Once Upon The Life of The Wise King

The Person Named Libra

ONCE UPON THE LIFE OF THE WISE KING

Volume 1

The Birth of The Wise King

Chapter 17 - The Person Named Libra

When Priestess Bhavisha returned, King Wenhart told Queen Cielisse about what happened in the courtroom earlier.

"And what do you proposed?" the Queen inquired.

"I think," the King began, "We must increase the tax, but not in the way some of the council members wants. Annually, the townsfolk pays 700 golds, which is 15% of their annual income. The noblemen also pay 700 golds, which is only around 4 to 5 percent of their annual income. This is unfair to our people, I believe, so I thought we can make the tax standard for everyone. Regardless of occupation, a person must pay tax amounting to 15% of their annual income."

Queen Cielisse agreed with her husband. "This is a good solution that you have come up with," she praised.

"Do you have any opinion?"

"Well, let us not make this 15% tax standard immediately. Let us observe it first."

"Hm. That is reasonable. Then, I will set another meeting tomorrow to talk about this matter with them. I just it won't be as chaotic as today." The King sighed heavily, causing the Queen to laughed lightly.

"I believe it is bound to be as chaotic."

"Please don't say that." King Wenhart shook his head.

"It's been hard on you."

In the forest near where Priestess Bhavisha lived, was the witch who had saved Prince Colin from the anti-royalist faction. She was hiding behind a tree, peaking at the maids doing their chores. Where is she? She thought. Behind her was an approaching carriage. She heard the horse's hooves and wheels, so she looked over her shoulder and saw the carriage the Priestess used.

It seemed that Priestess Bhavisha noticed the witch because the carriage turned in her direction and stopped in front of her. The witch watched as the door opened.

"You are here," the Priestess said as she stepped down. "Why are you wearing a mask?" she asked when she noticed the witch was wearing a mask.

"That goat, Azazel, took my mouth." The witch furrowed her brows as she pleaded, "Help me. I don't want to stay like this forever."

"You are more powerful than me, why don't you fix it yourself?"

"I can't. I still have not recovered my majika after I blasted Azazel."

"Oh, I see. Come with me, then." Priestess Bhavisha gestured to the witch to follow her. Both of them got inside the carriage. "It seems like you have succeeded. The Queen's pregnant now, you know. And it's the heir she is carrying."

"That's good to hear, but,"  the witch paused. "I have been trying this for so many years, and now is my last chance. I don't have any black firestone left. If it is successful, then the heir, or shall I say the First King, will become the black firestone himself."

"Don't worry, Libra. I can feel that this time, you have succeeded. " The Priestess smiled at the witch, who she called Libra.

The two of them arrived at the building where the Priestess lived. They got off the carriage and Priestess Bhavisha led Libra inside her room. "Sit here." The Priestess pulled a chair.

"Did you make this?" Libra asked, noticing the dried flowers arranged in a vase on the table, as she sat down.

"I did this morning," Priestess Bhavisha replied as she sat opposite of the witch. "Now take off you mask."

Libra untied her mask and pulled it off her face. She placed the mask on the table as she looked up. "You literally do not have a mouth." She heard the Priestess say.

The next day in the palace, King Wenhart had called another meeting. One by one, the council members entered the courtroom and they waited for a moment before the King arrived and sat in his podium that was in between the two parties of the council. The council, as what had transpired the previous day, repeated the same process. It began with one person opening the topic, then another quickly said to increase the tax, followed by someone from the other side rejecting the idea.

The King did not bother interrupting them, even though he had something to propose. He simply wanted the council member to talk among themselves first and see if they ever come up with something that they could all agree on. However, the argument only escalated, so the King had to silenced them.

"Silence!" King Wenhart bellowed, repeating the scene from yesterday. "I let you talk to yourselves first to see how you handle the situation. But to me, it looked like you were kids fighting over a piece of sweet treat. Is this how a council acts? How disappointing." He sighed deeply, shaking his head.

Some of the council felt ashamed while others hid their annoyance.

"It is true that we are short on funds, but we can not let our people spend more on taxes as well for they themselves do not have extra money on them. So I thought of a plan," the King said. "I already spoke with the Queen regarding this plan and we decided to try implementing this. If results are good, then we will make this plan permanent."

"What plan is it, You Majesty?"

"I am glad someone seems interested. Well, I propose that everyone, regardless of occupation, shall pay 15 percent tax. The 15 percent of your annual income is the amount of tax you will pay each year. This will resolve both of your concerns. We increase the tax and at the same time we did not charge the townsfolk more of what they usually pay. What do you think of this solution?"

"Your Majesty, that is brilliant!" A council member who opposes the rise of tax expressed his agreement. The others on his side also followed his example and told the King that the solution is good.

The other council members who wanted to increase the tax hid their contempt. They could not accept that they were to going to pay more tax. It was different if the tax increase a few golds. But to base it on 15 percent of annual income, it was something that they were reluctant to pay.  But then again, they can not directly oppose the King, so they reluctantly agreed.

King Wenhart saw the reaction of some council members. He knew they were reluctant to agree. He took note of their faces and decided to observe them more.