Emilia Marseille, the Royal Castle, Versez; Kingdom of Eins, 610
"This Kingdom needs someone who cares for its people, and is capable of answering to the challenges that the times may bring. The Kingdom may be weak now, but with my help, I believe this Kingdom will be able to rally its resources. I've been instructed by the most esteemed tutors that the Noble House of Lockwood has been able to find in the subtleties of leading and politics, and they for that matter are quite pleased with my progress.
"To further that, I am also one of the most talented combatant in our House, and will be able to provide these talents in times of war. I beseech to you, Royal Highness, to consider that I be at your side in helping Eins reach the plateau of greatness."
Just... what the hell is this?
Emilia cringed. She stood behind a curtain that now hid the painting of the Royal Family, just behind the Throne where she assumed the King sat. She learned that the Knights removed the painting when there was a break-in a few days before the crowning, and that behind this painting was a secret storage where the King may choose to hide his personal items.
She didn't know why she was told that, but she surmised that maybe it wasn't kept much of a secret anymore, and that the King might've moved his items to another storage. But that wasn't important.
As she listened to the man with a pitchy voice give his answer to the King's question, she couldn't help but be frustrated. The King's question was simple:
"How will you convince me to get you as my advisor?"
The King only gave the candidates one chance to answer. Once the King decides that he gave someone enough of a chance, he'd end the conversation without any clues to whether they got the job or not, then ask them to leave.
Emilia was sure that the first few times that that happened she'd hear some sort of grunt or gasp before they tried to convince the King to hear them out a bit more, but the King shooed them away by saying that he has other candidates to take note of, and that them leaving didn't mean that they won't get the job.
As they've agreed on, or well, the King imposed on her, she had to listen in to the one-on-one discussions had by the young King and some chosen sons and daughters of the Eins' Noble Houses. After each discussion, the King would then wait for Emilia to give her thoughts about the candidate.
It's been well over 20 candidates already.
"Alright. That should be enough. I guess you've heard from the others, but I'll need some time to think about all your answers before deciding. That should not be a problem, right, Sir Lockwood?" Emilia sighed quietly as the King ended the last candidate's chance.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Then, I shall take my leave."
Emilia then heard the sound of footsteps moving away from her and the creaking of the Throne Room's doors as it opened then closed. She gathered her determination before speaking.
"Your Majesty, that candidate isn't any better than the others. As with the others, all of them are obsessed with answering why they should be chosen, instead of what their vision or ideals are." Emilia reasoned.
She heard a chuckle from the young King before the curtains were drawn open, the sudden influx light forcing her to squint her eyes. When she got used to the brightness, she looked over to the King. His lips were pursed and he was shaking his head.
The King told Emilia about the question he was going to ask before they began the discussions. He then told her than he wasn't actually going to listen to their answers, and just daydream and be idle throughout the discussion.
He decides to stop the interview whenever he felt that enough time has passed.
He also reminded Emilia that the question is made to be as vague as possible. They can answer in any context that they'd like.
That was when Emilia came in. She was instructed to listen to the answers, and after every interview, give the King her thoughts about the candidate and their answer. The King said that whoever she chose would be the next advisor, no questions asked.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. But there just isn't anyone I want to choose over the candidates. I don't quite understand. You said they were the most talented of Eins' nobility, but..." Emilia decided to be as formal but honest as possible when it came to it.
She's by now understood some of the quirks the King had, and he was quite flexible when it came to things. She thought that it was fine as long as she didn't try to do it in public.
"...I don't really think any of the candidates are up to par. If I may, I would like to advise you to find other candidates." she suggested.
The King looked at her with a glint in his eye, before he beamed.
"You advise, huh? Well, those are the most talented that we have. Could you imagine what kind of answers you'll hear when you don't even like the ones that the gifted gave?" The King then put his hand on Emilia's shoulders.
Emilia flinched and darted her eyes.
She thought that it seemed easy enough, but she still didn't understand why the King chose for her to carry that burden. She tried to reason out that she wasn't qualified to do that, but the King didn't want to listen and only made annoying expressions with his face.
Emilia relented after she realized that there was no convincing him.
"Your... Your Majesty, I know that you're trying to look for people who are capable, but it's just... unlikely for them to serve as good advisors when all they have is ability." she gulped.
The King removed his hand on her shoulders, and inclined his head.
"Then, you're alternative is that I look for people who don't necessarily have the experience but have commendable beliefs. But why is that?" He lifted his head and stared at Emilia.
Emilia moved away in reflex, and averted her eyes as she started to think.
The first candidate started the trend of almost narcissistic and ego-driven answers from the interviewees.
Emilia told the King that she'll choose someone who has great ideals and justifications for those ideals first, and then they'd have a second round of interviews where the King would then ask them about their qualifications.
For Emilia, what mattered first was that they had a good vision before any of their capabilities.
But the King was asking why she didn't mind their capabilities, however great or lacking.
Emilia mulled over her reasoning and organized it, then moved her gaze to confront the King's.
"It's because leadership and politics isn't all about ability. Skills are a great way to achieve things, but that only matters when you know what you're trying to achieve, and how you want to achieve it," Emilia shrugged "People without that type of vision, in my opinion, cannot serve as good leaders, Your Majesty."
She felt a different kind of strength emanate from her tone when she spelled out one of her reasons. The King just watched her in curiosity.
"So, what do you think about my ideals?" Emilia frowned a bit because of the King's question.
From what she gleaned from her first discussion with the King, he was someone that did what was necessary. But she didn't know what the King deemed as necessary in the first place.
"Your Majesty, could I ask what you're trying to achieve?" Emilia fought back the urge to just shrink away from questioning the King, but she was too curious to let it pass
She felt that this was an opportunity.
"Progress, Emilia. It doesn't matter how much powerful our Kingdom becomes if there is no progress in the other aspects of our society and peoples," The King explained "However, progress is a double-edged sword, and if you don't lay down the outline as you try to progress a country, it might prove to become a chaotic mess with no direction." The King then turned his head to look at the Throne.
His gaze felt soft as he gazed at the Throne, but with great determination oozing out of him.
"That, and other societies won't stay quiet. By that, I mean that they'll also try to improve and progress. That is a seed of conflict, Emilia. So we need someone who can take control, take the brunt of that responsibility, and even sin for the sake of the greater good." he concluded.
Emilia looked at him and felt her body relax, as if a weight that was pushing her down was removed from her shoulders. She smiled as she thought that she gained some insight on the King. It wasn't a bad ideal, she thought. But it's not over with just that.
"I see, Your Majesty. I think I can understand what you're trying to say." Emilia said before looking around the Throne Room.
The Throne Room lacked any decorations, though it was a large hall. It felt like the room itself was wanting for some life to return to it. Right now, it felt empty to her.
"However, the kind of power and control that you need to get in order to satisfy that goal is immense. I believe that what philosopers say is true: that absolute power corrupts absolutely-" she paused while the King seemed to mull about what she said
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"-But in order for the dreams of your country to be realized, you need to be as close to that absolute power as possible." She then saw that Aleuas removed his gaze away from the Throne slightly, but didn't reply.
"That puts you in a difficult position where your personality is the most prone to be corrupted by that power. The same thing with what happened to Julien Massarreli, the former advisor." Emilia concluded.
She then reminisced for a bit. The teachings of her parents weren't just simple politics and intrigue.
What she was most thankful for was the lessons they shared when it came to giving a helping hand to others. That a person, no matter their stature, has the duty to be a guide and support for other people.
That was what Emilia's parents saw in King Deukalion, and that was why they supported him to their deaths.
She opened a bookstore for a similiar reason. She wanted to share knowledge, and surround herself with it. She wanted to understand the mysteries of life, the history of the world and the motivations of its inhabitants.
It helped her quite a bit that most of her customers were friends of her merchant parents: Nobles, academics, and even other merchants. She thought that they might've been visiting her because of her parent's friendship and influence, and that it was their form of saying thanks to their contributions.
Emilia frequently had discussions with them, her bookstore becoming a sort of place where these types of people hanged out to discuss various topics. She's even made friends and connections with some of these customers, and thus learned quite a bit about the world without having to get out of her little store.
"But, Your Majesty, if there is someone there who doesn't hold on to that kind of power- even only arbitrarily have some influence on your decisions, it will be your advisor. You need someone whose ideals can balance with your ambitions, and can help stir you in the right direction when you face a fork in a road that's too much to cross by yourself."
Right now though, she's learning again. She's learning that it takes so much more than just knowledge and ideals to become the guide that her parents would be proud of.
It takes courage and a leap of faith, as well as definite actions for her part. She psyched herself up, and her eyes focused as she decided that after this King's favor is done, she'll find a way to do her part outside of her shop.
Heck, if the King wants to, I'd even be his advisor!
She chuckled while she covered her mouth with her hands and then abruptly stopped when she realized how rude she was being.
