The Veneer of Injustice

Part 2

Earth Moon 8, 1527 C.Q

The dull black armor that I wore faded into the shadows of my castle's halls as I avoided the servants preparing for the night. I glanced at the position of the full moon through a window and determined that I had some time. Then I slipped through the doors of the keep's library. Without pausing, I opened the trapdoor and climbed down the long ladder that led into the secret tunnel that I maintained myself.

Like my grandfather and my father, I counted this tunnel and the secret network of staircases and corridors throughout the castle as important means to ensure that I always had the upper hand with regards to my people. Though, of course, my grandfather and my father would vehemently disapprove of my specific uses for these passages.

Once I reached the bottom, I tapped the front of my helmet to activate a spell for some dim light. Then I proceeded silently and at great speed through the tunnel, which led to a concealed exit in the forested hills quite a distance from the base of the castle built high on the mountainside. Because of my grandfather's and father's spells, which I had strengthened and re-cast, I alone could perceive and open or close the tunnel's entrance and exit.

With but a soft squeak, the grating that covered the exit moved aside at my touch as I left the tunnel. I replaced the bars with a few deft movements and then darted into the forest. I did not deactivate the spell for light - though I had long ago memorized the position of every tree, travel during the winter was always more hazardous, and I particularly did not want to chance an encounter with the shadowy wolves that stalked this forest. I did not have so much time.

As I weaved through the trees, all bare of leaves and laden with snow, I began to plan: Hannes had taken fifty men for the mission that I had given him - the arrest of the key members of the ministry of education, including the minister, Corisa, daughter of Mattes and Elaine, who had had the daring to teach the truth about my princedom's past. Including how my grandfather had usurped the throne of the legitimate princess and murdered her and all of her family and her supporters. How he had begun his reign with blood and how he had continued to rule monocratically. He and his son, my father, were true tyrants. And so was I.

But only on the surface.

When I had assumed the throne seven years ago, at the age of nineteen, I had sworn to myself that I would do whatever I could to better the lives of my people. But, as I had realized even as I had made the promise, I could not afford to lose the appearance at least of tyranny - my princedom was rich in industry and minerals and had a well-trained military force, but the other princedoms to the east and south were far stronger than mine. They were ruled by tyrants as brutal as my grandfather and father but with stronger claims to legitimacy. The only reasons that they had not invaded often and successfully prior to this point were my predecessors' cruelty, mediocre sorcery, and mastery of military strategy. Though my sorcery was a little more powerful than my predecessors' and my capability for strategy just as great, I could not afford to lose the protection from invasion that cruelty had offered my princedom in the past. I could not have the reputation for kindness, or the other princes, ever watching through the eyes of their ever-present ambassadors and spies, would immediately see me as weak and take advantage of me. Thus, I decided to do good for my people, to ensure their prosperity and flourishment, under the veneer of injustice.

Over the years, I had grown better at doing just things under the pretense of injustice and at undoing my unjust acts. I had mandated the construction of underground sewage and water sanitation systems in all of Emerstones, from the castle and capital city to all of the villages; the construction of indoor heating systems in every public hall, including the castle; and the installation of magic-based lighting in every house - all on the pretext of better providing for my military's needs and which the public could use (was actually forced to use) through the paying of works taxes. I also implemented better safety mechanisms in the emerald mines and the factories (all, of course, owned directly by me) and promoted small businesses on the pretext of making more money through various sales and purchase taxes. I re-invested all of these taxes into the public through funding education and (secretly) the almshouses and maintaining the water and heating systems, mines, and factories. To decrease the likelihood of a misuse of funds, a separate military tax was dedicated entirely to maintaining Emerstones' military preparedness, while the guard corps received their own, more limited budget – thereby completely separating their role and funds from those of the military. Unlike my grandfather and my father, I did not spend anything for my own pleasure.