Chaos Rising

A gaunt elderly man in fine robes stared distantly out over the city from one of the palace's many balconies. His long white hair was loosely tied causing the loose strands to hang loose. Despite his apparent advanced age, his eyes were still fairly sharp as he cast a defeated gaze down at the city that he could only picture as the crown jewel it once was. While he never saw it directly, the stories his grandfather shared with him were so vivid that he felt like he was part of it when he was a young boy.

The capitol of the Kingdom of Feldland, Lagardinia.

Lagardinia is a robust city-state located in the center of Feldland, the name itself translating to "The Garden". The city was divided into rings and centered around a massive stone monument that was overflowing with plants and flowers from all over the world. As expected, the cost of living space would increase dramatically the closer you were to the garden. The nobility were the only class allowed to live in the innermost ring while only the wealthy could afford to live in the 2nd and 3rd rings. From the 4th ring on, the level of poverty would only increase the further you were from the Garden.

Still, the Garden was also a natural filter for the city's water supply. Under the city ran a spiderweb of sewers that would collect all the wastewater into the center to be treated within the garden. The original design was ingenious and guaranteed that water was equally distributed to all rings. The only flaw with the system was that it was perfect so expanding it beyond the original design was quite difficult.

As the city grew, the Garden grew with it, but the city quickly outgrew the Garden when the ruling class didn't think it was necessary to expand the garden further due to the astronomical costs of increasing the water and sanitation network under the city. With the burgeoning population of the city, eventually the Garden could not keep up with the demand.

Today, what was once the crown jewel of Feldland is now a den of corruption and poverty. The innermost rings are still beautiful, but the sewers were compromised, and the supply of clean water was limited to just the innermost rings and the massive palace at the center.

"Vasco! Why do I always seem to find you here before our meetings?"

The gaunt elderly man perked up slightly when someone calling his name brought him back to his senses. His name was Vasco, obviously, and he frequently enjoyed coming to this balcony and picturing the city like it used to be from the stories his grandfather told. He was the current Minister of Domestic Affairs after inheriting the position from his late grandfather over 50 years ago.

"Mirame, you always do know where to find me." Vasco said with a gentle smile. "I wish all of my grand children were as good as you."

Mirame was a stern woman that would only soften up for this old man. Wearing pants and a jacket while keeping her long black hair tied up plainly, she gave off a feeling of being the typical nose-to-the-grindstone assistant.

"Stop it, you don't even have any grandchildren." Mirame said with a wry smile while blushing slightly.

Seeing her blush was one of the few things Vasco still enjoyed in this world. His sons and daughters were corrupted by this system and he refused to recommend any of them as his replacement, instead they were more focused on spending the family fortune on pursuing their own desires. While he didn't have any officially recognized grandchildren, he was confident that he probably had a few that were being paid to keep silent.

"I know, so forgive an old man for wishing you were." Vasco smiled warmly again at her and then his smile turned dark. "Is it that time again?"

Mirame nodded and looked down. "Yes, the other ministers will be present, and the King even has announced he has some business for once."

Vasco sighed and then said, "I can go alone, you know I get no pleasure from being around those beasts."

"It's fine, remember that it was my idea in the first place, and I have to admit that is safer to pretend to be just like them. That idiot from Zweig still believes the orphanage he rebuilt was a training center for future prostitutes and escorts."

Vasco smiled slightly while saying, "What are you talking about? That's exactly what it is, I mean just because EVERY child happens to be an orphan and just happens to find either a family or work outside of the city has nothing to do with me."

Mirame rolled her eyes, she never knew her parents as she once was one of the many children that were abandoned in the city. She loved Vasco's kindness and has vowed to serve him after being adopted from that very same orphanage.

Vasco put his arm around Mirame's waist, and they walked away from the balcony down the ornately adorned halls of the palace towards the conference room that was reserved for the minister's use only.

The palace itself was four separate buildings conjoined to a main palace in the middle. Each building was set in the four cardinal directions and managed by the 4 major provinces: Zweig in the north, Hahn in the south, Aubergine in the west, and Agistania in the east. Each province would try to outdo the other in terms of decoration and opulence.

The gleam of the marble floor was enough to almost see your own reflection in and the carved archways and columns were so meticulously detailed that Vasco couldn't help but think that the money to craft them could've been spent elsewhere. He found himself using the balcony from Agistania's side since it was starting to fall behind the spending race due to temporarily being managed by Duke Stavros from Zweig.

When other officials were sighted as they approached the main palace building, Mirame took Vasco's hand and slid it down to her butt and shot Vasco a stare.

Vasco smiled like normal but was frowning on the inside. He knew it was an act to keep the others fooled and that it was even her idea, but he still didn't like pretending that she was his lover and he only kept her around for looks. Still, his family name was enough to keep the other nobles from stealing or kidnapping her for their own personal pleasure.

"Have you been working out?" Vasco questioned and gave her butt a squeeze.

They had developed their own key phrases for when others could be listening. The squeeze was merely to confirm that he suspected others could be listening. What Vasco had really asked Mirame was how her fencing lessons were going since it was unheard of for a noble's toy to receive any sort of education outside of the bedroom.

"Of course, the young master kept me up most of the night before I was able to vanquish him for the 5th time. He can't keep up with me!"

A noble within earshot tripped slightly on himself when he heard Mirame mention the fifth time and felt envious that this unknown young master could finish five times and even more jealous that it wasn't enough to satisfy Mirame.

Vasco didn't bat an eye, seeing the expressions of the nobles that were eavesdropping on them was one of the few things he enjoyed in this life. Sadly, what Mirame said didn't mean what they were thinking it meant. What it meant was that she was able spar and defeat her trainer 5 times before the session was over and she needed a better one. "Maybe I should hire a second trainer?" Vasco thought to himself.

