Chapter 94: The Purpose of this Meeting
"You see, this country will be at war with a certain nation," King Edward said and continued. "And that country has a strong land-based army but lacks the naval power like we do in Belfast. But if we were to invade that country, we need to have a strong land army as well."
Ernest rubbed his chin and contemplated. So the reason why the King summoned him and even accommodated him with a lunch and a promise of a land is to have something in return. Which is possibly to develop a weapon for his army that would win the war.
And he believed that is most certainly the case. The thought of making a weapon has never crossed his mind, as he was focused on improving the quality of life in this medieval period world.
"What country are you pertaining to?"
"It’s just across the channel south of us, the Kingdom of Valoria. Or should I say, the Republic of Valoria."
Kingdom of Valoria. Ernest remembered them when he was reviewing the map for Helmarte’s first three factory branches. It lies similar to where France would be. So the Kingdom of Belfast will be at war with the Republic of Valoria huh? So even in this world, rivalry exists.
King Edward’s expression darkened slightly.
"The Kingdom of Valoria no longer exists."
The words immediately captured everyone’s attention.
The king rose from his chair and walked toward one of the large maps hanging on the wall. His hand settled upon the southern kingdom beyond the channel, a nation Ernest vaguely remembered from the maps he had studied while planning Helmarte’s expansion.
"For nearly four centuries, the House of Valmont ruled Valoria," the king said. "There were disputes, of course. There always are. Poor harvests, corrupt nobles, political rivalries. Nothing unusual."
Lord Ashford stepped forward and placed several documents upon a nearby table.
"Three years ago, however, conditions deteriorated rapidly. Food prices rose. Several harvests failed. Certain provincial governors abused their authority. Tax collection became increasingly unpopular."
King Edward snorted.
"An unfortunate combination."
Ernest listened quietly.
Actually, none of that sounded particularly unusual. History was full of kingdoms suffering through similar problems.
"What happened next?" he asked.
"The protests began," Lord Ashford replied.
"Protests?"
The Prime Minister nodded.
"At first they were peaceful. Merchants complained about taxes. Farmers complained about grain prices. Urban workers demanded reforms."
King Edward’s expression became colder.
"And then ambitious men saw opportunity."
The king’s finger tapped against the map.
"Political agitators. Radical thinkers. Men who promised impossible things."
The room fell silent for a moment.
"They organized the population," the king continued. "They spread pamphlets. Held meetings. Encouraged resistance."
Ernest frowned slightly.
That sounded remarkably familiar.
Almost too familiar.
"What did the Valorian king do?" he asked.
Neither King Edward nor Lord Ashford answered immediately.
The hesitation was brief.
But it was there.
Eventually, the Prime Minister spoke.
"He attempted several reforms."
"Several?"
"A few."
The answer felt strangely vague.
King Edward folded his arms.
"Unfortunately, by that point events had already gained momentum."
The king’s voice carried a trace of irritation.
"Within a year, riots spread through several cities. The army was deployed. Some soldiers obeyed their orders. Others refused. Several officers openly sided with the revolutionaries."
Ernest could already see where the story was heading.
Civil wars rarely ended well.
"The Confederation of Rheinn and Belfast agreed to support the Valorian Crown," King Edward continued. "The intention was simple. Restore order. Crush the rebellion. Return the king to his throne."
A humorless smile appeared on his face.
"Unfortunately, events moved faster than armies."
The king looked toward the window.
"When the revolutionaries captured the capital, they executed King Louis."
No one spoke.
"Several weeks later, Queen Catherine was executed as well."
The office seemed noticeably quieter.
"And finally, they killed Prince Henri."
Even Hollen looked disturbed.
The heir.
The entire royal family wiped out.
King Edward slowly turned back toward them.
"The House of Valmont is extinct."
Ernest rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Something about the story bothered him.
Not the revolution itself.
The explanation.
Finally, he asked the question that had been lingering in his mind since the conversation began.
"Your Majesty, if I may ask something."
"Of course."
"If the people were governed properly, why would they rebel in the first place?"
The question seemed to catch both the king and the Prime Minister off guard.
Ernest continued before either could answer.
"I understand that agitators and opportunists exist. They always will. But revolutions don’t appear from nowhere."
His eyes moved toward the map.
"People usually need a reason."
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Lord Ashford exchanged a brief glance with the king.
A very brief glance.
Yet Ernest noticed it.
Eventually, the Prime Minister cleared his throat.
"The situation was complicated."
Ernest waited.
"There were economic difficulties."
Another pause.
"Political disagreements."
Another.
"And mistakes were made."
The answer felt incomplete.
Not false.
Simply incomplete.
King Edward walked back toward his chair and slowly sat down.
"History is rarely as simple as historians later claim," he said. "People often prefer easy explanations."
The king’s gaze settled upon the fireplace.
"Sometimes governments fail."
A pause.
"Sometimes circumstances become unbearable."
Another.
"And sometimes ambitious men exploit legitimate grievances for their own purposes."
He looked toward Ernest.
"The truth is usually a mixture of all three."
Ernest said nothing.
Yet the feeling remained.
Neither the king nor the Prime Minister had directly answered the question.
Not really.
They had spoken around it.
And somehow that told him almost as much as a direct answer would have.
King Edward’s expression hardened.
"Regardless of how it began, the result cannot be tolerated."
His voice carried far more conviction than before.
"If one revolution succeeds, another follows."
The king pointed toward the map.
"If one king can be dragged from his palace and executed, every king on the continent becomes vulnerable."
For the first time, Ernest understood what truly frightened the monarchs of, an idea where they could be toppled by a common man.
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