Bab 129: The decision has been made (2/3)
Just as Rafael had hoped, the final push that made Threo king was the trebuchet and the bearing. Initially, it was the crossbow that caught the attention of the military and both dukes, but if that had been all, they wouldn't have acted.
What finally made them, along with the soldiers, fully back Threo was the introduction of concrete. With one, you could enhance your attack capabilities, while the other would strengthen your defenses.
There had still been doubts, lingering uncertainties... but those vanished when Threo revealed the trebuchet. A weapon even greater than a large crossbow—it could demolish entire structures, even fortified walls.
For an attacker, it was a dream come true, while for defenders, it was nothing short of a nightmare.
However, the backing of the army and generals alone wasn't enough. Threo also needed the advisors to choose him. That was achieved through the other inventions, combined with the people's growing support in the streets.
Even without the bearing, most of the advisors were already favoring Threo to be crowned. During the meeting with Queen Lucia, both parties—military and advisors—made their case, leaving her little choice but to bow to their will.
The high priest had been present as well, though after hearing the overwhelming support for Threo, he took a neutral stance. Lucia argued that their decision went against tradition, but they dismissed her concerns. After hours of heated debate, she finally relented.
Now, King Threo sat in his bedchamber, holding the crown in his hands. Its weight, its form, its cool surface—it all felt surreal.
"I can't believe..." His voice was barely a whisper, the crown light as air in his grip.
"...I did it." The crown was the most beautiful object he had ever seen, adorned with gold, rubies, sapphires, and other precious gems.
"The Bavarian kingdom is mine." The metal grew warm in his hands as if absorbing the heat of his triumph.
This is the miracle I needed, he thought, knowing full well who deserved the credit for it. That night, the streets were filled with cheers and celebration.
The next morning, Threo made a brief appearance before the peasants to show them their new ruler. The crowd erupted in cheers. After that, he went straight to a meeting with his advisors and generals, eager to learn the true state of his kingdom.
As a prince, Threo had known more than the common folk, but he still lagged behind the knowledge of the generals, advisors, and his late father. Now, as king, he would have to catch up quickly—learning about crops, the people's well-being, the war, the economy, and countless other matters.
Barely minutes into the meeting, he was already forced to make decisions. Holy shit, I thought this would be simple. It always seemed so easy for Father. But it wasn't. In those meetings, as a prince, there had been no pressure on him. Now, the weight of his crown made every decision feel like life or death.
"We still don't have confirmation as to why they're moving large forces south. Perhaps Swabia and Austrasia have struck a deal—Swabia will annex the south while Austrasia claims the rest of our kingdom," Duke Wallhart suggested.
"Or," another advisor added, "maybe they've had a falling out and are pausing their invasion."
"We don't know for sure, but let's not waste this opportunity. The middle region is weak right now. If we act quickly, we could retake it." Threo voiced his opinion after hearing the reports.
"Yes, but we must proceed cautiously. It could be a trap."
"Indeed," agreed another. "Even if it's not, launching a campaign of this scale will be no small feat."
"At the center of our territory lies the medium city of Carilan, surrounded by three villages. The city has a wall around it. Retaking it will be challenging," Duke Wiglaf pointed out.
The dukes served as the king's hands, managing their regions and reporting back so the king could make the most significant decisions.
"It would've been difficult before, but with the new trebuchet, those walls won't stand a chance," Threo said confidently.
"One is already being built for testing. It's just a bit larger than a grown man, so we can learn how it works before constructing a full-sized version," the general explained.
"How long until it's ready?" asked Threo.
"Perhaps a week, Milord. Our blacksmiths are working on a new bearing for the trebuchet."
"Good. We'll wait until it's ready and then decide our next move. Is there anything else?"
"Milord," an advisor said, "our iron stocks are running low. The Carinthians have raised their prices, exploiting our situation. If this continues, the treasury will be empty by year's end."
"Those fucking bastards!" Threo slammed his fist on the table. "First, they refuse to help us, and now they're bleeding us dry. When this is over, I'll invade their lands and kill their king!"
"We could confiscate iron tools from the peasants to make up the shortfall," another advisor suggested.
Threo shook his head. "That's a last resort. For now, try to bribe someone in the east to sell us iron at a better price."
"There's an iron mine near Carilan," one of the generals added. "That makes retaking the city even more critical."
"Good point. Start preparations for a campaign. In two weeks, we'll march west to reclaim Carilan and sever the enemy's communication lines."
"But Milord, if we spread our forces that thin, we'll be surrounded by enemies. If they cut off our supply lines, we'll be trapped."
"Yes," another advisor warned, "if that happens, we'll lose a significant portion of our army, and that could spell the end of our resistance."
Damn it... Threo's mind raced. The plan had seemed promising, but now he saw the risks. Losing an army like that could doom them all.
"I've changed my mind," Threo finally said, exhaling heavily. "It's too dangerous to retake Carilan now. We'll focus on a smaller, safer target first. One the enemy can't encircle."
Both generals nodded. "We'll identify the best city and village to attack and report back."
The meeting dragged on for another hour, with Threo making decisions on everything from military strategy to agricultural yields. His exhaustion deepened with every passing minute.
Later, as he lay in his bed, his mind was still spinning. Why does this have to be so hard? He longed for his mother's guidance, but more than that, he wondered about his brother. Where is Pepin? He had no answers, only fatigue.
This bed is so comfortable... For now, he pushed aside thoughts of war and strategy. I think I deserve a rest. His eyelids grew heavy.
Half his kingdom had been taken by neighboring invaders, and the crops were failing. So many problems, and he was the one who had to solve them. But he needed to rest, if only for a moment.
That afternoon, Threo remembered a promise. He took two pieces of parchment and scribbled what Avice had asked of him in return for her support. Sealing the letters with wax, he handed them to a servant.
"This is important. Deliver it to Baron Avice immediately."
The servant took the letter and nodded back before asking, "milord, Count Cuthred's son, Icarus, is marrying tomorrow. Will you attend the ceremony?"
"There's no need. Send someone else to represent the royal family."
"Prince Pepin has offered to go. Shall I let him attend?"
Why would Pepin offer? Is he trying to regain attention after losing the throne? Threo hesitated. "Send Lucio with him. I want someone I trust keeping an eye on my brother."
Later that day, in her recently renovated mansion, Avice held Threo's letter in her hands. She broke the seal eagerly, and as she read its contents, joy flooded her heart.
"Yes!" she cried, unable to contain her laughter. Everything is going to be fine. Quickly, she penned a message to someone very dear to her. Soon, a mounted scout was riding full speed toward Fritsburg, carrying two letters.
The next morning, Avice felt a wave of calm wash over her. She no longer feared the future. As she stood before a girl sitting by the window, she smiled radiantly. "It is time to go."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone