"Serfs? What is that?" Kaecilius questioned with no eloquence in his manner.
While King Conrad was interested in any viable solution. "Your grace, can you elaborate?"
Sylvester provided a brief explanation of the changes that would occur for both of them if they agreed to accept his suggestions.
"A serf is an individual who enters into the service of a noble due to reasons such as bankruptcy, inability to pay a debt, or simply needing a way to survive. Unlike slaves, serfs possess rights and are considered humans, not property. They can love, marry, and form families as they please. If a noble harms them, the King or the Church can directly punish the noble for violating the laws that bind humankind.
"Serfs are bound to the land that the lord owns. They work the land in exchange for protection, housing, and a share of the harvest to sustain themselves. Since they are tied to the land, they cannot leave without their Lord's permission. However, they cannot be sold by their lord, nor can they be harmed in any way, whether mentally or physically.
"In a typical scenario, a serf can have a family consisting of a wife, daughter, and sons. They all work in the same field, and later, the next generation will do the same. As the serf's family grows, the lord can utilize them better and increase his productivity."
Sylvester finished speaking and looked at Kaecilius and King Conrad for their responses. But both of them had their heads down, deep in their thoughts. For Conrad, it was a matter of giving some concessions and making the lives of the Slaves better. For the most part, nothing would change, just the nobles would not be able to abuse the slaves as if they were their property.
Meanwhile, for Kaecilius, it was a matter of accepting something less than freedom. It was not what he desired, not even remotely close, for the serfs would still be bound to their lord through an invisible leash. What prevented the lord from threatening the family, revoking their serfdom, and sending them away?
"So, do you agree?" Sylvester asked them.
"I agree to disagree," Kaecilius retorted, his voice filled with loathing. "I will accept nothing less than total freedom. What you have described is nothing but slavery with a few extra steps. Still, nothing will stop the lord from violating a serf's daughter or wife, which is the most common crime these mongrel nobles inflict upon us! They don't even spare children. If the serf denies it, the Lord can simply cast the family out."
King Conrad lowered his head in exhaustion. "I was about to agree with His Grace's idea, and here you go again, mumbling nonsense. If you do not accept this, then war it is."
Sylvester interjected, "Calm down, gentlemen. Both of you have managed to avoid war thus far, so engaging in it now would be meaningless. Riveria stands to lose far more than it stands to gain. Kaecilius, I implore you to consider the offer or propose a reasonable clause to my idea to make it plausible."
"I am willing to entertain that," King Conrad acquiesced. "As long as it is reasonable."
Kaecilius fell silent, thinking hard about what to demand to make things work and secure the rights of the innocents. He had to make it count so he could show the outcome as his victory to his followers.
"Clause one," Kaecilius began, "I must be granted the exclusive right to represent all the serfs and safeguard their interests. If any of them are harmed or violated in any way, they must be heard by me. In such cases, I should be authorized to investigate the noble in question and present the evidence directly to you. If no action is taken against the noble, the rebellion will resume.".
"Clause two: during winters, droughts, or any natural calamities where it may become impossible for serfs to survive outside, they cannot be abandoned. Furthermore, when serfs are sent away in normal circumstances, the lord must provide one silver crown per person so that they may survive until they find more work."
"Clause three: the Holy Land must intervene in case of a false witch-burning, often perpetrated by nobles to burn their female slaves after committing heinous acts against them."
"Clause four: any noble found violating a child aged thirteen or younger shall be deemed a heretic and punished with death! These are my terms, and if you do not accept them, I shall prepare for war!"
Sylvester nodded silently, the final clause being his own proposal. For some time now, he had been disgusted and outraged by the church's failure to implement strict laws against pedophiles. So, with his own hands, he had to take action, and this was the only way.
King Conrad frowned. "Why introduce such laws? It is widely accepted that even if a girl is married at twelve, she does not engage in sexual intercourse until she is physically mature. Nobody wants their spouse to die during childbirth."
Kaecilius scoffed. "To think you would defend this! Do you believe that only marriage is the path to exploiting a child's body? What about slaves, the poor, and many others? Do not bargain with me, King. Accept my conditions or prepare for war."
King Conrad turned red in embarrassment and anger. He had never met someone like Kaecilius before who didn't show him any respect no matter what.
"I require time to consider your demands. Your grace, I shall retire to my chambers," King Conrad replied, turning his back on Kaecilius without providing any indication of agreement.
Sylvester felt uneasy, but his sense of smell suggested that the king was not upset with the terms, but rather with the way Kaecilius was addressing him. Being born into nobility as a Duke, Conrad had never felt such humiliation, after all.
