King Severius, Ruler of All Ithera, Last Survivor of The Betrayed Royal Family.

I was Young and Fit. Incredibly Fit by Basic Military Standards. The Years of Rigorous Personal Training I'd subjected Myself to after learning about the **** of My Parents and several other Closely related relatives had paid off. Lord Gilbert Tarn secretly killed many People in order to Rule unopposed as Regent since I was only 6 Years old. He knew he couldn't kill everyone in the Royal Family or else his Own Power Would Diminish. Thus he'd kept me Alive and raised me as his own Son in an effort to Indoctrinate Me into being his Loyal Pawn. And for the first few Years he had succeeded. As a young child I had no Idea of the depths of the Man's Duplicity. But during My 9th Year I uncovered his Deception by accident when I overheard Tarn when he was discussing sensitive matters with one of his agents. From then on I vowed to truly become My Own Man while Simultaneously Pretending to still be the Simple Puppet Tarn Knew Me to be.

I took one last look at My Reflection in the Mirror. My Heavily Chiseled Body that, while untested in Real Battle was nevertheless capable of Fighting 8 Challenging Warriors at the same Time. I was built more like a Battle Monk than a Warrior, but Underneath My Clothing I was Monstrously Strong. When it came to My Abs I didn't just have a 6 Pack, I was so fit that I actually had a 10 Pack. Thankfully I wasn't just a Meathead. I'd trained My Mind just as thoroughly as My Body. Although, Keeping Some of My extra studies a secret from Gilbert Tarn had become a Monumental Effort. It was a good thing that Lord Tarn had become so Wrapped up in Governing My Kingdom. He was so busy it fell to his Spys and Hidden Agents to keep an Eye on Me and ensure I was still under his Thrall. Agents that I'd long ago discovered the identities of and Subverted in One way or another.

Yesterday I became King. The Time had come to set things right. The "Loyal Prince" that Tarn had Groomed to be his Puppet was about to be his Undoing.

After My Brief Morning Workout I Bathed and got dressed in the New Outfit I had made Specifically for Today. The Clothier's had outdone themselves this Time. With Tarn's aid I had ordered a set of Black and Deep Dark Red Embroidered Trousers combined with a Light Vest capable of being worn beneath a Suit of Armor. The Fabric was light but was Woven of Extreamly Expensive SteelWyrm Silk. Tarn Knew how Combat Oriented I'd become over the years. While he cautioned me to be Overly Careful of My Own Safety as the Last Living Royal, he also didn't Care if I wanted to become a Warrior King as long as I remained his Loyal Son. So when I "Begged Him" to have this Outfit Commissioned he gave in, but only after I Promised to Marry the Woman of His Choosing after I became King. An Easy Promise for me to make when I had no intention of Fulfilling my end of the Agreement. But I made it seem like I would only accept his Wife Choice if the Woman Suited My Tastes. SteelWyrm Silk was one of the Treasures of My Kingdom. The Silk was harder than actual Steel. So in addition to being Stylish My Vest and Trousers also Doubled as Armor. The Vest covered all of My Vital Points and even had a Turtleneck to protect My **** Throat. It was well worth the Begging I had to undergo with My Family's Murderer.

I donned My Father's Ornate Belt which held My Knife and a Shortsword that I wore as a Backup Weapon.

I finished out My outfit by putting on My Armored Boots and the Flexible Steel Gauntlet's that covered everything from My Knuckles to My Shoulders.

I gabbed My Primary Weapon and My Ornate Burnished Steel Helmet before Making My Way down to "My" Throne Room.

It had surprised everyone, including Myself to discover that My Aptitude with Weapons had best Translated to me weilding a Scythe of all things. I was Competent with Most Training Weapons, but I was Undefeated In the Sparring Ring whenever a Scythe was in My Hands. However, I had to remember that no amount of Training would save me from **** if True **** should Ensue. I couldn't afford to allow Arrogance to Blind Me to the Dangers around Me. Especially not Today.

My Appearance didn't shock anyone within the Throne Room. I was known for being a bit Eccentric. A Demeanor I had fostered on Purpose so that a certain Lord and His Agents wouldn't see me doing anything out of the Ordinary. So nobody was surprised when I took My Throne and set My Heavy Duty War Scythe at My Side within Easy Reach.

Tarn was even more at ease than the other People Within My Court. I had discussed with him at length what I had planned for Today. Unfortunately for him he only thought that I intended to declare War on our Westernmost Neighbor, the Small Mountain Kingdom of Dain. Little did Tarn Know that Announcing our Imminent Invasion of the City of DainHold wasn't on Today's Agenda.

