Redmont Manor,
Serisis.
12:30 p.m. 19th Banem 1092.
Empires.
Since time immemorial, empires have differed from kingdoms and countries. The formation of an empire was a statement of intent. Unlike kingdoms and nations, empires always sought to expand, conquering and absorbing land into themselves. An empire was a symbol of power. A statement that left surrounding nations trembling in fear and rage.
Empires were also harbingers of bloodshed, their rise often synonymous with decades of bloodshed as the lives of countless men and women were sacrificed to the altar of expansion.
The continent of Destia had been host to thousands of kingdoms. But only a handful of nations had ever tried to declare themselves an empire. Unfortunately, each of these nations was set upon by the others once they did.
The closest any nation had gotten to calling themselves an empire were the daebens during the daeben wars. Unfortunately, because of the countless civil wars in each conquered territory, they never found the stability required to announce themselves as an empire.
As a result of all these factors and more, no country had come close to upgrading to an empire – at least until this moment.
What Rosendun was about to accomplish was without precedent. Not only were they aiming to become an empire, but they were to fulfill that aim through peaceful negotiations rather than bloodshed.
Of course, everyone present knew that this was only for the moment. From the moment the empire was officially formed, it would suffer attacks from every side. However, despite this threat, the parties present had strengthened their resolve to see this through to the end.
Such was the mentality of a conqueror.
Resolve and pride shone in King Parissius's eyes as he gazed around the room. In response, King Xafier and King Chu's sat upright, an equal resolve displayed in their strong gazes. King Parissius looked at the two kings and then, after receiving approving nods from both men, looked at Leila. "This opportunity has only arrived before us thanks to the hardwork and sacrifices of the Hopeful Maggots guild. If there are no objections, I would like to formally appoint Ms. Leila Lightwood, vice-guildmaster of the Hopeful Maggots, as the arbitrator of this agreement."
The power of the Hopeful Maggots' vice-guildmaster's reputation was clear to all as neither King Chu nor King Xafier objected to this. King Chu had dealt directly with Leila and knew her to be a strong, capable, but fair woman. He had no doubt in his mind that she would be a neutral moderator.
King Xafier might not have dealt with Leila, but the legend of the Hopeful Maggots' vice-guildmaster had spread far beyond the borders of Rosendun. From what he'd heard, coupled with his relationship with Kashi, King Xafier saw no reason to doubt Leila Lightwood's fairness.
King Parissius looked at Leila, and then with a smile, said, "You may proceed," and then took his seat.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," thanked Leila with a polite bow. She then looked around, matching the gazes of every soul in the room, and said, "I, Leila Lightwood, once again welcome you all to this historic event. The formation of an empire is no small feat. It is only possible today thanks to the hardwork, sacrifice, and loyalty of every man and woman in all three nations." Leila paused to let her words sink in and then qualified, "This might be a great moment, but we must not let ourselves get carried away. A mansion built on sand will crumble under the slightest pressure. Today, we gather, not just to found a new empire, but to ensure it is built upon the most solid foundation possible."
The atmosphere in the room turned grave. Leila's words had struck the heart of the matter. An Empire's true legacy lay not in its formation but how long it lasted. There was no meaning in creating an empire that didn't last at least a century-long.
Leila surveyed the room, nodding as she sensed the increased tension. Good. This was the right atmosphere to conduct something this serious. The wisben, realizing her first aim had been achieved, said as she took out several parchments from her inventory, "To ensure this Empire is started on the strongest foundations, I have laid out a set of issues we need to resolve and agree on at this moment."
Leila handed out copies of the documents to each king, and Kashi, who then shared it amongst their representatives. The wisben also handed out some extras to the audience to share amongst themselves.
Residents and Summoned alike scanned the document's contents, eager to see what these issues were. Moments later, a dark cloud descended on the room as the occupants realized the importance of every listed issue. Indeed, the Empire would never be stable if the nations could not agree on a single item listed here.
- Structure
- Succession Rights & Government Appointments
- Tax Policies (Health and Education)
- Trade
- Police & Army
- Transportation
- Food & Agriculture
Each of these policies was integral not only to the formation of an Empire but to any nation in general. Leila had put these forward precisely because of their importance.
