Chapter 3: The King’s Issues
The pages had woken Jonathor him at the break of dawn like always. He reluctantly pulled himself from the bed and the woman who accompanied him in it. At times he wished he could simply send the pages away and allow Court to be held without him. But Robard had impressed upon him the importance of maintaining good habits and how easily he could fail into bad habits as he ha a whole kingdom ready to indulge his whims. So he allowed them to draw his bath and prepare his clothes.
Because it was a bright day sitting in court was particularly bothersome. Thankfully the daily morning court ran faster than the full sessions held at the beginning and end of the week. Jonathor carefully listened to the slow drown of the debates between the selected representatives of the High Council and the House of Lords. He had long learned that everything that these tricky elders would say had some significance so no matter how boring they made their discussions he knew to keep alert. During his training he'd once had to endure the trail of reversing a decision he had made in a moment of inattention and it was something that still put him at loggerheads with Baron Deveraux to this day.
"... we must also urge your majesty to allow a censure to be raised against the Duchy of Alelux."
How a debate about grain prices had became an issue of censuring the noblest House in a matters of moments was almost laughable.
A chill descended upon the room as the King who had been relaxed in his throne only occasionally interjecting slowly sat up and fixed his gaze on Lady Senila. The elder matriarch had always been a great ally to the King and Jonathor knew without her aide and secretive campaign he would never have been able to marry Charlotte as easily as he had. But from the beginning Robard was someone he would never tolerate anyone scheming against. The Duchy of Alelux had been under the control of Edwin Rosecliffe while Robard was the Regent so raising a censure against it would count as attacking the man through his son. Jonathor would allow that from no one.
"Your Majesty," Lady Senila said firmly. "It has come to the attention of this court that the former Regent has neglected to match the Kingdom's taxes for the past decade at the very least."
She motioned to one of her aides who brought forward rolls of scrolls and account books all emboldened with the Alelux seal and placed them on the King's desk. he then immediately scurried to hide back behind his lady. The king was considered a gentle soul by many through out their lands, but that was only because very few had ever witnessed him when his temper was truly tested.
Not removing his gaze from Lady Senila Jonathor picked up one of the books from the pile. He flipped through the book slowly. The tension was so thick in the room that no one dared to make a sound. only the softly rustle of the pages as the king flipped through them could be heard. When he finished he picked another at random, then another and another... As he did so his displeasure was palpable.
Lady Senila could feel cold sweat running down the back of her neck. When he threw the last of the books on to the pile she barely held back a flinch.
"I see no discrepancies."
The king spoke in flat tone. His gaze never left her and a sharp warning was leveled at her.
Senila braced herself.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone