Time

It is taught in Ethereo's schools that time was the greatest weapon given to humanity by god. When thinking logically, people might say everyone perceives time equally, but some disagree.

In a recent court hearing, a boy of just 12 had killed his father because he stole the boy's mine wages for himself. The boy said that living with his father had a whole eternity. Every hour felt more prolonged than a day. The boy feared his father was a time-controlling monster and then slit his throat in the nightlight.

On the flip side, a writer wrote about spending time with a loved one. Time accelerated the world's time, day and night became short, flowers bloomed more quickly, and other romantic tell-tale fantasies and alcoholics seem to agree.

Arguments were happening in the pubs, men and women shouting insults at each other to prove their claims. Problems were being lowered to such tiny subjects, that people brought out their guns within a minute into an argument.

At least, that was what the bribed newspaper had published.

There had been 17 murders and 102 gunfight cases throughout the southern sides of Lynx mystifying entities were attacking soldiers and then vanishing every night near the Forest Regal. People had started calling them Regal's ghost or Regal's revenge for capturing Lynx. In truth, they were honourless Lynx soldiers who returned after the Lynx's capture and couldn't digest the loss of their kingdom and leader.

There had been zero losses on their side with no captures. They were bleeding the southern part dry of its resources and feeding it to someone else. There was advice for a complete forest excavation and search plan. The plan failed as the men were sent along the increased borders and control and rehabilitation of people in the north.

Sitting on the throne of a kingdom so large always feels like sitting on a seat of the barge of swords lined at you. Take a misstep, and you and your kingdom won't see the Festival of the Roses of the following year.

Milize Asina's respect had significantly increased for Yuuka Sakaguchi as he sat on his white throne in a council room of his castle, newspapers and documents lying on his white table. The room was of pure white marble, decorated with wooden drawers painted in white and music played on his newly imported gramophone playing sweet music.

His hands were on his black beard; he had not cut for a few weeks. Kriska liked this more than his clean chin, While Arata had the opposite view, she felt like her father had become a stranger and constantly ordered Yuuka to cut it. Yuuka had favoured his wife's vision.

The past few months were hell for him, from recovering to managing administration. His three captains could wage war but, none could hold administration. Mismanagement and corruption were taking root in the system. Unpredicted problems were appearing,

"We burned the biggest jail in the nation and, now there is a place to keep the criminals. Sending them to Asphodel is a big waste of resources but I can't just kill them." 

Money was a problem haunting him every day, and the promised payment to mercenaries was a big slap to the face. All of them were sent away as it was impossible to maintain such a massive force for a long while the people went hungry. The merchant ships delivering the woods had become rebels, most of them.

Out of all the ships, more than 20. Only 5 had chosen to be under Aspholdel's rule. They were being changed to merchant ships and sent to nearby islands. Their woods sold for fair prices but, Axum and Britannia were outselling them on jewels, fuel, iron and gunpowder. It felt as if they were working with each other.

Another problem was the identity crisis, the people of Asphodel wanted the area of Lynx to be called Asphodel but, the Lynx people wanted to stick to their identities, owing their courage to the fact that Yuuka could not take civil unrest in the current state.

So, much do. Yuuka leaned his back against this throne chair relaxing himself against the red cloth of the chair. The chair was a white beauty with sharp architecture and a red cloth.

Originally the cloth was white but, drenched in the blood of the gold family'. Yuuka looked at the fabric and wondered if that could be his fate one had. The mistakes he could take were numbered His enemies had surrounded him from all sides. Borders covering all sides and more management to handle, he had never felt that close to collapse.

"Can I come in?" A voice called out to Yuuka at the door, the face was visible, it was his wife.

"You may."

Kriska walked in wearing her pleasing silk suit gown. The scarlet red of the dress shone more than her eyes, and her hands held a jug of water. Her white air was just as short as her neck, it extended still to her neck and ended with no knots.