Lord Gilbert Tarn stood beside me on the Dais of My Throne. My Throne was backed right up against the Stone Wall so Nobody could Stand behind the King in the Spot where he was most ****. A Precaution set in place by Tarn in response to the Assassin he Himself sent to Kill My Parents. Gilbert Tarn was a Middle Aged Man who was neither Handsome nor Bad Looking. He wasn't a Warrior of any Sort, nor was he adept in the ways of Magic. Yet anyone who underestimated the Stalwart Man did so at their own Peril. More than a few people have Died Mysteriously in recent years when they attempted to Move against the Man who called himself My Adopted Father. More than Once I Feared that he discovered My Carefully Laid Plans only to realize that it was Only My Paranoia. Then again, I had excellent reasons to be Paranoid. Tarn had Agents, Informants and Allies all over the Kingdom of Ithera and Beyond. It had taken me over a Decade to Locate almost everyone within that network from top to bottom. Doing so had allowed me to discover a few other Rotten Factions within My Kingdom.

Lord Tarn Stepped forwards and addressed Me and My Court after everyone rose from their Obeisance upon My Arrival. "Your Majesty, Last Night at your Coronation Feast you proclaimed that you had an announcement for your Subjects. Should we handle that first or would you like to hear the other Business of the Day before doing so?"

I was gratified to see that Tarn looked quite Exhausted. He rarely let himself get distracted from running My Kingdom and His Plots to take More Power for Himself, but last night was one such exception. Tarn had demonstrated a weakness when it came to Certain Preferences for Women. So when I thanked My Steward for My Lovely Coronation by gifting him a Trio of Willing Blond 18 Year Old Girls Tarn had indeed spent all night locked within His Lavish Palace Apartments having a Wild and Exhausting Night of Debauchery. I might envy him for the fun he had, but I didn't deny that it was an effective way of keeping him too Distracted and Tired to notice anything was amiss this Morning. Perfect.

I smiled at My Would Be Puppet Master. "LET'S HEAR THIS OTHER BUSINESS FIRST. I'M INTRIGUED TO KNOW WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND." I figured that I knew exactly what this was about, but I was curious about what Marrage Matches Tarn had in Mind for Me.

"Your Majesty it is beyond time that you take a Wife and bring an end to your Kingdom's long held Worry over you being the Sole remaining Member of Ithera's Royal Family. I have taken the Liberty of Reaching out to a number of Powerful and Wealthy Families on Your Behalf. Your Majesty Promised to be receptive to Our Ideas when it came to this Matter. I do hope you will take this as seriously as you have our Country's Military Matters." Tarn said this then gave a short bow of his head. He was no doubt telling me that I had to choose one of his Options without telling the Court that I had Already agreed to Marry whoever he Wanted.

"I INTEND TO PROVIDE AN HIER FOR ITHERA AS SOON AS IS FEASIBLY POSSIBLE. WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU BRING ME IN THIS MOST IMPORTANT OF ENDEAVORS."

Lord Tarn Looked Most Pleased that even as King I seemed to still be dancing to his tune. "A number of Beautiful Eligible Candidates is Available for Your Highness to consider. Firstly, within our own Borders the Duke of Dirmark has agreed to offer you his only Daughter's hand in Marrage should you desire it. Similar to your own bloodline their Family has also dwindled down to a select few. The Duke's Daughter is Set to inherit the Duchy from her Father. Given his advanced age there is no chance of him Siring another Child. Should you Marry Linnessa VonMark then you could very well inherent the Dukes Lands and Title within the next Few Years."

It was no secret that the health of the Duke of Diremark was failing. I could inherit those lands in only a matter of Months should the Duke fall ill again. The man was already bedridden and his Daughter Linnessa was all but running the Duchy in his stead. Linnessa was supposedly a very beautiful young Woman. She's had quite a few suitors seeking to do what My Steward was suggesting, but all were rebuffed by the Duke. And yet, Duke VonMark was willing to offer Me Linnessa's Hand in Marrage. Inheriting Diremark would be a major windfall for Me. The Duchy only had one Large City but the Wetlands surrounding the City provides a Wealth of Resources that DireMark harvests for Trade. The Hearty Wetlands Produce a variety of Fish and Shellfish, Blueberries, Cranberries, Wild Rice and the Surrounding Forests have Proven to be a Vast Source of Timber. Becoming the Lord of those lands would easily make me the Second Richest Man within Ithera, After Tarn. And that didn't even include the Fact that I would be adding the VonMark Treasury to My Own. It was said they were nearly as rich as I was, as King of the Entire Kingdom. No Doubt that was what Tarn wanted. He had an Iron Grip on the Royal Treasury and had used it to grow his own Fortune for Decades. I have a feeling he had that same control when My Father was on the Throne. If he wanted me to choose Diremark then Maybe Tarn Hoped that I would name him or someone under his Thrall as Administrator of My New Personal Domain giving him even more control of the Kingdom at Large. The VonMark Family had long evaded Tarn's Influence, perhaps offering the Duke a Royal Marrage was My Steward's way of Taking control of a Duchy who's potential he hadn't yet exploited.