Leila looked around and then focused on each king. "If there are no objections, let us begin with the first item on the list." She paused for a moment, and then when no one interrupted, continued, "An Empire needs an Emperor. This inevitably means that one party will have increased status over the others. Of course, everyone present should be aware of this, or we would not be here in the first place. However, it is important to have it confirmed in person before all parties."
Leila gestured at King Parissius, "King Parissius, on the day the Empire is founded, will rise to the position of Emperor. In turn, Rosendun will be raised from a Kingdom to an Empire, absorbing the territories of Serisis and Merriheim into its ranks. At such a time, there will no longer be any Serians or Merrites – only Rosen men and women." She paused, allowing a moment for them to process her words, and then said, "Does anyone have an issue with this?"
"Not an issue, but a question," challenged a Serian minister. Upon receiving Leila's go-ahead, he asked, "If there are no Serians, then what about the king? Surely, there cannot be a king without a nation to rule?"
"I am glad you asked that," Leila replied and then explained further. "While there won't be any Serians or Merrites, the territories of Serisis and Merriheim will remain as is as states under the Empire. The kings of these respective territories ensure the Empire's will, rules, and policies are adhered to." Leila then took out a chart and passed copies to each person. "For the sake of clarity, the hierarchy will be as follows: Emperor, Kings, and then Mayors. The Emperor rules over the entire empire, Kings over their respective states, and Mayors over their respective cities or towns."
"In this proposed system, will the Empire choose the kings?" asked a concerned dwarf.
"Yes, and no," Leila replied, and then clarified, "The Empire will not appoint new kings. However, the current birthright system will be abolished." As expected, this declaration generated several frowns and scowls. "I understand your dissatisfaction, but this is necessary for the future."
"Why?"
Leila glanced at the Merrite, who asked the question and then answered, "Because a position inherited by birth can never be appreciated as much as one acquired through merit." Seeing she had acquired their attention, Leila continued, "Countless Empires in different worlds have fallen because of infighting between children of Kings and Emperors. Corrupt politicians wrap these children around their fingers, forcing them to fight each other to claim the ultimate glory. Sometimes, the worthy child ascends the throne. But more often, it is the more corrupt one, willing to do anything no matter how vile, who eventually wins."
"Aside from this," Leila continued, "We do not want any one family amassing too much power. Something which will definitely happen if kingship is passed down through birth."
"Your words have merit," agreed King Chu Tianjo. "What is the alternative you propose?"
"A series of unbiased tests and exams, both martial and intellectual," proposed Leila. "The top five from these tests will then undergo special screening by the current king for two years, after which he/she would choose a successor from the group. This system will extend from the kings down to the Mayors. In this system, Mayors last for five years and kings twenty. Furthermore, while there won't be term limits, no king nor mayor may serve consecutive years in office. Finally, kings will undergo a review every five years. They are susceptible to impeachment if they are found to be negligent in their duties, or abusing their office for personal gain."
"What!?" Ministers from both Merriheim and Serisis yelled in protest. The room's temperature dropped several degrees as all eyes turned to King Chu Tianjo and King Xafier. The onlookers wondered how these men would react to having their positions so easily snatched from them.
Leila sensed the mood drop but did not panic. The wisben raised her hand, silencing the grumbling ministers. She then clarified, "I understand your misgivings, but you must let me finish my thoughts if we are to maintain cordial and respectful discussions." Leila's cold tone and no-nonsense glare scared the ministers into respectful silence. At least for the moment. If her next sentence did not allay their worries, then all hell would truly break loose.
Leila, unaffected by the harsh gazes, explained, "As I said earlier, allowing any one family to attain too much power is dangerous. This is especially so for high positions like kings and governors. Kings especially are expected to rule for two decades. Often, people get comfortable in guaranteed roles and forget why they have that job: The welfare of the country's citizens. This is why the review will be carried out in two parts: First, a vote by the citizens, and an Imperial Investigation. Please note that the citizens' vote will count higher than the Imperial Investigation. So if a king wishes to keep his position, he must ensure the citizens are also happy."
"Allowing the common populace to influence kingship..." muttered King Chu Tianjo. The room fell silent as heavy tension seized the hearts of everyone present. They all turned to the wise king; his next sentence would either kill the alliance or prop it to newer heights! "...The people's voice," he once again muttered and then looked at Leila. "The last person to mention the people's voice to me was my wife, Xu Yao. She thought kings should be decided by the people rather than birthright" The king's old but sharp eyes watched Leila as he asked, "What do you say to that?"