The King only smiled, and then walked past Emilia and towards the painting. He removed some bolts and then pried the painting away from the wall, revealing seams that formed a large square.
He knocked on the middle of the seams twice, and the wall surrounding the seams disintegrated. It revealed a space that she assumed was the storage. Emilia gasped as she watched, more from the theatrics of the storage than knowing about it. She then tried to peek inside the storage without moving closer.
There was nothing worth of note that she saw; just a small, brown book that was placed inside. It was flipped-over, so she couldn't see the title. The King took out the book then looked at the title before nodding. He smiled, and gestured for Emilia to come closer before handing the book.
Emilia took the book and then promptly turned it over. Her eyes widened when she read the title.
The Kind Road
Emilia darted her eyes from the book to the King then back, and then creased her brows. What point was the King trying to make?
"Your answer was so good, that I'd even thought about making you my advisor!" The King laughed.
Emilia just stared at him, agape.
"But I know you don't want to be forced on that kind of responsibility. That's why you opened a bookstore, right? Well, I'm sure that you'll do great either way. It sucks, but I guess I'll have to make do with these subpar candidates. Maybe I could even smack them into improving." The King said.
Emilia breathed a sigh of relief. That was too much. She was glad that the King was joking. She was joking when she thought about that possiblity, anyway, wasn't she? She laughed awkwardly as she mulled over it.
"Thank you, Your Majesty... I'm glad that you understand."
But did Emilia understand herself though?
Before her parents died, she promised herself that she'd be doing great things. Not just for this country, but for the whole world.
But when they died, she just wanted to cope up with it in her own little world, away from it all. Would she really skip an opportunity to further that just because she was comfortable in her bookstore?
Being an advisor is too much for her though, she thought. There are others things someone like her could do that would be a better use of her time. She glanced back at the book, and thought back on her parents.
They were very good people, who were honest even in trade. Though they traveled a lot, they made sure that one of them always stayed so that Emilia was never alone.
She missed the warm nights where they'd try different meals and ingredients that her parents learned of in their travels. The days when they'd discuss about practically anything under the sun. The times when her parents argued about petty things, and made up at the sight of Emilia's then chubby, crying face.
The moments when she'd tell them about her childish aspirations that she'd long forgotten, and the smiles on their faces as they cheered her on.
She loved both of them and she regretted the one thing she told them that she couldn't uphold.
"I'll never close doors that have opened for me, just as you have, Mom and Dad!"
She idolized her parents in that they took every opportunity that they can get but were always steadfast in never taking advantage of other people. They were able to create friends and improve their business by simply being honest, and always looking forward to the future of their country and what they could bring to the table.
They wanted for her to become someone who was similar. She didn't have to be a merchant, but they thought that whatever Emilia discovered that she wanted to do, she'd do it bearing that in mind.
They died supporting their King, and even in the end that very same King died: all because of one person's claim that he can carve the right path for the country.
She shook her head.
"What's wrong, Emilia?" She perked up, dropping the book.
The King promptly leaned to pick it up, and dusted it off before handing it back to Emilia.
"N-nothing... Your Majesty.",she managed to reply.
As she took the book from the King, she had an almost blank look on her eyes. She still felt sad and regretful about her parents' death. It frustrated her that when she'd thought she had gotten over it, at a time where she was in front of the King she just had to let her guard down.
The King then placed a finger on her face and wiped her cheeks. It was only then that Emilia felt the tears flowing out of her. She moved her face away, embarrassed, and then used her forearm to wipe off the tears. She grit her teeth and then bowed in front of the King, but she made sure to keep looking at him.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty.. It's just that.." The King raised a finger, prompting her to a stop.
"Emilia, it's simple really. Sometimes, you just have to do things even though you fear for yourself. Fear will never disappear, as is uncertainty, but when you go over these things, you realize: you've lived a life that you and your family could be proud of," The King smiled, and then sighed.
"I fear to lose the things that I value the most, and I am uncertain if I'd become the type of King that I'd envision to become. However, it's certain that your fears will come true if you never take a step forward."
Emilia straightened her posture and bit her lip. Aleuas was right. She's always feared that any life she'd choose to live won't be something that her parents could be proud of, and that's why she settled on the comfort of her books, something she learned to love and picked up from her parents.
Emilia exposed a thin smile, as she thought about how weird these past few days have been. It was as if her parents were guiding her when she's lost her way. Even in death, they'd always be the people she'd look up to.
She gathered determination as she breathed a huge chunk of air and then locked her eyes with the King. The King raised his brows and his chin in response.