Tarn continued on to his next Prospect as I considered the Tempting Proposal.

"The Brecht Merchant Family is offering to invest a Substantial amount of Coin into Increasing the Productivity of our Shipyards in both RockHarbor and LoamShire Hold, as well as Modernizing your Royal Navy should you take an Interest in one of their Three Eligible Daughters. They only ask for Favored Trading Status within the Kingdom."

It went without saying that the Head of the Brecht Family would also need to be made into a Noble. It was highly improper for a King to Marry anyone other than a Member of the Nobility. So if I wanted to accept their Generous offer I would have to give the Brecht Family Head a Title. Not a bad trade for what they were offering. The Royal Fleet was sorely in Need of an Overhaul and our Production Facilities weren't up to the task of Outfiting a Fleet as Large as the one My Flotilla had become under Tarn's Stewardship. Accepting this Marrage proposal could allow My Kingdom to Advance Tarn's Long Held Desire for Naval Supremacy of the Eastern Coast of our Continent. No other Seafaring Nation on Motania would be able to challenge us and we would be able to Easily invade any Coastline Nation within a Week's Travel in either Direction.

Tarn Moved to his next Candidate. He actually looked a bit nervous about what he was about to say, as if he were unsure about this Proposal altogether.

"Your Majesty, yesterday before your Coronation a Foreign Ship Arrived and Delivered a Missive from the Eastern Continent." Tarn actually pulls out the Large Ornate Golden Embossed Scroll in question and begins to unfurl it.

The Eastern Continent? That was a long way away. Over Three Months of Sailing on Treacherous Oceanic Waters filled with Deadly Leviathans and a Myriad of other Threats. Our Continents were so disconnected that they might as well have been on one of our Two Moons. What kind of Offer would make Tarn Consider a Political Marriage of any Kind?

Before Tarn Starts to Read he looks up at Me. "The SunSpire Empire has been the Reigning Kingdom upon the Eastern Continent for well over 3 Thousand Years, as Your Majesty well Knows. So we should treat this Message with the seriousness it deserves." The Steward pauses then Reads the Missive out loud.

"Emperor Kamn'Sunn Catat Aru of the SunSpire Empire offers King Severius Congratulations on his Elevation to the Throne of Ithera. May Your Fortunes Prosper. I Speak as One Great Monarch to another. Unlike Ithera The SunSpire Empire is not on the Rise. My Great Empire Suffers under a Blight. A Blight of Infertility cast upon our Entire Population by our Enemies The Drunikia when we Destroyed them over Two Centuries ago. The Blight is Passed down through our Bloodlines and every Successive Generation is a bit more Infertile. All is not lost and that is the reason I am Reaching out to You. We have discovered that Outsiders to our Kingdom do not share this inability to get our People Pregnant and that Children born of unions with Foreigners are free of the Blight. King Severius. My Proposal is Very Unorthodox, but there isn't Much I will not do to Give My People a brighter Future. So. My Offer is Thus. In exchange for each Unmarried Woman between the Ages of 18 to 35 we will give you 3 Gold Coins per Woman and 8 of our Own Unmarried Women of a similar age. SunSpire will Provide the Ships and Magical Security Necessary to make the Long Voyage in both Directions. In addition to what I've already offered, should you send us at least 10 thousand Women we will offer you our Complete Historical Collection of Tomes pertaining to our Empire's Technology and Magical Arts. Lastly, but most dear to My Heart, I will bestow upon You all 14 of My Daughter's. I do not wish for them to undergo the Horrors that their Mothers Suffered to give birth to them. They will be far better off in your Realm. My Daughters have all agreed to become your Wives, either together or with all but 1 of them Becoming your Concubines. I only ask that you treat them well and give them many Children to be proud of. Attached to this Message is the information you'll need to Construct a Permanent Long Range Communication Spell. Send Word if you agree to our Proposal. If you do not respond by the time our Ship returns to SunSpire then our offer will be Null and Void. May Prosperity and Fertility come to Both of Our Kingdoms. Emperor Kamn'Sunn Catat Aru."

