Eternal Empire - Kingdom Building

After a simple breakfast, David gathered the essentials: the development order and a sack of potatoes as proof of his progress. Too many had returned to Iron Tree Fort after abandoning their ventures, spreading rumors about the impossibility of establishing a village in that harsh land. David knew the prejudice would be hard to shake.

But as soon as he showed the development order to the reception staff, he realized he might have been overthinking it.

"Please wait a moment. A special official will attend to this matter shortly," the receptionist said politely.

David and Laura were led to a private room. Despite their simple, civilian attire, they were treated with respect. Moments later, fresh fruit and snacks were brought to them.

"This one’s interesting." Laura held up a fruit. "Looks like an apple but tastes like an orange. Not bad." She bit into it thoughtfully. "The snacks are... mediocre, though."

Laura’s world offered far better luxuries than anything here. The snacks of nobles in this land couldn’t even compare to what she was used to. But David knew the best of those treats wouldn’t be offered to someone like him right now.

Just as Laura was busy critiquing the food, the door opened. A tall, well-dressed man entered with an air of authority.

"Hello, I’m Inspector Maloney Mansfield of Iron Tree Fort," he introduced himself. His appearance was as refined as his clothes, marking him as someone of high status. If this man had walked through the outer city, the civilians would’ve given him a wide berth.

"Good day, Lord Inspector," David said, offering a polite bow. He watched the inspector carefully, relieved when he showed no sign of displeasure at the informal gesture.

Dealing with nobles and officials was one of the reasons David had originally joined the development team. Iron Tree Fort was packed with people of higher status, and he couldn’t stand the constant bowing and scraping that came with interacting with them.

It didn’t surprise him that the inspector was here to handle his report on the development order. In the Kingdom of Tilan, the king ruled in name, but the land was governed by lords. The lords, in turn, either passed the land down to trusted family members or appointed officials to manage it.

These officials had varying titles and powers, depending entirely on the whim of the lord who appointed them. In this case, the title of "Inspector" was vague, and only those within the upper ranks of Iron Tree Fort—nobles and high-ranking officials—would truly understand the scope of Maloney’s authority.

"So, this is the young man who successfully built a new village," Maloney said, surveying David and Laura. "I didn’t expect you to be so young." His tone was friendly, but there was a sharpness in his gaze, as if he were assessing them both. They didn’t seem like ordinary civilians to him, and that intrigued him.

"Thank you, Lord Inspector," David replied. "The land was quite a challenge, as I’m sure you’ve heard."

Maloney nodded, still studying them. "I’ve heard plenty about how harsh that land is."

David took a deep breath. "Yes, sir. The environment is... unforgiving. Winter arrives early and lingers long, with bone-chilling cold and constant snowfall. There’s no game to hunt during those months, and the soil isn’t fertile. None of the seeds we brought could take root."

Maloney listened, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You’ve done well, considering the circumstances. Many would have turned back."

David simply nodded. He didn’t need to say how close he’d come to giving up himself. The inspector would find out soon enough how determined he was to make Winter Village a success, no matter the odds.

Maloney Mansfield kept his smile steady, nodding as David explained. His voice calm, he asked at the right moment, “So, how did you overcome these difficulties, David?”

David took a deep breath. “After surviving the second winter, I was ready to give up. All I wanted was to make it to spring, gather enough food to make rations, and head back to Iron Tree Fort. But then, I found something.”

He reached into his bag and pulled out a potato. “These. I call them potatoes. They grow underground and look like big beans.”

Maloney took one, turning it over in his hand. “Potatoes, huh? Can they be planted?”

“Yes, and they grow fast. I harvested some right before I came back.”

Maloney’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “That fast? How’s the yield?”

David hadn’t expected this much interest. He realized he might have a real opportunity here. “The yield’s great. Before I left, we were already planting the second round and expanding the fields.”

Maloney nodded thoughtfully, surprised but reserved. He wouldn’t question it here, not yet. There would be time for that later.

“I’ll need to see this for myself,” Maloney said. He glanced down at the development order, scanning it. “Winter Village... is that the name you chose?”

David nodded. “Yeah, a few of us settled on it. Those winters left an impression on all of us.”

“Fitting name,” Maloney said, returning the order. “Keep this safe—it’s your identity until you receive a formal letter of appointment.”

David tucked the order away, sensing the shift in tone.

Maloney continued, “I’ll report this to Lord Iron Tree Fort. Once approved, I’ll lead a team to inspect the village myself.”

David gave a slight nod, understanding the next steps. This was only the beginning.

“Once the on-site investigation is completed and the geographical details verified, I'll submit my report,” Maloney Mansfield explained. “If the lord of Iron Tree Castle, Marquis Dudley Morgan, approves, a series of documents will be signed.”

David listened carefully as Maloney continued, “These documents come in triplicate: one for our records, one sent to Tilan King City, and one will be delivered to you along with your letter of appointment.”

The weight of the moment hit David—this wasn’t just a formality. Without his development order, none of this would happen. The letter of appointment, his official standing as a village leader, even his recognition as a minor lord of the kingdom, all hinged on this.

David gave a slow nod, realizing the development order was far more important than he’d first thought.

“You’ll need to stay in Iron Tree Fort for a few days,” Maloney clapped his hands, signaling to his attendant at the door. “Huey will arrange accommodations for you.”

David felt the subtle authority in Maloney’s actions. No one had asked if he already had a place to stay, nor did they seem concerned about his opinion on the matter. The Inspector’s benevolent façade couldn’t fully hide his inner pride.

But David didn’t protest. He knew better than to reject the arrangement. “May I visit the outer city to take care of some business?”

“Of course,” Maloney agreed easily. “It’s best if Huey accompanies you. He’ll make sure you avoid any unnecessary trouble.”

David bowed, understanding the situation. “Thank you, Lord Inspector, for your care. I won’t take up more of your time.”

With a respectful nod, David left the reception room with Laura in tow. As they walked away, he could feel Maloney’s eyes on them, trying to unravel the puzzle of their identities.

“David… An intriguing young man,” Maloney mused to himself. “Whose illegitimate son is he?” He couldn't believe David was just a commoner. And Laura—her grace and beauty didn’t escape his notice. “What a waste to leave someone like her out there.”

Maloney shook off the thought, refocusing on the tasks at hand. “If they’re heading north, they’ll need a lot more than they think.”