Volume 2 Chapter 17 The Melancholy Of West Clan King Charles
In the bustling capital of Teanuki, merchants shouted over one another as they showcased their wares, constantly arguing over their authenticity. Overlooking the noise from atop a hill stood the royal castle, home to the ruler of Teanuki, Charles de Lorycang. There, the young lord let out a deep sigh.
"Mercenary wages are getting out of hand."
His southern accent came naturally—his mother was from Teanuki, and he had grown up surrounded by southern nobles. With a scowl, he continued muttering to himself.
"Simeon, you idiot. You're cutting your forces again? I don't need Parisess or Clanfurt breathing down my neck..."
Despite the kingdom's growing wealth—thanks to thriving trade in Teanuki and Zootuur—Charles had no interest in expanding his territory. All he wanted was to keep his beloved gold, silver, and copper coins flowing safely through the country's economy. He had no desire to empower more nobles or stretch his domain further.
That was simply the nature of the Crown Prince of Loriengita.
"This treasury is going to collapse...!"
Charles gripped his head as he watched his finances swing wildly out of control. The rising cost of hiring mercenaries for border skirmishes with the East Clanf was bleeding him dry.
"No, no! I'm not going bankrupt! I refuse! Ugh, and now Mélusine—who married into Ranava—is asking for funds..."
He groaned louder, but it changed nothing. The Holy Cross Theocracy was actively recruiting mercenaries for its holy war in the southern Bayari Peninsula, driving up prices. Ranava, far to the north, wasn't at war, but they were building defenses against the Green Crescent Theocracy. That, too, demanded gold—his sister's gold, to be exact.
"My money... it's running away from me..."
To Charles, watching his treasury shrink felt like watching his own lifeblood drain away. Adding to his frustration, his half-sister Elodia's forces had defeated Simeon's army. He never thought a woman—especially a sibling he barely cared for—could pull that off. Still, with the pressure easing, he began releasing the excess mercenaries.
Those dismissed were paid off with a generous bonus and sent home peacefully. In peacetime, mercenaries were more like well-dressed bandits; provoking them was a bad idea. Best to soothe them and send them off without a fuss.
A few days later, some of those mercenaries returned—battered and bloodied. Word spread that a highly organized army, made up of elves and humans, had scattered them with ease.
Feigning concern, Charles ordered the injured laid to rest in the outer barracks. That night, he had them eliminated in secret, then passed along orders to his espionage network—the [Various Countries Tale Collection Corps]—to begin gathering intel.
A week passed. There should've been a report by now—especially from somewhere as close as Parisess. But nothing came.
When Charles summoned the old man known as the storyteller, the message was grim.
"The heads collected by your agents arrived this morning... pickled."
Charles said nothing at first, only staring at the words. He felt no grief—only frustration. The intelligence team had cost him dearly, yet produced nothing of value.
"Don't send more," he muttered. "They're better than us. Cut our losses."
"Understood."
Whether it was poor judgment in dispatching rookies or the enemy's true strength, it didn't matter. What did matter was that Elodia's army had crushed East Clanf's. They were strong—stronger than anything Charles had to counter them.
"So you've been hiding your claws, Elodia... Still, you are Father's daughter."
In truth, it was Eleonora who had led the army, with Georges and François commanding in the field. But Charles misunderstood. The idea of a fallen princess rising like a heroine from legend was too amusing.
"Well, as long as you don't trouble Dolbor, do whatever you like."
Charles, lost in thought, summoned his scribe.
"Send a message. Request a meeting with Elodia."
Two weeks later, Charles and Elodia met in the old, ruined territory of Juán—a place once famed for producing the sisters of the Twelve Sacred Blades. It had been reduced to rubble after civil war and invasion by the Suno people. The siblings gathered in the crumbling remains of Juán Castle.
"Queen Elodia I of Fran Nuse," Charles greeted. "You've come far, little sister."
"I never wanted to become a queen," Elodia replied quietly.
"Intentions don't matter when royal blood is involved."
He glanced briefly at the knight beside her. Georges de Ronclin, one of the old Twelve Sacred Blades. With that name, soldiers would rally. But it was strange—his army included elves and dwarves. That level of unity across races was nearly impossible. Georges shouldn't have had the charisma for that.
Then Charles noticed the tall female knight standing silently by the window. At first, he thought she was merely an ornamental guard. But when their eyes met—clear and blue as the sea—a jolt ran down his spine.
It's her. She's the one behind it all.
Charles's keen merchant's instinct, usually used for appraising treasures, told him instantly.