Wow. That was an incredible, nearly insane plan to revitalize the Empire's Infertile Population. But. it would have the desired effect if enough Foreign women were injected into their Population. And it was easy to see why Emperor Kamn'Sunn chose to make this Offer to Me rather than My Neighbors. First and Foremost Ithera was the Closest Kingdom to the Eastern Continent. We also had Two Large Port Cities capable of handling the large number of Ships needed to move such a Massive Number of People. The next nearest Port City would add over Two Weeks of Travel to SunSpire's Fleet. Declining SunSpire's Offer would probably mean that Emperor Kamn'Sunn would offer that Port City a Similar Deal. Could I afford to let My Neighboring Country expand their Population to such numbers. A population made up of Women of Prime Breeding Age. 18 years from now they could Invade Ithera with an Army larger than anything we've ever seen before as their Population grows to completely overshadow My Kingdom's Own. I shivered at the thought before returning to the business at hand.

Lord Tarn put the Gilded Scroll back into his small side satchel and moved forward with his Marrage Proposals.

"Your Majesty My Next Prospect is a bit Unorthodox, are you familiar with the Tuan Tinithan?"

I had indeed heard that name before. They were a Nomadic Tribe of Warrior Elves who had long ago been driven out of their Ancestral Home. Rumor was that their Former lands lay on the Other side of our Southwestern Border. The Powerful Human City State of Holcinious held those Lands with their Sizable Army of Well Trained Mercenaries.

Tilting My Head I respond to My Steward. "I AM SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH THAT ELVEN CLAN. WHAT WORTH WOULD THEY BRING TO ITHERA WITH A MARRIAGE? WOULD A UNION BETWEEN US NOT DESTROY OUR CURRENT FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP WITH HOLCINIOUS AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO WAR AGAINST A GOOD TRADING PARTNER?"

Tarn shook his head and reassured Me that My Worries were Unfounded. "The Tuan Tinithan do not ask us to invade Holcinious My King. It is true that they want us to Promise that should our Kingdom ever take Control of the Lands of their Lost Civilization then they would gain Governorship of that Territory under our leadership. But they have not demanded that we threaten our Neighbor and are willing to forgo any More **** if we agree to their Proposal. The Elves ask for some Territory in which they can build a Stronghold of their Own. In exchange the Tuan Tinithan are offering to give you and your Descendants their Fealty in terms of becoming a new Duchy within Ithera. 20 Percent of their Current Warrior Population will be given to you as Loyal Soldiers. Their Contract will stipulate that their Military Contribution will only be that 20 Percent and those Elite Elven Warriors will only Be given Once Per Monarch upon their Coronation. At their current count Your Majesty would be getting about 400 Elite Elvish Warriors. As is their Custom the Tuan Tinithan would ask that you accept one of their Clan Warriors as your Bride, Selected from among the 400 Warriors they Send you. Should we accept their offer they Ask that you choose your Bride within 1 Month after their Arrival."

A new Elven Stronghold being added as a Duchy to My Lands and a Cohort of 400 Elite Elven Warriors added to My Army. That was an amazing offer. Moreso even, because the Longevity of My Half Elven Children would be substantially longer than My own Lifespan. There was still the Possibility that this would cause friction with Holcinious but only a minor chance if the Elves Were True to their Word and Ceased any and all **** against the City State. Having the Elves Join My Kingdom could Provide many benefits in the Long Term. Who knew how that Alliance Might Develop if our respective peoples managed to come together for mutual gain.

Tarn Caughed to draw My attention back to him. I guess he had another Proposal.

"My King, this Last Offer of Marrage is the One I would Prefer for You to Give Your Utmost Consideration."

That was his Subtle Yet Not So Subtle Way of Telling Me that this was His True Choice and Given our Prior Agreement Tarn Wants Me to Agree to it. If it was that important to him that I Accept This Particular Marrage Proposal then I'd be interested to know what Deal could Possibility be better than all of those other Major Opportunities. At least in Terms of What Lord Gilbert Tarn thought was Best for This Kingdom.

"My Informants Sent Me Confirmation, as of 5 Days ago The King of Fallistine Lies Dead, Cut Down in Battle during a Raid against Orcs beyond their Western Borders. Everyone Knows King Edunlund's son is a Pathetic Weakling unfit for the Throne. This is why the King's Last Will and Testament has Pronounced his Son's Disinheritance and declared his Young 17 year old Daughter the Heir to his throne. Princess Salina Falen is not yet of Marriageable age but she is Eligible for Betrothal. Her age is not a concern as she will reach her Majority in Only Three Months. Your Majesty I have reached out to Fallinstine's Interum Regent and they agree that a Merger between our Two Kingdoms and Royal Families would be hugely beneficial to us all. Unfortunately, I have received word that the Former Prince is Denying the loss of his Rights to Inherit and has fled from the Palace to take shelter with Vassals who would like to install him as their Puppet upon Fallistine's Throne. Rebellion against the Princess is likely Inevitable but I have no doubts that Your Highness can trounce the Rebel Prince and the Traitorous Nobility. There is much to gain by accepting this Offer. Please do Consider it Wisely."

