Kreg kingdom

Why do I have so few chapters for myself if I am the main caracter?

How is a war, full of blood and politics more interesting than me?

Ok, I did not do anything really important, and I admit that I enjoyed the months of peace.

Being able to sleep knowing that I am not being observed by ghosts is better than holidays.

But the war is over, and it's time to collect the rewards.

Attention is now very welcome.

Appreciate the masterpiece of my effort!

First something more significant.

To discover where the hell am I.

And where the hell did they take Mr Bunny to.

The only thing I know is that it is dark, very dark.

Four days ago, I'm sure I was in the real winter cabin with Rômulo.

Castela had managed to fully penetrate Kreg's territory. They captured all the influential nobles in the region, that includes me.

The rest of the days consisted of being imprisoned in the roughest, coldest, trembling, and dirty carriage I have ever been in!

At least we were allowed three hot meals a day and water at our disposal.

A crucial point that I cannot forget to mention. Rômulo abandoned me.

I knew it would come to this. But I did not think he had the guts to let a kid my age suffer alone.

As a citizen and nobleman of Castela, I am almost convinced that he received much better treatment.

I can't say for sure because the right to see was taken from me, I am blindfolded.

It was a relief to be taken out of that filthy and shaky place.

Even though the two soldiers who held each one in my hands all the way were unnecessary. Believe me, I tried to make them understand that I can walk alone, but the only thing that happened was that they hold my hands tighter.

Is it my voice? I wish I wasn't so cute.

I was dragged here and there, back and forth, up and downstairs.

The capital probably looks like a maze.

By the time the cloth was finally removed from my eyes, I was already in my newest room. A cell.

Luckily for me, cells have no windows. Consequently, there is no sun to burn me.

To my bad luck, it was a single room. It had a cheap bed, a latrine, a sink, and a candle. At least the door was not open iron grid, but solid wood, it was clean and the food was… great.

All I could do was sleep and pray that they wouldn't keep me for more than a few days. I'm sure I was not able to stand there for another hour.

And now dear friends? A few moments ago, I was relocated. That means to my relief and despair, I was blinded again and dragged by the two soldiers holding my hands, again.

So let's get back to the task of finding the exit and name of this place.

All I can say is that it is dark and large, I can hear my steps echoing when I entered here.

What am I doing here? I also don't know, currently, waiting.

My best guess is the royal court if it is time to receive my judgment.

I keep standing like a fool, it has been three minutes since I am talking with you like an idiot.

I hear someone stepping forward.

Oil lamps are lit in every corner of the room.

Now I have a notion of how big this place is.

Yet, there is not enough to light up the entire room. 

I was right, it's the court. I am currently in the middle of the room. On my left and front right are chairs where the councilors and nobles are seated. Armed guards are also stationed here and there. It is so crowded that even with the lack of light and a deteriorated vision like mine, I can still see the silhouettes of the nobles in the stands and hear their whispers.

— Forward.— Order a strict and thick voice.

Forcing my eyes a little I can recognize a type of altar a few steps ahead of me.

The nobles are silent as I move into the center of the room.

Now in front of me, at the top of the brightest room is a figure dressed in the colors of the Castela flag and with his golden curls recognizable as the owner of the authoritarian voice. The tiara among the mane of blond hair represented him as a knight king and ruler of those lands.

This same figure got up from his chair and went to the edge of the stands before saying looking into his eyes:

— Accused of conspiring against your homeland and suspected of various other crimes such as bribery and false impersonation, in addition to being a war-prisoner. Even so, with the authority that has been conferred on me. I propose that the accused explain all his actions taken in the last 2 years, only then do we consider him guilty and start the trial. The accused will have a total of one hour to try to convince us that he has taken the right actions. From now on, the accused has the right to speak, please start with the month before the start of the war.

Well, I think this is my turn. Good thing I was forced to memorize formalities. It is really a life-saving skill for every noble kid. It makes everything we do look refined and justified, no matter how impulsive.