"Daddy, can you give me another trainer? Just one isn't enough!" Mirame said teasingly while squeezing Vasco's arm. She looked up at Vasco and stuck her tongue out just a tiny bit and winked at him. Teasing Vasco was one of the things she enjoyed in life.

The odd situation was relieved when a noble that was paying too much attention to their conversation walked straight into a column and dropped the parchment he was carrying.

"W-We'll talk about it later…" Vasco said starting to sweat slightly. He could handle nobles, the lying, the deceit, and even the debauchery; but he could not handle Mirame's teasing and she knew it.

A few moments later, they arrived at the conference room. As usual, Vasco and Mirame were the first to arrive and Vasco seated himself at his usual seat. For some reason he preferred the third seat from the end opposite of the King on the west side of the table.

Mirame would stand attentively behind him and drape her hand casually on his shoulder. Others would interpret this as a sign of affection, but it was really for helping him.

More ministers filed in silently, some with an some without assistants. Normally this was more casual, but since the King was going to attend it felt more serious than usual.

A rather large man stepped in with 4 assistants and started waddling towards an empty seat next to Vasco. He wore a gaudy yellow suit that shimmered slightly with white frilled trim that probably reminded people of a very expensive rug. Many politicians lined their own pockets with gold, but this man literally used gold to line his pockets as well as the rest of his clothes.

This was Minister Garimpeiro from the house of Titus. He was appointed as the Minister of Finance on recommendation from the Duke of Hahn, Duke Arlo Titus. Sadly, Minister Garimpeiro did not receive this recommendation because of his financial talents but instead because Duke Arlo Titus didn't want him around.

"First as usual I see Vasco, lovely to see your pet with you as well!" Minister Garimpeiro said while eying Mirame.

Vasco felt Mirame tense up and gave the hand Mirame place on his shoulder a gentle squeeze with his own and said, "Good to see you so… healthy as always Garimpeiro." Vasco was relieved when Mirame relaxed slightly, he knew this was the only way he could call this man fat and not offend him.

Garimpeiro brought 4 assistants with him, the two men were there to assist Garimpeiro with moving around and sitting down since once he sat down, he was unable to get back up on his own. The two women assistants he had with him were both gorgeous and obviously there just for show, one with a fan and one with a pen and parchment.

Garimpeiro's two female assistants both did their best to hide their smiles at Vasco's comment because they knew what he meant by it and if they disrespected their master it usually meant beatings, imprisonment, or death in some cases.

"Well, when you are as young, energetic, and healthy as I am, you tend to eat a lot more than lesser men." Garimpeiro said with a slight look of contempt as he wasn't completely oblivious to Vasco's meaning.

Vasco smiled and nodded politely, then turned to look at the door as more ministers began to file in. He knew it was better to just leave Garimpeiro to himself, but he hated it that the man always wanted to sit next to him. Vasco looked up apologetically at Mirame because he knew that Mirame was the reason Garimpeiro always wanted to sit next to him.

Mirame felt a chill go up her spine when she felt Garimpeiro "accidentally" brush her thigh as he was turning to talk to the servant that was fanning him. She wanted to throw up every time this disgusting blob of a man touched her, but all she could do was smile politely at him.

Vasco listened around the room to all the small talk while the remaining ministers seated themselves. He was of the same mind as most of the ministers in that he wasn't sure why the King was suddenly going to attend their weekly meeting. He had heard rumors of assassinations out east in Agistania, but he stopped paying attention to anything outside of Lagardinia as he has long given up on trying to change the whole kingdom and instead focused on just what little he could do secretly.

A set of double doors that led from the direction of the King's throne room suddenly burst open and two Royal Knights entered and stood at both sides of the door. One of the Knights bellowed out "His majesty, King Octavian Feldland!" and all of the ministers stood while their servants bowed, not daring to look up.

"Finally, he is here." Vasco thought and felt relieved slightly.

Everyone's attention turned to the King and they all started to rise, well, all except for Garimpeiro since he couldn't stand up on his own and his servants didn't dare stop bowing until the King let them.

King Octavian Feldland wore traditional royal garments with a long flowing cape. He preferred a lighter crown than the traditional one when outside of the throne room, so he wore a simple crown with minimal gems and gold.

Physically, King Octavian was average in build, but he could be considered attractive for his age. In his mid-40s, King Octavian is one of the youngest members of royalty to ascend to the throne. He was ambitious and would do anything for power, such was the way of his family.

King Octavian cleared his throat loudly, waited only moments for complete silence, then said, "We have a problem in Agistania. Without a Duke or Duchess, the nobility is treating my Kingdom like a playground. I need solutions!"

"How about split it up between the provinces of Hahn and Zweig?" one minister suggested.

The King shook his head, "And give more power to the Stavros and Titus families? Not a chance."

Garimpeiro grinned suddenly and shouted, "Make them fight each other for it, the house that wins can rule Agistania."

Vasco didn't want that as it would mean soldiers and people would be dying, but he couldn't say that out loud so instead he said, "That's a good idea, but the Titus family and Stavros family might make it a puppet territory if they support one of the families. You're from the Titus family as I recall."

Minister Garimpeiro started to get angry because his plot was exposed, not that it was difficult to figure out. He felt a vein throb on his forehead and shouted "The Titus family is honora- "

The King slammed his gauntlet on the table, "A puppet is better than this chaos… we will have them fight. I will allow the Titus, Stavros, and Minerva families to provide advisors, but no troops. Understood?"

Garimpeiro grinned gleefully. "Of course, my King!" He would see Agistania belong to the Titus family or burn down in the process!