The Seven Founding Fathers Revitalize the Kingdom

Declaration of War

“Thank you, sir Algus, for letting me in the castle”

“No problem, it’s just that the king ordered the castle to be on lockdown, so sorry if one of the guards said something rude to you.”

“Its fine, by the way, where is Prince George? I need to see him now.”

“He’s on the war council discussing their next step. And I must say that Prince George is impressive in how he handles the issue one by one and the insights of his friends are impressive as well. Who could know that our economy will collapse tomorrow when panic spreads?”

“Hah? You’re praising him too much, there’s no way that he can come up with a solution so fast that the minister could not.”

“Well, I witnessed how proactive those groups are If I’ll be honest. I thought the prince will be incapable of leading this country but I’m wrong. Seeing how he handles things makes our hearts at ease. You can ask the nobles if you want to confirm what I’m saying.”

Why is he praising George this much? Does he really the guy he thinks he is.

“If you put it like that, my curiosity towards him will soar haha.”

Knight Algus and Lumi are walking towards the war council. Lumi has an excited look on her face. Why is the prince is acting like what Algus describe suddenly? Lately, he wants to defect to another country and bring the kingdom to its knees, but Lumi believes that is just a talk. He can’t possibly do that since he’s inept.

They entered the war council and saw George’s friends and bureaucrats. On the table was a pile of papers that will fall if one accidentally bumped it. Lumi was dumbfounded.

“Hey, you the girl, you’re the chief attendant of the prince, right?” A man asked him it was James.

“Ye-yes. You’re one of his friends, right? May I know what you’re doing?”

“Ah as you can see, we are all busy skimming through this pile of papers. Despite this horrific tragedy, we must do everything we can to alleviate George’s burden.”

“Ahh, I understand. Then where can I find him?”

“He’s in the king’s office. Maybe doing something and if you don’t have anything important to say to him. Please step aside, he’s doing his best to not let this country fall on its knees.”

The young man said to him wryly. It made her even more dumbfounded, as he looked on his shoulder. She can see all his friends along with the nobles are seriously skimming through the file the reason she doesn’t know. Then he left the war council and went to the governmental office of the king.

Inside the king’s office, George was fighting the mountain of paperwork. While he was doing so, someone entered the room with a thunderous noise that sounded like they’d tried to kick down a perfectly good door. When he peeked through a gap in the paper mountains, he saw a young woman that resembles Lumi, her attendant.

With her regular features, skin so pales as to be translucent, and silky golden-blonde hair tied on the back, and looked at him with her grey-blue eyes. She was so gorgeous that at any other time he would have been captured by her beauty. However, despite this day’s events and an uprising internal issue, they lacked the manpower to constitutes maximum efficiency. He saw not a beautiful girl but just a new source of labor.

He called her over and practically forced her to sit next to him, He pushed two stacks of paper in her direction.

“Please compare these two sets of documents and look for places, where the values, or the number of items, don’t agree and mark them.”

“Huh, what kind of work is this George?

“What you ask? I am digging for buried treasures. That’s what.” He explained to the perplexed Lumi. “For ‘unaccounted-for expenditures’ to be precise. One pile is a request for budgetary appropriations, the other is income and expenditures reports. Even if the amount requested match, if the number of items differs, that can be indicative of either wasteful investment undertaken to fully use up their budget, or embezzlement disguised as an investment. We’ll check those, and if any laws have been broken, we’ll make each of the responsible parties to make up the loss. If we uncover personal embezzlement, we will mandate repayment, and in the event, they cannot pay, we will arrest the offender and seize their assets. Those are the words my minister of commerce said. I’m just helping them so as my adjutant and as the king. I order you to help me finish this.”

“U-Understood.”

Perhaps she has been intimidating by the threatening air of a man who had just become suddenly a king because the girl nodded along as George talked.

Around two hours passed with her working quietly next to George.

At last, the beautiful girl in an elegant white jumpsuit spoke to him, her hands never ceasing their work of checking documents as she did.

“Hey”

“What? If you’re tired you can take a break whenever.”

“No, that’s not it… I just wanna say I’m sorry for what I did to you earlier.”

