The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 43 : The New Finance Minister

Lord Melster had a habit of waking up early morning and taking a brisk walk around the extensive garden at the back of his ancestral home. Where the garden ended, started the extensive woods the district was famous for. That day was no different for him as he was in the middle of his walk at 6:30 am.

The morning walk was a practice he had from the days of his Military Training 4 ½ decades ago and he had continued it. Now, the morning walk gave him solitude and peace that allowed him to manage the rest of his day, which was full of stress and strife.

Suddenly he stopped short. In front of him were a dozen men in black leather biker jackets, blocking his way forward. In the first place, they should not be here, as they were trespassing. In the second place, Lord Melster considered how they came into the garden area without raising any alarms. Suddenly, he realised that he had been caught with his pants down, so to say. He was alone, unarmed, relying on a false sense of safety provided by his security system, sensors and AI controlled bots.

He did not have enemies, at least not the type who would take the trouble of assassinating him. His internal family matters were not disruptive or abusive either. So he never bothered with security guards on his morning walks.

But there would be no other reason for them to be here, accosting him at this time. He had nothing to give them and that would be obvious. The last remnants of trust in the Empire had been in the continued safety, peace and security of individuals. Today, it seemed that it would be breached.

"Who are you and what do want?" He asked in a hard voice that hid his nervousness.

The leader of the biker gang held up his hand, indicating that Lord Melster should stop where he is and be quiet. His companions held some sort of weapons that they were pointing all around the place and finally stopped. The Leader took off his Helmet.

"Crown Prince Julien Lidwig? What are you doing here, Your Majesty?" Lord Melster asked utterly shocked. He had no quarrel with the Crown Prince. He had no interactions with him either. Neither did any of his family members, to the best of his knowledge.

"Good Morning, Lord Melster. I am sorry that I have barged into your property without appointment." Julien replied with a slight bow.

Lord Melster went down on one knee and bowed low. "Your Majesty, you need no appointment to meet me. You can walk into my house any day and as long as I can stand, I will be before you. Please tell me what I can do for you?"

"Rise Lord Melster. The days of kneeling for obedience is long gone. Those are not traditions I am fond of. Today, I expect a degree of respect through action and words, not in ceremony."

Lord Melster stood up, still apprehensive. There is no reason why the Crown Prince would be ambushing him early in the morning. But these were strange times.

"I had to meet you in privacy that can only be afforded in an unannounced visit made otherwise than through the main or back doors of your home. And if you are wondering, I have access to technology that can easily overcome your security cover. But do not worry, that technology is only available to select few like me."

"So, I cannot invite you to my parlour or study for a cup of tea, Your Majesty?"

"Given the circumstances, I will come straight to the point. You are aware of the things that have been happening in the empire, I am sure. You are aware of what happened in the last cabinet meeting also, I am sure. My uncles tell me I am rash, and the idealness of the youth does not always win the day. So, it seems I do not have a Finance Minister and I have stepped into what could easily become a civil war."

"No, Your Majesty, I would disagree with you and with your uncles. Like me, they have become old, though they are still to catch up with me. We are not in the days when our beloved emperor first took the throne. The Nobles do not control the army or feed the treasury that they can actually start a civil war...Yes, they have money, but they cannot afford to redirect all of it against you.