Tarn was laying it on a bit thick with this last Proposal. Fallistine lay just over the Mountains to our West. Of course, we would have to seize DainHold First in order to Secure a Safe Route into Fallistine, but Tarn knew I was Planning on Conquering that Small Kingdom anyways. It would be an easy matter for me to continue on into Fallistine with the Bulk of My Army after Dain was Subjugated. Adding the Kingdom of Fallistine to Ithera would Triple the Size of My Entire Realm. Adding in Dain and the Vast Swath of Wild Mountains that were mostly Unclaimed going North and South could easily make My Kingdom 5 Times Larger than its Current Size. That said nothing about the Wealth that Fallistine had to offer. Much of that Kingdom's Wealth came from it's many Silver Mines. Mines that would Make Me Disgustingly Rich within only a few Years. Add in Dain's ability to Produce a vast quantity of Quality Steel and I could Easily Pay to equip Thousands of Soldiers with the Best Steel Armor and Weapons Money can Buy. What Tarn was offering sounded too good to be true. Knowing My Steward it probably was. I'd bet good money that Tarn and Fallistine's Regent set this whole thing up. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that King Edunlund didn't die from an Orc's blade. And that his Son the Prince was not the Fop Tarn was making him out to be. Nor would I be amazed to learn that the Written Will Proclaiming Princess Salina as the Rightful Hier was a Forgery or Didn't actually exist. Even with all of that Treachery involved it was still an Enticing offer. All I had to do was ignore the Moral Quandary and I could expand Ithera to Unforseen Hights that My Children could one day be proud of.

So many options. I'll have to think them over wisely as Tarn suggested. Speaking of My Fake Father. The Time had come to deal with him.

Lady Elizabeth Stening Royal Knight of Ithera entered My Throne Room with as much Stealth as she could muster. Meaning that the Doors she threw open cracked loudly and caused everyone within the Chamber to Flinch at the Noise. Elizabeth Grimaced in dissatisfaction at her mistake. I hadn't asked her to be Stealthy. I'd only asked her to make a discreet entrance. But, Oh Well. True Loyal Retainers were hard to aquire with Tarn Watching My Every Movement. Lady Elizabeth was a Talented Warrior but she was hardly good at discretion. Besides her timing was nearly perfect. I only just received the Signal from another of My Loyalists that Tarn's Personal Gaurds had Successfully been Neutralized. The Battle was Over and My Palace was Secure. All without anybody within My Court Hearing a single thing. The thick Sound Deafening Walls of this Throne Room had been Built to prevent Eavesdropers from listening into the Kings More Private Meetings. It just so happened to also prevent the People inside the Hall from Hearing anything from Outside so long as the Doors were closed. My Plans could've gone south very quickly if any of the Guilty Nobility within this Room had Escaped and Rallied any of their Personal Forces to fight against Me. That would've meant a Bloody Civil War. Thankfully, no, none of That would happen This Day. I'd summoned all of the Upper Aristocracy from My Kingdom to attend My Coronation and Ordered them all to stay for 3 days to Attend Me At Court. Aside from a few Emergencies such as Duke Edunlund's Daughter Linnessa who Begged My Forgiveness for not being able to attend in Person, I had all of them in one Place. The Loyalists, the Traitors, the Lawbreakers and the Non Affiliated. They were all here and they were about to be Judged. Instead of a Civil War I'd instigated a Successful Coup D'etat. Technically this was a Counter Coup as the True Coup D'etat was instigated by Tarn and his Conspirators well over a decade ago.

My plan was rather Simple. But I'd initially only given it a 30% chance of actual success. Tarn and his ringleader allies were a Very Crafty Bunch of individuals. I expected them to somehow devise My Plans based on the oddest inconsistencies in My Behavior. Yet that didn't happen.

Just as I'd Planned My Loyalists had removed Lord Tarn's Conspirators from Ithera's Army, which included General Tumul himself. After executing Tumul who was too great a threat to leave alive My Capitol City's Standing Army of 3000 Men was ordered to assemble with their Gear in the Parade Grounds of the Military District. Lady Elizabeth then informed My Soldiers of Lord Gilbert Tarn's Treachery and that their King Ordered them to lock down the Capital City and then Proceed to Arrest Everyone on My Traitor Lists as well as any Household Troops. This Order included the Regular Staff of those Traitors just to be on the safe side. The Vast Majority of the Army was loyal to me. So with the Traitors having been removed from their Command Structure they set to work Obeying My Orders. Much of the City Guard had become corrupt under Tarn's Stewardship. So My Soldiers had to arrest them on Mass until we could sort out who was innocent. I wasn't sure 3000 Soldiers would be enough to Secure My City containing over 73 Thousand People. At the Very least I expected something would go wrong. I just Hoped that it wasn't anything Catastrophic that would threaten the overall success of the Operation. I guess I was about to discover how successful My Counter Coup actually was.

