Tanhya
I had doubts about doing this. Something was telling me it wasn't a good idea but my stubbornness was particularly eager. Despite what I knew would be the likely outcome, I had to try.
Standing at the front of the court room the stares of the Royal council intimidated me. It felt like I was a prey being sought after by multiple predators. Their eyes scrutinized me. I quickly composed myself and stood tall to give the appearance of being calm and confident. Just as I had been taught.
Gathering all my courage my mouth opened to speak. The voice that came out managed to be clear and steady. "I would like to propose an idea that was overlooked in the report of the possible relief plan. I believe it will help tremendously with the flooding situation."
I didn't have to look behind me to know that Osric who was seated on his throne probably wasn't paying attention to me. In any case I didn't want to look at him as I spoke.
"Though it was not under my jurisdiction I talked to the experts who were in charge to explain to me the idea of harvesting the flood water."
Basically, the flood relief plan was based of suggestions made by environmentalists and engineers the council sent to assess the flooding. They were asked, based on their expertise, what the best way to deal with the situation would be. They produced a report with several solutions. Osric and the council selected the ones they thought were best from the list.
"..... The idea is to create large reserve tanks underground connected to drainage pipes on the surface that will redirect the flood waters into the tanks. This would decrease the water levels at a faster rate. Considering the damages to infrastructure, the diseases that have already started to spread lowering the water levels as soon as possible would be a great advantage. There might be things that are still salvageable. But that's not all, if there's ever heavy rainfall in future the reserves will act as an anti-flood system, the collected water could then be used in a time of need..."
I hadn't helped in choosing the original plan because at the time I was tasked with checking and writing reports on what resources the kingdom had lost to the floods and what was left. After the relief plan was decided I was then tasked with going over the chosen suggestions and check if the required resources were available. As I did so I came across the reserve idea. Whilst there was nothing wrong with the chosen plan I just felt this idea should also be included.
".....The initial investment will be costly but I assure you it will give greater returns in the future. I'm sure you've all noticed that as of late the weather has been quite unpredictable. Last winter was far colder than usual. This season we anticipated that there could be a possibility of heavy rains but the outcome was far worse than we imagined. What will the next winter be like? What if the next summer is dry? With such unpredictable conditions wouldn't it be better we stay prepared for any likely event?"
Throughout my presentation I kept checking the councils attention on me. To see if I was slowly convincing them. However, nothing had changed. The stares they gave me told me, they were all too ready to pick me apart. I lost the slither of hope I'd had at the start of my presentation. I 'couldn't wait to hear' what they thought of my idea.
I finished my presentation and now waited for the council to share their thoughts. The Royal council consisted of 6 high ranking families. These were the founding families of the kingdom (7 inlcuding the royal family). Duke Daeil of the Daeil family, Duke Mauris, Duchess Imbra, Duke Talem, Duke Holden, Duke Saphir and Duchess Saphir.
Almost immediately after I was done speaking, Duke Daeil, Osrics' secretary was the first to speak up. "The idea is too expensive. With the resources required and with the state we are in as it is, we don't have any resources to waste ." he scoffed.
After he spoke immediately the others began to chime in.
"I agree it's not worth spending that much over we have infrustructure to rebuild, people to feed, loans to give out to businesses, among many other thinhs to do. To build these tanks we would have to cut down on some of these resources down. "
"There's no value in your idea aside from it lowering the water levels faster."
"We can't waste the limited resources we have on a problem we're not even sure we will have."
"Exactly, we should deal with the issues we have right now. "
One by one they shut down my idea. It didn't sit right with me that the council could display their disagreement like this. Not to say that they couldn't disagree with my ideas or have doubts just because I was Queen. However, they didn't be so direct about it.
Not a single one of them had addressed me as 'your majesty'. It felt almost disrespectful like they were challenging my authority. They certainly never used to treat Osrics' mother, Queen Amalia like this. They addressed her with respect.
"I understand your concerns.." I started patiently. "However, as I mentioned before this could help with any future issues we might have. If a flood was to occur again in the following weeks we would be prepared, if there was a drought the following summer we would still have a water supply. We would be killing two birds with one stone."I defended my idea.