"Your Majesty. If you do so insist, I would like to be at your side and lead this Kingdom to the future you dream of as your Advisor. By your command, I will be your eyes and ears." She then proceeded to prostrate, her right hand now to her chest.
She knew she wasn't a Knight, but she wanted to communicate her will to exhibit her loyalty. Though, she still had her eyes looking straight at the King, waiting for any reaction.
The King smiled a toothy smile, before placing his left hand on Emilia's shoulder.
"Then pack your things. We'll make the announcement soon."
Emilia inclined her head, and with the strongest voice that she could muster, solidified her determination.
"By your will, Your Majesty!"
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Laurin Hauesl, Versez, the King's Solace; Kingdom of Eins, 610
Laurin stood beside the King and looked over the roofs of Versez' buildings as they wasted their leisure time on the King's Solace. They were at the King's private terrace on the eastern-side of the Royal Castle, connected to the fourth floor.
It was a simple terrace with thick, yellow stone railings and two sets of white marble tables and chairs. There were pots of various plants at the edges of these railings, and their leaves swayed to the wind.
It was a private place for the King and the Royal Family to spend their freetime, and it allowed a wide view that covers most directions except for the western-side of Versez.
Various houses and buildings of different colors spread throughout Laurin's vision, and at the edges of the horizon he could see the Plains of Versez and the sparkling croplands.
Aleuas was whistling a tune Laurin has never heard of before, and when the young man was done doing so and was silent for a few moments, Laurin decided to speak.
"Your Majesty, I know that the young Emilia is quite smart for someone like her, but isn't it a bit too much that you decided to name her your advisor? The nobles won't stand for this," Laurin cleared his throat. "I've heard through my trusted sources that the rebel factions are planning to stir up some trouble, and this decision might not help in quelling that."
Laurin thought that Emilia was admirable, but he didn't think that she was up to the task of being the King's advisor in tumultuous times. The King himself was quite an eccentric, and he was willing to go along with it, but right now he was quite unsure about his decision.
The King was quiet and not answering. Laurin coughed to get his attention. The young man then moved his gaze towards Laurin.
"Hmm? Well, she had a point though. That even though we scouted for the most talented people, they weren't really suitable for a post as demanding as an advisor to the King." he retorted as he shrugged.
Laurin sighed.
"Aleuas, you specifically told me to announce for people who were capable, but inexperienced. It was a matter-of-fact that they wouldn't know much about vision and leadership, even if they did learn about it from their tutors or lords. You even told us to look for those who weren't heads of the Houses, and weren't even first-born sons or daughters." Laurin shot back.
Aleuas smiled playfully as response, bobbing his head left and right.
Aleuas instructed for Laurin to just call him Aleuas in private, and after a few days he was able to convince Laurin. Of course, Laurin sometimes still addressed Aleuas formally, but he's learned to be casual around the playful man.
"Well, that still just means they weren't good enough. They were sent our way, so that means that the Noble Houses should have thought that they'd be enough." Aleuas smiled.
"Besides, I think Emilia will do a fine job. There's more to her than just being a librarian. Don't you find it weird that I arranged our meeting place to be in that bookstore?" Aleuas said before chuckling.
Laurin was shocked, but he paused and thought for a moment. Judging by Aleuas' personality, and how he pressed for Emilia to immediately be brought for an audience, he surmised that his liege has already decided long ago for Emilia to be his advisor.
It didn't make sense though that he'd go through this farce of having her listen in on his interviews, only to pick her, who wasn't even officially a candidate, in the end.
"I know what you're thinking, old man. But I'm not forcing anything on anyone. If Emilia didn't come up with the answer by herself, then I would have dropped it." Aleuas then walked over to a table and sat down in one of the chairs.
Laurin just stood by to watch.
"Though, of course, I wanted to help push her in that direction. Honestly, it was quite a chore. But in hindsight, it's better for someone to do something that they whole-heartedly set themselves to do, rather than be forced to. It'd make things much easier for her in the future, even."
Laurin shook his head. He had to agree that Aleuas had a point, but he still couldn't get used to how he did things. Aleuas did things differently but did them with purpose. It felt like what the young man did so naturally was to move people to his whims without them realizing it.
It wasn't even outright manipulation, he was just simply appealing to their desires. Still, in the end, Laurin thought it wasn't different from manipulation in its effect, but, one distinct thing about it had Laurin feeling relaxed about the King's methods.
It was the fact that as long as they want to, even if Aleuas did what he does, they'd be free to make their own choice.
"I guess you're right, Aleuas." Laurin said as he smiled.