The Senator who demands Change

The noble was enraged. His nostrils flared and his face reddened. He stood up furiously. "Curse you! Who do you think you are!" Do you want to get executed?"

When the noble saw his badge, he was even more annoyed since he couldn't send them directly to get executed. When the nobility had conflicts they deal with it in a discrete way. "You bastard! Which house are you from?"

"House?" Melvin thought it must be where the nobilities belong. Melvin didn't want to lie but he could de-escelate the situation if he were to declare his position as a nobility. He cleared his throat. "Umm err, from the house of Clyde."

"Clyde? Never heard of you before."

"We're from the lower branch so we are not that known."

The noble smirked. "That's right, the lower branch. He he he, if I beat you up here until you can't no longer stand no one would complain right?"

If it was the higher branch, the noble could do nothing but go home. Since it was on the lower branch, it was a different story. He was just disappointed that Melvin wasn't a commoner so that he could send him and his subordinate who punched him directly to the guillotine.

Melvin noticed that they were surrounded. The blades were close and their guns might not be able to take care of them all. They were in a tight spot.

But they could flee through if they could get Vahenna to help. Right now, she was just stunned. They were facing the nobility after all. Anyone would be afraid.

Then a young and tall man came forward. He had a silver and long hair. He was naturally good looking and pake skin. It was the Duke Harges' brother, Senator Hervil from the house of Vali. "Everyone! Stop this commotion!"

They sheathed their blades back and both parties distanced themselves.

"Lord Millford, I advise you to stay back. I saw everything." Said the young man.

"Senator Hervil, huh? This is none of your business. Why don't you just go back to your room and continue writing your half-assed ideas."

"How about I report everything you did to my brother? He may not care about me but he doesn't like it when the higher branch is making a scene in public."

The Marquess clicked his tongue and went silent.

Melvin noticed that he was the same age as this person. He also had a charismatic aura. "Vahenna, who is he?"

"This is the duke's brother, Senator Hervil. He is the closest person to you my Lord in terms of personality but... Lord Harges and their family disowned him. The senator didn't like how this country is ran so he wrote plenty of books to challenge the current ruling, but due to that he's currently hated."

It piqued Melvin's interest. It looked like he might get along with his person.

Vahenna continued speaking. "Oh yeah I forgot to mention. The noble that your subordinate hit was the Marcquess who we are looking for."

Melvin's expression went blank. "Huh?"

Vahenna nodded.

He sighed. "Well forget it. I don't want to talk to him after what happened." Melvin noticed that Hervil was approaching him.

"So you're Lord Melvin from the House of Clyde, huh? Never heard of your last name before."

"Well, we are not known around here."

"Let me introduce myself my name is Hervil. I managed the tea shop at the corner. You can visit it if you want."

"I see."

Hervil moved his head closer to his ear with serious look. He whispered. "Also be careful since you've offended Millford. He won't back down just from something like this."

"Thanks for the warning."

"I'm telling you this because I know you are a good person. But if I'm wrong and you have an ulterior motive, then that's a different story." His eyes were sharp.

Melvin couldn't figure out whether it was a threat or not. He was puzzled and also felt worried for himself.

As Marquess Millford was leaving, his frightening glare shot out at Melvin. "See you at the Grand Council Meeting." The guards were accompanying him as they left. Luckily, with the senator's presence they seemed to have calmed down.

Eventually they began to leave as well.

Returning to their apartment, Melvin was writing down what was needed to improve for this Kingdom. Although for him it was just a key so he could go back to his country.

Melvin planned on making several copies so he could distribute it to the nobilities but without a xerox copier it would be hard. Purchasing papers were also expensive since it was made from parchment and the process of making it was slower than the usual modern paper.

This kingdom used parchments that used beasts skin or animal hide.

Only the nobility could acquire some stocks of parchments with their difficult and limited production.

Giving out copies of the thing he presented was a habit of his even before the election. This would ensure that even after the grand council meeting they would remember his platform. To him this felt like campaigning, but this time to a bunch of medieval political leaders.

Melvin borrowed and wore a cowl from the cabinet to cover his face. He needed to stay low key after what happened. He also didn't bring Red this time.

He then set out for to the city's market square to purchase some parchments.

***

Senator Hervil was walking across the city. Lots of complaints towards the nobility and the higher ups was going on inside his head.

"The taxation is so damn heavy, this just shows the King's incompetence. The shortage of food would have been solved if the King built the capital away from the wild valley." He also thought it was better to focus on the security and defenses.

Also, for him children should not be enslaved. They should be given freedom at first but when they turn into adults it would be then fine to enslave them.

