The first three months of Roman's reforms were met with resistance, as expected. While he had control over the capital and the royal council, the rest of the kingdom was still adjusting to the sudden shift in power. Nobles who had survived the Bloody Night were wary, and those who had remained neutral were now treading carefully, unsure of their future under the young king.
The first challenge came from the military restructuring. Roman had begun replacing noble-appointed officers with his own trusted men, but this did not go unnoticed. Many noble commanders, realizing they were being pushed out of power, started delaying orders, slowing down troop movements, and even attempting to sabotage training efforts. Reports of missing supplies, sudden outbreaks of "illness" among soldiers, and desertions increased in certain regions.
Luke reported the situation to Roman one evening as they reviewed military developments. "The western army garrison is refusing to acknowledge new commanders. They claim they need time to 'evaluate' the changes before they can follow through."
Roman leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping against the wooden armrest. "We expected resistance. Do we know which noble family is behind this?"
Luke nodded. "The Garvin family. They control much of the military supply chain in the west. Without them, moving troops effectively will be a problem."
Roman exhaled sharply. "Then we take control of the supply chain. Have the Night Watch investigate their operations—find out where their weak points are."
Within two weeks, reports arrived. The Garvin family's wealth depended heavily on their monopoly over grain storage and weapons distribution. Roman wasted no time. Using the royal treasury and state-backed merchants, he created a parallel supply network, bypassing the Garvins entirely. When their influence began to wane, Roman sent his personal troops to "inspect" their warehouses, seizing any hidden stockpiles under the excuse of national security.
The Garvin family's attempt to resist ended in failure. Their economic grip was broken, and their political standing weakened significantly. After their collapse, other hesitant noble factions saw the consequences of defying Roman's military restructuring and began falling in line.
Meanwhile, the economic reforms also faced obstacles. Wealthy merchants who had benefited from the old noble-backed trade system resisted Roman's attempts to introduce new trade policies. Smuggling operations increased, and certain guilds, fearing a loss of influence, began hoarding goods to create artificial shortages.
Roman addressed this by deploying tax auditors from his loyal faction to investigate corruption within merchant groups. Several influential traders were found guilty of tax evasion and illegal dealings. Their properties were seized, and new state-backed trading companies replaced them. Those who resisted too openly found themselves facing fabricated scandals, forcing them out of business entirely.
Within three months, Roman had successfully reshaped the economy to favor the crown. Trade networks loyal to him flourished, while those who had tried to oppose him either adapted or collapsed.
The third major issue arose from political resistance within the council. While the nobles had lost much of their power, they still had ways to obstruct reforms. Prime Minister Veranthor, though greatly weakened, was not idle. He used what little influence he had left to stir dissatisfaction among certain bureaucratic factions, slowing down the implementation of new policies.
During one particularly frustrating council meeting, Veranthor spoke with thinly veiled defiance. "Your Majesty, the new policies you propose are… ambitious. But implementing such changes at such a rapid pace risks destabilizing the nation. Surely a more gradual approach would be wise?"
Roman smirked. "A gradual approach would allow time for those who oppose change to sabotage it. We have already seen what hesitation leads to."
Veranthor clenched his fists but maintained his composure. "I only wish to ensure the kingdom's stability. We must consider all perspectives, including those of the noble families who have long guided this nation."
Roman's gaze turned sharp. "The noble families who guided this nation also nearly ran it into ruin. We are not here to protect their comfort—we are here to build a stronger future."
The council chamber fell into silence. Veranthor knew he had no real counterargument. He could only tighten his grip on the table and accept his increasing irrelevance.
Despite opposition, progress continued.
Roman also introduced changes to public administration. He established new magistrates, ensuring that tax collection and law enforcement were no longer under direct noble control. Local officials were now accountable to the royal court, making corruption more difficult.
However, not everyone accepted these changes peacefully. A small rebellion broke out in a minor province led by a noble who refused to acknowledge Roman's authority. The rebellion was swiftly crushed by system soldiers, and its leader was executed publicly. This served as a brutal reminder of what happened to those who resisted.
By the end of the three-month period, Roman had managed to consolidate his hold over the kingdom further. The military was undergoing transformation, the economy was being reshaped, and political resistance had been weakened significantly.
One night, as Roman stood on the palace balcony overlooking the capital, Luke approached him. "Your Majesty, things are stabilizing. The nobles are no longer as bold, the military is under our control, and trade is flowing in our favor. But what next?"
Roman exhaled, his gaze fixed on the city below. "Next, we prepare for war."
The external threats remained, and now that the kingdom was under his firm grip, Roman could finally turn his full attention to the looming conflicts with neighboring nations.
His rule was no longer in question. Now, it was time to expand.