Lady Elizabeth strode into the Hall with Dozens of Dismounted Knights following her inside. They Cut a swath through the Center of the Room with More Soldiers fanning out to surround the Nobles themselves. Elizabeth may be a Noble, but her Particular Family Tree had Received alot of Derision from the Other Nobles of My Kingdom. This was because of the Orc Blood that "Tainted" their Nobility. The only indicator that Elizabeth had inhuman blood was her Towering 7 Foot tall overly Muscular Body. Like Me, My Most Loyal Knight had Raven Black Hair, although hers was cut short only falling to her shoulders whereas I'd let Mine Grow long. Her Family's "Tainted" Heritage was exactly why I had grown to Trust her in the First Place. None of My Enemies would ever associate with "Someone Like Her" as those Snot Nosed Nobles would put it. Lady Elizabeth wasn't a Gorgeous Beauty, but I would Most Certainly Call her Cute. Especially when she fell all over Herself to Be My Most Loyal of Servants.

My Steward was Livid with this Disruption of Palace Protocol. Lord Tarn still Had no Idea what was going on. That was something I was Extreamly thankful to see. I rather expected him to nonchalantly turn to me at the last moment and tell me how Foolish I was for Attempting to Challenge him. Then Elizabeth and the Others who I thought were loyal to me would laugh in My Face and Drag Me Off in Chains likely after a Harsh beating. The Current Outrage on Tarn's Face told me that this Event had taken him Entirely By Surprise.

Tarn Stepped Angrily Towards the Woman Who Vowed Her Undying Soul to My Service and Mine Alone. Although he did not Shout his Voice Thundered Through the Chamber Menacingly. Tarn believed himself to be standing within a Mighty Fortress of "His" Unassailable Power. He Didn't hesitate to exercise his Authority as My Steward and Former Regent. Authority that as of Today He No Longer Commanded. "Lady Elizabeth this behavior is Unbecoming of a Royal Knight in the Service of His Majesty. Explain Your Actions Immediately!"

My Loyal Knight ignored the Traitor calling himself My Steward. The Huge Woman Bowed before Me on one knee and Soluted by Slapping her Armored Fist to Her Steel Chestplate. "My King, the City is Under Control. The Traitors have been rounded up and sequestered for Questioning. Your TruthMinder is sifting though the Memories of Your Soldiers and Town Guardsmen learning who can be Trusted and Fingering the Corrupt as we speak. The Traitors among the Royal Knights were many as you suspected, but they've been Purged from our Ranks. We have Finished Removing Your Majesty's Enemies from the Castle. What are your Orders Sire?"

The Various looks of Pure Panic, Outrage and Surprise on all the Nobles Faces was Simply Priceless. Especially Tarn's. It looked like his head was about to Explode. He turned to Me with a Betrayed Look. As if I didn't Know What He'd Done to Deserve such an attack. "Your Majesty, What is the Meaning of This?!"

He still didn't think I had Any Idea about what He'd Done to My Family. Tarn must be thinking that I was betraying him for more power just Like he had betrayed My Father. I almost rolled My Eyes at his Cluelessness. I couldn't believe that this was the Same Man Who Terrified My Mind for the Last Nine Years of My Life. I Sighed and Rose to My Feet. I'd Originally Planned to make a big production of This, but now that the Time had Finally Come, I just wanted this Done and Over With so I could Move on With My Life.

"SEIZE THE TRAITORS." At My Command A Number of My Knights Singled out individuals in the Crowd and kicked the backs of their Knees. Those Confirmed Traitors fell to their Knees on the Stone Floor and the Knights fell atop them with Shackles for their Wrists. With My Knights Blocking the Doors and Surrounding the Hall nobody even Dared to try to Run Away. And all of the Targeted People were restrained in Short order. Tarn was one Such Individual.

He visibly shook with rage as two of My Royal Knights **** him to his Knees.

