Inside this Majestic hall sits the King, Edward MoSanchez along with his Chief Minister Louis. The Young, yellow-haired King, is swirling his gla.s.s of red wine as he listens to His Chief Minister's report.

"Your Majesty, It seems a town was sieged last night by a Horde of Goblins," said Chief Minister Louis.

"What town? and how accurate is this report? I have patrol guards stationed at the borders! There are no reports of Goblin hordes intruding our perimeters!" said Edward as he stopped swirling his gla.s.s.

"Last night, a traveling peddler going to Tenrocks city witnessed the marching horde as he was pa.s.sing by Yellowleaf. He was frightened upon seeing the marching Goblins, and fled immediately!" said the Chief Minister.

"Yellowleaf has already served its purpose. I couldn't care less for that pigsty of a village! Find out how those d.a.m.n Goblins have entered my domain!" said Edward as he threw his Wine gla.s.s on the floor.

"I will send some people to Yellowleaf to investigate the situation as soon as possible!" said Louis.

As soon as the Chief Minister was about to head out, the castle doors opened. A castle guard stepped in and gave a salute to the king.

"My lord! Someone wishes to speak with you!" said the castle guard.

"What now? Who is our uncultured guest that wish to intrude our castle walls." asked Edward.

"Your Majesty! His name is Ben Durnham. He is accompanied by his son and daughter! Should I send them away?" asked the castle guard.

"Let them in. I grant them an audience to meet with their beloved King." said Edward as he grinned maliciously.

As the castle guard went out to fetch the family, Edward asked his Chief Minister for the ident.i.ty of their guests.

"Your Majesty, His name is Ben Durnham. He runs a charitable private inst.i.tution within the city." answered Chief Minister Louis.

Ben Durnham has stepped in the Grand Hall along with his son, Falkes and his daughter, Alice.

Six Castle Guards are accompanying them as they enter the Grand Hall.

"Your Majesty. I thank you, for willing to grant this humble servant an audience." said Ben as he kneeled in front of the King. His son and daughter followed after their father and kneeled down on one leg as well.

"Oi! What is wrong with your daughter?!" asked Edward.

Alice was holding on to his brother Falkes, because his sister Alice is blind. As soon as she heard the King ask about her, she s.h.i.+vered in fear. She is well aware of the atrocities of their current ruler.

"My Apologies your highness, As you have noticed, my daughter is blind. She needs someone a.s.sisting her at all times." said Ben.

"My name is Falkes Durnham, your highness. I am simply supporting my sister. Sadly, she..."

"SMACK!"

Ben and Alice were shocked, as the King stepped down from his throne and bashed Falkes face with his golden cane and then proceeded to break his leg.

"How dare you speak in front of your king, when you are not being asked to!" shouted Edward as he bashed away at Falkes leg.

"Go ahead and speak, Mister Ben! I do not have all day!" said Edward to the dismayed Father.

"Y...Your majesty, I h..humbly ask to lower taxes on our inst.i.tution. W..we simply cannot afford to purchase food and medicine for the Sick and the disabled." said Ben as he shakes from anger and fear. He can only kneel as he watches his Son writhe in pain.

"Brother.. hic hic!" muttered Alice as he caressed his brother.

"Sigh. I really don't understand my foolish father. Why would he help these filthy paupers! Even the G.o.ds themselves have punished them for being Sinful. Alas, here we are wasting the kingdom's resources for these sinful ingrates! Be glad that I haven't purged your inst.i.tution to the ground. If it weren't for my father's orders, I would've banished you and everyone else who is afflicted, from the kingdom!" said Edward as he sat back down on his throne.

In the world of Circa, the people believed that disability was aligned with their sins and their punishment. The City's Medieval priests and scholars even believed that a body would be corrupted by sin and therefore divine punishment took the form of physical illnesses. But in actuality, due to the City's intensive labor that const.i.tuted agriculture, many peasants and serfs have been found with extensive spinal and limb injuries, as well as stunted growth, malnutrition, and general deformity.

"Bow down with your head on the floor, and thank your Great King for hitting your son on the face! Then I will think about lowering your taxes." said the grinning Edward.

"Father! you mustn't!" whispered Alice.

"Don't stop me Alice!" muttered Ben as he bowed his head on the floor with anger and hatred in his heart.

"T...thank you... your. Majesty for.. hitting my... Son... in his face..." said Ben as he bit his lips till it bled.

"Hahaha! You may go. Chief Minister Louis, reduce their taxes for three months. You have entertained me well!" said the malevolent King Edward.,

"O..of.. course your majesty! Right Away!" answered the Chief Minister. He writes down the King's words as he himself is afraid to incur the King's anger.

Ben stood up and a.s.sisted his son Falkes, who is unable to walk because of his broken leg. Alice forced herself to cease her sobbing, so she can help her father a.s.sist her injured brother out the castle. As The Broken Durnham family has reached the Doors of the hall, a fearful command was heard.

"Leave your Daughter here." said Edward.

The Durnham Family was quickly blocked by the castle guards. Ben s.h.i.+vered with fear and Falkes clenched his fists with anger.

"Mister Ben, You are already burdened by a.s.sisting your son with his broken leg due to an unfortunate accident. Since no one is able to a.s.sist your beautiful daughter, I myself will gladly a.s.sist her instead! We have many apothecaries stationed in the castle to check her eyesight, so you should be thanking me for being such a compa.s.sionate king!" said Edward.

"Your Majesty... you cant...." said Ben.

"Father... Just GO! Please... just go! hic... hic!" said Alice as she cried with fear and sadness. She wanted her family to leave the castle before things get any worse.

Ben Durnham helplessly left the castle with his injured Son. They both cried for the innocent Alice who was left behind. They can't simply imagine, what the Ruthless King can do to her.

Edward has ordered his maid servants to take Alice away to bathe and feed her for the time being. Although Alice has a beautiful face, her body's const.i.tution is lanky from malnutrition. Edward has decided to make her const.i.tution better before making his way with the innocent Alice. He can't help but be excited to prepare her as if she was a grand offering to appease an angry G.o.d.

Edward and Louis are left in the hall, along with a few castle guards.

"Your Majesty, don't you think that's a bit too much?" said Chief Minister Louis.

"As my father's right hand man and the one who knows me the most. You clearly have misunderstood the situation. These peasants have forgotten to fear me, so I simply reminded them why they should! Mark my words, Louis. All it takes is a spark of Hope for these peasants to create chaos. I will not allow chaos within my rule! This is how you keep these animals in check. Dogs will be dogs, Kings will be Kings!" said Edward as he ordered his servant to fetch another gla.s.s of wine.

Edward MoSanchez has certainly earned his t.i.tle of being a Ruthless and heinous King. Many n.o.bles under his domain have attempted to a.s.sa.s.sinate him. Even the previous top ministers have tried to stage a coup against the King. Every single one of them has utterly failed miserably. Edward hanged their tortured corpses in the city square, as a reminder to those who would go against him. Everyone in the city has lived in fear ever since.