chapter 7

********* content advisory: suicide ********

The next 4 days went by without much worry. I was expecting the miners to be back in about 9 days, i hadn't heard anything from those I sent to the magic towers so I assumed all was still going well.

I have been monitoring the progress of the knights and I was truly impressed by how fast they were improving, it was like watching different people.

The head of the farmers association had come back 3 days ago, with the signed papers, he was also able to recruit 20 others for now and I'm hoping to increase the number to 50 before I set up the controlled farms.

"Your grace, the members of the vassal houses have arrived." Finally it was time to get my worth out of those people that have leeched off ruhan for years.

"What about the duke? Do you think he can make it?"

"Unfortunately your grace, i don't think that would be possible "

"Its fine stefan, it was expected."

I walked into the reception hall and I could feel all 12 pairs of eyes on me. They stood up bowing in respect to the head of house.

"Thank you all for coming, I know these are busy times for everyone as winter is over and we are all trying to find our footing. So I'll make the meeting short" they all sat down and introduced themselves.

"Your grace, will the duke not be in attendance today too?" Count filo was it. He was the one who also spoke during the last meeting.

"Unfortunately his grace is ill and we are already preparing for the worst" they all murmured.

"So what's going to happen now" I believe that was count Adelaide, unlike his timid son, he looked very confident and endearing.

"As long as I live ruhan will stand.....I didn't call you all hear to speak about the duke... I plan to revive ruhan, the duchy is a laughing stock but not for long, as i plan to elevate ruhan to its rightful place as the protectors of the continent. Going forward I'll need all 12 vassal houses to fulfill the duty that was given to them by the first head of ruhan" the room went silent as they all glanced around waiting for the first person to speak.

"And if we decide that we do not want the roles given to us?" Viscoutess Monique Talia, it was my first time meeting her since she skipped the previous meeting.

"You may have misunderstood me my lady, i wasn't asking, i was giving an order of call to duty to the vassals of the duchy"

They all began to whisper expressing their grievances.

"Your grace, you cannot force us to duty, for that would be akin to tyranny " machioness Olivia durant, she was the only lady who was in attendance last meeting.

"Tyranny huh!!! It's fine i cannot force you to duty, but those who refuse should be ready to step down from nobility of ruhan, as those titles will be given to those who are ready to work for the duchy." The whispers got louder as some called me a tyrant and others said I was just a child who knew nothing.

"Your grace, with all due respect you have no right to strip us of our titles just because we refuse to obey your order" it seems count filo was the spokesperson for their group as they all agreed in unison to him.

"It seems you all have forgotten how you obtained your nobility, the first head of house only gave your families those titles so they would work with him to build the duchy, but since you all want to forsake said duty, I'll strip you of your title, land and assets and hand them to the commoners who are ready to serve the duchy"

They all went silent when they realized I wasn't joking. Yes this is what I like, a tyrant? Yes I'll become a tyrant if it's to achieve my goals.

"You all call me a tyrant! Fine I'll be a tyrant if it's to rebuild this duchy, my people will no longer suffer under the oppressive rule of you so called nobles. So those who do not want to be under the rule of an ignorant tyranical child, raise your hand to indicate now as this will be your last chance to escape my tyranny"

They all went silent looking from one to the other.

I thought there would be some opposition but, there was none.

"Stefan will pass you all a document, I want it filled by every member of your family both immediate and extended, I expect it fully filled and signed in 3 days. That's all, you are all dismissed" I walked out not giving them time to complain or whine.

The document was a sort of resume, name, age, hobbies, experience and expertise. I need to know what my people can do so i can use them properly.

It was finally time to set father free from his shackles.

Knock knock

"Father I'm coming in" I opened the door slowly then stopped.

"Stefan, are you sure you want to see this"

"I was here when he took over as the duke, its my duty to see the end of it" we both walked in, and the duke wasn't at his usual corner, he was laying on the bed that had been brought into the room as per my request.

He had his eyes tightly shut with the sheets to his neck.

"I never wanted any of this.....I begged him not to leave it to me.....I told him it was too scary.....but now....now....I'll finally be free....."

"Are those your final words?" A single tear rolls down his cheek.

"Thank....you" his breathing slows down as his heart starts pounding loudly, then begins to slow down. His breathing stops as a faint smile spreads across his face as his heart stops.

Dragons can live for thousands of years and it takes allot to kill them. As part dragons we may not live that long but we can live till about 1000. So the only way to die is to willingly give up on your own life.

"Good bye my lord, I'm hope you are in a better place now " Stefan sniffled gently, who knew stefan would mourn the duke. I covered his face up with the sheet.

The funeral was held that same evening before 5pm as stefan had everything all planned out for the day.

When we announced it to the vassals, they were so shocked and some of them even speculated that I killed the duke and duchess so I could take over the duchy.

The funeral was small, only attended by about 20 people including the vassals.

I may not know father well but I'm sure he would have wanted it to be a small affair like this.

"Rest in peace father, i hope you achieve the freedom you have been aiming for."

"Greetings your grace, my condolences for your loss"

"Thank you Mary"

"Your grace, all the rooms in the castle have been cleaned and the rooms that will not longer be in use have been marked as per your order."

"Good job Mary, I'll lock down the rooms now. I also plan to set up warp stations around the castle that can take you to different parts of the castle."

I walked out, standing outside the main door of the castle. I cast investigative magic enveloping the whole castle, wow I can see each room and their marks. I cast preservation magic on each marked room and put barriers on them to keep them locked. Only the employee wing,kitchen, black wing and the diamond wing were kept open.

I also set up warp stations leading to each open section and only the people in the castle were given authority to use them.

"Grace, where is stefan?"

"Father has gone to the different vassal houses to retrieve the documents they were to fill out."

Its been 3 days since I gave it to them in the meeting, so I'm glad I'll be able to go through them now.

"Alright, I need to speak with the head of the blacksmiths guild and the head of the mercenary guild."

"Your grace, i'll go bring them here. You are the acting duchess now so it would be wrong for you to go to them"

She is still so young, who would want to work for a head of house that is too lazy to even leave their office.

"Grace, you still have so much to learn, Let's go together."

The moment we walked into the guild all eyes turned to us and then turned to the ground.

"I thought someone would have walked to to us by now" grace was shocked looking around as everyone avoided eye contact with us. I could guess why, after stefan's reaction to seeing my eyes last time.

We walked up to the receptionist who was sweating bullets now, he was a big rough looking man.

"Greetings sir, please we would like an audience with the mercenary king"

"Yes.... my lady.... just a minute" he stammered trying to be busy before he ran out the back door.

"Its so silent I could hear a pin drop" grace was laughing awkwardly.

I scanned around the room and I liked what I saw. Although they all needed a bit of work, but I'm sure they would make amazing guards for the duchy. If i have such rough looking people guarding the duchy, im sure security would increase and hopefully crime rate goes down.

The receptionist came back and gestured for use to come with him.

"Greetings your grace, i am william dapt" a man stood by the door bowing as he gestured for us to sit.

"You truly are the mercenary king, I've been duchess for less than 2 weeks and you are already well informed"

"We pride ourselves in our information network your grace. To what do I owe them pleasure of a visit of someone as high ranking as you?"

"Sir William I'll cut straight to the chase, I want to employ your mercenaries. I know they came here to fight monsters but that would not be possible as that is the duty of the knights but I need guards to keep the people of the duchy safe and i want them."

"I'm sorry your grace but i don't think that would be possible. All my mercenaries are a rough bunch, they are more fit for crimes than security." He laughed heartily at his dry joke.

I gave him a employment contract, his eyes went wide opened as he read through.

"They may be a rough bunch but I doubt they would rather work as guards than starve to death."

He suddenly burst out laughing again, he seemed to be easily amused.

"When you walked in here your grace i thought you had gone mad, walking into a place filled with commoner filth. I had heard about your plan to rebuild the duchy but seeing this now, I know you are just a crazy child "

"Sir william" grace screamed and I gestured for her to relax. I cant blame him, for generations now the ducal family has abandoned the people, so me just coming to them and saying I want to help must sound extremely pretentious.

"I'll pass along your message your grace but don't expect much, these bunch don't really do much guarding "