Chapter 231 - Incompetent King
In the capital city of Mihir, the Kingdom across the Northern border of Wyverndale, a huge protest was going on. Hundreds of people were carrying empty baskets and were demanding the King to provide them with food that he had been hoarding while everyone else was suffering from hunger.
They were raising the basket while chanting, "Give us food! Give us food!"
King Reginald was watching the protest from the tallest tower of his Palace along with his Chief Advisor, a few ministers, and the Head General. The King slammed his fist on the wall and shouted in frustration, "Why am I the one responsible to give them food when they were the ones who didn't grow any crops in the first place?"
The Chief Advisor tried to make King Reginald understand the reason for the protest. "Your Majesty, it was not that they didn't grow any crops. They did but right during the time of harvest, there was an unexpected thunderstorm for almost two weeks. And the crops were all destroyed. They are protesting because they did not get any donations from the Kingdom's side, which they should get in times like this."
King Reginald was a young King who recently crossed his teenage. He did not know how the Kingdom and its people worked yet.
He was crowned as the King just a year ago after the death of the last King. Though the weight of that large Kingdom was on his shoulders now, he was really underprepared to carry that burden.
But instead of understanding what the Chief Advisor just said to him, King Reginald got angry and shouted, "Do you really think that I am going to give those buffoons the Royal stash of rice and potatoes, and eat fish for the rest of the year? I am allergic to fish!"
He glared at the Chief Advisor and asked in an unamused tone, "Do you want your King to die of hunger, Chief Advisor? If my late father was not the one to personally select you then I would have banished you a long time ago."
The Chief Advisor bowed his head deeply and apologized, "My deepest apologies if I made you feel that way, Your Majesty."
The King lifted his hand to gesture that Chief Advisor to stop talking anymore. The protest outside was getting louder and louder by the second. Reginald was already irritated by the noise pollution in front of his peaceful Palace.
So he turned his gaze towards the Head General and ordered him, "Send out a platoon of soldiers to chase them away. I want them out of my sight within an hour."
But the Chief Advisor interrupted again, "Please hear me out once, Your Majesty. It is not right to use force and chase them. It will only anger the citizens even more."
The Head General was avoiding looking at the King and kept on standing there because he also knew that chasing the protestors away would only rile up the public even more.
The Chief Advisor tried to enlighten their unseasoned King by explaining other possible ways to solve the problem at hand. "The Royal Granary has enough food to support the people of the affected area for this season. And when they will grow the crops the next season, we can buy it back from them and refill the granary."
He was trying to make the King understand why it was his responsibility to ensure that his people were well-fed. "If the people are given food and clothing now then they will be able to work properly. Providing support now will be good for the economy of the Kingdom. So please, I request you to reconsider your decision, my King."
Reginald narrowed his eyes and thought for a while. But he did not understand how giving away his food for free would be good for the economy. So in the end, he waved his hand and ordered the Head General again, "I think that will take a long time to keep those rats away from the Palace. So just chase them all this instant."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the Head General bowed to the King and walked away with a discontent heart. He thought that if his previous King had given birth to a few more heirs, then maybe they wouldn't have been stuck with such an incompetent King.
Soon enough, around fifty of the soldiers were deployed to control the protest that was going on strong. The soldiers tried to send them away as politely as they could. However, the angry mob was not going to back down.
They were swearing at the soldiers for behaving like dogs of the incompetent King. And they were cursing the King for being too useless.
Some began to threaten the King saying they would stop supplying their crops to the Palace from the next season while some were even planning to infiltrate the Palace and steal the grains. If they wouldn't be able to steal, they were even ready to destroy all the stockpile of food items just to get back at the King.
A huge clash occurred in a matter of a few minutes. The protestors began to pick rocks and throw at the soldiers while the soldiers were using whips to beat whoever got closer to them. Some soldiers got hit on the head and collapsed while several protestors got whipped.
But the trained soldiers were too strong for the villagers. And in the end, the protestors had to run to escape from the harsh whip but while doing so, several people fell down and got walked over by the running mob.
There was chaos everywhere.
Unbeknownst to them all, someone was greatly benefitting from that riot. Yes, it was the Devil Prince himself.
Theodore was spreading his wings out and was hovering right above that place where the crazy fighting was going on. He was closing his eyes and was absorbing all the aurae of revenge that was being emitted by the people during that clash.
He was feeling a tingling sensation flowing all over his body. After absorbing them all, he let out a gratified moan.
A corner of his lips curved up to form a devilish smirk. "Now that's more like it" he whispered.
Theodore opened his eyes and they were glowing bright red. He felt greatly satisfied after absorbing the aurae from several hundred people. Not just satisfied, he also felt his demonic power getting stronger.
He examined his long fingernails and flicked his palm. A ball of dark mist appeared on his palm. He gently moved his fingers and turned the ball of mist into a sharp dagger and then into an arrow.
Before today, Theodore could only use the ball of mist as his ultimate weapon. But now that his mist had evolved, he was impressed by how he could control his ultimate weapon. And slowly he began forming a tornado on his palm.
He had a wicked smile on his face and he whispered, "This is so much fun. I think I should destroy some more crops. I want more people to join the fight.. And I can get an endless supply of the aurae all in one place."