"Democracy, huh?" Leila revealed the tiniest of smiles at the edge of her lips as she turned to look at King Chu Tianjo. "Your wife is a brilliant woman, King Chu. I cannot wait to meet her."
King Chu Tianjo's eyes lit up, but he repressed his smile as he waited for Leila to continue, which she did with stark confidence. "I, too, once believed in having the people decide their rulers." Leila glanced at Kashi and then said, "Unfortunately, in my world, someone proved to me that democracy is good on paper but terrible in execution." She then turned her attention back to the kings as she clarified, "Oftentimes, choosing the next ruler devolves into nothing more than a popularity contest. Regardless of intelligence nor incompetence, anyone can become a ruler as long as they have enough money to reach the widest audience with all the right platitudes."
Leila's nose scrunched up in disgust. "In the end, rather than voting in the best candidate, the public end up unknowingly voting in the wealthy organizations and individuals hiding behind their candidate. Rather than improving the citizens' lives, politicians draw up policies to suit their backers instead, even if they directly harm the general public."
"Democracy is a game, a charade the rich play to fool the masses into willingly giving them more money." The kings turned to Kashi with shock in their eyes. They expected this from Leila, but Kashi did not seem the opinionated type. Feeling their gazes on him, Kashi shrugged. "Personally, I do not care either way, but a friend of mine once saw a group of homeless men fighting because they were from opposing parties. It was then he thought of that phrase."
Leila's brow rose as she gave Kashi a knowing look. But rather than expose him, she said, "That friend had a point. One which I agree with. Rather than go through the charade of a glorified popularity contest, a series of tests and exams which anyone can apply for is, in my opinion, the next best step. In this method, regardless of social status or funds, anyone can apply. If they can survive until the final five, then they have an increased chance of attaining the government position. Naturally, in the end, the human element is still required, which is why the Emperor or king will have time to personally test each candidate." She then turned to King Chu and said, "The people will still get a chance to make their voices heard. Only, this time, it will be a choice to either keep or remove their current ruler, rather than choosing amongst several."
King Chu Tianjo paused, taking a moment to mull over his thoughts. After a couple of moments, he finally looked at Leila and then said with an approving nod, "You put a lot of thought into this system." He once again paused and then said, "I was prepared to vacate this throne ever since I agreed to this alliance. Initially, I was concerned about the kind of person that would succeed me. However, with this new system, I do not have any reason to fear incompetency at the very least." The king took a moment, sighed, and then with renewed resolve, looked at Leila and said, "A mountain cannot hold two tigers. If we allow royal families to persist, eventually, one will arise to challenge the Empire's rule. With this in mind, I approve of this new system. We can work out the details, like the contents of the tests at a later date."
Following King Chu Tianjo's approval, the room's atmosphere notably improved, as the Serians nodded in agreement. Leila's explanation and King Chu's clarification had convinced these people that this was indeed the best way forward to prevent further troubles down the line.
That left one other group to deal with.
Leila turned to King Xafier, who wore a complicated smile. Leila understood the reason for the king's strange mood and thus cut straight to the point, "Your Highness, King Xafier Anton. I believe you have a decision to make. Right now, Merriheim is without a king. But as you have been appointed King of the Dwarfs by the god, Aygorzi, you cannot thus be appointed King of Merriheim. Merriheim's king must look at all races equally, but the dwarven king will always put the dwarfs first."
King Xafier nodded in agreement as Leila continued, "So, you must decide now. Will Aygorzi remove its status as 'the dwarven city,' thereby freeing you to be king of all Merriheim, or will Aygorzi remain a dwarven city? In which case, you will remain the dwarven king. Keep in mind that should Aygorzi choose to remain a dwarven city, it will be treated as an independent state on the same level as Serisis and Merriheim. This is to honor the agreement made between our nations. However, this also means you cannot interfere in the policies and running of Merriheim."
King Xafier clasped his hands together as he mulled in thought. Moments later, he asked, "In the event, we choose to remain as is, who will be Merriheim's King?"