I Rose up from My Throne and looked Down at him. As Much as I wanted to have him interrogated to learn all his Secrets it was Far Safer to simply end his Life. It would take days to Ensure there were no more Hidden Agents within My Palace and City. It would only take 1 Significantly Trained Operative or Well Payed Knight to set Tarn Loose. Just Because there were no more Traitors didn't mean that new People couldn't be Bribed. Tarn had made himself the Richest Man in My Kingdom through investments by utilizing the Royal Treasury. He could easily afford to free himself with the Promise of Coin. I didn't intend to give anyone the Chance for Temptation.

"LORD GILBERT TARN. FOR THE **** OF MY FATHER AND MOTHER, THE KING AND QUEEN OF ITHERA I FIND YOU GUILTY. FOR THIS AND YOUR INNUMERABLE OTHER TRAITOROUS CRIMES AGAINST THIS ROYAL FAMILY I SENTENCE YOU TO **** BY BEHEADING." I hefted My Heavy War Scythe and held it aloft.

"TO BE CARRIED OUT IMMEDIATELY." I declared and then Slashed My Incredibly Sharp Blade through his Neck Decapitating Tarn in a Single Blow.

Gasps of Surprise came from the Entrapped Nobles as Tarn's Blood Spilled onto My Throne Room's Floor. The Last Expression on His Face was one of Fearful Shock. More than One Lady of My Court Passed out From the Bloody Spectacle of My Measured ****. The Nobility of My Realm needed to learn that I would Enforce the Rule of Law in My Kingdom. This would serve as a Bloody Good Example for why they shouldn't Betray Me. At least, it would for those who Survived Today's Purge.

I was sure there were still Evil Men and Women hiding among the Nobility, but They would not be able to Disguise Themselves once My TruthMinder arrived to Tell Me their Secrets.

I used a rag offered to me by one of My Knights to Wipe the Blood off of My Scythe and turned to look at Lady Elizabeth. "SEND WORD TO SARA. AS SOON AS SHE IS FINISHED ASCERTAINING THE LOYALTY OF THE TROOPS AND GUARDSMEN IN THE CITY I WANT HER BROUGHT HERE. WE WILL ALL AWAIT HER ARRIVAL HERE. NO NOBLE SHALL SEE THE INSIDE OF A CELL UNTIL THEIR CRIMES ARE VERIFIED." I said this looking upon the Many Nobles of My Kingdom. No Doubt these Men and Women were all Somewhat Worried whether or not their Heads would also be removed from their Shoulders. Even those of them who weren't guilty were Probably Very Nervous. I was gratified to see at least a few of them Visibly Relax at My Loudly Stated Order. Perhaps Not All of My Nobility was corrupt.

The Civil Unrest in the City from the Many Arrests was thankfully minimal. It Lessened even more when My Soldiers began spreading the Word of Tarn's LongStanding Betrayal. I'd thought about keeping it quiet so My Authority wouldn't come into question, but I quickly decided doing so wasn't Realistic. Word would Spread Regardless of any measures I might take. The Best way to get ahead of the Situation and Calm My People was to have My Soldiers Spread the Word that Their New King was in Control. That I was being the Decisive Ruler that would Keep us all safe.

It took Sara, My Until now Secret TruthMinder over 8 Hours to give My Army and City Gaurd a rapid going over to check their Loyalty. Any who were Traitors or had Split Loyalties due to corruption were Arrested until Sara had more Time to Properly Delve into their Minds to Find the Truth of their Crimes.

It was probably a good thing that Tarn had Long Harbored a Dismisive Attitude when it came to Magic. That was a common enough Attitude in a country that didn't have much Magical Aptitude. Ithera was one such place. When Tarn had Killed My Father he also drove away or outright murdered many of our Local Magic Users. He did it simply so they couldn't be a threat to his Rule. I discovered Sara when I was Researching the Events of My Father's ****. I came across a Birth Certificate that mentioned the Daughter of a TruthMinder who was Born 7 Months after the Mysterious **** of Her Father. I was able to track Down the Young 10 Year Old Girl living with her ailing mother within the City. Long Story Short. Her Mother Passed away not long after we met and I became more to her than simply a Friend. We bonded over the loss of our Parents and our Desire to Defeat the Man Who Destroyed our Families. Sara Knew I had to be discreet because of My Watchers, but I supported Her Financially so she didn't have to live on the Streets or go to an Orphanage.

TruthMinders were Rare. I was Lucky to have Sara at My Side. When My Knights Escorted her to the Palace I welcomed the Exhausted 12 Year old Girl with an Exuberant Hug. Tarn's Body had long been Removed but I Told Sara of The Demise of our Common Foe showing her the Bloody Stain on the Floor as Proof of Our Victory. Sara was eager to hear the Story and Absorbed Every Detail. I let her rest, eat and recover her Magical Strength. Thankfully her Particular Magical Ability didn't require alot of energy when giving people a Cursory Scan. Only when she Tried to Delve deeper into a person's mind did it Tax her Energy Stores Greatly. So I ordered plenty of High Energy Food and Drink so Sara could more easily work her Magic.

