THE KING PALACE.
THE KING POV.
I sat at the war chamber, the fire throwing long shadows across the table. On it lay a single document.the census of wealth in the kingdom. At the top, circled in red ink, two words
" Lord Dutch Household"
Two hundred years ago, they had been my family’s servants.
Now they owned more land, more trade routes, and more loyalty than my crown itself.
A knock.
My advisor entered, bowing low. “They’ve refused the loyalty oath again, sire. Lord Dutch says if you want to see him, you’ll meet him as an equal.”
I didn’t answer right away. I was listening to a voice from the past my great-grandfather’s voice, from the night the old man lay dying in a cabin outside the capital.
FLASHBACK.
The old king was 70, his hands shaking, but his eyes still sharp.
“The
