106 The Kings Dilemma (1/2)

The green, red and black flag of Aidonia rippled in the stiff breeze on a spire, next to it the proud blue and white flag of Tivoli bristled in the wind on the opposite spire sat atop a large stone castle behind tall majestic walls .

The sun was high in the sky on a beautiful winter's day in Tivolli. Workers were moving briskly around the grounds of the castle as a din of noise was coming from the main hall.

Bowls and plates were laid out neatly on a long table, Commander Genk held two chop sticks that looked like tooth picks in his huge hands, with a eerie smile he slurped the noodles wrapped around the chop sticks with pleasure amidst the sounds of bowls clanking and hushed conversationsthroughout the hall.

It had been weeks since the soldiers had enjoyed such delicacies, Hartley sat beside commander Genk and Anguo Chen along with the higher ranks of the army that came on this excursion. On the opposite side of the table, King Zixen sat beside the queen dressed in a white gown flanked by his son anddaughter on both sides with a few trusted aides filling out the table.

The smell of food and wine filled the large hall which had dozens of Aidonia's soldiers on the lower sections enjoying the cuisine, those who could not hold in the hall had to be satisfied with eating outside.

Commander Genk gobbled his food and sipped violet wine from a mug without an ounce of decorum, Hartley who didn't have the most elegant table manners at the best of times, helped himself to the food without thought of any etiquette. Both of them eating side by side in tandem drew astonished looks from the other side of the table.

The two stood out likeeagles among pigeons, while gobbling down food Commander Genk said with a full mouth.

”We're here to quickly quell the rebellion, how do we deal with your brother your majesty?”

The King put down his chop sticks and had a face full of mixed feelings, he thought long about the question before replying.

”Thank you for coming and give my regards to the young prince when you get back,” he sighed and after a short while he continued..

”My brother is not a bad person, I think he has been misled by those people. If his wife hadn't brought those people here to tempt him....he would have been....” The King had a tired look on his aged face and couldn't even finish his train of thought.

Despite the betrayal he still had love for his younger brother, he couldn't help but wonder if this whole mess could be resolved without killing him.

The prince, a handsome man inhis twenties dressed in a blue brocade robe chimed in without prompt. ”He deserves death and even that is too light a punishment. I hope....”

The young man displayed a hint of merciless hatred in his comment but before he could finish the king turned and stared at the young prince sternly with a pair of dark eyes, theprince then swallowed the rest of his statement and went back to eating daintily and quietly.

The mood at the table quickly became somber as everyone slowed and started paying attention to the discussion.

”Once the foreign influence is expelled from the country then my brother will come to his senses and he will be punished for his betrayal.” The King said in a sad tone.

With the profits from the gemstonemines the king had made a peaceful and fulfilling life for most of his citizens. Wars were relatively unknown in Tivoli, much less a civil war, a situation like this was unthinkable prior to this event, he just could not understand what drove his brother to commit these disgusting acts.

Hartley kept eating quietly but he had to shake his head, the King was too naive, as long as the count lived he would prove to be a festering cancer in these lands. He has been bitten by the bug of jealousy and entitlement, it was obvious he wouldn't stop until he was in charge of the country even if it meant sacrificing the people, he would rather be the ruler of a chicken coop than a subordinate in paradise.

He was so blinded by his thirst for power that he couldn't even see he was being used as a pawn by the people of Sasko to get their hands on the wealth of the country.

It was evident from Hartley's experience that the count would even sacrifice his brother, his brother's family andthe citizens to gain said power.

As far as Hartley could see, there was only one solution that would bring long term peace back to the country and that was to eliminate the count, as long as he was alive the people from Sasko would have a foothold in the country due to the count being married to a noble woman of Sasko. Hartley didn't have the heart to say this out loud to the old King, he could see the genuine internal conflict the innocent king was struggling with.

As hushed discussions broke out across the table Commander Genk stared at Hartley for a short moment, it was apparent that he had come to the same conclusion as Hartley. A thought suddenly flashed through Hartley's mind as he looked at the queen the young prince and the young princess, being lenient to your enemies is tantamount to being cruel to yourself and your family. This was a lesson he had to imprint in his mind moving forward with Zhi Ruo and his fief.