She sat on My Lap as she worked. One by One the Nobles were brought forth to be Judged.

The Rest of the Week was a bit of a Whirlwind. With Sara's ability to Find the Corruption among the Nobility it was relatively simple to locate the few additional Traitors I hadn't Suspected. Unfortunately I also arrested quite a few Lords and Ladies for **** of their Legal Powers. Tarn Really had Engendered a high level of Corruption throughout My Father's Kingdom. But it was My Kingdom now.

By the End of the First Day over Three Fourths of My Country's Nobility was Imprisoned or were Executed in the Cases of the Traitors involved with My Parents ****. The Traitors not only lost their Lives. Their Families Lost all Right to Inherit their Lands, Titles and Wealth. As was the Law in Ithera All of it was reverted to the Control of the Crown. Me. Seizure of Tarn's Treasury alone made me the Richest Man in the Kingdom. And that wasn't even including his Wealth in Land and Tarn's Buisness Ventures. All of which were now Mine.

By the End of the Week I was able to bring the Rest of Ithera under My Control. I ran Sara Ragged using her Abilities. My Military was Stretched Thin and Tired from the Constant Peacekeeping actions Required to Prevent the other Cities in Ithera from succumbing to Civil Unrest after the Removal of their Corrupted Liege Lords. Before My Counter Coup the Royal Family had Privately Owned 26 Percent of Ithera. When it was all said and done I Personally Controlled almost 80 Percent of the Entirety of the Kingdom. My Treasury was so Bloated with the Wealth of the Corrupt that it would Make a Dragon Orgasam. My Personal Wealth was now greater than all of My Remaining Vassals Combined Together and it would only Grow as I Established My Governance Over all of My New Holdings. My Authority as King was now Absolute.

The Downside to all of these Gains was the Fact that I too was Pushed to My Physical and Mental Limits. There was no Time During that First Week to Enjoy My Success. I endured alot of Sleepless Nights consumed by the Reading of Reports from Throughout My Kingdom. The 8th Day of that Long Week saw the Complete End of All Instabilities that could've Caused Major Trouble. All Due to My Diligence and the Hard Work of My Increasing Number of Trusted Subjects thanks to Sara's Magic that Prevented Ithera from Falling into Total Chaos.

To Brighten the Mood of My People I decided to pay for a Kingdom Wide Festival. The Event would Celebrate the End to this Era of Corruption. I spent Ten Times My Weight in Gold to Hire Entertainers, Purchase Food, and Tasteful **** for My Entire Realm. Many People in Ithera were in Sore Need of a Good Celebration. Myself included.

I also hadn't Forgotten My Duty to Supply My Kingdom with an Hier. In fact Given My Personal Power it was More Important Now than Ever Before. Which was Why I Decided on a Radical Solution that dated back to the Founding Rulers of Ithera.

During the Hight of the Celebration I Made My Announcement on the Steps of the Palace My Father Built. "PEOPLE OF ITHERA. THIS WEEK MARKS THE END OF THE EVIL THAT HAS CONSUMED OUR KINGDOM SINCE THE **** OF MY BELOVED FATHER AND MOTHER. I KNOW THAT WHEREVER THEY ARE THEIR SOULS REST PEACEFULLY IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR PEOPLE CAN NOW LIVE FREELY, WITHOUT FEARING THE EVILS THAT LURK IN THE SHADOWS. I TOO AM NOW FREE OF THIS FEAR. I HAVE THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHAT I WOULD DO SHOULD THE TIME COME WHEN I WAS FREE. MY FIRST DUTY IS TO ALL OF YOU. MY PEOPLE. I MUST GIVE YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. AND WITHOUT CHILDREN THERE CAN BE NO FUTURE. YET, EVEN IF I WERE TO TAKE A WIFE IT WOULD TAKE A LIFETIME FOR ME TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ENOUGH CHILDREN OF MY BLOOD TO SECURE OUR REALM'S FUTURE."

The Look upon My Subject's Faces told Me that they Knew exactly how easy it would be to snuff out My Royal Family Line. It would only take the Elimination of One Man to Erase all the Good I'd Done. Were I to die My Kingdom could easily fall to Ruin.

"I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE LUXURY OF HAVING A TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE AS HAS BECOME OUR CUSTOM. SUCH AN ACT MIGHT DOOM ITHERA SHOULD AN UNEXPECTED FATE BEFALL ME."

These words definitely Sobered up the Crowd. Then I told them all of My Plans.