— I am honoured with such benevolence of your majesty. I thank all of you very much for the opportunity to speak. Unfortunately, there is not much to tell about the month before the war. But I do dare to make a question. Can I have my Bunny plushy back? You probably saw it somewhere, it is white and has red eyes and is about this…—

—That is accurately what proves that you are not to be trusted. It is just a child, that likes his plushes and lies a loot. We have proof of your activities during these months.— A female voice interrupted me. Wait, female? So, are women allowed in the court of Castile? Interesting. The whispers rise among the nobles.

—Why do people never believe me? Is it my child's voice or the complex words I use? Because, against this, I can't do anything! It is a bad habit coming from reading a lot.— I refute somewhat offended.

—I said he is entitled to speak. — Said the king again. His words silence the crowd. He turns to me.

I continue to speak.

— If you are so interested I can give you more details, but these will not be useful. I was starting my “practical learning journey”, for personal reasons and as one of my many obligations as a young nobleman. I was travelling from metropolis to village looking for good libraries. For my studies, I was collecting information about the miserable lifestyle of my hateful homeland. —

—If this is true, then please describe what you saw in the fields during your journey. Be aware we will know if you lie. — My god, that woman again. Seems like Rômulo didn't tell them anything about your trip. Why?

—Yes, of course. I don't see much use in this, but if it helps…

There was… misery. At last from my perspective. Many poor people. Many poor places, and many dangerous ones too.

Many of the villagers no longer cared about what was said about politics. They were too busy trying to survive in the icy fields that winter.

So…

There was no major commotion when the recruiting order reached their ears.

As an opponent of Kreg's model of government, I can say with certainty.

This was something already expected by many and as far as my knowledge goes it was something desired.

The only commoners that the nobility cared about feeding were the soldiers!

In the third week, I noticed a new commotion in the periphery.

News that made even the most grumpy of farmers keep their mouths open.

The merchants had hired enough foreign mercenaries for a coup d'état. 

False rumours, obviously, in times of despair, people get attached to anything. —

—And do you know who originated these rumours? Some blame you. Were you our secret ally?— This time it is the king himself who interrupted me. It is a test, so good that I gained some experience with Kreg's court.

—No, your majesty, no one in Kreg is sure when or where the rumour started. But if this is a question of the court, I am sure your hinges already know the real suspect. For me, everything looked like a mess. Even the soldiers were ready to switch sides as soon as the coup started.

Cooks thought of poisoning the lords' food.

Joiners would loosen the screws on their carts.

It was a real revolt, you can ask them, and they will tell you. The whole kingdom was a time bomb.

Like this had the month ended. All hoping that the lords would have their sights on Castela to stab them in the back.— Ok, yes. What I just said was a small white lie. I did know it, but I wasn't supposed to. I read Rômulo's conversation and read his letters at night. That gentleman sleeps like a rock.

And I would never have agreed to do something I don't know all details. But to play the innocent will be the best for now.

—Very well, your actions do not seem suspicious, and they also match our information. But I must argue that all the charges against you are pointing to the second month of the war. What do you have to say about your activities then? — The king's voice seems more gentle now that he saw that I do not have the intention of omitting any facts, but also more careful with his words.

 — I will not deny any of the accusations, I know you have enough evidence to incriminate me. But I swear that the idea of ​​impersonation and the other crimes listed was not mine. And Like I already said, my suspicion is that the king himself knows this person since he was under your highness's orders. Where you were of that my dear ladies and gentlemen? —

—Well I think a better question would be, Were YOU aware, Alamex Zadkiel of Kreg? — Does this woman represent the whole court? Why is only she, speaking? Or does she have some grudge against me?

—I had my suspicions, after all, he did to me. A great man, moreover. Hidden from an early age in the middle of enemy territory, risking both his life and his entire country.

I found him lost at court without moving forward or backing down his goals and already receiving suspicious glances from the old lords.

When we first met, I remember seeing a light in his eyes. He worked from that moment as my mentor and tried to contact me at every opportunity. This is not an attitude that attracts many people, I spent good months avoiding him. But one day, I decided out of pure charity to attend one of his classes. With only this small opening, he already took advantage and tried to convince me to participate in his plans.

