"I've been ruling for nearly seven hundred years," Kartiel said, turning his attention to the princess. "But this kingdom isn't just a monarchy - it's more of a democracy than anything. I rule as 'king' as more of a figurehead than anything else - the rest of the world judges us enough as it is. And my father...my father was a human, so his reign was relatively short."
"S***," Kynan mumbled, mostly to himself. "It's like the Eternal Queen all over again, and Kendrik said she wasn't all that together."
S'io credesse che mia risposta fosse a persona che mai tornasse al mondo, questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse. Ma per ciò che giammai di questo fondo non tornò vivo alcun, s'i' odo il vero, senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.
Kartiel and Orpheus exchanged yet another look between each other - they tended to do that a lot when in the company of some of the country's politicians and some of the castle's workers, but they rarely did it as much as they had been today.
"Don't worry," Orpheus hurriedly assured Kynan. "Kartiel's mentally sound. He's actually the one who created the democratic system here a few hundred years ago, since he didn't have any heirs but didn't think it was right for him to always be in charge of the country."
Kartiel cast a glance over in Orpheus' direction. "Although I do have an heir now, this current system still works better." Orpheus didn't meet Kartiel's gaze; he really didn't like to think about that. He just wanted to stick to learning about his magic. And unless Kartiel vanished off of the face of the Earth like his mother had, then there would be no need for him to become king.
Calfuray's head was tilted as she watched and listened to this play out, her eyes glittering. Though she did have more to say, she didn't want to open her mouth and risk missing any information. One inference and a certain look caught her interest, however, and she couldn't help but commenting.
"Orpheus is your heir, then?" Her glance darted between them, and it didn't occur to her until after the words had already left her mouth that perhaps he didn't want this fact known.
"He is," Kartiel confirmed, just as Orpheus let out a heavy sigh from beside him. This caused the king to turn around and stare at him - they had discussed this many times before, and there really was no question about it. Orpheus was the only person related to him. If anything happened to him, Orpheus would have to take over. It was as simple as that. And while Orpheus may have protested the decision, he rarely left his side. He knew more about the kingdom than any of the advisors he had once had ever did, and he suspected that some of this knowledge came from other secret trips out of the castle.
"What's 'democratic?' Kynan said. "And why does it work better?"
S'io credesse che mia risposta fosse a persona che mai tornasse al mondo, questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse. Ma per ciò che giammai di questo fondo non tornò vivo alcun, s'i' odo il vero, senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.
Kartiel perked up at this question. While Orpheus knew he was likely disappointed because Kynan was unaware of what a democracy was, he also knew that Kartiel loved to talk about the system he had implemented in the kingdom.
"A democracy is when the people get to decide what happens in a kingdom," Kartiel explained. "In Telorum, the democracy works by people electing representatives who share their similar views. These representatives are put on a council that determine most of the policies here, though some specific policies are voted on by the actual people. The only reason it's not a complete democracy is because my opinions do influence some of the decisions to some degree, but the everyone on the council was chosen by the people of my kingdom."
Kynan thought for a few seconds, then shook his head. "That doesn't make sense," he said. "If you already kinda control things, why not control everything? Isn't that what kings do?"
S'io credesse che mia risposta fosse a persona che mai tornasse al mondo, questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse. Ma per ciò che giammai di questo fondo non tornò vivo alcun, s'i' odo il vero, senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.
"Most of them do," Kartiel agreed, giving Kynan a nod of his head. "But I don't want to control everything. Everyone...everyone can make mistakes. I've made enough. Other people's opinions and decisions lessen the chance of Telorum falling into the same problems as the other kingdoms of Partex."
"But isn't that the problem?" Kynan said. "More people make more mistakes, so how come a bunch of people are better?"
S'io credesse che mia risposta fosse a persona che mai tornasse al mondo, questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse. Ma per ciò che giammai di questo fondo non tornò vivo alcun, s'i' odo il vero, senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.
"They can make sure not as many mistakes are made," Orpheus quietly said, answering the question before the king beside him had a chance to. He looked up at Kynan and watched him with dark purple eyes. "There will definitely be some, but then more people get a say in what happens. It's good. I like it...I like it a lot better than in other places I've been."
Spoiler
@corvidconvalscence and @ChristenedPages, do either of you want to post next?
Calfuray listened intently to this discussion of democracy. She had never heard anything like it before. Of course, her father had a council of advisors, but they had no decision making power when it came down to it. She glanced at Orpheus, smiling politely.
"I've never seen something like that in action, but I can see it's potential of success."
"If you say so," Kynan said. He willed himself to look into the King's eyes - he was a little less scary now, and Kynan suddenly thought it was silly to be afraid. He'd met kings and queens before, hadn't he? Sure, with friends. But Kendrik never had any fear; Kynan wouldn't either. "How come you're still king, then?"
S'io credesse che mia risposta fosse a persona che mai tornasse al mondo, questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse. Ma per ciò che giammai di questo fondo non tornò vivo alcun, s'i' odo il vero, senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.
"A good portion of the population here has fallen heritage," Kartiel explained, holding Kynan's gaze. "Some of us are very old, and tend to be a stickler for tradition. Out of all the fallen, I'm actually more in the middle - some have been around since before the start of the kingdom. Having a king just feels right, and it gives the rest of Partex one last thing to judge us for."
As he finished his explanation, a young woman appeared at the end of the hallway. Noticing the group assembled, she awkwardly cleared her throat and gave a small nod in the king's direction. "The council wants you at the meeting right now," she said.
Kartiel got to his feet. "Go on ahead of me - I'll be heading there in a minute." The woman did as requested, and Kartiel looked down at the group sitting in the hallway. "I'll be back after the meeting is over."
"Okay."
Kartiel thought for a moment, then added, "I think it's best if you go to somewhere more comfortable than the hallway outside of my room. I'd say the library, but you have to remember to put your hood up."
He was already in the process of doing so. "Don't worry," he said, "I'll be careful."
Kartiel hesitated, then turned and hurried on after the young woman.
Kynan stood up, pretending not to be relieving that the king was gone.
"Guess we're going there then?" he said, tugging on one of his ears. "'Cause the King said so?" Whoops - his anxiety was definitely showing.
S'io credesse che mia risposta fosse a persona che mai tornasse al mondo, questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse. Ma per ciò che giammai di questo fondo non tornò vivo alcun, s'i' odo il vero, senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.
