The revolt of the prince

Kreg is a terrible place to live at.

I mean, for anyone who is not of noble blood.

Misery, high taxes, and no protection. All the people can do is suffer in silence.

Now I can feel it in my flesh and blood.

I finally understand why we are here, just spreading false news of hope.

I also want dome hope.

The hope of a warm meal and a soft bed.

Hope that mister Bunny gets a bath and stops stinking.

But now I am here.

In a filthy and dirty carriage.

Travelling through the fields and offering money to anyone willing to pay a small “favour” in the future.

The nobles don't seem to be concerned about the news from the fields. Well, they never do. We were not interrupted or questioned.

Yesterday I saw some changes. Now the mood of the citizens is much better when we arrived in their fields, the food is also better.

Even with some suspicion, they seem very excited about this "hope" thing. Are we that convincing? That it pleased them just thinking that it could be true?

Today we started to collect the “favours”.

We go from merchants to farmers and ask them to lower the price of their products by 20 percent. ( I should really study more maths to know what it means).

Rômulo said:

This is a strategy devised specially for periphery residents, which shows its results after just a short time.

Then he said something about reduced prices, increased purchasing power, selling more, and blah blah blah of politics that I didn't understand. What I understood was that they would need to produce more, and for that, they need more workers. Because they have now more money than before, they can pay people better, and then it becomes kind of a circle of producing and consuming.

This is not an as easy feat to achieve, as it looks. Especially if you were used to luxurious life and were suddenly taken out of it.

It is my money that is being given free to every poor person we meet along the way!

It's my entire inheritance!

Really loots and lots of money!

I am seriously trying to forget it and at least enjoy my only two hours of rest for the day.

For the past 6 months, this carriage is the only place I have had to sleep, eat, and take shelter from the sun. Being carried from village to village, proclaiming the same speech over and over, and signing contracts whose terms I do not know. The worst of it was doing it in the light of day! In other words, playing a puppet of a certain someone.

One of my worst nightmares. But it is worth the price. After all this, I have more chances of living in peace for the rest of my life.

If the working conditions were better, I would even be enjoying the ride.

But due to all the “investment”, our funds are extremely limited.

That is just one cold meal a day, 4 hours of sleep (in a carriage that rocks more than a boat), deplorable hygiene conditions, and long, cold and frightening nights. The only thing that keeps ms warm beside my clothes is mister bunny's fur, that is when I am not using him as a pillow.

I throw my body over the free seats and get a hug mister Bunny.

I let myself get lost in the fluffiness of his white fur.

My thoughts start to blur.

I felt myself falling into nothingness, I couldn't see or hear, but I still felt my body, somehow smaller than usual, moving in a single direction, which would probably be the ground.

I relaxed and waited for the impact, with no more choice.

There was no impact, I felt my body touching the ground, but there was no pain.

I still couldn't move.

But now I could hear.

Someone else fell with me, I heard the sound of a second impact, but just like mine was muffled like a slight fall from a small body.

Someone picks me and my buddy. 

It is cold. He is cold too.

I wish I know where we are going.

A female voice comes close to my body, muttering incomprehensible verses.

I am wrapped in cotton cloths and carried in an indistinct direction.

I am placed in a warm room and away from the wind.

I stay there, like a rag doll, I can't tell how much time has passed.

The voices around me rise suddenly, now I can recognize some phrases.

— Now we will proceed … to the next … of the annual council … Distribution of identified orphans … first name … brown hair and eyes … fire accident … next name … William Gords … lost his parents in …

The speech continued with a pattern of the name of orphans followed by their appearance and the death of their parents.

This was probably a legalized children's auction, and my turn came soon.

As if I had anticipated correctly, I'm being carried again, this time to a lighted environment.

Now I can hear the whispers of the audience and the narrator's voice more clearly.

— next orphan has an unknown name and origin, red eyes, and white hair.

The voices rise and begin to merge before the speaker can calm them down. I was about to hear the response of one of my buyers when some evil heartless person opens the carriage door, leaving the wintry wind and moonlight to blind my eyes. Oh, yes. Back to the old reality

Great. My sleep was blown by the wind and all that was left is a matter of my being, stunned and exhausted.

I finally identify my bloodthirsty target.

No less and no more than my soulless teacher.

I took advantage of the fact that my eyes were red with sleep and I made the angriest face I could.

He's already immunized because his only reaction is to silently make a face from who is not to blame and extend his hand so that I could go down the carriage.

As I didn't have much to choose from, I get mister bunny in my bag and accept the help.

But I'm still pissed.

Today's meeting was with a fruit merchant named Halk.

Our goal was to make fruit no longer a luxurious meal, but something that was at least a bit more available to the people.

Which, honestly, should be normal. I want fruit. I am hungry. And exhausted. I think I want to sleep more than eat.

The normally busy streets were quiet. The morning dew cleared the air and spread the scent of wildflowers. The sun would only reach the city in a few hours, for the time being, it was cold and dark making the faint moonlight that bathed the city make it shine.

I slip my hand into my bag and start to pet mister bunny.

I felt my eyes trying to close with every step I take.

If I do not concentrate, I will certainly fall asleep.

We walk, and walk, and then walk some more.

I ask Rômulo how long we have been walking.

He says it has just been 15 minutes. But that is not just 15 minutes, that were whole longs 15 minutes walking!

I was already huddled in the environment, about to leave this world.

When Rômulo broke all the silence, taking the mood away.

— Looks like we got here early.

Seriously, doesn't he know how precious every minute of sleeping is?

Already awake, I took a closer look at my surroundings. It was the same as if the entire village was made of the same mould from the tip to the centre.

The only noticeable difference was that we were in a square, in front of a small fountain.