Have you heard about the “carriage”? A mysterious pair of nobles who had somehow helped with the people's revolt against the lords.

Well, perhaps your spy's report has already reached your ears, but for those less informed. I must clarify that the carriage was one of the “steps” in my mentor Rômulo Wohger's plan.

He is the man who should be standing on trial. Not me.

I was used simply as bait, a mascot for the people to put their faith in. I tried to resist, but I don't have much choice with my size.

We went from town to town making trade deals and toasting my economic reserves to ease the extortion of the lords. As a bonus to strengthen the people's hatred against their rulers.

In the end, in addition to “lending” my treasure to my dear mentor, I had to briefly introduce myself to the people and then go back to the carriage. I had no involvement with the agreements or bureaucratic parts. You can imagine, travelling all over the pitiful Kreg with just a single wagon without a single penny in your pocket! The money for food, clothes. Even basic hygiene was invested, without my permission! I was used and forced to work.

With all these arguments, I would like to have the right to get a refund. — Did I go too far?

 — We will very well think about your case, but to be sure of the truth of what you say we would like to hear a summary of what happened on the battlefield. — No, It seems to be working just right. Let's just keep it like that.

—If your majesty insists. Before my “mission”, the war had already started for Kreg. The movement in the war was crucial for Kreg, it would balance the military forces of the two states. 

 I found out through my many rises that they were starting the war before any battle was started.

The lords ordered a temporary barrier to be built and to move it 200 meters forward every night.

After about 4 months, they had gained about 20 square kilometres more of their territory, without Castela noticing.

After another month, they had half the neutral zone.

When they had already gained the advantage of the territory, black and navy-blue flags were raised on the east side and the soldiers put on their armour. The first city went up in flames.

At this point, I had only begun my slave days. But the war had officially begun and Castela began to organize its soldiers.

The lords of Kreg could not maintain their triumph for long, and they knew it.

The second attack took place in the first month of the war also on the east side, already weakened. They must attack quickly before the enemy is organized.

A counterattack was already expected in the first few months. What Kreg had not anticipated was that soldiers who were normally already strong would have twice as much strength that day.

You must remember that the king directly led the first attack on the castle. On the west flank, the opposite of expected. Instead of recovering the lost territory, Castela opted for a surprise offensive.

In exactly two weeks they broke down the provisional walls, in the next two, they got half of the western territory, at the end of that month Kreg's reinforcement arrived. The situation was tied again, containing the advance of Castela in the second month.

Until the third month, Castela seemed to be regaining the advantage lost in the beginning.

In this period, I could address the borders again, but what I saw was not in the plans.

Every day, about a hundred wagons were dispatched to the ports of Kreg, which were distributed across borders.

When I arrived at the borders, they were already lined up as far as the horizon line disappears.

At the time I did not know what they were, but in the middle of the third month, they stopped delivering.

It was also in that month that Castela finally captured a post that contained one of these wagons.

That time I first recognized what were their terrifying content.

Fatefully, it was too late.

The first week of the fourth month ended the advance of Kreg's mobile borders.

It was the month of the massacre of Castela soldiers by firearms.

I repeat I don't have any connection with all this.

These were ordered from France by Kreg when the war officially began and were finally used.

A one-sided massacre, you probably still remember this time.

 —How do you know that? We have reports saying that you were still on your “learning journey”, far from any battlefield. Can you prove you really are not involved? — The female voice interrupted again. Now I am sure. This woman has something against me, weren't they supposed to love children? This time the king continued in silence, it appears to me that I am on my own.

 —Away from the battlefield but not from the news madam. The royal winter hut where we were and stayed until the end of the war is also used as a resting place for traders and soldiers who travel from the capital to the borders. This offered us an extremely advantageous position when it comes to gathering information. Anyway, Rômulo's plan was already complete.

 If I'm not mistaken, that was when my robbed money finally showed its results. Charity of the “carriage” gave an amount of investment to all the merchants of common origin in the kingdom to charge them a “favour” later. 