Aside from wanting to disrespect me, the other reason they didn't agree with my idea was because there weren't any immediate profits to be made from it. The Council undoubtedly wanted to quickly make up for the losses all their businesses had suffered due to the flooding situation.
Whilst my idea was costly and would cut on the recovery budget quite a bit there would still be enough to continue with the recovery plan they had already decided on. What would be affected were the grants that were going to be offered to business owners, as relief support from flooding. is the amount they would each receive in relief grants. It was clear they wanted to receive as much as possible.
With the dukes disapproving of my plan the final decision was Osrics' to make. Of which I already knew what he was going to say. Osric then spoke up from behind me seated on his throne."The Council doesn't seem to be in favor of your idea, Queen Tanhya whilst your suggestion is appreaciated, the final decision will depend on a majority vote."
I fought not to roll my eyes. Of course Osric hadn't shared how he felt about the idea throughout the entire meeting. Not that I was surprised anyway. The one thing Osric never did, was listen to what I had to say.
I had actually gone to him to privately share my idea the day before in his office, just to hear his thoughts on the idea. However, his response was simply "We'll see what the council thinks at the meeting tommorow." He didn't share his own opinion of how he personally felt about it. Whenever I told him my ideas he was quick to sideline them and show little interest. However, he never did that to his council members.
He relied more on his council than he did me, his queen. We were supposed to be a team and work together. Regardless of how our personal relationship was. I still couldn't understand why Osric treated me this way. Sure he was against our marriage, but he wouldn't be the first noble to be in an arranged marriage.
His parents had an arranged marriage and they worked well, even my own parents had an arranged marriage and they made it work. I couldn't understand why he was so against ours. Again, I was alright with him not loving me. I could sympathize that he didn't have a choice in his parrtner, however, we still had to work together. He had a duty as a king to treat me as his queen.
God forbid I mention any of this to him......again that is. I had already told Osric about how I didn't like how he treated me and I regretted it.
"Right then, let's take a vote." Osric continued. "All in favor of the Reserve tank idea raise your hand."
All the council members didn't raise their arms...except one member. Duke Maurice was the only to raise his hand in support of the idea. He also hadn't said anything when the other council members were picking apart her idea.
"Alright then that settles it. We stick with the already agreed on plan."
After the meeting I went straight to my office feeling exhausted and irritable. Truth is I wanted to punch something. I was frustrated with the meeting.
I entered my office once again but before I could move any further into the office I found a large object moving towards me at high speed. Within a split second I realized my fate and I wasn't going to be able to dodge in time.
"Kuma st-" I started before the object jumped on me. I lost my balance and fell backwards but Sir Arden caught me and supported me.
"Kuma stop! Bad boy!" I yelled in laughter as my dog began to lick me. "Okay okay, that's enough, you're ruining my dress." I got his paws off me then moved away from Sir Arden who had still been holding me.
"Thank you." I said to him
"I apologize for bringing him without your permission your majesty." My lady-in-waiting, Aya said in a panic from where she stood in the middle of my office. "His caretaker said he was becoming restless, I thought maybe he wanted to see you."
I looked down at Kumar and into his very expressive adorable eyes bringing warmth into my heart.
"It's okay." I told her.
"How are you doing boy?" I asked Kuma brought my hands to his head and ruffled my fingers through his black fur. He gave me a small bark. "Yes, I know it's been a while." I said with a smile.
If anything Aya bringing kuma here was a blessing. He was already lifting my spirits after that meeting.
Kuma was a gift, from the Queen dowager. She'd given him to me a few years ago so I wouldn't feel lonely growing up in the castle.
"If that'll be all you can go." I ordered her as I began to make my way to my desk.
However, Aya didn't move. "Also the Queen Dowager would like to see you."
I stopped in my tracks and looked at her. "She wants to see me now?"
"Yes, your majesty."
A sigh escaped my mouth. I wasn't ready to see the Queen Dowager right now whilst I was in a foul mood. But I had no choice but to go.
"Okay." I simply replied to her.