Rather than answer, Leila looked at Kashi, who acknowledged the cue with a nod. He then tapped the table as he said, "There is only one person who has repeatedly shown courage and bravery in the face of danger. Who has risked their life on multiple occasions to ensure Merriheim's successful future. One person who is loved, respected, and known by Merriheim's citizens. Someone whose appointment will be supported by the vast majority..."
Kashi paused and then looked at a figure standing inconspicuously amongst the watching crowd. "Come here..."
The target of Kashi's call hesitated, staring at the daeben in confusion as if to say, 'Me?'
To their surprise, Kashi did not look elsewhere but instead waved them forward as he once again called out, "Asha, come here."
Asha pointed at herself as she stared at Kashi in utter disbelief. What the hell? King? Or rather, it should be Queen, right? How could she be a queen? She was the furthest thing from noble-born! How could someone like her suddenly become a ruler? She wasn't worthy!
As if sensing Asha's doubt, Kashi said as he rose to his feet, "Do not doubt yourself." He held her gaze, his voice carrying to the entire room as he assured her, "You are more than qualified to ascend the throne. You protected and found a way for the nigh-extinct felur races to survive through the greatest perils of their lives. You've displayed uncommon courage and wisdom to lead your people into battle. Also, you've exhibited humility to accept your wrongs and seek alternate solutions, which is more than I can say for many leaders."
Kashi paused, and then added, "But perhaps, most importantly to the world, you have the recognition of the East Claw." Seeing Asha's confusion, he explained, "There is a reason Brock sent you as the East Claw's representative. It was to send a message. In his eyes, you are more than qualified to make decisions on behalf of the East Claw."
"With the East on your side, all you need is the goodwill of the South, Aygorzi, and the West Claw." Kashi looked at King Xafier. "Does Aygorzi have any objections to Asha ascending the throne?"
King Xafier glanced at Asha, "My sources tell me it is thanks to you that we do not have to fear Orthana's retaliation. Is this true?"
"That is not entirely correct," Asha replied, her tone neither servile nor overbearing. The slightly subdued demeanor she had when talking with Kashi was nowhere to be seen as she responded to King Xafier. "Uncle Brock was the one who personally ended her life."
King Xafier nodded, pleased with her honesty. "That may be so, but you are the one who motivated him to interfere. That makes you just as, if not more, responsible for her demise. And for that, Aygorzi will forever be grateful." With a smile, he looked at Kashi and proclaimed, "Aygorzi has no issues with this appointment. We fully stand behind it and will do our best to ensure smooth and blissful relations between our kingdoms."
"Thank you," Kashi said with a grateful nod, and then turned to King Parissius. "Merriheim's Southern Territory is under Rosendun's flag. As such, the future King or Queen needs your input at the moment. Do you agree to Asha's appointment as Queen?"
King Parissius revealed a brilliant smile as he looked at Asha. "No objections here. Ms. Asha, if both Kashi and Leila are willing to vouch for you, then, coupled with the reports I have received, there is no better candidate at the moment." The king nodded and then declared, "With the gods as my witness, as long as you accept, I will ensure you are crowned Queen this very moment."
Asha swallowed hard, unable to weather King Parissius' powerful gaze. It seemed to be peering into the very depths of her soul, stoking the flames of her spirit to rise to the occasion. However, despite this being an opportunity many would kill for, the young chetah woman found herself overwhelmed. Could she really do it? Rule over an entire country? Up till now, she had only focused on ensuring the survival of the felur race.
This, in comparison, was an astronomical jump both in scale and severity. Asha did not believe she was ready. After hesitating, she finally looked at Kashi and started, "Can I have some ti—"
"There is no protecting those you love without strength," Kashi interrupted before she could finish. "If you do not have power, the lives of your loved ones will always remain subject to the whims of those in power." The daeben's eyes drilled into Asha's, provoking the Protector within her. "But Power comes with responsibility. If you want the power to protect your people from harm, you must be ready to bear the harsh responsibilities that come with it."
Asha's gaze flickered as something sparked within her heart. This did not go unnoticed to Kashi, who immediately pressed the advantage he'd created. "What are you so afraid of anyway? You think you don't know enough? News Flash: Most kings don't. The best surround themselves with intelligent individuals who have the country's best interest at heart and soak up as much knowledge as they can while on the throne." Kashi placed his hand on her shoulder, a smile akin to a devil's spreading on his lips as he said, "Think about it. You've fought a dragon. What's a few annoying ministers in comparison?"