"What...?"
One of Charles's own guards reached for his sword at the disrespect.
"Stand down. No—forget it."
The female knight returned to gazing out the window, utterly disinterested.
(If I make the wrong move, my entire army will be wiped out...)
The unspoken fear between them led Charles to speak again.
"Let's form a non-aggression pact. Neither side needs to shed more blood."
"You'd agree to that?" Elodia asked.
"I have no desire to fight someone who bested Simeon. There's no point in making the Twelve Sacred Blades fight among themselves."
"There are survivors besides me?"
Charles nodded. "Yes—Iron Wall and Rock Breaker."
"Lord Bertrand... and even Grandmother Dorothea?"
Georges blinked. "They're alive?"
"Ironclad Bertrand and Dorothea of the Mountainlands. They're mid-ranked, but both were on par with Lord Guillaume. Bertrand's defense was unmatched. Dorothea could crush boulders with a finger."
Eleonora looked up, uninterested. Tales of people she'd never meet didn't mean much to her.
"So? What's your answer?"
"I accept. Let's sign the pact."
After the meeting, Charles returned to Teanuki only to be hounded by nobles scheming to invade Parisess.
"Why sign a pact, Your Majesty? Their army's weaker—we should've attacked!"
"Right! We could've captured them at the meeting!"
Veins bulging, Charles snapped.
"You fools! If we betray guests at a peace talk, no noble abroad would ever trust us again! And don't ignore that they crushed East Clanf!"
"It's because of your passivity that the Tyria lords have abandoned us! You can't rule with coin-counting alone!"
"So you oppose my rule?"
"A king who can't conquer has no worth!"
These arguments exposed the weakening of royal authority. In a realm that wasn't a true monarchy, the king was just the face of the lords. If he failed to show results, rebellion wasn't far off.
In time, Charles was overthrown by his own retainers. His infant son, Arsène, was crowned in his place, with a council of nobles acting as regents. Their first order of business: to annul the non-aggression pact with Fran Nuse.
Notes:
• Charles - Male. King of the West Clanf Kingdom. He has brown skin and a regal appearance, often seen in royal attire. His speech is accented due to his southern roots. He is melancholic and pragmatic, prioritizing economic stability over territorial expansion. He has a newborn son, Arsène, and a sister, Elodia. His relationship with his lords is strained due to his passive governance.
• Teanuki - The royal capital of Dolbor, located in a bustling commercial area. It is a major port city with a castle overlooking the streets. The city is known for its economic prosperity and strategic importance.
• Simeon - The ruler of the East Clanf Kingdom. His appearance is not described, but he is portrayed as a strategic leader. He judges the benefits of expanding into the Magelun region as sufficient. His relationship with Elodia is one of opposition, as he seeks to capture her to justify his territorial ambitions.
• Green Crescent Theocracy - A region located immediately south of Senabarol. It is mentioned as a source of concern for Dorothea and Bertrand.
• Elodia - The second princess of Loriengita. She has shown favor to Georges, who aims to marry her by achieving military merit.
• François - The fourth son of Baron Lanramoncie of the Loriengita Empire. The one who join the tournament before.
• Georges - A rugged-faced knight and the only lower noble among the Twelve Sacred Blades. He volunteers to lead the cavalry, seeking promotion and recognition. He harbors ambitions to marry Princess Elodia.
• Dolbor - A kingdom ruled by Charles, known for its thriving commerce and strategic location. It is located east of the continent and is a key player in regional politics.
• Juán - A former territory known for producing the sisters of the Twelve Sacred Blades. It is now a void zone, devastated by civil war and assault. The meeting between Charles and Elodia takes place in the ruined Juán Castle.
• Dorothea - Dorothea de Wafor. An elderly warrior and former member of The Twelve Sacred Blades, known as [Rock Breaker]. Her appearance is not detailed, but she is described as someone who has served for 3 generations. She has a respectful relationship with Bertrand and is considering retirement.
• Bertrand - Bertrand de Ewatipo. An elderly warrior and former member of The Twelve Sacred Blades, known as [Iron Wall]. His appearance is not detailed, but he is described as someone who plans to take Senabarol. He has a respectful relationship with Dorothea and is ambitious.
• Guillaume - Leader of the Twelve Sacred Blades and a skilled strategist. He reassures Emperor Raimont about defending Parisses and plans troop deployments.
• Arsène - Male. Charles's newborn son, who ascends the throne after Charles is dethroned. His appearance is not detailed, and he is an infant, so his relationship with Charles is minimal.
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