Exactly two weeks later, I sent a handwritten letter to the most famous merchant in the kingdom. I'm sure they keep it with me to use as proof, but this letter only proves that I didn't buy anyone, I just asked for an exchange favour from my previous goodwill. And so, Kreg's supplies stopped being delivered to the battlefield.

But the really decisive point was when the weapons began to break apart after some shots. About this, I do not have any environment. And you can't prove the contrary.

The less loyal soldiers saw this as a sign that the coup had begun.

Half of them surrendered the following week.

Carts began to break, the horses became ill, the armour shattered like glass, of the remaining soldiers, everyone fell ill. My involvement was minimal and if I must or remember, forced.

In the following month, the sixth month, the other half of the remainder had become a fourth and was decreasing more and more each day.

Traitors were captured, but there were so many that if Kreg executed them, they would lose more than half of their offensive ability.

I was also on the list, even though I was one more victim. Luckily for me, the old king doesn't remember where all his winter houses are, but he also doesn't like to map them for privacy, Idiot I know, but convenient.

At the end of the sixth month of the war, the situation was critical for Kreg, they would lose.

But since every plague always has one last card on its sleeve. Kreg gave up his entire fortune and devoted the last resources to hiring foreign mercenaries, at a high price and in large quantities.

At the time, a crisis was spreading across European countries and the opportunity for a well-paid job was not overlooked.

In the seventh month, the two countries were tied again.

The situation at the borders was so disastrous that I had to move away to the capital again and stayed there, as you know, until the end of the war. Well, I had already done everything I could on the front lines!

The two countries were starting to wear out.

Then, as if it were a miracle or a joke, the game turned again.

Nobles began to disappear.

Whether on the battlefield or within their strongholds, they continued to disappear one by one, not that I have anything to do with it, it is simply a fact without any evidence.

At the end of the month, the king suddenly disappeared, leaving Kreg extremely weakened, without the iron fist of his lords, the rebellions happened again even among the newly mercenaries.

Residents of abandoned fiefdoms began to migrate to Castela.

Castela took the opportunity and invaded the capital. Capturing the remaining lords was not a very difficult task, as the mentally and physically worn out soldiers paved the way.

And then we got to our current situation, I was cruelly dragged from my quarters and brought to this room where we are. And what beautiful hospitality they offered me! I didn't even have time to wash!

 —Please continue on the topic. —Warned the King kindly, I think he likes children.

 —Um… Ehm… Well, that day was marked by cries of relief and happiness from both sides of the battlefield.

The war is ugly, bloody, and it never, never ends well, even if one side wins both will lose.

Many mercenaries did not return to their families.

Many fields were burned.

But revenge was in the past.

Those who had pointed swords toward each other are now sharing a mug of wine. And I'm still here being forced to tell you all this litany that you have already memorized!

But well, the loser serves the winner. An old rule, but always valid, so I understand your reasons.

Kreg is no more. Not for the people, who now share their homeland.

The point is that there is still an heir.

Which officially makes Kreg still exist.

But don't worry, I have no remorse and no desire to take my rightful place.

However, I propose an idea that will be positive for both sides.

A little bird told me that the king decided to take a war orphan as his legitimate daughter.

I propose an engagement.

So, not only will Kreg be officially extinct, but a new royal lineage that combines both sides will emerge. Wouldn't it be a happy ending to this long tragedy? The two nations who once aimed spears at each other now live together without any discrimination!

What do you think about it?  —

I finish my beautiful speech by dusting the clothes I have been wearing for more than three months. I know, very precarious for someone in my class, imagine how I feel! I look into the astonished eyes of the nobles of Castela sitting silently in the stands, and I hope that until my words do their due. Even if they do not accept my proposal, they will still have to congratulate me for my acts of bravery in the war, pay my indemnity for having suffered in the hands of your people, and hopefully returned my assets. In the end, losing or winning, I will have enough money to live in peace forever and a social position in which I can no longer be used as a doll.

It's only a matter of time.