A few ministers coughed and let out wry smiles but ultimately did not disagree with the daeben's assessment. No one knew better than ministers themselves just how annoying they could be.
Meanwhile, Asha's gaze strengthened, revealing a deep-rooted determination that was missing a few moments ago. Yes, a Queen's responsibilities might be frightening, but when had she ever cowered in fear? All this time, she had wilfully risked life and limb to ensure the safety of her people. All things considered, this was just another battle she had to win.
And win she shall!
Asha suddenly locked gazes with Kashi, painfully familiar flames burning in their depths. "I'll do it."
"Splendid!" praised King Parissius as he rose to his feet. "Now to fulfill my end of the bargain." The king left his seat, and to the shock of everyone present, walked over to Kashi and Asha. King Paris glanced at Kashi, a small mischievous smirk at the corner of his lips as he stretched out his hand and said, "Sword. I know you have a couple on you somewhere."
"You do know I'm an archer, right?" challenged Kashi with a raised brow. However, King Parissius' knowing smirk only deepened as he gestured with his hand for the sword. In response, Kashi playfully rolled his eyes as a golden sword appeared in his right hand.
The king's smug grin pissed Kashi off, so he defended himself, "What? You never know when you might run out of arrows. I learned from an Archer that, under the right circumstances and training, swords could make excellent arrows."
King Parissius chuckled, mischief in his eyes as he replied, "I never said anything, did I?" Then, without giving Kashi time to offer a rebuttal, he turned to Asha and said, "This is but a formality. Shortly, we will accord your coronation the proper ceremony it deserves."
King Parissius raised the sword and tapped the flat of the blade on Asha's shoulder. "In the name of the Rosen Kingdom, in the eyes of our ancestors long passed, and with the gods as witness, I hereby dub Asha of the Chetah, Queen of Merriheim. So it shall be, now, until she has fulfilled her term."
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
The atmosphere's solemnity was ruined for Kashi as several prompts rapidly sprung up at the same time. However, this was neither the time nor place to read scan the prompts, so he quickly deleted them. He could always read through the prompts when this was over.
Asha, meanwhile, placed a hand on her chest, face flushed as an unfamiliar heat gushed from her heart and then stormed through her veins to every corner of her body.
King Parissius smiled as he observed Asha's discomfort. "You feel it, do you not?" he teased. "That is the belief, hopes, and dreams of your citizens pouring through you. Their desires give you strength. The strength to protect them, and make their dreams a reality." The young king's smile dampened as he then warned, "But be careful. If you prove to be wholly incompetent, those dreams can also turn into a curse, ridding you of your strength or cursing you to illness."
By his side, Kashi remarked with a loose grin, "No pressure, of course."
"Of course," King Parissius agreed with a teasing laugh. "No pressure."
Asha glanced at both men and couldn't help but release a chuckle. "Thank you both. I will try my best to live up to your expectations."
"That's what I like to hear," King Parissisus stated with a satisfied nod. He then gestured toward the table and said, "As a Queen, you must sit with the rest of us. Nothing we can do about your ministers, though. I apologize."
"It's fine," assured Asha with a shake of her head. "I am honored. I doubt anyone saw things playing out this way."
Almost by instinct, Kashi and King Parissius turned to look at a certain wisben stood within the round table, and then at each other.
"Yes. No one could have seen this coming," King Parissius said with a strange light in his eyes as Kashi suddenly found an interest in the ceiling décor. Choosing not to push the subject, King Parissius gestured escorted Asha back to the table where a new chair had been added just for the new Queen.
Kashi took his seat as well and then nodded at Leila.
Leila returned the nod with one of her own, then turned her attention to the rest of the room. "Now that we have discussed both the structure and succession rights, the next item on the list we need to agree on is the issue of tax."
As soon as this topic was mentioned, every eye in the room turned sharp and attentive. Taxes were the bedrock of every nation. Any nation's finances would destabilize without an easily understandable, functioning tax system. So, no one dared to miss this proposal.