George stopped moving his pen and gently touch his left cheek swollen.

“Ah, this? It's fine now I guess, I’m the one who should be saying sorry to you, for talking about that thing earlier. So, I think we’re even now.”

“Ah so why are you are getting worked up now? When we were a child you never listened to the class, nor take any interest in how to become a prince or take the throne. It's just that everyone is talking about you being different than before.”

“Ah, is that it? I think the reason is that I suddenly become a king and I must do my responsibility as a royal at least. At first, I was shocked when I heard that my father, mother, brother is dead.”

“So how do you feel about it?”

“Of course, I was shocked. No one ever thought that it will happen. It surprises us. If you’re talking about my mental being, I’m okay. This is not the time to act emotionally, there is a time for that.”

“Sorry for your loss your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty? I’ve never thought that I would be called like that.”

Lumi Neileigh turned to face George. She was close, and they looked into one another’s eyes. Unlike George, who was just taken aback, her beautiful grey-blue eyes seemed like they were trying to evaluate him. After they looked into one another’s eyes for some time George opened his mouth slowly.

“Well, it looks like the deadline has passed. I need to go to the war council to know the situation.”

“Ohh is that” Lumi shrank to her seat her face was dye red.

“If you want to come with me to see how we do things…”

“No, no. If it is about the principality then you have to hustle.”

“Sorry, do you not mind leaving this paperwork to you? I feel bad leaving you alone here reading all the ledger.”

“It's not that... As your adjutant, this is the least that I can do, so go now, George.”

George hurriedly leaves the office as Lumi was left alone. She looked at the mountain of papers rest on his table. Seeing how hardworking he is. It feels different from her. What made him do that? He was never been hardworking before.

She touched her ample bosom her heart is pounding just by replaying her memories of how serious George was when marking the papers.

In the war council room, they all stood up and stop all their doing briefly.

“You can seat now. Then, did the Bayronian navy docked to their port?”

They all looked down and wear a grim face. George did not expect this to happen. Did the Bayronian didn’t return to their ports?

“Your Majesty there is no movement on the enemy ships at all. They are still on the Remaine strait.” Alexander reported.

“What the f**k? If they are still in the Remaine Strait, then it only can mean one thing. They are ready for war and by doing so and add the strained relationship between our country. Then they are the one who’s responsible for this attack.”

“That seems to be the case, your Majesty,” Algus said standing beside him.

“Argh!” He kicked the table to vent out his anger. This is the first they saw George did something unpredictable.

He breathed heavily to calm his anger and faced Jay. There is also another person entered the room, he looked behind him and saw Lumi Neileigh she was supposed to be in his office.

“I tried the diplomacy route and offered them peace between our countries! If this is how it goes then they really left me no choice.”

Just how strained is the relationship between the Kingdom of Ametus and the Principality of Bayronian?

“I have the forces of the three dukes and the royal army, in terms of numbers we are strong. We will drive them off. Jay contact all the dukes and prepare for an attack!”

“Yes, sir!”

“I need the three dukes to patch up with their faces on now!”

“Yes sir!”

Thirty minutes later the gem broadcasting jewel lit up and showed the faces of the three dukes. He can now see their appearances. But it was odd at first due to their appearances. Those are the three dukes who controlled the kingdom’s land, air, and sea forces. The first duke who controlled the army, Duke Carmine Fortress,

He had a well-built physique that an ordinary guy like George couldn’t hope to compare with, a mane that served to accentuate his manliness, and lastly, the shining fiery eyes of a lion. Even though he was only seeing a video image of him, it felt like he was right there in the room with them.

Next to him was the Admiral of the Navy, Lucy Countour.

She is wearing a kimono that was similar in style to the ones wore in Japan, she was a beautiful sea serpent woman with antlers poking through her navy-blue hair. In this world sea serpents were a race that could live for over a thousand years, and she herself, according to his memories, had already reached an age of more than three hundred, yet still looked to be in no more than her early twenties. However, contrary to her appearance, her command showed all the experience that came with that age.

