Restart:Untalented Man

King's office, Capital city of Napuna.

"Your Majesty, the letter from Bideford has arrived". Wendall handed over the letter from Richard to Nicholas I.

Nicholas I took the letter and opened it. He started reading the content with great interest.

Wendall silently stood in front of him, waiting for his king to finish reading the letter.

Nicholas I put the letter down and look at Wendall.

"How is it, Your Majesty?", he is eager to know their response.

"They refuse", Nicholas I give a short reply. He's tapping his finger on the desk, he is ruminating on his next move.

Nicholas I opened his mouth, "Wendall, invited all the nobles in the kingdom except Ryntum and three barons under them to the capital next week. I want to meet those nobles."

Most of the nobles especially the nobles with the rank of count and above prefer to live in the capital. They left the territorial management to their subordinate or heir.

The only upper-rank nobles that didn't live in the capital are Tetherswest, Ryntum and Caushilbo. The lords in these three territories need to be on standby mode as they are bordering with hostile nations. In case of an emergency, they act without any delay.

"As you wish, Your Majesty".

Nicholas I lean on his seat, staring at the gilded ceiling. The intricate yet beautiful floral pattern carved by a master craftsman made him lost in his thoughts.

He muttered slowly, "Sooner, this country will lose its peacefulness."

....

14th March 300 Paign Era,

Duke Baroks, Count Vofors, Count Hajdu, Count Naharog, viscounts and barons entered the palace. Tens if not hundreds of nobles in the kingdom were in the capital right now. This is the first time in Bagyarosia's history that many nobles gather in one place.

Every noble regardless of their distance rushed to the capital within a week. To be blunt, Nicholas I threatened them if they didn't come.

All of them were headed to the audience hall, a place where the king usually meets his vassals.

Guards were standing at every entrance of the hall. Only nobles can go in there.

Entering the audience hall, their mouth gasped seeing the hall is different than usual. There is a huge U-shaped table in the audience hall. The arrangement of seats was that the higher the noble rank is, the closer his or her seat to the king.

Every noble searches for their seat. Each seat has a label on it to indicate who it belongs to.

After finding their seats, chattering voices started to fill the hall as the nobles were talking to each other.

"Why does the king call all of us today?", asked one of the barons.

"Not sure but it's probably because of the port blockade. My income has drastically decreased. There is no way the king doesn't get affected."

Everybody stops talking when they hear the sound of the door being opened. Nicholas I entered the hall.

His eyes were scanning around the hall while inwardly taking note of the attendees. He saw most of the nobles attend the meeting today. He frowned because he didn't see Tetherswest and Caushilbo in their seats.

All nobles stand when Nicholas I entered as a sign of respect. They all wait for Nicholas I to sit.

"Everyone may sit", Nicholas I wave his hand and said with a majestic and imposing voice.

The nobles start to sit slowly, not wanting to make any needless sounds.

Nicholas I start speaking, "Let me thank all of you for making time to come to the capital on short notice." Nicholas I expressed his gratitude to the nobles.

The nobles just give a polite smile. Inwardly, their mind has run wildly, if not for being threatened they wouldn't bother to come here. Fortunately, their mouths keep them from talking as they please.

Nicholas I is observing their reaction one by one. He knows that most of them are probably cursing him right now but it doesn't matter to him.

He continues, "Now, without wasting our time let us move to the main agenda today. As you know, more than a month ago Cerdeauxia imposed a blockade on our merchants from using their ports. This incident has caused a disastrous effect on our economy. I have reached out to Cerdeauxia to understand the real situation. Their response is that they request us to hand over the youngest son of the Ryntum family, Rizieri Ryntum to them. I believe most of you already know the identity of that boy."

After Nicholas I finished speaking, the hall was void of any sound. The nobles are processing the information they received.

The one who starts speaking is the Duke of Baroks, "So Matthew's position is unstable because somehow the boy's identity was known by their commoners."

The corner of Nicholas's eyes twitched when hearing remarks from Duke Baroks. Nicholas I know that the duke's word was targeted at him. The duke indirectly said that all of this happened because of Nicholas's mistake.