Leila, noticing the sudden uptick in attention, said, "We already discussed this in Rosen earlier, so I will keep this short. There will be a progressive imperial tax of 8% – 45% depending on civilian income bracket. The higher a person's income, the greater the tax they will have to pay. The details of the tax brackets are in these files," Leila said as Miote took out sheaves of papers from his inventory and then passed them around the table. "You will also find a 13% sales tax and fixed 20% business tax. This is to encourage the growth of business in the country. These taxes might seem high at first, but they exist to ensure everyone in the country can afford free healthcare and education."
"Finally, and most importantly, all taxes will first be sent up to the imperial treasury. Only after which will funds be redistributed back to each state," Leila explained. "As you would expect, there is no guarantee that a state would receive the exact amount of funds given. This is because some states, especially developing ones, require more funds for their upkeep than others."
King Chu Tianjo nodded, his eyes gleaming as he sighed inwardly. Indeed, this was a brilliant idea. If Serisis had used this method, all the wealth trapped in the hands of wicked feudal lords could have been distributed to less thriving zones for further development. Honestly, the only people who would be averse to this tax model were the rich feudal lords who made coins off the people's taxes.
Fortunately, in this Imperial system, the concept of feudal lords would be erased for good.
Leila looked around, surprised by the unnatural silence. She had been expecting vehement opposition like she'd received at Rosendun. However, the room was quiet, save for King Parissius, who tapped the table with a pleased smile. The wisben, choosing to err on the side of caution, looked at each person and tentatively asked, "Are there any objections to the tax model?"
"Not an objection, but a question," said King Xafier. "What did you mean by free education and healthcare?"
Leila nodded, "We plan on building academies in every state, where anyone, regardless of social standing, can attend to learn vocations, trades, and basic lessons. The government will also fund health clinics and apothecaries in every city to ensure every citizen's health needs are taken care of for free."
"Knowledge is Power," commented King Chu with a glint in his eyes. "You are willing to share this knowledge with the masses? Are you not afraid they'll attempt to rebel after acquiring this knowledge?"
Leila shook her head as she coldly remarked, "It might seem that way at first, but the truth is: it's much more difficult to entice an educated man to rebel than a fool. A nation of intelligent men and women is the strongest foundation upon which an Empire can build. The uneducated, however, are like shifting sand, easily blown whichever way by enticing winds."
"Ha! Shifting sands, you say," King Xafier exclaimed with a bright grin. "Good. As a dwarf who was taught the hammer's ways from the moment I could walk, I can attest that your words are true. I am glad to see this Empire is to be built on such strong foundations. I hold no objections! In fact, I will personally see to it that these academies are built as quickly as possible."
King Chu Tianjo chuckled as he said, "Xafier has already said everything I wanted to say. I, too, hold no objections. Let us proceed as you proposed."
There was a slight pause, and Asha started as she realized they were waiting for her. "Uh... I do not object."
"Excellent," Leila said and then stated, "With these issues cleared, the final contentious point is the issue of the Police and Army." Leila's gaze turned cold as she stared into the kings' eyes. "You will not like to hear this, but all current armies will be disbanded immediately the Empire is formed, to be reintegrated and redistributed according to the Empire's wishes." Once again, the room's temperature froze, but the wisben continued undaunted, "No Empire will permit having armies that fly a different flag from its own. A soldier's flag represents who they will die for: their priority. It does not matter if the state is entirely loyal. As long as the flag is not of the Empire, then a soldier can one day turn his blade against the Empire at the state's behest. As such, all soldiers must be sent to Rosendun for training and assignment."
Leila then softened her stance as she said, "However, the states cannot go unprotected, which is where the police force comes in." Seeing the confused expressions, she explained, "The police force will be a separate, civilian peacekeeping force that will be in charge of enforcing the laws in each city or village. The states will take charge of their respective police forces, subject to veto by the Empire – this will seldom happen, though. Finally, to prevent the rise of a possible militia force, the limit of the police force present in each city will be set by the Empire."
Leila's cold eyes pierced into the eyes of everyone present as if daring them to challenge her proposal. "Any objections?"
One or two ministers initially wanted to raise their hands. But faced with Leila's oppressive aura, coupled with the fact that their kings had remained silent, the ministers ultimately shut their mouths.
Leila took one look around the room and nodded. "Good. Now, let's cover the last few items on the list..."