Children could be seen running around on the ice that covered the mighty river Cosscka, it had been winter for some time in the capital, so the river had long since frozen over and the ice under it had solidified into a material as strong as stone. It would only melt after the spring thaw, and even then, the ice took weeks under the sun to completely melt away. For the time being, the capital was a shadow of its self. Beyond the children playing on the ice, depending on which direction one was headed, you would either find the Royal District or what would constitute as the slums of the city. The Royal District remained relatively active during the winter months, but the slums were paralyzed from the lack of care taken to its infrastructure. For the most part, it was a city in hibernation.
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The noise that Reuben and his entourage caused in the vast halls of the Crescent Palace created an echo that could be heard from kitchens below. Reuben, Duke of Solaria was the Lord Chancellor of His Majesty's August Court. This afforded him a certain amount of respect that went beyond his status as a Duke in the Kingdom, he was treated as if he was a monarch himself. As he and his own advisers made their habitual march to the throne room every morning, everyone he had come across gave him a respectful bow or a curtsy. He had grown so accustomed to his position that this no longer invigorated him as it had in his younger years, but it did feel good to get treated like a King.
The doors to the throne room were ceremoniously opened as the Duke strode through them, alone. His entourage had dispersed to their various assigned tasks, whether it was ascertaining the plots of various nobles currently quartered in the city for the winter, or making sure that the Duke and his family had secured seats at the theater for the upcoming play. Regardless, the Duke approached the Crescent Throne alone. A multitude of nobles were present.
"Your Majesty, it is with regret that I inform you that the shipment of Archonian wine you had ordered will be delayed. There are reports of the ice breaking on the Cosscka. As a result, the merchant has decided to take a longer, safer route instead of traveling along the ice. He wishes to convey his deepest apologies and the urgency with which he will complete the order."
As the Duke spoke, the King slowly shook his head. "Lord Reuben, that is absolutely unacceptable! Please do inform the merchant that he will not receive payment for the wine. By the time it arrives, it's quality will have diminished greatly. Tell me Lord Reuben, what good is an Antonian King that does not have the finest wine!"
The Duke, wincing at the raised voice of the monarch before him attempts to steer the conversation in a different direction, one perhaps that he is more prepared to handle. "Your Majesty, I believe there are more pressing matters regarding your Treasury. I believe it prudent that we conduct an accounting of all spending that has occurred during the winter so that we can determine if there are new taxes we need to levy. There is also the matter of Your Majesty's retinue, the upkeep for your knights has risen considerably as resources are particularly scarce during this harsh winter, we may need to diverge funds from Your Majesty's personal coffers to make up for the discrepancies in the Treasury."
"Once again Lord Reuben you are missing the point. I need this wine now. If you are not able to do this for me. Then I may need to find a Lord Chancellor that can." The King gazed upon the Lord Chancellor with some contempt before dismissing him. "Lord Reuben, leave now. I grow weary of your presence."
"As you wish Your Majesty." Reuben performed a bow before extricating himself from the throne room as quickly as he could while still maintaining a level of dignity that befits a Duke in front of a variety of nobles who congregate only to curry the King's favor by placating his desires. As the Duke walks out of earshot of the Royal Guardsmen standing vigil in front of the Throne Room. He greets a select few of his advisers, he used this time to vent his frustrations about his audience with King.
"Wine! Wine! I tell you, that bastard will drink himself to death while the whole Kingdom is dragged down with him. This is the beginning of the eighth week in which he has delayed all other matters of State for shipments of wine. Which I might add, along with all of the other purchases he has been making, is bleeding the coffers dry! If he continues down this path, his son won't have much to inherit. In the way of wealth or title."
The servants absorbed this rant in silence, there was not much they could say to their superior without committing treason or further enraging him. The Duke led his advisers back to his chambers where he conducted the official business of the Lord Chancellor. Waiting for him there was none other than another member of the court, who had incurred the ire of the King. Sir Peter of Taurensburg greeted the Duke with a pragmatic air, "My lord, I believe there is some pressing business we need to discuss."
[OoC]: This is just an intro to kind of establish some lore and get my fingers working again.