east."
Sal pursed his lips, "I've heard a lot of things, but I know our great army, and our councilors will keep this nation safe." He squinted a bit, "If necessary you'll be of the island before real danger arises."
He stood, and left the room. Sal didn't need to personally serve Alex, he was the house guard. Responsible for the going ons of the people that inhabited it. Yet he choose to serve Alexander, he was like a father to the boy as his parents were to busy with their vices.
On the plate was some bread with jam on it, tea and butter were also present. Alexander ate his fill, later a servant came to pick it up.
After that more came to dress him, it was quite uncomfortable for the Regent, but he had to do it.
Alexander had to get a grip on his situation, the state of the nation, its history and the most important people.
Soon enough he was in his fathers office gliding through books and documents.
He spent hours doing this. What he found out that this colony didn't really have a complicated governmental structure.
The king of the Shoton empire had ultimate say over the island of Sartinca.
But in his stead ruled the House of Hellia, of which Alexander was a part.
Then followed the council, then the nobles, then the church, then peasants and at last place the human slaves. It was a pretty straightforward structure.
One that only needed to care for 300 thousand people.
Yet it failed to do so. Corruption was widespread, the lower lords weren't held accountable, taxes were rarely paid and the rebel forces were growing more powerful every day.
Alexander lent back in his chair as he started rubbing his head.
The position of the nation was even worse that he would've thought.
Why shouldn't I just take a boat back to the mainland? He asked himself why shouldn't I life the cushy life of a high lord?
His last memories as Ben where spent alone in the hospital as he was dying from his disease. The second he thinks he can actually have peace in death a great responsibility is thrusted on him.
The mansion he lived was vast, servants swarming in the hallways of his house, sweeping the floors, replacing bedsheets and other such things.
Then he went outside, around 75 human slaves were working on their farm, backbreaking work for practically nothing in return. They were plucking the Valium fruit, it was purple in color and so soft you could squish it with your hand. It was kina like a oversized cherry.
Most of the husmans were colonial slaves brought to this island from the mainland in Shoton. They came in all different sizes and colors.
Less than half of the slaves were native to this island, they knew this place better then the demon colonizers and often knew how to escape quickly and easily. They were darksinned people, with curly hair.
They were humans also, all of them. As demons saw humans as animals, even less than dogs.
Alexander pitied them, as a man from the 21st century seeing something like this was unimaginable to him. Yet here he was. Though, a part of him enjoyed the sight.
Pathetic creatures doing what they were made for. It was the old Alexander talking. A privileged boy of 15 who never even had to do manual labour.
Alexander shook his head. Those thoughts, they weren't him.
He heard a man yelling, then someone in the distance was dragging a human boy by the ear. He was one of the natives, probably the same age as Alexander, a small Afro, and deep eyes that were squinted as he was being dragged by the man by his ear.
He was a shorter demon, black horns, thick but short, still pointy. He had sunkissed skin and was also balding.
It was the Top overseer of this plantation Hank. He seemed satisfied as he found himself a whip, then he pushed the boy against a tree.
"Wait!" Alexander yelled, he quickly understood what was going to happen, but it wasn't going to under his watch. A part of him tried to prevent his future action yet it was a part to small to consider.
"What is going on Hank!?" The overseer turned to see the highlord, "Lord Alexander!" The overseer smiled then his expression went back to a frown. "This SLAVE was slacking of on his work and when I told him to pick up his pace gave me this look!" He looked at the boy, and grinned, "I have to teach him a lesson."
Hank raised his whip hand but Alexander stopped him before he could do anything. "I'm sorry Hank, but there will be no punishment for something as vague as a "look""
Hanks turned his head slowly to the young lord, he raised a questioning eyebrow. "My lord, this is how your father would've wanted things to be."
Alexander wasn't fazed at all, "My father is sick, fading in and out of consciousness as we speak. I am to act as the highlord now, and I say that you won't just beat slaves when you feel like it."
The slave who was going to be beaten now stood there studying Alexander, his expression wasn't that of a thankful boy, more that of a curious one. His ear was let go of.
Hanks full attention was now on the regent, his hands held in a beging position, "My lord, we take these measures to keep these slaves in line. A dog will bite his weak owner."
Alexander shook his head he has a point. A part of him thought. No, he wouldn't give in to his privileged self. "A weak owner is one who can't control himself. Humans aren't like dogs anyways. They deserve a bit of decency, a bit of respect."
There were 10 other overseers who listened in on the conversation. 5 of them were slaves who earned themselves a high position.
Hank stood there jaw open, it took a moment for him to recover himself. "Decency? Respect!?" Alexander gave him a stern look and Hank swallowed his words, "What I mean to say is that humans are inferior, lazy. If I leave them alone for a moment they start talking and slacking of, they need this."
He showed the whip in his hand. Alex shoved that hand down, "The humans are probably tired since they are being worked 7 days a week 16 hours a day. How about you give them a break, saturdays and sundays. And no work after 7 in the evening."
The overseers behind them started whispering among themselves. The slave boy stared at Alex, eyes wide open. Hank took a shocked breath.
With that Alex started walking back to his mansion, Hank scurried behind him, "My lord, please reconsider this."
"No, more time of for them means more time of for you. Go enjoy your life with that time."
"But-but my lord?"
Hank stopped following and Alexander went inside.