"I believe my brother will challenge me for the throne." From this one simple sentence, Maius knows what is coming next. "There will no doubt be a civil war."

The late King Philippe X had a great working relationship with his brothers Prince Henri and Prince Francis. While he governed the Kingdom of Orwell, the Princes took charge of the defense and security matters of the realm.

Being in constant warfare meant that there was a greater chance of courting death. Prince Francis died thirteen years ago in the defense of a far-flung hoverite mining town against the Burgess Republic, while his brother, Prince Henri, perished four years later in a conflict with the Zamyatins concerning another hoverite mine.

At the age of twenty-eight then, Prince Eugene, eldest son of King Philippe X was chosen to take over the duty of defending the Kingdom by vitue of his charisma and brilliance in military strategy.

With the eldest Prince safeguarding the Kingdom against external threats, the younger Prince Jean became the obvious choice in the peoples' eyes as the next heir to the Throne. They believed that the arrangement between the late King Philippe X and his brothers will extend to his offsprings. They were wrong.

"With the Nobles under my Royal brother whispering poisonous words in his ears and tainting his mind with treasonous thoughts, he believes that he should be the rightful heir." Philippe XI says with a sad look. "They are using him as a means to gain political power after he ascends the throne."

"Sire, what about your correspondence with Prince Eugene?"

"With the Nobles' constance influence for almost a decade, I believe even my most heartfelt words will no longer reach him. The next time we meet, he will be bringing a fleet." Philippe XI reply with a grim look on his face. "I want to end the conflict as soon as possible, my subjects should not have to suffer for our foolishness. And not to mention that we are still in a state of war over the hoverite mines."

"Even with my status restored, what can I do to help you Sire? My house is now an empty husk, we have nothing left from my father's time as Duke." There is skepticism in Maius' question. "I may have money that I gain through privateering, but I do not have any land or people."

"What I need is your experience and connections that you have gained over the past few years privateering. I will require a large force in order to defeat my brother and defend the Kingdom at the same time. Unfortunately the Royal Army and Navy is too small and insufficient for our basic needs. I plan to draft the common people into the Kingdom's first common army and navy. A proclamation for the new law will be passed in three days time." Explains the King. "I require your knowledge and experience to form a special branch in my naval force, I need them to fight like how you did your privateering."

"Wait! What? How did you know?" The King's plan and knowledge of his trade secret surprised Maius.

"I am not King for nothing you know." Philippe XI smiled.

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Maius calm himself. "Sire, for centuries only the Nobles and their retainers are given the right to bear arms under the King's permission. By creating a people's army and navy under your command, the Nobles will feel threatened. They will all turn against you, even those who are currently loyal to you."

"That is why I would also like you to hire mecenaries on my behalf. You do have some mercenary contacts gathered over the years don't you?"

"Sire, I really can't hide anything from you can I? How did you know so much details?"

"Haha! I have my ways, there is no need for you to know the nitty-gritty. Now Maius, do you accept my proposal?"

Maius hesitated.

"It is completely alright, I understand you need some time to decide. Lots of information to digest. You have three days, I want to know the answer by the time the new proclamation is issued. For the time being you will stay here." The King picks up a bell and rings for a servant. "Can't have you wandering around with what you know now right?"

- - - - - - - - - -

"Should I really not let him know what is about to happen?" Philippe XI turns to the Chancellor.

"No Sire. If he knows what we are about to allow to happen, it will waver his loyalty to you."

Maius has been staying in the palace for the past two days under close supervision while the King awaits his decision. Philippe XI is expressing his doubts to his mentor and friend, Chancellor Fulard Sigebert.

"Sire, sometimes sacrifices is required for the benefit of the greater good. I do not like what we have to do, but it has to be done in order to swing the populace opinion about your decree. The mandatory military service will not be popular with your subjects, which is why we need this more then ever."

"Even if I raise a large enough force, they will still have trouble withstanding the battle hardened veterans that my brother is bringing." Philippe XI slaps his palms against his forehead.

"That is why the plan involves having mercenaries on our side and using them to train the recruits, we should be able to even the odds and minimise the casualties on both sides."

"I don't like having to hire meceneries. They are not our people."

"Sire, you know as well as I do that we have to end the civil war as soon as possible. We might lose Wyndham Principality as our closest ally if your brother comes and challenges you for the throne. It will take five months for the news of the late King's death to reach him, three months if someone loyal to him managed to get a fast courier out."

The border defences that the Prince is commanding is five months away from Auslo, the capital city of Orwell. The late King and the Chancellor did some manoeuvring on their part to ensure that Prince Eugene and forces loyal to him are kept far away from the Capital city once they discovered that the Prince had unknowingly become the Nobles' puppet in their political scheme. It was the main reason why the late King Philippe X kept his failing health in his later years a tight secret, his death was a shock to the Kingdom. With Chancellor Fulard's help, they prepared the then Prince Jean for the eventuality of taking over his duty as the new King.

"Give him a month to gather his forces and five months to get here, we will have nine months at the very least to prepare."

"I... Damn. It is really hard to be a King." Philippe XI looked up at Fulard. "No matter how much you prepared me for this. I still do question myself sometimes. Am I doing this right? Will my decisions make my people suffer?"

"Sire, you know I will always be here to support you. Even your father is not perfect during his reign. Nobody is, everyone makes mistakes now and then. It is how we handle those problems and minimise the effects that will make a whole lot of difference." Fulard tries to comfort the new King. "Do not doubt you late father's plan, we have thought this through for years. You look tired, maybe you should retire for the night."

"I guess I should do that. Can't have me looking washed out when Miaus gives me his answer tomorrow."