"You are doing hard work. I mean...look at the number of papers here. How do you survive this?" Kriska was shocked seeing the number of papers in the room and how much of a mess it was. She moved through the mess of paper on the floor and towards Yuuka, sitting on the chair next to him. 

" I have worked hard for everybody but, in the process, I think I have lost myself, I mean look at the state of this room, and I have never been this disorganised in my life. It is almost laughable." Yuuka got his empty glass from the side and offered it to Kriska and she poured him a glass of water and, Yuuka drank it in a go.

"You look like a royal family's

"How was the journey? Did anyone recognise you?"

Kriska shrugged in excitement, she kept the jug on the table and kept her leg on leg.

"Anyone? Everyone did! It was hell, soldiers surrounded me and Arata. I did not know how popular my hair was? Everyone knew with a single look that I was Frey ken daughter and Commander Yukka's wife. People have good impression of you after the victory btw how much sleep are you getting your eyes look so…"

"I have not slept in the last 2 days and I won't sleep today too. It is important that I review and approve for the railways lines. It is important work; transport is our biggest weakness right now I need to act-"

"-We need to act. Remember Yuuka you are not alone here and we have time. I've seen your acting like you racing against time. You didn't complete 2 months at hospital, you left after a month and it had been 7 months after the war, I have seen you after 5 months, Arata has been waiting since you left for the war itself. Why push yourself so hard?"

"Because I am the one who can lead the people and end this war. I told before, I want this nation to one before Arata grows up. I don't want her to live in the world you and I have suffered when we were children. We need to make a better nation for our children."

"Children?"

"All kids that are here today, playing in the fields, working in the woods and the mines. All of them, they work for there food. I don't want them to die at the battlefield away from everyone they love. In this attack alone there were more than twenty thousand deaths, what grief must those families bear. I don't Arata's kids to bear that." Yuuka got up from his chair and moved towards the window.

The view of the outside was glistened with moonlight. Some houses were yellow from the lamps but most were dark and asleep. While the castle was bright and brimming with soldiers.

He noticed that behind him Kriska had gotten up from her seat and she stood right beside him seeing through the window.

"You don't Arata's kids to bear any grief but what about Arata herself? Has she done any crime that she should see the grief of losing someone?"

It was a simple question and yet very effective, Yuuka knew if he answered that his face would give it away.

"My father is with you, Arata is with you and remember I am with you. I know my ways around combat and cooking if needed. So, stop worrying and calm yourself. You need to sleep today."

Yuuka gave a smile of defeat and Kriska thought he had finally reached him.

"I can't."

"Why?" Kriska was surprised that Yuuka was still stubborn and this time it made her angry.

"I am going to talk to Milize Asina tomorrow. I need her to help he in my tasks, she knows the people and merchants of this kingdom far better than me. It is getting difficult to negotiate with their outride evil demands; I need a helper on this."

"My father can help! He has a good connection with merchants. Maybe he can better negotiate with them."

"Sir Frey is busy in Asphodel's borders, we needed to pay the mercenaries and he has already used all his connections to get that payment ready. We already owe them big favours so, it not possible to anything without Milize's help. Her financial advisor is not a big help as now a debt ridden ruler exists not a free one. Milize's presence alone can help us."

"I see… Then take me with you."

"?!"

"Don't be surprised. She and I were friends when we were kids. We met at multiple occasions like when she rescued dad and Lady Nayla from the prison and after our marriage was announced maybe I can help."

Yuuka could see there was a look of hesitation on Kriska face, was she had for some reason?

"Okay, if you think you can help then we can try that at least."

Kriska got a caught by surprise she had thought maybe Yuuka would reject the proposal but now it was accepted and Kriska jumped back from the window offering Yuuka her hand.

"Now, that the plans for tomorrow's negotiations have been set, why don't we dance off a little of your problems? Just like old times."

Yuuka smiled and he put his hands into hers.

"Just like old times.:

 and slowly they were in each other's arms, dancing in the glimmer of the night.

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