Chapter 30.1 - Meeting in the Chamber of Lords 1.1

Alex’s words came as a shock to the Lords, and Marquess Seth Perry forced a smile after the initial surprise. “Are you saying that a Mermaid, a High Fairy, and an Elfian are willing to become your spouse? I find it hard to believe.”

Anika tilted her head and asked, “Why is that? You would prefer if any of us wanted to be at your side instead? As if I would ever want such an unsightly man near me! Perhaps Wenammy is more willing, or Pearl, but not me for sure!”

Wenammy asked with a disgusted look, “Are you nuts, Anika? Why would I want him when I can have Alex? I would never get myself interested in a man like him!”

Pearl raised one eyebrow. “I could have him as my personal servant. As for my husband, never in a million years! I am sorry if my words sound rude to you, Marquess Seth Perry, but there is no way for me to be interested in you. Or in any of the men present in this room, besides Alex, that is.”

Marquess Seth Perry gulped, and he then faced Alex. “Why... Earl Alex doesn’t try to find a wife a little more... worthy of a person like you? There are plenty of us, Humans, with single daughters at a marriageable age.”

While a lot of voices rose in the Chamber against such unthoughtful words, Alex pretended to be shocked. “No way... Marquess Seth, are you really denigrating the fine qualities of all the Beast-kind daughters of the several Nobles in our country? Not that I have any problem with Human girls, but saying that I should be with one instead of a Mermaid, a Fairy, an Elfian or an extremely cute Rabbit-kind like the daughters of Viscount Tom West, sounds a bit too much! Perhaps you spoke in the heat of the moment and you didn’t think very well before saying such insulting words, but if I was a Beast-kind, I would ask for your head right now!”

As the enormous body of a Rabbit-kind rose to its feet, the Chamber fell silent. Viscount Tom West raised one eyebrow and asked, “Yes, Marquess Seth, I also want to hear your explanation. Perhaps greed has taken over your reasoning, considering that you went to such lengths to gather so many supporters in this Chamber to ask for a vote to put your filthy hands over the lands of Earl Alex, the rightful heir of my good friend, Earl Kayden. So, do you mind explaining very carefully why your words sounded as if a Beast-kind girl was not worthy of marrying someone like Earl Alex? May I need to remind you I was never a reasonable man and I tend to act violently if I don’t like what I hear, no matter who the person is, that might be foolish enough to insult me?”

Marquess Seth Perry turned pale and stuttered, “No... I... didn’t mean to... I was surprised and I might... said it without realizing that... I could sound insulting...”

Viscount Tom West looked around, and a bunch of eyes averted their gaze. He then sat down again while saying, “Good, as long as everyone knows it is never a good idea to insult a resentful Beast-kind such as me... So, as for the matter at hand, even if many of you want to put your hands over Earl Alex’s lands, our laws and traditions forbid such a thing, and if a group of the Lords present wish to go to such lengths like wanting to change what made our country so great, perhaps civil war is in our near future because there is no way I would stand still and not join forces with all the Beast-kind Nobles that have daughters of marriageable age and help Earl Alex in defending his lands from your greed.”

Many Nobles gulped at the direct threat, and Alex disguised a smile towards the serious Rabbit-kind and spoke while looking around, “I believe nothing like that will be necessary, Viscount Tom. Even if Marquess Seth and his supporters have some kind of hidden agenda, I am sure they still remember that five years ago, in this same Chamber, I explained my plans for my lands when my father retired, and Marquess Seth was one of the many who said that my ideas were delusions from the mind of a mere boy, because everyone knew that there was no way that methods without using Magic were ever going to work. My lands are now the most profitable in the entire country, and many of you that are present tried to replicate my methods without paying the licence that was granted to me by law. While seeking to avoid the payment, some of you tried to spy on my methods, and several others tried to replicate my products with some disastrous results most of the time.”

An uncomfortable silence fell in the Chamber of Lords, with the King waiting for Alex’s words to sink into the minds of every Noble present. The King then spoke, after clearing his throat, “Aham... Earl Alex, perhaps you could disclose some of your methods, now that everyone is well aware that they work, as your achievements showed over these past few years. We all know how your revolutionary methods changed the lives of everyone that works there.”

“I could, my King, but I won’t. Only a few of them are interested in the improvement of the lives of the people, while many only cares about profit, like this plan to seek votes to take my lands from me revealed. None of them is aware that it’s not only my methods that make me earn money, but the people that work for me that are the genuine reasons why I am so successful. I agree that some things I do, don’t even need people to make them because they are more or less made automatically, but even this simple concept was looked upon as something not important five years ago.”