Lastly, the General of the Airforce, Geraint Lift. He looked like a gallant young man, but the two oni-lie horns that grew through his yellow hair, the membranous wings that grew from his back, and the lizard-like tail marked him as half-dragon, a dragonet. He was close to one hundred years old, but as a member of a race that lived to five hundred years, he was still treated as a youngster.

“Greetings my joint chiefs of staff. Thank you for answering our call. But this time I will use this as an ultimatum to the three of you,”

George said that in order to keep himself being overwhelmed by Carmine. He issued this pronouncement in a clear tone.

“Lately I took the throne you all seemed to doubt my capabilities even though I am direct blood of the King. One of you specifically the General of the Air force and the General of the army, pledge their cooperation only to this battle. And I find it as an insult during this time of horrific tragedy. And I also quite sure that the suddenness with which the throne changed hands must have been played into that. As such I will not hold you responsible for talking to me like that. We are in an inevitable war. I worry that in the future, you will not obey me as to how you obey my father. So, I need to make something clear. I need you to pledge your loyalty to the royal family, right here and right now. You have permission to speak.”

George looked at them with serious intimidation reciprocating their oppressive aura. A moment passed on of them spoke.

“Before I do that can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“What will happen to the army if we pledge our services to you?”

“I will reorganize the army and absorbed all your forces to the royal army. During these times when conflict is everywhere, having multiple chains of commands is troublesome so to avoid the conflict that I will face from nearby nations, especially the Empire. I the three of you to merge your forces into ours. I will not take your duchies; you can still run it like the way you have been doing every day. I have plans for the Kingdom, I will make this kingdom stronger than before, this is not talking. I have drafted my policies since I took the throne. And I will tell you, that would be exhilarating. To prove it I have my minister of defense and energy to show something to you. Go ahead, Jay.”

“Yes, your Majesty” And showed them a blue paper and faced it to the camera-like gem.

“These are my prototype that I will change the warfare of war. In the General of the Army as you can see, instead of heavy cavalry I will change it into something impressive. This one is called a tank. It can shoot exploding magic at a great distance. Next for the navy, I believe that all of our ships are made out of wood right? Then say hello to this beauty” Jay showed another blueprint. “This ship is made out of steel!”

When they heard that a ship can be made from steel, they are surprised and shocked.

“A ship made of steel. Are you saying that steel can float on water?” Duchess Lucy said half-serious and half-curious.

“Yes, and I assure you, you’ll love it. Especially you Duchess Lucy.”

“If you think you can build that then I look forward to it.”

“Then lastly for the air forces.” Jay showed another blueprint. “Have you seen a bird made out of steel that can rival the griffons and wyverns in terms of all aspects?”

“I don’t understand the design but if what you’re saying is you can build flying steel? Are you mocking us? We’re not stupid. Steel is heavy, to begin with… “

“There are many metals, to begin with, each has a different density. If you comply with our King and pledge your fidelity. I can build these things. So, hurry up.”

“Thank you, Jay you may seat now,” George said.

“So how about it? I assure you that those things that he had shown are true. But we can’t make it if there is a threat outside of the Kingdom, and that is the Bayronian principality.”

The room is shrouded with silence. All the nobles, the dukes, and Lumi are looking dubiously to George and his friends. Moments later, a man spoke.

“Then, I Carmine Fortress, the General of the Army swore my loyalty to the new king.”

“I Lucy Countour, the Admiral of the Navy swore my loyalty to the new king.”

“I Geraint Lift, the Admiral of the Air Forces swore my loyalty to the new king.”

George clasped his hands after they’ve sworn their loyalty to them.

“Now, stepping that aside, there is a flotilla of destroyers in the Remaine strait. I want you to intercept and destroy it in accordance with them breaking the law of International Water Territorial Treaty and a provocation of an act of war.”

“Yes, your Majesty, I will order the navy to scramble reinforces the first ship that blocked it.”

“Thank you, Lucy, then as for Geraint. I need you to scramble your wyverns and support the navy.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And lastly for Carmine. I need you to layout our battle plan on how we will invade the Principality’s capital, Han. I leave the planning to you.”

“Will do Your Majesty.”

“Okay, I can’t still believe that my first act as the king of Ametus to declare war on the Principality.”

