The Treasurer:

The Treasurer was taking a break from adding up numbers and allocating resources and was doing some thinking.

So, I wonder who killed the king?

I must say they did a good job.

There were no clues or leads, almost as if it was an accident.

No way!

He spent a relaxing ten minutes going through the names of a dozen or so people who all had sufficient motivation to kill him.

Oh well, it's not as if I care all that much. The most important question is, who will be the next king?

Apart from Eleanor and Kalitran, nobody else has sufficient royal blood in them to qualify.

Of course, someone else can step up and take the reins...

Too risky. They could do anything, and they would probably ignore my advice completely.

Or Eleanor might decide it's time for a Queen.

But, really, has she got the right attitude? She spends her time getting to know the commoners and, occasionally, looking after them, which is a thankless task. There's only one of her and lots of them; if you solve one problem, ten more will crop up. It's better to be tough and let them sort themselves out. The ones that survive will be the stronger for it.

So that leaves Kalitran. He certainly believes in tough love.

Hmm, he probably takes it a bit far, but.

On the other hand, I can probably lead him in the correct direction without him quite realising that I am leading him.

After all, I've been Treasurer for a long time; anyone who is sensible will conclude that listening to my advice will be for the best.

Sounds good. I can keep on guiding the king, while the king is the one to stand up in front of the people and give the orders.

It's always best not to attract attention to oneself.

Of course, this led him to the question: how was he to achieve this goal?

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

He carefully made his plans.

Consequently, two days later, Kalitran showed up at his office. He was waving a piece of paper with various numbers on it.

"Ah, sorry to interrupt you, Treasurer, but I think this evaluation of my properties is a little off..." he said.

It sure is. And since I overstated it, it implies that you would need to pay more tax. His coming as soon as possible to discuss this little matter was assured.

"Sorry? What do you mean..."

After ten minutes of intense discussion,

"Ah, right, sorry. I didn't realise that you didn't own the middle property. I'll get a new evaluation written as soon as possible. Meanwhile, would you like to join me with a glass of wine? The previous king laid in quite a cellar, and it would be a shame to let it all go to waste."

Yep, he's taken the bait. He thinks I'm trying to appease him by bribing him with fine wine.

They both mellowed out, sampling the wine.

He hasn't even realised I've only sipped mine while he has drunk two glasses already.

"It's a bit of a worry, what with us being without a king to lead us." said the Treasurer.

"Yes, it is!" said Kalitran, waving his free hand around to emphasise the point.

"We need a strong leader willing to set a firm example." said the Treasurer.

Platitudes, meaningless platitudes. But he's taking the bait.

"We certainly do! If I were the king, I wouldn't act like the old one! He was a doddering, senile old man by the time he carked it. He just let things slide. Never set a firm example, never maintained standards."

"Yes, indeed, how true. And, of course, there were those incidents twelve years ago..."

I need to be confident about his opinions about certain things.

Kalitran shuddered.

"By the Voice, the old king was a complete fool to do that. I mean, it might have allowed him to win that particular fight, but the costs! He probably thought he was mentally strong enough to survive it unscathed!"

"Ah, but any sensible man knows that that is merely delusional fantasy." said the Treasurer.

"I agree! I agree!" said Kalitran as he helped himself to another glass.

"Whereas I would have done things completely differently!"

Kalitran spent twenty minutes explaining precisely how he would have saved the day.

Hmm, on the one hand, his ideas seem reasonable. On the other hand, things never work out as planned.

Sigh. I suppose I will have to go for the best option available.

"Say, this is only a suggestion and all of that, but perhaps you should think about being the next king?" said the Treasurer, as he diffidently offered the option, as if it was just an afterthought.

"I could? I mean, yes, that is an idea!" said Kalitran.

He's pretending to have only thought of it - stupid git. I'll lead him gently on.

"I mean, it's not for me to decide such things... However, all the people who used to decide such things fled. So, maybe nothing can stop you from saying that you are the king's nephew and have the right to the throne?"

"Of course! There is nothing - err, what about the old king's daughter?"

"Ahh, but do you honestly think she is suitable for such a demanding position?"

"Of course not!"

Four glasses of wine, and he's hooked.

All that is needed now is to work out the details.

Kalitran wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"After all, she's a big softy. She'll never be able to execute people if required!"

Err, sorry? Will that be one of the details?

"The king is a father figure to his people! And as such, discipline must be occasionally handed out. But, of course, not too much, only enough to maintain their obedience to his orders."

Sure, sure. Whatever.

And, just like that, Kalitran was introduced as the soon-to-be new king. The Treasurer and Kalitran spent a bit of time arranging the details, and then they set the date for the Coronation.