The King slowly nodded and spoke after taking another look around, “Well, I suppose we could change to the next thing on the agenda for today, considering that no one seems up to continue with this charade. I thank you, Earl Alex, for your words and explanations.”

As Alex went to the empty chairs that waited for him and his three companions, a few smiles and slight nods greeted him, while several others averted their gaze, trying to disguise their anger. The King continued, after bumping his hammer, “The next issue up for a debate is the idea of Marquess Seth Perry, of creating Security Forces like the one already at the service of Baron Rowan Harvey, that are constantly patrolling the borders of his lands and his neighbours, to stop any Monster that comes from a Magical Void. Does anyone want to start the discussion?”

Before Marquess Seth could say anything, Alex got up and spoke, “I vehemently object to such a plan. Although it looks like a good idea, the Security Force that is right now in service is nothing more than disgusting mercenaries that kill Monsters and give the Magical Orbs to Baron Rowan in exchange for payment. I was also warned that it is usual for that same Security Force to cross the boundaries of my land to spy with the excuse of being on patrol when I have more than enough army to protect everyone that lives there. I would agree if those new Security Forces were under strict watch by this Chamber instead of a handful of Nobles that are siding with Baron Rowan, seeking money from the sale of the Orbs, instead of being actually worried about the safety of the people.”

Marquess Seth Perry got up and asked, trying to disguise his worried look, “Do you have any profs of such alleged intention from the fine members of the Security Force that until now have been doing a good job by killing every Monster that comes from the Magical Voids that are recently increasing near the borders with Bouria?”

“Well, we could perhaps call here Commander Sebastian Cox, who I met yesterday. He even told me of the intention of Baron Rowan to gather a few supporters in this Chamber to help turn his idea into a working plan, one that would probably grant him not only more profit by receiving and selling more Magical Orbs, but the possibility of being granted a higher Noble title for services to this country. As for their continuous invasion of my lands, I can give orders to my troops to take their heads off the next time they step foot on my lands to spy. Or I can ask my troops to arrest and make some members of the Service Force suffer a few hours of torture so that they can spill out the names of every Noble that ever had some kind of meeting with Baron Rowan to help him with this plan.”

Marquess Seth Perry slowly sat down, completely pale and feeling defeated. The King glanced around and asked, “Earl Alex, you are aware that our country is being cursed with an increase in Magical Voids, but if the creation of more groups like the Security Force doesn’t go ahead, we will have a lot more deaths among our people? Our army and Parties of Adventurers are having a lot of problems as it is because normally they arrive after a few deaths have occurred. If we had groups patrolling the country by sectors, it would be far more efficient.”

“I am not saying it’s not a good idea, my King, I am just against giving control of such groups to a handful of friends of Baron Rowan who, like him, only care about Magical Orbs. I am not against the idea of giving control to this Chamber, which would decide about those new Security Forces actions upon a majority vote. As a matter of fact, I applaud the idea of creating a preventive group to fight Monsters before backup arrives, if, and only if, control is given to this Chamber, and the Magical Orbs from the killed Monsters are sent here, to be used as we deem fit in the administration of our country, instead of filling the pockets of a few individuals. According to the angry expressions I see, it appears that many Nobles here are unconcerned about our country and people; instead, they are concerned about their wealth, which is a very dangerous thing to do, given that they earned a place here after taking a solemn oath to help our country rather than themselves.
The few scattered voices that could be heard during Alex’s speech came suddenly to a halt when they realised what he was saying. His final statement was in fact a warning to them, to remember that, according to the words they said during their pledge to enter the Chamber of Lords, the death penalty awaited them if they stopped worrying about the people and the country and put their interests in front of everything.
The King glanced around and noticed that while a few Nobles were making a slight smile, agreeing with Alex, others seemed worried about his words.

He then asked while facing Alex, “So, you support the creation of more Security Forces, if control is given to this Chamber and the Orbs obtained are sent here so that we can use the profit from the sale to administer our country, is that it?”

“Yes, that is correct, my King. Not forgetting that any decision concerning the Security Forces has to be made with a majority vote. I would also want to take this opportunity to give the vote I got from Earl Kayden to the King. Together with his vote and the other two that I already gave him during the last time I was here, he now has four votes, making him the most valuable asset in any debate in future meetings in this Chamber.”

While a few Nobles got up to object, Alex raised his right hand and continued, “My decision is not up for debate. I can do anything with my votes, and I choose to give them to the King, for him to use as he deems fit. According to the laws of this chamber, I don’t accept any excuses and I won’t answer any questions you may have. My decision is mine alone, and I make it in full use of my abilities and judgment. So may the Kami be my witness.”