Nicholas looked at other nobles, they seem to not get the underlying message in duke's remark.

"I thought they were progressive people like they claim to be". Count Vofors speaks with a disgusted tone. Cerdeauxian is always proud of themselves for abolishing the monarchy and killing their king. They look down on the feudal lord and threaten to spread the revolution in this kingdom. Since Bagyarosia is using Cerdeauxia ports, they can only hold their anger.

"Pfft....how hilarious. Now they want to return to the monarchy that they scorn." Added Count Hajdu.

Duke Baroks asked, "Have Your Majesty demanded the boy from the Ryntum?".

"I have but they refuse. That's why all of you are here. To form a noble coalition and help me take the boy".

"Why don't we just go to war with the Cerdeauxia?", asked one of the unimportant barons.

Vofors rebuked him, "Then what? Weaken each other so that Barlia could take advantage of it? Going to war with Cerdeauxia consumes more time and resources."

The baron immediately shut his mouth. His question can be said pretty stupid.

"Alright, alright...Don't fight", Nicholas I interfere. "The reason I gather all of you is to raise an army large enough to raze the Ryntum. Ryntum has become more and more rebellious lately. It is time for me to put them in place."

Count Hajdu asked, "Is there any need to raise such a large army?"

"Yes. First, don't forget their military capability. Those trebuchets are troublesome and can cause mass destruction. Second, we need to finish this war fast". Nicholas I explained. Although the consequence is relatively lower, it still has a large effect on the kingdom.

"Didn't Count Tetherswest have one? Why don't Your Majesty request it from them?", asked Count Naharog.

Nicholas I replied, "I did but according to the craftmen, all I received is an incomplete drawing. Well...I am not surprised since their daughter was engaged with that boy".

"Is that why they didn't come? What about Caushilbo?", Count Vofors asked.

Count Naharog explains, "Richard's daughter is engaged with the heir of Caushilbo. I guess Caushilbo's absence today already showed which one they will side with."

Duke Baroks a little bit surprised, "I can't believe they chose to side with them. Can we really trust them guarding our border?"

"Let's deal with them later. Now our focus is Ryntum. They will definitely retaliate and war cannot be avoided".

"What's your plan, Your Majesty?", Count Hajdu asked.

Nicholas I look at the nobles in the hall, "I want all of you to contribute to this war by sending a number of men and ration for the army. Wendall!"

Wendall who was quiet until now began to announce the quota they needed to fulfil. Basically, each of them has to send a three-month ration along with a certain amount of men to the army.

Baron - 200 men

Viscount - 500 men

Count - 2000 men

Duke - 3000 men

Not only that, but the Royal Guard will also join the army for this war. Nicholas I was really determined to destroy Ryntum.

"Those who give more soldiers will definitely be in my favour. Any questions?", Nicholas I asked.

The nobles especially barons and viscounts just stayed silent. They have no right to voice their thought, all they can do is follow.

"What about Tetherswest and Caushilbo? They can attack us from the back when we're focusing our force on Ryntum", Duke Baroks asked.

Nicholas I replied, "That's our next agenda, discussing a strategy. However, I will only discuss it with the Counts and the Duke. This is to prevent the possibility of the content from leaking. The rest of you are dismissed."

The barons and viscounts reluctantly stand up and slowly leave the hall. Some of them inwardly grumbled. Under the order of Nicholas I, Wendall escorted them to the banquet hall where the food and drinks were waiting for them.

Realising the king has prepared a feast for them, all their discontent immediately fades away.

'What an easy people. Show a bit of goodwill and they forget everything else.' Wendall sneered when he saw their reaction change.

Not wanting to waste more time, Wendall slowly returned to the audience hall. There he listens to their conversation which lasts for two hours.

'Your Majesty really determined to bury the Ryntum. I hope this war is in our favour'. As a prime minister, he knows just how bad their economy is right now. They tried to find another nation to dump their excess grains but another channel has long been saturated.

That's why Nicholas I is so desperate to regain back the trade channel to the east.

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