Loyalties Lie

Chapter 9

 "The peasants have been rather unruly lately," Countess Gianne complained, massaging her temple. "We've had to have at least a dozen public whippings to get them to comply."

Magnus fiddled with the stem of his glass. "Do you know why they're acting like that?"

"Why does it matter? All I know is that they're behind on their dues, and I refuse to tolerate it."

"Perhaps, the higher taxes have been putting further strain—"

"Which only means they need to work harder," Count Gaspar scoffed. "It seems like every day they have a new excuse."

Magnus bit his lip and looked away as they continued to titter amongst themselves. By this point, his father had successfully weeded out nearly everyone who dared to question his policies, leaving only like minded people in his court. As much as Magnus hated to admit it, his father knew how to make people loyal to him and maintain that loyalty, graciously rewarding those who pleased him and brutally punishing those who didn't. It didn't matter who you were or where you came from. If you were loyal to him and complied with whatever was ordered of you, you would be in his good graces. He even afforded some common people higher, more powerful positions as long as he felt that he could control them, and those people weren't too hard to find. The simple fact was, the powerless would always desire power, and many were able to put aside their morals in order to obtain it.

Excusing himself from the current conversation, Magnus headed off to get another drink. As he threaded through the crowds, he heard a familiar voice call his name.

"Prince Magnus!"

Turning to look for the source of the sound, he smiled when his eyes fell on a radiant young lady with golden hair and soft blue eyes. She wore a shimmering silver gown with a deep neckline that reached almost to her navel and cut outs at her waist, showing off her fair skin. Next to her was a tall man with light brown shoulder length hair and similar pale blue eyes. He was clad in a crimson red suit that was embroidered with golden doves.

"Kydia! Finley! It's been far too long."

Kydia and Finley Paxton had been Magnus's friends since childhood. When he was still allowed outside, he would visit them often at their estate in Poltove, located right by the border with Kithage. It was a long trip, but he didn't mind; he felt more at home there than in his own castle anyway. Even after so many years, Magnus could still remember swimming in the crystal clear Lake Yortawa and reading stories by the glowing fireplace with the Paxton twins. Unfortunately for all of them, that happiness couldn't last forever. A few years after Magnus was confined to the castle, the king had their parents, Lord Claude and Lady Delia Paxton, killed in one of his loyalty purges. One of their stewards betrayed them, revealing that they were sympathetic to the conquered people in the west and allegedly planned to harbor runaways trying to escape to Kithage. That steward, now Lord Charles Marlowe, was granted jurisdiction over the Paxton estate in reward, leaving Kydia and Finley with no one else to rely on.

Kydia rushed over to Magnus, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. "I've missed you."

Magnus hugged her back. "I've missed you too. You look lovely tonight." Pulling back from her, he turned to give Finley a hug too, but the young lord's expression didn't express quite as much joy.

"How have you both been?"

Finley shrugged. "We're just taking it day by day."

"We're pleased to see you again though," Kydia piped up. "How have you been?"

Magnus smiled. "I've been alright. It's been quiet here, but I'm sure the same can't be said about Poltove."

Kydia shook her head sadly. "Marlowe has ruined everything. Father would have never let the people suffer like this."