Crimes were also very common during the night since security is only tight during the day. Obviously, most guards are getting drunk during night time.

There were even rumors of suspicious men luring children with money and kidnapping them. He gritted his teeth from annoyance.

"Ugh! If only I still have my name! I would solve the problems in this damn country!"

The others around him got startled.

Until he reached the market, he kept on complaining.

The merchant greeted him with a firm smile. "Good afternoon my Lord, do you need goods or meat or something else?"

"The usual, I need 10 parchments."

The merchant chuckled with a hint of disappointment. "Pardon me but it's already been sold out."

Hervil slammed the stall. "Huh! Didn't you say you will get new supplies this week end?"

"Well, some guy bought every parchment around here."

Hervil clenched his fist. Who the hell is that person?! Because of you I wouldn't able to write this night and the following week. Curses!'

"So sir, do you need something else?"

"No, I'm going home." Hervil walked away in sullen. His back draped as he left the stalls.

He wondered who could have bought the limited parchments in this city. He clicked his tongue. Animal skins were rare here in the capital that's why they are fewer.

They could only hunt them on Vars and ring forest.

The process of parchment making was also complex and took a lot of time.

He also noticed that it was starting to get dark. Hervil noticed a man with a cowl on the distance. Coming closer, there was a little girl who seemed to be receiving some money from the man with a cowl.

Hervil's eyes widened. "Got ya! It's you huh?!"

***

Earlier...

As Melvin was going home with a cowl, he came across the little girl who gave him some of the money back. He wanted to give it back but the girl refused.

Then he just noticed Hervil behind him. "Isn't that the senator? And why does his face look like he just saw someone suspicious?" Staring at himself with a cowl, he realized why.

"Oh."Melvin's face turned into a statue.

He also heard some rumors that there were people kidnapping children with money. He just got warned yesterday by this guy and he couldn't afford to be seen.

At any angle, he would definitely get suspected. Besides, the judicial system in this place is messed up. He'd rather flee and stay out of trouble.

He then forcefully gave it to the girl and ran as fast as he could. "Well then, see you later."

"Hey come back here! Guards! Guards!" Hervil yelled.

"Little girl, explain to that guy that this misunderstanding!" Melvin yelled.

Melvin endured a harsh military training. Someone like Hervil who recluse inside his room wouldn't beat him in sprinting. Melvin picked up the pace and raced into the distance. "Adios!"

Hervil eventually stopped. He gasped for air. He already lost him. "Tsk, he's fast." His eyes also widened when he just noticed the suspicious man was carrying lots of parchments. "As I thought, only evil men don't have the decency to leave some of the parchment stocks. Whoever you are, I'll get you someday!"

***

Inside the apartment, Melvin was with Rederick, Vahenna, Shira and Celine. He explained to them that they need to reproduce what he wrote on this parchments.

It took him a few days to think and write it down.

Lately, Melvin was being tutored by Shira on how to read and write Silian alphabet. It was difficult since it had 30 letters and some dictions were hard for him to speak. But thanks to that he was able to understand the books at the library temple.

Celine was just observing. "Sir, you're so diligent, aren't you? Back at junior highschool, you never studied, always look bored and not interested. You were even forgettable back then."

"Actually, Miss Celine..." Rederick whispered on Celine's ears.

He explained that Melvin may not look like it but he was a suma-cum laude when he graduated from political science.

During his senior years in college he was also the youth governor in their home town district. Even his policies even challenged the ruling of the older governors officials. He was a genius and a fast-paced learner when it comes topics he was interested.

When Celine knew that, she couldn't believe her ears. "Sir Melvin is that impressive? I thought he was just a happy go lucky guy."

Melvin rested his head on his arm. "Idiot, I didn't win my seat by sheer luck. Regarding acting like an idiot and cracking humorous nonesense during elections debates was just one of my strategies. Everything I did was calculated."

That's right, even if we were to list down the things he could do for the country, he doubt the people would listen. Jokes were far more effective at winning their heart.

"Anyway Shira, can you copy this list to the entire parchments this night? The deadline will be tomorrow morning."

He would like others to help but only Shira could knew how to write in their local alphabet. The roman alphabet was foreign for them after all.

Shira spoke. "Don't worry, I'm confident that I can write fast. I can do these stacks in one night."

Shira began writing and her hands were that only sub-par to the arms of a printer since it was quick and concise. Everyone was impressed.

Melvin smiled. "Looks like this will be done in no time."

The grand council meeting was already set for tomorrow, Melvin thought he needed to be prepared to win the heart of the King and every leader.