47 My daily life? (1/2)

So much has happened since our marriage. It has been a few months and Celes is hiding herself in her new lab. Though she never forgets to pester me. I myself decided to join the university and earn a degree.

Although I never visit a course, I already took quite a few tests. It's no problem with my knowledge and status. After I interrogate the teacher about the knowledge they expect from me, I either take the test right away or read the needed book.

I have the opinion that a king should have the according educational status. Of course I have the education and knowledge anyway. But that's not known to the public.

Of course I wouldn't care about anyone else's opinion if it would affect only me. But by now I have a family to take care of. Our parents, Celes and the kid! What kind of bad example would I be if it became known that the king of the world didn't even try to visit a university!

Wouldn't the child get the stupid impression that knowledge isn't important? Anyway, I want to be a good example.

But right now I am really pissed, while I sit in my throne and gnaw my teeth. Once a month I listen to the problems of nobles and representatives for the common people.

Some of the nobles really piss me off with their problems. They have all that power and still are pestering me with their struggles.

A secretary is introducing them while Drem Snowden is standing guard. He is also the chief of security for my personal facility. Though he is much more often inside the palace now. I gave him responsibilities for the palace too. It's easier to have him keeping me up to date about my projects.

He is a strong looking guy with huge muscles and bear ears. His personality is also similar to a bear. Very silent, very grumpy.

”Next!”

I call in the next case, after dealing with a really stupid quarrel between two smaller houses. Two nobles enter the throne room and bow to me. An older woman in a white dress and a young, gaudy looking guy in extravagant clothing.

”These are Duke Sharen and Baroness Kuizen. They are having a quarrel about two serfs, who are taking care of their lands. Both of their estates border each other. So a serf of Baroness Kuizen and Duke Sharen had a child with each other. Now they are quarrelling about whom is responsible for the child. As the law says that the master of a serf is responsible for the serf's children.” A secretary introduces the new arrivals.

I raise my eyebrow. Yes, in this world serfs do exist. And I always was of the opinion that it is just a nice word for slavery. A serf is someone who owns nothing and sells himself to a noble. He is paid almost nothing, but he gets food and a roof over the head.

It's this world's solution to unemployment and poverty. But the nobility often misuses it's status and treats a serf like an owned good.

I am not sure if the current system is good or bad. I have been to worlds with freedom for everyone, where people died of hunger on the street. So I didn't touch this world's solution to it. At least I don't know of any beggars and homeless people in this world.

Everyone who falls so low simply joins a nobles workforce as a serf and is at least able to wait safely for an opportunity to find a better employment.

So with other words, those two are fighting over the cheap workforce, the child will provide in the future. It's very likely that the child will become a serf like it's parents.

I don't want to go as far to think that they have good motives.

Although everyone has access to an education by law, it's still hard to rise from such a low position in society.

Most likely both of them have a good reason for not letting go of the parents. Serfs though have it better than real slaves. They are protected by quite a few laws. Though they don't have the right to stop their employment and live on the streets.

I think there is an easy solution to the problem.

”Scribe. I decree a new law: Every serf is allowed to freely switch the employing noble, if the new employing noble is willing to employ him or her. Add that to the law regarding serfs and make sure that it is made known to them.”

Duke Sharen face goes pale, while Baroness Kuizen's face distorts into a winning grin. It's obvious whom of them is able to provide the better conditions to the parents.

”Does that enable your serfs to solve the problem for you?” I ask them with a serious expression on my face.

”Most likely your highness.” Kuizen bows to me followed by the Duke. He doesn't look as happy as her but doesn't seem to find a valid point to object.

I hope this little change to the law will better the serfs situation. If they are allowed to run off to the best paying available noble, it is less likely for them to get even more exploited.

I prefer to solve the cases in that manner. If the law solves the problem in a clear manner, they can't annoy me to solve it.

”Next!”

***

At the end of the day I lean backwards in my throne and use one of my newly created hand-held computers to check on the progress of my projects.

It goes well. I hope it will be ready in time....