With that, Sylvester and Kaecilius were the only ones left in the room. However, both of them didn't speak, for they knew better that magic could be used in many ways. But thankfully, Sylvester had sent the man a guide to learn Morse code a long time ago.
Through blinking their eyes, they communicated with each other. Though it appeared absurd, fortunately, no one else was present to witness their exchange.
'Thank you for your assistance, Your Grace. Without you, we would not have made it this far,' Kaecilius declared, lowering his head in respect and utmost reverence, as evident from the aroma of tulips.
Sylvester smiled and replied. 'The battle is not won yet, my friend. Unless total freedom is achieved, we must continue to stay cautious. For now, we have to make this concession, for we can't afford for the kingdom to fall into ruins. So, if the King agrees, you must utilize all your time to gather as much money as possible. Use my roadmap to utilize the industries that will fall within your viscounty.
'You must gather enough money to hire S and SS-ranked assassins, mercenaries, or adventurer guilds. They are your sole means of battling the four Grand Wizards that Riveria possesses.'
Everything Sylvester had suggested and done thus far had been successful, and Kaecilius had complete faith in Sylvester's vision. This was especially true after he read Sylvester's demand to execute all individuals who exploit children.
'Your Grace, please send a clergyman to my Viscounty that won't interfere with my work. The church is too powerful, and I'd rather not incur their wrath.' Kaecilius requested.
'I will see what I can do. Until then, be prepared. I will leave behind more gold, crystals, and battle equipment while passing Fort Sunflower later. Use them well, and remember, we don't know each other.' Sylvester reminded the man and stepped back.
He exited the chambers with Miraj and headed to find the banquet hall where King Highland had asked him to gather.
"Maxy, when are we going home? I want to see big mum, Aurora, Felix, and Gabby."
Sylvester rubbed Miraj's head and tucked him in his arm. "Soon, Chonky. Mum must be missing us to—"
Sylvester suddenly ceased speaking and leaped a few steps away from the wall as he descended the staircase.
"SHOW YOURSELF!"
Woosh!
Out of nowhere, the beautifully painted sandy wall underwent a transformation in texture, and a tall man emerged. He held an unusual piece of fabric that camouflaged him so well with the wall that he was indiscernible. Sadly for him, Sylvester's nose was sharper.
The man donned brown robes from head to toe, tightly fastened around his legs, waist, and arms. His head and face were also covered, with only his eyes visible. Yet even those eyes told a story that astonished Sylvester.
'His eyes are narrower? Is this man from the West?' Sylvester cautiously backed up.
"How did you enter the royal castle?" Sylvester questioned. "A spy? Assassin?"
Thud!
But instead, the man knelt down, exuding the fragrance of tulips and nothing else. "Just as the legends foretold and my master warned, you detected me with ease. I am not an assassin, Your Grace. I am simply a messenger, and Dagorith Ling is my name."
"Who is your master?" Sylvester questioned him, as he didn't know any Dagorith Ling. "Who sent you?"
Dagority reached for his robes, prompting Sylvester to be on alert.
Consequently, he slowly removed a parchment from his pocket. "I am not at liberty to disclose that, your grace. My mission was to deliver this message, and I have fulfilled it."
Sylvester received the small rolled piece of paper with caution, ensuring it was not a trap. "You cannot e—"
"Where did he go?" Sylvester looked left and right, not finding him anywhere. "Chonky, did you see him leave?"
"No, I was looking at the paper, Maxy," Miraj replied, also appearing confused. "I don't smell him either."
"Me too."
Sylvester scowled and looked around. There was no window, so the only escape was upwards or downwards. But nobody could move so quickly that even he could not detect it. To make sure, he sprinted to the terrace once again but found nothing there.
'How did he escape? That technique he used to conceal himself on the wall… I've never seen anything like it.'
Quickly, he focused on the letter and opened it. Sadly, a single line was written on it, one that he didn't appreciate.
'Bard of the Lord. The Masan moves again, unknown what they have to gain. Be careful on your feet, for it's our loss in your defeat —Regards, Queen Mother, Warsong Kingdom'.
Sylvester wiped the frown from his forehead and calmed his heart. He was always concerned about Masan, so it was not unexpected news.
"Ugh… Another bloody headache, from a regent queen this time."
"What's that?" Miraj wondered.
"When the king is too young, they have someone else rule in their name. In Warsong's case, the king's mother, the Queen Dowager, is the regent… But forget her; we have a bigger problem."
Miraj tilted his head to hear him. "What?"
"Was that man a fucking ninja?"
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