“Sir you need to tell the populace that our enemy is the Principality.”

“Okay.”

His joint chief of staff’s carrier out his orders flawlessly they are now in the war against the Principality of Bayronian, the aggressor and the perpetrator of the horrific tragedy.

George went to the Gem Broadcasting Room again, along with his attendant Lumi. She was beside him all along. Now that they are waiting for the gem to go live. She has the chance to speak.

“Hey, George.”

“Why?”

“Regarding the designs that you’ve shown to them. Is that true? Can you really make those implausible things?”

“Of course, If we have the materials, we can build it. But for now, we must remove the threat of the Principality. They will delay my plans for this kingdom. It needs a complete overhaul.”

“Policies? Building implausible things? How can you think of that?”

“If I attempt to explain to you, you will be completely confused. When the time is right. I will tell you the truth.” George walked to the gem and readied himself. Lumi is looking at his back as he walks away.

“The truth? What did he mean?”

….

George stretched his hands and he gets ready for the broadcast.

“We will now live in 3…2…1”

The populace stopped for a moment as they saw the gem broadcasting system lit. It is broadcasted all around the region and in the world. The dukes and duchess with their own gem watched as well. They will now see the appearance of their new king, the leader that will lead the country.

“Good evening my fellow citizens. My name is Prince George Ametus, the provisional king of Ametus. Tonight, our way of life came under attack. This act of cowardice was meant to cripple our nation but as before, The Kingdom of Ametus will show to the continent that we will not bow down to fear. That we will fight back. That we will persevere.

In the war room council watching the speech, the nobles and his co-founder were awed at the opening of his speech. The dukes that are watching the broadcast are surprised as well.

“Did he say that without preparation? That man is becoming a mystery when he took up the throne.” Duchess Lucy said.

“Yeah, I never thought that he can say that words straightly.” Duke Carmine said.

“Well, we will see how tough our new king will be,” Geraint said.

…

Speech continuation.

“The victims were husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, daughters and sons/ Their life were devoted to service. They went to work today like any other day. Striving to make our country safer and brighter. Rest assured they have not died in vain. None of us will ever forget this day. Where we were. What we were doing. How we were feeling. We are all united in the way and it is in that union we will find strength. Immediately following the attack, continuity of government was initiated, as the next line of the throne before my brother that had died in a horrific tragedy, I was sworn in as your new King of the Kingdom of Ametus. The government will continue without interruption. The kingdom of Ametus opens for business tomorrow. And to those who would seek to take advantage of what happened we will as we always will protect its people.

This is an opportunity for you as well, our neighbors and countries that exist on this peaceful continent. To show the world you stand with peace. With justice. And I tell all the nation to this world to help us fends the country responsible for this horrific attack.

Earlier since I took the throne, I have sworn a promise to hunt down those behind the bomb that exploded the theater and killed our king, queen, ministers, people that has families that they’ll return. And I fulfilled my promise, as we have identified the Principality of Bayronian as the country responsible. Accordingly, at three hours and fifteen minutes ago. We have found a flotilla of Bayronian destroyers in the Remaine strait as it tries to block all our incoming trades to another country. And I ordered the royal navy to intercept and destroy the ship that violates the sanctity of our territorial waters. I’ve ever met, the ambassador of the Principality as I offered a diplomatic solution, but I believe on this day that there you cannot negotiate to a terrorist that only cares about the piece of land that we took five decades ago and killed our people in the process. So, I announced, to all the people and the country. That I hereby declare war to the Principality of Bayronian. That’s all, and God bless this kingdom of Ametus.”

The transmission cuts and George heave a heavy sigh.

“You surprised me, your Majesty. I didn’t know that you are a speaker as well” Lumi approached him as completed his speech.

“Ahh, I just thought of it on the spot since my emotions are still welling up inside. In terms of numbers, we will against the Principality in no time.”

“Will you invade the Principality’s territories?”

“No, I that will take too many resources, I hope that they can be intimated by numbers. I’m sleepy now. I will announce my new ministers tomorrow and implement the policies and reforms tomorrow. I believe we have the budget for that, thanks to you. Give it to my minister of commerce his name is Jay.”

“Understood.”