Because of the darkness, it was difficult to notice more details, but if you paid attention. You would hear one or another mouse running around the corner and the creaking of poorly closed windows.

My sleep is coming back.

I close my eyes and take advantage of the scenery to relax.

Naturally, I was the only one enjoying the moment.

Rômulo was so alert that if one didn't know him well, it might think he was afraid of the dark.

To see a man with great titles and a high reputation so alert with a simple dark alley was strange but pleasant.

Until I saw the shape of Rômulo's concern, a man hooded in the shadows of a house.

And that was not the biggest problem.

There were 6 more men scattered around the houses that surrounded us, it was an ambush.

Again, what in heaven did I ever do to get in these situations?

Rômulo didn't seem to notice them, he was still concentrated only on one shadow.

If I didn't warn him, we would be in danger.

That could be fun …

I looked directly at the nearest hooded man and gave the most sincere smile I've ever done while I said in an amused, loud tone.

 — What a nice reception we have here! I wish I had some snacks to enjoy the fight.

Thereafter, things happened extremely fast, so fast that I could only enjoy a few scenes.

The first was Rômulo's already cautious face, turning into a frightening face when he noticed the situation.

That deserved a frame.

The second was our attackers despairing at being discovered. Unfortunately, it was too dark to see their faces.

The third and most spectacular was when all the men came out of hiding and charged at Rômulo. Well, I suppose that picking up the adult first and dealing with Children later is a normal reaction.

The next scenes were too fast for me to follow in the dark.

Rômulo closed the guard and from my point of view, it seemed that every time an attacker touched him, was thrown back two meters or knocked out.

It was an extremely fast 'show', in a few minutes all the men besides Rômulo were on the floor. Rômulo was standing there in the centre, still on guard as if the fight had never started. Only some seconds later, he relaxes and began to mumble under his breath.

I was still enjoying the scene when I realized that Rômulo's bad mood and his grumblings were directed at me.

— You little … Damn kid … without even a warning …

Well, that seemed to have worn him out more than expected. I guess it's best to lighten the mood …

I try to make a face of admiration and give him some praise.

— As expected of a citizen of Castela. Even a scholar is stronger than a Kreg mercenary. — I scanned the men on the floor, everyone had easily recognizable faces coming from mercenary signs. But none was our guest. — But it seems our presence was not very welcome. Or is it that only the merchants from the south are very petty? — I said in a loud voice while watching my surroundings closely.

As expected, a dark shape trembled in a distant shadow as soon as I finished my speech.

I straightened up and walked without any striking expression toward the figure.

— But I don't think that was your intention, am I wrong, Mr. Halk? — I say in an exaggerated respectful tone just to toy with him.

— Your Highness, you better stay behind me. — Rômulo said with a serious face putting his arm in front of me to prevent me from passing.

— Please, this is not a gamble. — I said a little annoyed that he was playing the bodyguard just now. I tried to dodge his arm, but he held me back, annoying.

— Are you sure? — Sometimes he is so serious that I can't help but smile, thankfully it's dark.

The worried face was good, but we had more important things to do.

— See that shadow there? It trembles every time I say the words that petty, tight-fisted, or penny-pinching. — The shadow slightly trembles again.

— See? That can only be a merchant from the south! They are too greedy to be able to fight for themselves, so they tell other people to do it. Now excuse me… — I answered.

Rômulo didn't seem to understand my line of reasoning, but the message was passed, and he finally released me from his grip. And there goes the grimace of the day. Maybe I'll make him repeat the dose tomorrow.

I returned my gaze to the merchant. While we were talking, he had stepped out of the shadows and was now standing just a few feet apart from us.

He was a guy with a rich face, well-groomed skin, a well-trimmed medium beard, and a protruding belly. In short, a typical generic trader.

He looked annoyed.

I presume it was because I called him penny-pinching.

In any case, it was now that the real struggle begins.

— I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Halk, can we continue where we left off? — I gently ask the old man.

— I don't remember starting a conversation with a child who carries a bunny plushy around. — Said Halk arrogantly while looking at me from above. 

Probably to hide that he had soiled his pants when he saw Rômulo.

Unfortunately for him, I am too tired to handle this type of game.

— Well, you must remember that you received a letter that explicitly stated the terms of our agreement. If I may, we don't have time to discuss anything. Or you accept the terms, or you do not. If you accept, we will take care of the payment immediately. If you disagree with any of the terms, we will give you a small amount for your silence, and leave this square as if nothing had ever happened. If you decide to cheat on us, this big guy here will chase you for the rest of your life. Explicit enough? — When I finally breathe again I finished speaking, I see that my little speech had been productive.

Mr. Halk's face contorted in a mixture of disbelief and respect.

It was funnier when I still had more of my baby face.

Sometimes, even I forget that I turned six. Every day seems to last a lifetime!

He is thoughtful for a long time before finally declaring his decision.

— I understand, and I will accept the proposal with gratitude. —

Finally, this was one of the easiest guys so far, I think this is related to Rômulo's small performance.

One more reason to do this more often

— So since you don't think I'm qualified for the final processes, I'll let my companion Rômulo take care of the remaining bureaucratic parts. Mr Bunny and I will be waiting in the carriage. — And with this good excuse, I elegantly dragged my exhausted body and soul to the carriage. The last thing I remember was throwing myself over the cushioned seats in the carriage.

Well, what do I think about the future?

My opinion is that if I have to do this for another 6 months, I will be able to attend my coronation when this revolution is over.

I'm forgetting to tell you something … Oh, yeah! What was the agreement between me and Rômulo, and what is my goal here? Wants to know? I will tell you in the next chapter. Need a good night of sleep first.