Faith, Influence, and Government (Season 2 of Previous Work)

Volume 10 Episode 2

A/N: I hope everyone has been doing well over the past month and that you all stayed safe during the Fourth of July celebrations. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments. Personally, I've been preoccupied with family matters, which have significantly consumed my time, affecting the regular updates of this series. Moreover, I've been preparing for my final semester at community college before my graduation in January. Consequently, I've been inactive for quite some time. Due to a shortage of ideas for new chapters, I'm concluding this series with this final chapter. I will update you on whether I decide to resume this series or start a new one. For the moment, please enjoy the finale.

On the Continent of Ishgar, there existed a number of countries, each varying in geographic size and political influence. The two dominant powers were the Kingdom of Fiore and the Pergrande Kingdom. Fiore's strength lay in its mercantile economy, bolstered by its geography, while Pergrande's might was rooted in its formidable military. These two kingdoms were often in conflict, clashing over their differing governance styles. King Louis XIV of Pergrande was a proponent of a conservative absolute monarchy, holding all the power within his family. Under his rule, he could enact any foreign or domestic policy without facing ridicule from his courtiers. Any courtier who dared to challenge his decisions would be swiftly exiled from the court and stripped of their noble titles.

King Touma, however, disagreed. He favored a liberal constitutional monarchy, a good example being Fiore. As king, he shared power with the legislative House of Parliament and the Judiciary. To make sure that no branch of government dominated over the rest, Fiore had a constitution. It was called the Magna Carta, and it limited the power of the Royal Family to only being granted the power to declare war, raise taxes, impose a tariff, or even declare a national holiday, if the sitting monarch had the approval of Parliament. This system of government allowed for the separation of power between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, giving each branch the power to check the other branches. It also gave citizens the right to hold the government accountable and ensured that the Royal Family would not be able to abuse its power. Therefore, the two rulers with their competing ideals of governance competed for influence on the global stage, particularly with countries that were on the verge of independence from colonial rule. Touma toured South America by ship, stopping in each port town to conduct a speech that promoted constitutional monarchism or even democracy for young nations. After years of touring the coasts of South America, almost all of the countries that made up the continent were sold on his idea of democracy. The only exceptions were Venezuela, Ecuador, and Columbia. These three countries favored an absolute monarchy, but ultimately decided to form a dictatorship run by the military. Touma was devastated to learn that his hard work had been in vain. He vowed to continue fighting for democracy and continued his tour of South America, spreading the word of liberty and freedom, leading to the Venezuelan, Ecuadorian, and Colombian military juntas to kick him out of their respective countries. The three nations opened diplomatic ties with the Pergrande Kingdom, much to Touma's frustration. King Louis would never stop badgering him about his inroads in northern South America, to which Touma responded saying more countries are his allies than with Pergrande. This was called by some the Cold War, because the two kingdoms competed against each other to build a long-lasting international alliance. The war soon escalated, with both sides engaging in diplomatic and economic warfare. Touma was determined to keep his allies loyal, while King Louis was determined to expand his influence. In the end, it was Touma who emerged victorious and King Louis was forced to accept defeat. The military juntas of Venezuela, Ecuador, and Columbia were overthrown in a coup d'etat that Touma supported. In their respective power vacuums, a democratic government was built with a president that only served for 8 years. Thus, the entirety of South America was democratic and it prospered from there. In the Pergrande Kingdom, the news of the coup d'etat shocked the court, with some courtesans calling for a similar coup d'etat against King Louis.