Reborn: From Nothing

Perspective – Marcus

My firstborn is healthy, and my secondborn is frankly amazing. Few people are able to impress Livius, he just so happened to run into and gain the favor of the prince of the elves, and he is developing remarkably quickly.

My wife is perfect as always, and I have good loyal people around me. Everything is going well for me. Now is the time to ensure that continues.

Being favored by one's king can be life or death, success or failure, going down in history or being erased. This is the nature of men closest to god. I have been summoned by my king and for the sake of everything I cherish, this meeting must go well.

I had Claudia wake me up just before the crack of dawn. I am a failure when it comes to waking up on time, so things go better when she just does it. I got in my morning training, ate breakfast, bathed, and started getting ready to go.

I chose my military uniform today. Many officers in the army wear the Cuirass for their status. I however prefer light mail armor under my tunic. Therefore, I put on a thin undershirt and my thin wool pants. I put the mail armor over the undershirt then covered it up with my red wool tunic. I wear my spatha at my waist and put on my red and gold cloak. I forsake my helmet as it would be rude to the king.

When I am ready it is about an hour before noon, when I meet the king. I leave at this time, seen off by my loving family. There are once again many of those I’ve supported waiting for me at the door. I converse with them as we walk, mostly about my coming meeting.

The city of Aen, the capital of the Aeneas Kingdom is beautiful. Marble buildings line the streets, and grand statues of our heroes can be found everywhere. Great aqueducts bring fresh water in and waste out. The people are learned and strong. Buildings stretch to the edge of one's vision, and beyond that are farms and mills.

After 10 minutes of travel, I reach The Forum. It is the greatest place in the kingdom if one wishes to debate and hear the speeches of wise ones. As I walk through a famous nobleman is giving a speech on taxation.

On my left is the Senate. 400 years ago this Kingdom was a Republic and that building is a relic of such a time. Just 100 meters beyond it is the entrance to the place.

It has been a while since I stepped foot in the palace, but I can’t say that I’m necessarily excited to. It’s certainly beautiful like the rest of the city, but it is also overwhelming.

Once the sun reached the top of the sky, I entered the palace. In that moment I was shocked beyond imagination. The beautiful artwork that lined the walls was removed, and the wall was stripped bare. The gold ornaments and amenities were removed in favor of desks and walking space. The Palace, crowded with artworks of the highest quality was mostly efficient empty space.

An old lady dressed in commoner garb greeted me and ushered me to another room. As I followed, I realized the location was the king's bedroom, which was in the same condition. The marble walls and floor were empty aside from a desk with 3 chairs, and a stack of hay in the corner.

Sitting at the desk was a man who looked exhausted, pale, disheveled, straw in his hair, and in rags. He had chains on his wrists and a collar on his neck. His muscles were well-built, yet he looked agile. He had the eyes of a madman yet composed. To be strong, sickly, insane, and of sound mind.

Ah, now I see. This is what they mean by a living paradox. The man closest to god yet beneath fellow men.

Slave King Gaius Rex Cleon the Third, Divine Monarch of Aenes.

…

“My king, this humble subject is honored to be graced with your divine presence,”

I greeted as was fit for the status of the man I spoke to. Kneeling on the ground, one hand on my heart, the other on my blade.

“Raise your head, Marcus. You are before a fellow man.”

“That is untrue, your highness is-”

“A man, as I intend to be. Now then let's get down to business, irrelevant talk only wastes time. I intend to be efficient.”

“As your Highness commands.”

“Aenes is on the brink of war, the question is no longer if, it is when. I need you in my army, as well as raising soldiers for my cause.”

“On the brink of war? Please explain!”

I was caught off guard. Even mere rumors of such a thing were few and far between. The last war ended just 7 years ago. I didn’t even get to see my firstborn’s birth because of it. Now there will be another one?

“To be clear, this is hardly a new war. Instead a mere continuation of the previous one. Do you know the conditions attached to our truce?”

“No, I was not invited to the peace talks.”

“Our military was reduced to one thousand men, we cannot build defensive measures. Our military budget was reduced to one-quarter of what it was before. I am to adopt a young upstart within the republic as my own. I am also to pay tribute to the republic. Do you know what this means?”

“If we do nothing, soon the kingdom will become a vassal… no a province of the republic.”

“Exactly, our allies were forced into the same agreement.”

“The generals of the republic surely must know that such a deal will not be honored. They must know this agreement will only cause another war!”

“That is what they desire. This was not a treaty, it was a ceasefire, on hold while each nation recovered. Except the republic will recover more quickly.”

“Then why the hell did we sign this?”

“Pressure from the people forced the king's hand. Peace by any means was what they called for. Even if it's this.”

"And the treaty remained confidential?”

“Yes, if news was released, the nobles would have revolted. In fact, it was this that got the king assassinated.”

“I understand now… so, why are you telling me this?”

“There is a loophole in the treaty, the kingdom may not raise its army… but nobles?”

“I don’t get it.” I was never good with stuff like this to be honest. But he doesn’t get angry at me for it, thank God.

“There are no conditions in here about private armies. As far as this treaty is concerned, nobles have every right to raise personal armies, as long as it is not in the name of the king. They did not add this stipulation in the treaty because no sane king would allow nobles to have more military power than themselves.”

“You will have us raise armies anyways?”

“That is correct.”

“What gives you the confidence you will not be betrayed?”

“Because I’m strong.”

Despite his eccentricities, he is extremely confident. I can see why. I am confident in my strength, I emerged from the war one of the strongest in the kingdom. Despite this, I feel fear when I look into his eyes.

That doesn’t matter, what matters is the prospect of war. I have seen it in the purest form and cannot sit idly by. This must be avoided at all costs. If he is going to even these measures… then he must be certain of war coming.

“My king, will you not reconsider war? Think of the people! Think of how they will suffer!”

“Impossible, it is inevitable.”

“But we must resist! If there is even the slightes-“

“Even if such a possibility exists, it will certainly cost us our freedom. It is thus out of the question.”

“There must be some way!”

“Will you resist the war if it comes to that?” No good, he is glaring at me. I’m intimidated. It does no good to prevent a war if it costs my family's lives. Defying the king can create such a scenario… even so.

“If it comes to war I will fight. But I will drag neither my family nor my subjects into it. If the possibility to prevent the war exists as a whole, I will pursue that.”

“Good enough. You are dismissed. Orders will arrive via mail."

“Before that my king. May I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why are you called the slave king?”

“…it is my ideal. The king who acts not in rational self-interest, but faithfully and dutifully in service of his people. He who practices minimalism so his master’s can have luxury. Who takes evil upon himself to his people may be good. He who fights and dies so his people may live and prosper. His crown is not evidence of supremacy, but a mere metaphor. He who does not own his own body, but is property of the nation. Nation being the collective of a people.”

“Thank you for satisfying my curiosity. I shall take my leave now.”

I was left in a trance by his words. When he spoke, it was as if I was feeling his soul itself. Many types of kings have existed, philosopher kings, sun kings, schemers, and divine monarchs. But a slave king? That is just absurd. But I couldn’t help but feel, this may be a good thing.

But questions of who is ruling should not be on my mind right now. What matters most are my children. This war must not come to pass, if it does, everything I worked so hard for may be lost. That is unacceptable.

I will defend my people, my region, and my family. Even if I die.

Even if.

I must betray the king.

“Oh one more thing, in three years you will…”